Stories of the Prophets , part 10 - Prophet Adam , Part 10

Condensed Story of Adam and Allah's Promise

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.
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) 

Stories of the Prophets , part 9 - Prophet Adam , Part 9

Allah's Warning to Adam and Eve

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's Weakness

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 the Tree 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. 

Stories of the Prophets , part 8

Prophet  Adam , Part 8

Establishing the Islamic Greeting

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 Adam and Eve's Paradise

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 learn from the events that took place there.

 

Stories of the Prophets , part 7

Prophet  Adam , Part 7

Adam Sees Eve

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."

Eve's Creation

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). 

Stories of the Prophets , part 6

Prophet  Adam , Part 6

The Reason for Adam's Creation

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).

Teaching Adam

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." 

Stories of the Prophets , Part 5

Prophet  Adam , Part 5

Similarity between Adam and Jesus (PBUT)
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).
The Meaning of the Angel's Prostration
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 him without 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 created 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).

Stories of the Prophets , part 4

Prophet  Adam , Part 4

The  Prophet's  Covenant

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. "Then  We  drowned  the  other  (disbelievers  and  polytheists, etc.)."  (Ch  37:82  Quran).

Stories of the Prophets , Part 3

Prophet  Adam , Part 3

Adam's  Progeny Accept Allah

 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  Resurrectio:. 'Verily we have  been unaware of  this'.  Or  lest you should say: 'It  was  only our  father  aforetime who took others  as  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.

114 An-Naas English traslation

Stories of the Prophets , Part 2

Prophet  Adam , Part 2

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  remained  a  figure  of  clay  for  fourty  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). 

Stories of the Prophets , Part 1

Prophet  Adam , Part 1

Informing the Angels

About  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).