Prophet
Adam
Allah the Almighty revealed: Remember when your Lord said to
the angels: 'Verily, I am going to place mankind generations after generations
on earth.' They said: 'Will You place therein those who will make mischief
therein and shed blood, while we glorify You with praises and thanks (exalted
be You above all that they associate with You as partners) and sanctify You.'
Allah said: 'I know that which you do not know.'
Allah taught Adam all the names of everything, then He
showed them to the angels and said: "Tell Me the names of these if you are
truthful." They (angels) said: "Glory be to You, we have no knowledge
except what You have taught us. Verily, it is You, the All-Knower, the
All-Wise."
He said: "O Adam! Inform them of their names," and
when he had informed them of their names, He said: "Did I not tell you
that I know the unseen in the heavens and the earth, and I know what you reveal
and what you have been hiding?"
Remember when We said to the angels: "Prostrate
yourself before Adam" They prostrated except Iblis, he refused and was
proud and was one of the disbelievers(disobedient to Allah)."
We said: "O Adam! Dwell you and your wife in the
Paradise and both of you freely with pleasure and delight of things therein as
wherever you will but come not near this tree or you both will be of the
Zalimeen (wrongdoers)."
Then the Satan made them slip therefrom (the Paradise), and
got them out from that in which they were. We said: "Get you down all with
enmity between yourselves. On earth will be a dwelling place for you and an
enjoyment for a time."
Then Adam received from his Lord Words. His Lord pardoned
him (accepted his repentance). Verily He is the One Who forgives (accepts
repentance), the most Merciful.
We said: "Get down all of you from this place (the
Paradise), then whenever there comes to you Guidance from Me, and whoever
follows My Guidance there shall be no fear on them, nor shall they grieve. But
those who disbelieve and belie Our Ayah (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons,
and signs and revelations, etc) such are the dwellers of the Fire, they shall
abide therein forever." (Chapter
2:30-39, Qur'an).
Almighty Allah also revealed: And surely, We created you
(your father Adam) and then gave you shape (the noble shape of a human being),
then We told the angels, "Prostrate to Adam", and they prostrated,
except Iblis, he refused to be those who prostrate.
Allah said: "What prevented you (O Iblis) that you did
not postrate when I commanded you?"
Iblis said: "I am better than him (Adam), You created
me from fire and him You created from clay."
Allah said: "O Iblis get down from this (Paradise), it
is not for you to be arrogant here. Get out for you are of those humiliated and
disgraced."
Iblis said: "Allow me respite till the Day they are
raised up (Day of Resurrection)."
Allah said: "You are of those allowed respite."
Iblis said: "Because You have sent me astray, surely I
will sit in wait against them (human beings) on Your Straight Path. Then I will
come to them from before them and behind them, from their right and from their
left and You will not find most of them as thankful ones (they will not be
dutiful to You)."
Allah said: "Get out from Paradise, disgraced and
expelled. Whoever of them (mankind) will follow you, then surely I will fill
Hell with you all."
"And O Adam! Dwell you and your wife in Paradise, and
eat thereof as you both wish, but approach not this tree otherwise you both
will be of the Zalimeen (unjust and wrongdoers)."
Then Satan whispered suggestions to them both in order to
uncover that which was hidden from them of their private parts before, he
said:" Your Lord did not forbid you this tree save you should become
angels or become of the immortals." Satan swore by Allah to them both
saying: "Verily I am one of the sincere well wishers for you both."
So he misled them with deception. Then when they tasted of
the tree, that which was hidden from them of their shame (private parts) became
manifest to them and they began to stick together the leaves of Paradise over
themselves (in order to cover their shame). Their Lord called out to them
saying "Did I not forbid you that tree and tell you, Verily Satan is an
open enemy unto you?"
They said: "Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You
forgive us not, and bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we shall certainly be of the
losers." Allah said: "Get down one of you an enemy to the other (i.e.
Adam, Eve, and Satan etc). On earth will be a dwelling place for you and an
enjoyment, for a time." He said: "therein you shall live, and therein
you shall die, and from it you shall be brought out (resurrected)." (Chapter 7:11-25 Qur'an).
We imagine when Allah the Almighty decided to create Adam:
He addressed His angels and told them to prostrate before him. He did not mean
to ask their opinion or take their advice, for He is above that. Allah the
Exalted told them that He was going to create a vicegerent on the earth who
would have children and grandchildren who would corrupt the earth and shed each
other's blood. That is why the angels said to Allah the Almighty: "Will
You place therein those who will make mischief therein and shed blood!" (Chapter 2:30 Quran).
There are old traditions about the angels before the
creation of Adam. According to Ibn Qatadah, it was said that the angels were
informed about the creation of Adam and his progency by the jinn who lived
before Adam. Abdullah Ibn Umar said that the jinn had existed for about 2000
years before Adam and then shed blood. Therefore Allah sent on them an army of
angels that drove them out to the depths of the seas. Ibn Abi Hatim narrated
from Ali jafar Al Baqer that the angels were informed that man would cause
wickedness and shed blood on earth. It was also said that they knew that no one
would be created on earth who would not be wicked and shed blood.
Whether or not these
traditions are correct, the angels did understand that Allah would create a
vicegerent on earth. Allah the Almighty announced that HE was going to create a
human being out of clay, that HE would mold him and blow His spirit into him
and then the angels should prostrate before him.
Abi Musa al Sha'arai narrated that the Prophet Muhammad
(peace be upon him) said: "Allah created Adam from a handful of dust taken
from different lands, so the children of Adam have been created according to
the composition of the land. Therefore from mankind we have white, red, black
and yellow ones; we have good and evil, ease and sorrow, and what comes in
between them." (Sahih al Bukhari).
Ibn Masud and other companions of the Prophet (PBUH) said
that Allah the Almighty sent Gabriel onto the earth to said that Allah the
Almighty sent Gabriel onto the earth to get Him clay therefrom. The earth said:
"I seek refuge in Allah from your decreasing my quantity or disfiguring
me." So Gabriel returned and did not take anything. He said: "My
Lord, the land sought refuge in You and it granted."
So Allah sent Michael for the same purpose, and the land
sought refuge with Allah and it was granted. So he went back and said to Allah
what Gabriel has said before him.
Then Allah sent the Angel of Death, and the land sought
refuge in Allah, the angel said: "I also seek refuge with Allah from
returning without carrying out His command." So he took clay from the face
of the earth and mixed it. He did not take from one particular place, but
rather he took white, red, and black clay from different places.
The Angel of Death ascended with it, Allah soaked the clay
till it became sticky. Then Allah said to the angels: "Truly, I am going
to create man from clay. So when I have fashioned him and breathed into him
(his) soul created by Me, then you fall down prostrate to him." (Chapter 38:71-72 Quran).
So Allah shaped Adam
into a human being, but he remaineda figure of clay for 40 years. The angels
went past him. They were seized with fear by what they saw, and Iblis felt fear
most. He used to pass by the figure of Adam, buffeting it, which would make a
sound like pottery. Allah told us:
"He created man (Adam) from sounding clay like the clay of
pottery." (Chapter 55:Quran).
When the time drew
near to breathe the spirit into Adam, as Allah decreed, He commanded the
angels: "When I breathe My spirit into him prostrate before him."
Allah breathed His spirit into Adam and when it reached his head Adam sneezed.
The angels said: "Say all praise belongs to Allah." Adam repeated:
"All praise belongs to Allah." Allah said to him: "Your Lord has
granted you mercy." When the spirit reached his eyes, Adam looked at the
fruits of Paradise. When it reached his abdomen Adam felt an appetite for food.
He jumped hurriedly before the spirit could reach his legs, so that he could
eat from the fruits of Paradise. Allah, therefore, said: "Man is created
of haste." (Chapter 21:37 Quran). And then: The angels prostrated
themselves all of them together. Except Iblis, he refused to be among the
prostrators. (Ch 15:31-32 Quran).
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
"Allah created Adam from dust after He mixed the clay and left him for
some time until it became sticky mud, after which Allah shaped him. After that
Allah left him till it became like potter's clay. Iblis used to go past him
saying 'You have been created for a great purpose.' After that Allah breathed
His spirit into him. The first thing into which the spirit passed was his eye
and then his nose. He sneezed. Allah said: "May your Lord have mercy upon
you, O Adam! Go to those angels and see what they would say.' So Adam went and
greeted them. they replied saying: "Peace be upon you and the mercy and
blessings of Allah." Allah said: "O Adam! This is your greeting and
that of your offspring." (Sahih al Bukhari).
Allah the Almighty
revealed: Remember when your Lord brought forth from the children of Adam, from
their loins, their seed (or from Adam's loin his offspring) and made them
testify as to themselves saying: "Am I not your Lord?" They said:
"Yes! We testify." lest you should say on the Day of Resurrection.
"Verily we have been unaware of this." Or lest you should say:
"It was only our father aforetime who took others pas partners in worship
along with Allah and we were merely their descendants after them; will you then
destroy us because of the deeds of men who practiced al batil (polytheism) and
committing crimes and sins, invoking and worshipping others besides
Allah?"
Thus do We explain the Ayah (proofs, evidences, verses,
lessons, signs, revelations etc) in detail so that they may turn unto the
truth. (Ch 7:172-174 Quran).
Adam's progeny declared: "Our Lord, we bear witness
that You are our Lord; we have no other Lord but Allah. Allah raised their
father Adam, and he looked at them and saw those of them who were rich and
those who were poor, and those who had good forms and those who did not. Adam
said: "O Allah! I wish You to make Your servants equal." Allah
replied "I love being thanked." Adam saw among the prophets like
lamps among his progeny.
Almighty Allah
declared: Remember when We took from the Prophets their covenant, and from you
(o Muhammad), and from Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus son of Mary. We took
from them a strong covenant. (Ch 33:7 Quran).
In another verse
Allah the Exalted commanded: "So set you (O Muhammad) your face towards
the religion of pure Islamic Monotheism Hanifan (worship none but Allah Alone)
Allah's Fitrah (Allah's Islamic Monotheism), with which He has created mankind.
No change let there be in khalqillah (the Religion of Allah--Islamic
Monotheism), that is the straight religion, but most men know not." (Ch
30:30 Quran).
Another version of
the story relates that Allah took a handful of the dust of the earth and mixed
into it the colors, white, black, yellow and red. That is the reason why men
are born different colors. When Allah mixed the dust with water, it turned into
potter's clay that makes a sound. It was fermented and had a smell. Iblis
passed by, wondering what was going to be made of that clay. From the clay
Allah created Adam. he molded his form with His own hands and blew His spirit
into him. Adam's body quivered as life was imbued into it. Verily His Command,
when He intends a thing is only that He says to it, "BE!" and it is!
(Ch 37:82 Quran).
Allah the Almighty declared: Verily the likeness of Jesus,
in Allah's Sight is the likeness of Adam, He created him from the dust then He
said to him. "Be!" --and he was. (Ch 3:59 Quran).
Adam opened his eyes and saw all the angels prostrating
before him except one being who was standing at a distance Adam did not know
what kind of creature it was that did not prostrate before him nor did he know
its name. Iblis was standing with the angels so as to be included in the
command given to them but he was not one of them. He was a jinn, and as such he
was supposed to be inferior to the angels. What is clear is that this
prostration was to show respect and did not mean that the angels were
worshipping Adam. Prostrating in worship is done only for ALLAH.
Almighty Allah recounted the story of Iblis's refusal to
prostate before Adam: Remember when your Lord said to the angels, "I am
going to create a man (Adam) from sounding clay of altered black smooth mud. So
when I have fashioned him completely and breathed into him (Adam) the soul
which I created for him then fall you down prostrating yourselves unto
him." SO the angels prostrated themselves all of them together, except
Iblis, he refused to be among the prostrators. Allah said: "O Iblis! What
is your reason for not being among the prostrators?" Iblis said: "I
am not the one to prostrate myself to a human being, whom You created from
sounding clay of altered black smooth mud." Allah said: "Then get out
from here for verily you are Rajim (an outcast or cursed one). Verily the curse
shall be upon you till Day of Recompense (Day of Resurrection). (Ch 15:28-35
Quran).
In another surah Almighty Allah recounted it thus: Surely We
created you (your father Adam) and then gave you shape (the noble shape of a
human being), then We told the angels, "Prostrate to Adam and they
prostrated except Iblis he refused to be of those who prostrate.
Allah said: "What prevented you Iblis that you did not
prostrate when I commanded you?" Iblis said: "I am better than him
(Adam), You created me from fire and him You created from clay." Allah
said: "Get down from this Paradise, it is not for you to be arrogant here.
Get out, for you are of those humiliated and disgraced." Iblis said: Allow
me respite till the Day of Resurrection)." Allah said: "You are of
those allowed respite." (Ch 7:11-15 Quran).
Ibn Jarir reported that Muhammad Ibn sirin said that the
first one to reach a conclusion by reasoning was Iblis and that the sun and
moon were not worshiped except through this method.
This means that Iblis tried to compare himself to Adam. He
believed that he was more honorable than Adam. Therefore he abstained from
prostrating even though Allah had commanded him to do so, just as He had
commanded the angels. If an analogy is made we see that Iblis is vain. For
indeed clay is better than fire because in it can be found the qualities of
calmness, clemency, perseverance and growth; whereas in fire can be found heedlessness,
insignificance, haste, and incineration.
Iblis tried in vain to justify his refusal: "Shall I prostrate to one whom You
created from clay?" Iblis said: "See? those whom You have honored
above me, if You give me respite (keep me alive) to the Day of Resurrection, I
will surely seize and mislead his offspring (by sending them astray) all but a
few!" (Ch 17:62 Quran).
Adam was following what was happening around him and had
feelings of love, awe, and astonishment. Deep love of Allah,Who had created and
glorified him and Who had made His angels prostrate before him. Awe of the
Creator's wrath when He excluded Iblis from His mercy. Adam was surprised by
this creature, Iblis who abhorred hiwithout even knowing him and who imagined
himself better than Adam without having proved that he was worthier. What a
strange creature Iblis was, and how strange was his excuse for not prostrating!
He imagined that fire is better than clay, but how did he
get such an idea? Such knowledge is exclusive to Allah Who fire and clay and
Who knows which is the better of the two.
From the dialogue Adam realized that Iblis was a creature
characterized by cunning and ingratitude. He then knew that Iblis was his
eternal enemy. He was greatly astonished at Iblis's audacity and Allah's
tolerance. Immediately after his creation Adam witnessed the large amount of
freedom that Allah gives to His commissioned creatures.
Allah knew that Iblis
was not going to obey Him in prostrating before Adam. Allah could have totally
annihilated him or turned him into a handful of dust or stifled the refusal in
his mouth. Yet, Allah gives His commissioned creatures absolute freedom even to
the extent that they can refuse Allah the Almighty's commands. He grants them
the freedom of denial, disobedience, and even disagreement with Him.
His kingdom will not diminish if the disbelievers do not
believe in Him nor will it be extended if many people believe in Him. On the
contrary, the disbelievers will lose, and the believers will gain but Allah is above
all of that.
There were many traditions about Iblis at the time of
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Ibn Masud, Ibn Abbas and a group of the companions of
the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said that Iblis had been the head of the angels in
the worldly heavens. Ibn Abbas said in one narration that his name had been
Azazil and in another narration he said it had been Al Harith. Ibn Abbas also
said that Iblis was a jinn and that they had once been the keepers of Paradise,
with Iblis the most honorable and the most learned and the most pious of them.
Another tradition says that he had been one of the famous four possessors of
wings (angels), before Allah transformed him into the accursed Satan.
Allah Almighty
recounts Iblis's disobedience in another surah: Remember when your Lord said to
the angels: "Truly I am going to create man from clay. So when I have
fashioned him and breathed into him (his) soul created by Me, then you fall
down prostrate to him." So the angels prostrated themselves all of them;
except Iblis, he was proud and was one of the disbelievers.
Allah said: "The truth is, and the truth I say, that I
will fill Hell with you and those of them (mankind) that follow you
together." (Ch 38:71-85 Quran).
After this lesson about freedom Adam learned another lesson,
one about knowledge. Adam realized that Iblis was the symbol of evil in the
universe and that the angels were the symbol of good. However he did not yet
know anything about himself. Then Allah made him perceive his true identity and
the reason for his creation, and the secret of his glorification.
Allah the Exalted
said: He taught Adam all the names of everything. (Ch 2:31 Quran).
Almighty Allah granted Adam the power to know the natures of
all things and to summarize them by names; that is a bird, that is a star, that
is a tree, etc Allah implanted in Adam an insatiable need for and love of
knowledge and a desire to bequeath knowledge to his children. This was the
reason for his creation and the secret of his glorification.
After Adam had learned the names of all things, along with
their properties and uses, Allah presented them to the angels and said:
"Tell Me the names of these if you are truthful." (Ch 2:31 Quran) the
angels admitted their inability: "Glory be to You, we have knowledge except
what You have taught us. Verily it is You the All Knower, the All Wise."
(Ch 2:32)
Allah Almighty then turned to Adam: "O Adam! Inform
them of their names, " and when he had informed them of their names, He
said: "Did I not tell you that I know the unseen in the heavens and the
earth, and I know what you reveal and what you have been hiding?" (Ch
2:33).
Allah wanted the angels to know that He knew of their
astonishment when He had told them about the creation of Adam and that He also
knew of their confusion which they had not revealed, as well as what Iblis had
concealed of his disobedience and ingratitude.
The angels realized
that Adam was the creature who knew what they did not know and that his
capacity to learn was his noblest quality. His knowledge included knowledge of
the Creator which we call faith or Islam, as well as the knowledge he would
need to inhabit and master the earth. All kinds of worldly knowledge which are
included in this.
Adam knew the names of everything. Sometimes he talked to
the angels, but they were preoccupied with worshipping Almighty Allah.
Therefore Adam, felt lonely. One day he slept and when he awoke he found near
his head, a woman gazing at his face with beautiful tender eyes.
The angels asked him her name He replied: "Eve
(Hawa)." (means living things). They asked: "Why did you call her
Eve?" Adam said: "Because she was created of me and I am a living
being."
Ibn Abbas and a group of companions of the Prophet (PBUH)
narrated that when Iblis was sent out of Paradise and Adam was accommodated
therein, Adam was alone in Paradise and did not have a partner from whom he
could get tranquility. He slept for some time and when he woke up, he saw a
woman whom Allah had created from his ribs. So he asked her, "Who are you?
She replied, "A woman" He asked: "Why have you been created?"
She said :"So that you could find tranquility in me." The angels,
trying to find out the extent of his knowledge, asked him: "What is her
name O Adam?" He replied, "Eve" They asked "Why was she so
named?" He replied, " Because she was created from something
living."
Muhammad Ibn Ishaaq
and Ibn Abbas related that Eve was created from the shortest left rib of Adam
while he was sleeping and after awhile she was clothed with flesh. that is why
Allah the Exalted said: O Mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you
from a single person (Adam) and from Him (Adam) He created his wife (Eve), and
from them both He created many men and women. (Ch 4:1) Allah also said: It is
he Who has created you from a single person (Adam) and then He created from him
his wife (Eve), in order that he might enjoy the pleasure of living with her.
(Ch 7:189).
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
"O Muslims! I advise you to be gentle with women, for they are created
from a rib, and the most crooked portion of the rib is its upper part. If you
try to straighten it, it will break and if you leave it, it will remain
crooked, so I urge you to take care of the women." (Sahih Bukhari).
Allah commanded Adam to dwell in Paradise: "O Adam!
Dwell you and your wife in the Paradise and eat both of you freely with
pleasure and delight of things therein as wherever you will, but come not near
this tree or you both will be of the Zalimeen (wrong doers).(Ch 2:35)
The location of this
Paradise is unknown to us. The Quran did not reveal it, and the commentators
had five different opinions. Some said that it was the paradise of our refuge
and that its place was heaven. Others regreted that statement because if it was
the paradise of refuge Iblis would have been forbidden admission and disobedience
would have been forbidden as well. Still others said that it was another
paradise that was created by Allah for Adam and Eve. A fourth group said it was
a paradise on the earth located in a high place. Another group of commentators
accept what was in the Quran without questioning where this paradise was
located. We agree with this last opinion as the lesson we learn from its
location is immaterial compared to the lesson we leafrom the events that took
place there.
Adam and eve were admitted to Paradise and there they lived
the dream of all human beings. Allah permitted them to approach and enjoy
everything except one tree, that might have been the Tree of Pain or the Tree
of Knowledge. Allah forbade them they were give abode in Paradise. "But come not near this tree or you both
will be of the wrong doers." (Ch 2:35)
Adam and Eve understood that they were forbidden to eat the
fruit of that tree. Adam was however a human being and man tends to forget. His
heart changes and his will weakens. Iblis summoned all the envy within him and
took advantage of Adam's humanity to exploit him. He started to whisper to him
day after day, coaxing him: "Shall I guide you to thTree of Immortality
and the Eternal Kingdom?" He said to them: "Your Lord did not forbid
you this tree save you should become angels or become of the immortals."
He (Satan) swore by Allah to them both saying: "Verily I am one of the
sincere well wishers for you both." (Ch 7:20-21)
Adam asked himself:
"What will happen if I eat from this tree? It might truly be the Tree of
Immortality." His dream was to live forever in the pure innocence of
Paradise."
Years went by, and
Adam and Eve were preoccupied with thoughts of that tree. Then one day they
decided to eat of its fruit. They forgot that Allah had warned them not to
approach it and that Iblis was
their sworn enemy. Adam stretched out his hand, picked one
of the fruits and offered it to Eve. They both ate of the forbidden tree.
Allah Almighty told us: "So he (Satan) misled them with
deception." (Ch 7:22) Allah said: "Thus did Adam disobey his Lord so
he went astray." (Ch 20:121).
According to the old Testament, Eve was tempted by the
serpent to eat of the forbidden tree. She ate because of the words of the
serpent and fed Adam some of it. At that moment, their eyes were opened to the
fact that they were naked, and they took the leaves of the fig tree to cover
themselves. Wahb Ibn Munabah said that their clothing (before their sin) was
made of light on the private parts of both of them.
This story in the Old Testament is a falsification and
deception. Allah the Almighty revealed: O Children of Adam! Let not Satan
deceive you, as he got your parents (Adam and Eve) out of Paradise stripping
them of their rainments; to show them their private parts. Verily he and
Qabiluhu (his soldiers from the jinn or his tribe) see you from where you
cannot see them. Verily, We made the devils (protectors and helpers) for those
who believe not." (Ch 7:27)
Adam had hardly
finished eating when he felt his heart contract, and he as filled with pain,
sadness and shame. The surrounding atmosphere had changed and the internal
music had stopped. He discovered that he and his wife were naked, so they both
started cutting tree leaves with which to cover themselves.
Allah the Almighty addressed him: "Did I not forbid you
that tree and tell you: Verily Satan is an open enemy unto you?" They
said: "Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You forgive us not, and
bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we shall certainly be of the losers." Allah
said; "Get down, one of you an enemy to the other (Adam, Eve, and Satan
etc). On earth will be a dwelling place for you and an enjoyment, for a
time." He said: "Therein you shall live and therein you shall die,
and from it you shall be brought out (resurrected)." (7:22-25).
Again there are old stories about these events. Al Hafez Ibn
Asaker narrated that Allah commanded two angels to remove Adam from His holy
proximity. So Gabriel stripped him of the crown on his head, and Michael took
the diadem from his forehead. Adam thought that his punishment had been
hastened and bowed down crying; "Forgiveness! Forgiveness!" so Allah
asked: "Are you running away from Me?" Adam replied, "No, my
Lord, but I am shy of You."
Abdul Rahman Ibn Amru
AL Awza iy said that Adam spent 100 years in Paradise. In another narration it
was said he spent 60 years. Ibn Asaker reported that Adam wept for 60 years for
his loss of Paradise and 70 years for his mistake, and he wept for another 70
years when his son was killed.
They left Paradise
and descended upon the earth. Adam was sad and Eve was crying. Allah accepted
their repentance because it was sincere and He told them that the earth would
be their realm and origin where they would live and die and whence they would
come on the Day of Judgment.
Prophet Adam (pbuh) Part 2
Allah the Almighty
recounted this third lesson Adam learned in Paradise: Indeed We made a covenant
with Adam before, but he forgot, and We found on his part no firm will power.
Remember when We said to the angels "Prostrate yourselves to Adam."
They prostrated (all) except Iblis, who refused. then We said: "O Adam!
verily, this is an enemy to you and to your wife. so let him not get you both
out of Paradise, so that you be distressed in misery. Verily, you have (a
promise from Us) that you will never be hungry therein nor naked. And you will
suffer not from thrist therein nor from the sun's heat."
then Satan whispered
to him, saying "O Adam! Shall I lead you to the Tree of Eternity and to a
kingdom that will never waste away?" Then they both ate of that tree, and
so their private parts appeared to them, and they began to stick on themselves
the leaves from Paradise for their covering. Thus did Adam disobey his Lord, so
he went astray. Then his Lord chose him, and turned to him with forgiveness and
gave him guidance.
Allah said: "Get
you down (upon the earth), both of you, together from Paradise, some of you are
an enemy to some others. THen if there comes to you guidance from Me, then
whoever follows My Guidance shall neither go astray, nor fall into distress and
misery. But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (neither believes in this
Quran nor acts on its orders etc). Verily, for him is a life of hardship and We
shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection."
He will say: "O
my Lord! Why have you raised me up blind, while I had sight before." Allah
will said: "like this, Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons,
signs, revelations, etc). came unto you, but you disregarded them (you left
them, did not think deeply in them, and you turned away from them), and so this
Day, you will be neglected in the Hellfire, away from Allah's Mercy.)"
And thus do We
requite him who transgresses beyond bounds (commits the great sins and disobeys
his Lord (allah) and believes not in His Messengers, and His revealed Books,
like this Quran etc), and believes not in the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses,
lessons, signs, revelations, etc). of his Lord, and the torment of the
Hereafter is far more severe and more lasting. (Ch 20:115-127)
Some people believe that the reason why mankind does not
dwell in Paradise is that Adam was disobedient and that if it had not been for
this sin, we could have been there all along. These are naive fictions because
when Allah wanted to create Adam, He said to the angels, "I shall make a
vicegerent on the earth." He did not say, "I shall make a vicegerent
in Paradise."
Adam's descent on
earth, then, was not due to degradation but rather it was dignified descent.
Allah knew that Adam and Eve would eat of the tree and descend to earth. He
knew that Satan would rape their innocence. That experience was essential for
their life on earth; it was a cornerstone of their vicegerency. It was meant to
teach Adam, Eve, and their progeny that it was Satan who had caused them to be
expelled from Paradise and that the road to Paradise can only be reached by
obedience to Allah and enmity to Satan.
Could it be said that Adam and the rest of mankind were
predestined to sin and to be expelled from Paradise and sent to the earth? In
fact, this fiction is as naive as the first one.
Adam complete free will, and he bore the consequences of his
deed. He disobeyed by eating of the forbidden tree, so Allah dismissed him from
Paradise. His disobedience does not negate his freedom. On the contrary it is a
consequence of it.
The truth of the matter is that Allah knew what was going to
happen, as He always know the outcome of events before they take place. However
Allah does not force things to happen. He grants free will to His human
creatures. On that He bases His supreme wisdom in populating the earth,
establishing the vicegerents, and so on.
Adam understood his
3rd lesson. He knew now in a practical way that Iblis was his enemy, the cause
of his losing the blessing of living in Paradise, and the cause of his
distress. Adam also understood that Allah punishes disobedience and that the
way of Paradise has to be through submission to the will of
Allah. And he learned from Allah Almighty to ask for
forgiveness.
Allah accepted Adam's repentance and forgave him. He then
sent him to the earth as His first messenger.
Abu Hurairah narrated
that the Messenger (PBUH) said: "Adam and Moses argued with each other.
Moses said to Adam: 'Your sin expelled you from Paradise.' Adam said: ' You are
Moses whom Allah selected as His messenger and as the one to whom He spoke
directly. Yet you blame me for a thing which had already been written in my
fate before my Creation?" Allah's Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said twice,
"So Adam outclassed Moses." (Sahih Bukhari).
Umar Ibn Al Khattab also narrated that the Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH) said: "Moses (PBUH) said: 'My Lord! May I see Adam who removed us
and himself from the Paradise?" so Allah made him see Adam and he said to
him: "Are you Adam?" Adam said: "yes." And he said
"Were you the one in Whom Allah breathed His spirit and before whom He
bowed His angels and to whom He taught the names of all things?" Adam
answered: "yes." so Moses said: "What made you remove us and
yourself from Paradise.?"
Adam said: "Who are you?" Moses said: I am
Moses." Adam said: "So you are Moses the prophet of the Children of
Israel. Were you the one Allah spoke to directly?" Moses answered
"yes." Adam said: "Why do you blame me for a matter which Allah
had predestined?" So Allah’s Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said twice.
"Adam outclassed Moses." (Sahih al Bukhari).
there are many traditions concerning the place of Adam's
descent upon earth. Ibn Abi Hatim narrated that Ibn Abbas said: "Adam
descended on land 'Dihna' between Mecca and taif." AL Hassan said that
Adam descended in India and Eve in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Iblis Bodistiman
(Iraq), and the serpent in Ashahan (Iran). This last was also reported by Ibn
Hatim.
Ass'ady related that Adam descended with the Black Stone (a
large black stone set into the wall of the ka'ba in Mecca. It is said to have
come from Paradise) in India, and he had a handful of the seeds of Paradise. He
sowed them in India and they grew into the fragrant tree therein.
Ibn Umar said that
Adam descended on As-Safa and Eve on Al Marwa ( names of two mountains in the
vicinity of the sacred house in Mecca. Part of the rites of pilgrimage (hajj)
includes pacing between these two hills in commemoration of H's search for
water). This was also reported by Ibn Hatim. Abdul Razzaq reported that Abi
Musa Al-shari said that when Allah ordered Adam to descend from Paradise to
earth, He taught him the making of everything and provided him with the crops
from Paradise.
Abu Hurairah narrated
that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "The best of days on which the sun
has risen is Friday. One this day Adam was created, and on this day he was
descended to earth." (al Bukhari)
Adam knew he bade
farewell to peace and he left Paradise. On earth he had to face conflict and
struggle. No sooner had one ended than another began. He also had to toil to
sustain himself. He had to protect himself with clothes and weapons and protect
his wife and children from the wild beasts. Above all he had to struggle with
the spirit of evil. Satan, the cause of his expulsion from Paradise, continued
to beguile him and his children in an effort to have them thrown into the
eternal hellfire. The battle between good and evil is continuous, but those who
follow Allah's guidance and should fear nothing while those who disobey Allah
and follow Iblis will be damned along with him.
Adam grasped all of this and with the knowledge of this
suffering he started his life on the earth. The only thing that allowed his
grief was that he was master of the earth and had to make it yield to him. He
was the one who had to perpetuate, cultivate and construct and populate the
earth. He was also the one who had to procreate and raise children who would
change and improve the world.
The pinnacle of earthly bliss was reached when Adam and Eve
witnessed the birth of their 1st children, a set of twins. Adam was a devoted
father and Eve a contented mother. The twins were Cain (Qabil) and his sister.
Later Eve gave birth to a second set of twins, Abel (Habil) and his sister. The
family enjoyed the bounties and fruits of the earth provided by their Lord. The
children grew up to be strong and healthy young adults. Cain tilled the land
while Abel raised cattle.
The time arrived when the two young men desired life
partners. This was part of Allah’s plan for mankind, to multiply and form
nations with different cultures and colors. Allah revealed to Adam that he
should marry each son to the twin sister of the other. Adam instructed his
children according to Allah's command, but Cain was displeased with the partner
chosen for him, for Abel's twin sister was not as beautiful as his own.
It appears that since
the beginning of time, physical beauty has been a factor in the attraction
between man and women. This attraction caused Cain to envy his brother Abel. He
rebelled against Allah's command by refusing to accept his father's advice.
At first glance Cain's rebellion might appear strange, but
we should remember that although man has a pure nature, the potential for
dichotomy exists. In other words, he had both good and bad qualities. He can
become greedy, covetous,possessive, selfish and even destructive. Man is,
therefore capable of seeking self-satisfaction even if it leads to failure in
this life and in the hereafter. The path to goodness lies in harnessing the
enemy within him, his baser self by controlling evil thoughts and deeds and
practicing moderation in his desires and actions. His reward then will be the
delights of this world and the hereafter. Thus Allah tests us through our
divided nature.
Adam was in a
dilemma. He wanted peace and harmony in his family, so he invoked Allah for
help. Allah commanded that each son offer a sacrifice, and he whose offering
was accepted would have right on his side. Abel offered his best camel while
Cain offered his worst grain. His sacrifice was not accepted by Allah because
of his disobedience to his father and the insincerity in his offering.
This enraged Cain
even further. Realizing that his hopes marrying his own beautiful sister were
fading, he threatened his brother. "I will kill you! I refuse to see you
happy while I remain unhappy!"
Abel feeling sorry
for his brother, replied, "It would be more proper for you, my brother to
search for the cause of your unhappiness and then walk in the way of peace.
Allah accepts the deeds only from those who serve and fear Him, not from those
who reject His Commands."
Abel was intelligent,
obedient, and always ready to obey the will of Allah. This contrasted sharply
with his brother who was arrogant, selfish and disobedient to his Lord. Abel
did not fear his brother's threats, but neither did he want his brother to be
hurt, Allah had blessed Abel with purity and compassion.
Hoping to allay the hatred seething in his brother Abel
said, " My brother, you are deviating from the right path and are sinful
in your decisions. It is better that you repent to Allah and forget about your
foolish threat. But if you do not then I will leave the matter in the hands of
Allah. You alone will bear the consequence of your sin, for the Fire is the
reward of the wrong-doers."
This brotherly plea did nothing to lessen the hatred in
Cain's heart, nor did he show fear of Allah's punishment. Even familial
considerations were cast aside. Cain struck his brother with a stone killing
him instantly. This was the 1st death and the 1st criminal act committed by man
on earth.
When Abel had not appeared for some time, Adam
began to search for him but found no trace of his beloved son. He asked Cain
about Abel's whereabouts. Cain insolently replied that he was not his brother's
keeper nor his protector. From these words his father understood that Abel was
dead and Adam was filled with grief.
Meanwhile Cain did not know what to do with his brother's
corpse. He carried it on his back wandering from place to place trying to hide
it. His anger had now subsided and his conscience was saddled with guilt. He
was tiring under the burden of the corpse which had started to have a stench.
As a mercy, and to show that dignity could be retained even in death, Allah
sent two ravens that began fighting, causing the death of one. The victorious
bird used its beak and claws to dig a hole in the ground, rolled its victim
into it and covered it with sand.
Witnessing this, Cain
was overcome with shame and remorse. "Woe unto me!" he exclaimed.
"I was unable to do what this raven has done, that is to hide my brother's
corpse." Cain then buried his brother. This was also the 1st burial of
man.
Allah the Almighty
revealed: And (O Muhammad) recite to them (the Jews) the story of the two sons
of Adam (Abel and Cain) in truth; when each offered a sacrifice to Allah, it
was accepted from the one but not from the other. The latter said to the
former; "I will surely kill you."
the former said:
"Verily Allah accepts only from those who are Al Muttaqeen (the pious). If
you do stretch your hand against me to kill me I shall never stretch my hand
against you to kill you, for I fear Allah; the Lord of the Alameen (mankind,
jinn, and all that exists). Verily I intend to let you draw my sin onyourself
as well as yours then you will be one of the dwellers of the Fire, and that is
the recompense of the Zalimeen (polytheists, and wrongdoers)."
So the self of the
other (latter one) encouraged him and made fair seeming to him the murder of
his brother; he murdered him and became one of the losers. Allah sent a crow
who scratched the ground to show him to hide the dead body of his brother. He
(the murderer) said: "Woe to me! Am I not even able to be as this crow and
to hide the dead body of my brother?" Then he became one of those who
regretted. (Ch 5:27-31).
Ibn Abbas, Ibn Masud and a group of the companions of the
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) related that inter-marriage of the male of one
pregnancy with the female of another had been in practice among Adam's
children. Abel wanted to marry Cain's sister, but Cain wanted her for himself
because she was very beautiful. Adam ordered him to give her in marriage to his
brother but he refused. SO Adam ordered both of them to offer a sacrifice, then
went to Mecca to perform the pilgrimage. After Adam had left, they offered
their sacrifices; Abel offered a fat lamb, he was a shepherd, while Cain
offered a bundle of worst grain. fire descended and devoured Abel's sacrifice,
leaving that of Cain so he became angry and said: "I will surely kill you
so that you will not marry my sister." Abel replied, "Allah accepts
from those who fear Him."
According to Abu
Ja'afar al Baqer, Adam was watching their offering and was sure that Abel's
sacrifice would be accepted. Cain complained to Adam that the acceptance was
due to his supplication for Abel and that he had not done the same for him, so
he promised his father to settle the matter between himself and his brother.
One night, Abel was late returning from tending his flock. Adam sent Cain to
see what happened to him. When he found him, he glared at him saying:
"yours was accepted, and mine was not." Abel replied, "Allah
only accepts from the Allah-fearing." Cain became angry on hearing this
and hit him with a piece of iron that was with him and thus killing him. In
another version it was said that he killed him with a rock to the head while he
was sleeping.
Adam was utterly grief stricken by the loss of his two sons.
One was dead, the other was won over by the devil. Adam prayed for his son and
turned to mundane matters for he had to toil for his sustenance. At the same
time he was a prophet advising his children and grandchildren, telling them about
Allah and calling them to believe in Him. He told them about Iblis and warned
them by recounting his own experience with the devil and of how the devil had
tempted Cain to kill his brother.
Years and years
passed, Adam grew old and his children spread all over the earth. Muhammad Ibn
Ishaq related that when Adam's death drew near, he appointed his son Seth to be
his successor and taught him the hours of the day and night along with their
appropriate acts of worship. He also foretold to him the floor that would come.
Abu Dhar narrated
that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "Allah sent down 104 psalms, of
which 50 were sent down to Seth."
Abdullah Ibn Al Iman
Ahmad Ibn Hanbal narrated that Ubai Ibn Kab said: "When Adam's death was
near, he said to his children: "O my children, indeed I feel an appetite
for the fruits of Paradise."
So they went away
searching for what Adam had requested. They met with the angels, who had with
them his shroud and what he was to be embalmed with. They said to them: "O
Children of Adam, what are you searching for? What do you want? Where are you
going?"
They said: "Our father is sick and has an appetite for
the fruits of Paradise."
the angels said to them: "Go back, for your father is
going to meet his end soon."
So they returned (with the angels) and when Eve saw them she
recognized them. She tried to hide herself behind Adam. He said to her.
"Leave me alone. I came before you; do not go between me and the angels of
my Lord.' So they took his soul, embalmed and wrapped him, dug the grave and
laid him in it. They prayed on him and put him in his grave, saying: 'O
Children of Adam, this is your tradition at the time of death.""
Before his death Adam
reassured his children that Allah would not leave man alone on the earth, but
would sent His prophets to guide them. the prophets would have different names,
traits and miracles, but they would be united in one thing; the call to worship
Allah alone. This was Adam's bequest to his children. Adam finished speaking and
closed his eyes. Then the angels entered his room and surrounded him. When he
recognized the Angel of Death among them, his heart smiled peacefully.
After Adam's death,
his soth Seth (Shiith) took over the responsibilities of prophethood, according
to a hadith narrated by Abu Dhar. Abu Dhar narrated that Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) said: "Allah sent down one hundred and four psalms, of which fifty
were sent down to Seth." (Sahih al Bukhari) When the time of his death
came Seth's son Anoush succeeded him. He in turn, was succeeded by his son
Qinan, claim that Mahlabeel was the King of the Seven Regions, that he was the
first one to cut down trees to build cities and large forts and that he built
the cities of Babylonia. He reigned for a period of forty years. When he died
his duties were taken ov er by his son Yard, who on his death, bequeathed them
to his son Khonoukh, who is Idris (pbuh) according to the majority of the
scholars.
