By: Allama Mohammed Shihabuddin Nadvi

Though Christians maintain that Jesus is “Son of God” and “one among the three”, the Encyclopaedia Britannica accepts the Islamic and Jewish traditions on the aspect that as Adam was created out of dust without parents, so was the creation of Jesus from a virgin:

The legend that Adam was created out of virgin soil was taken to prefigure the fact that the second Adam (i.e., Jesus) was likewise born of a virgin.33

Even the New Testament refers to Jesus Christ as Adam the Second. It was perhaps due to his unique creation. At another place, Christ has been referred as “son of Adam”. These are proofs of Adam’s fatherhood of humanity. These statements while reinforcing Islam’s view point about Adam, strike at the root of the Christian belief of Trinity. It is a pointer to the ignorance of Christians from the Bible.

Almighty Allah is the Master of this limitless universe and is fully competent to create the things the way He desires. None can restrain Him from this. So this vast universe, the heavenly bodies and the cosmos is incontrovertible proof of His Power. He can create things merely by uttering “Be” and it happens:

Is not He Who created the heavens and the earth able to create the like thereof? – Yea, indeed! For He is the Creator Supreme, of skill and knowledge (infinite)! Verily, when He intends a thing, His Command is, “Be”, and it is! So glory to Him in Whose Hands is the dominion of all things: and to Him will ye be all brought back. (Qur’an, 36:81-83)

Though natural laws ordained by Allah regulate the natural phenomena as a rule. But Allah is not bound by these laws. Deviations do occur and Allah does demonstrate His power through deviations. Creation of Prophet Adam, Eve and Jesus are examples of His power. Even the miracles worked by prophets are by Allah’s permission. None can ever perform them without Allah’s aid. The following verses declare Allah’s sovereignty and complete control over the universe:

He it is Who shapes you in the wombs (of your mother) as He pleases. There is no God but He, the Exalted in Might, the Wise. (Qur’an, 3:6)

And Allah has created every animal from water: of them there are some that creep on their bellies; some that walk on two legs; and some that walk on four. Allah creates what He wills, for verily Allah has power over all things. (Qur’an, 24:45)

Thy Lord does create and choose as He pleases: no choice have they (in the matter): Glory to Allah! and far is He above the partners they ascribe (to Him)! (Qur’an, 28:68)

Yet another Hadith related from Prophet Muhammad, (Peace be upon him) refers to Adam as the “Father of mankind.”

Adam, you are the father of (humanity). You have been created by Allah with His Own Hands and has blown His Spirit into you and the angels were commanded to bow before you and were settled into the Heaven. Will you not then intercede on our behalf before Allah?34

In the same Hadith quoted from other sources the reference to Adam has been termed as “Abun Naas” (Father of people) in place of “Father of humanity”.35

This Hadith collects the entire gamut of Adam’s qualities in one place.

It is also worth noting that people would turn to Adam for intercession on their behalf before Allah. It is natural for one to look towards elders in times of distress. Adam being the eldest among the elders, it will be natural for people to turn to Adam for intercession. So this fact that Adam was the real father of mankind will at least be evident on the Day of Judgment.

The day all things secret will be tested. (Qur’an, 86:9)

The Prophet held himself the most honoured one among the sons of Adam:

I am the most honoured one in the sight of Allah among the offspring of Adam. But I do not take any pride in it.36
I will be head of the offspring of Adam on the Day of Judgment. But I am not proud of it.37
I will be the head of the offspring of Adam and will be the first person on the Day of Judgment for whom the earth will split.38

All this make it evident that it is on Adam that all human lineages end. The Qur’an and the Sunnah cannot make a mistake.

Adam and Moses
A dialogue that occurred between Prophets Adam and Moses is also significant in this regard. It is also one of the evidences of Adam being the first human being. It has been widely reported by Bukhari, Muslim, Ibne Maja, Muatta Imam Malik and Musnad Ahmad. The Hadith is said to be a proof of Adam’s heaven being Heaven of Mawa.39 I quote it from the Hadith of Sahih Bukhari:

Moses told Adam: ‘You are our father. But you got us expelled from the heavens due to your commission of a sin.’ Adam replied to Moses: ‘O Moses, Allah selected you from all to talk to you. He wrote the Torah for you and gave it. So you curse me for something that was predestined for at least 40 years before my birth? So Adam overtook Moses in the dialogue.40

Prophet Meets Adam
The holy Prophet met Prophet Jesus, Moses, Abraham and Adam during his ascension to the Heavens. The Hadith describes it in the following words:

When we reached the heavens we saw a man facing the crowds on his right and left. Whenever he looked at the right he smiled. But he wept when looked at the people to his left. He greeted Prophet Muhammad addressing him as “the noble prophet” and “son of a noble one”. I asked Jibra’el (Gabriel) as to who he was. Jibra’el said: ‘He is Adam and these are the spirits of his offspring. Those on the right are residents of paradise while those on the left are from the hell. So he smiles whenever he looks at the people to his right while he turns gloomy to look to his left’.41

The Hadith throws light on the fact that Adam was also a prophet, because the holy Prophet had audience only with the prophets during this journey to the heavens. So refusal to accept Adam as a specific individual is denial of a prophet.

Adam, the Most Civilised Man
Adam was no “sub-human” or wild species. He was a dignified and civilised individual. He was the head of a tribe of highly civilised individuals. In a Hadith, Prophet Muhammad claimed a noble lineage beginning from Adam down to his own father:

My appearance owes itself to a very noble lineage which is based on Nikah. There were no births outside the wedlock. The primitive waywardness (sexual) could never touch my lineage.42

Another Hadith says:
I have evolved from Adam through continual wedlock (Nikah) and there was no delinking from wedlock anywhere till I reached my parents. I am superior to all of you in respect of my lineage as well as my fatherhood.43

All these noble Traditions cannot characterise wild or uncivilised tribe. So it is irrefutable that Adam emerged out of special divine creation which is opposed to the theory of evolution.

Dignity of Adam
The above discussion establishes undoubtedly that Adam was “the father of the mankind” as well as His vicegerent and prophet on this Earth commanding high respect, dignity and popularity. Incidentally it is through him alone that Allah would separate the pious from the sinners as described in the following Hadith: Allah will call Adam on the Day of Judgment.

Adam will reply: “Yes I am at your service, my Lord. You are the Master of all virtues.”
Allah: “Bring out the people of the hell. Adam: “Who are the people of the hell?” Allah: “999 out of every 1000 people.”
Following this, so scared will be the prophet that child will turn old and pregnant women will abort and people will appear intoxicated, though they will not be so. But it will be out of scare of the Day of Judgment.

Companions of the Prophet asked:
“Who will be the one among the thousand?”
The Prophet said: “Glad tidings to you: it will be one among you and one thousand among the Yajuj and Majooj.44
In another Hadith Adam will be asked to expel 99 out of 100 people. So the companions asked the Prophet as to what would remain if 99 out of 100 people are punished. The Prophet said: “My Ummah will be like one white hair among scores of black hairs.” 45

Adam was Created in Heavens
The most superior argument in refuting the evolution theory is the fact that Adam was specially created in the Paradise (Heavens) and not on the Earth. A Hadith in this regard says:

Prophet Muhammad said when Allah raised Adam from clay, He left his shell in the heaven for a few days. The Iblees grew curious about it and made several rounds of the spot where the shell stood. When he found that the shell was hollow he perceived that the new creature will be unable to control itself. 46

So it is evident that Adam was not created on this earth but was specially created in the heaven.

However, a few sections among the Muslims may deny the Prophet’s Traditions. They cannot accuse that these Adam related descriptions in the Prophet’s Traditions are outcome of some “non-Arab conspiracy”. It has to be admitted that these descriptions are there in the Qur’an by a divine scheme and seem to be in anticipation of the ideological storms of the future. This only enhances the glory of the Qur’an and the Sunnah.

Even Imam Baqilani in his book Ajazul Qur’an points out to Adam’s descriptions in the Qur’an as a proof of Qur’an’s miraculous aspect. Since Prophet Muhammad was an illiterate and was ignorant of the tales of his predecessors, it could only be a miracle that everything finds a place in the Qur’an.47

Furthermore the Hadith could be seen in the supportive and ameliorative role in it. None of the facts and realities enshrined therein are open to dispute even today. Rather the latent truth gets unfolding day by day. It is why the Qur’an makes the following observation about the holy Prophet:

O Prophet! Truly We have sent thee as a Witness, and Bearer of Glad Tidings and a Warner, and as one who invites to Allah’s (Grace) by His leave, and as a Lamp Spreading Light. (Qur’an, 33:45-46)

Though there could be a lot of divergence of opinion or difference in interpretation of the Hadith, on philosophical and ideological plane, nothing is open to question.

Do they not consider the Qur’an (with care)? Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely have found therein much discrepancy.(Qur’an, 4:82)

Consensus by Exegetes on Adam’s Fatherhood of Mankind
The absolute truths and vivid statements of Qur’an and Hadith clearly point to the existence of Adam who was a specific and historical personality and not a fictitious figure. There is a consensus on this between Ulama, exegetes and experts on Hadith. There is no dispute over this. The whole Islamic literature is a witness for his being the father of mankind. Except for a few philosophy-struck people, all Ulama agree with it. Imam Razi writes that there is consensus among the Ulama that the undermentioned Verse refers to Adam’s creation:

Verily We created man from sounding clay, from mud moulded into shape. (Qur’an, 15:26)48

Refutation of a Philosophical Contention
The creation of man and universe has led the philosophers to speculate and surmise a lot. Scholar Ibne Thaimiyah, says that the philosophers were of the view that the universe existed from antiquity and had no beginning. Similarly they did not believe in man’s beginning from Adam.49

So, as he writes, the misguided philosophers such as Ibne Arabi and Ibne Sab’een too started harping the same tune. Their thrust was that the universe was from eternity and as everlasting and came into being by itself.50

Aristotle and the followers of his line were of the view that the natural phenomena were ancient in all their attributes. About the skies they say that they are ancient with all their elements, shapes and their vastness except for their movement and specified forms.51

In the modern scientific age, the absurdity of the concept is quite evident as it is proved that all heavenly bodies and phenomena are the created ones. But in the medieval age some philosophy-addicted people started postulating various theories in order to render Adam’s personality doubtful. So Imam Razi refutes these concepts.

It is proved absolutely that such occurrences are impossible which have no beginning. For all occurrences, there should be one which must be regarded as initial. So all men should begin from one individual. It is also essential that he should be created without parents by divinity. There is reference to this fact in Verse 12 of Chapter 23 of the Glorious Qur’an.52

Imam Razi relates a saying from Shia books by Mohammed Bin Ali Baqar which says:

Prior to our Adam, 10 lakh or even more Adams existed.53

Even Ibne Arabi narrating his Mukashafa (a kind of divine revelation), has made a baseless claim with regard to there being one lakh Adams. This argument has been quoted from Futuhate Makkia by Egyptian scholar Fareed Wajdi in the following words:

I circumambulated Ka’ba and Allah favoured me with an opportunity to circumambulate with such people whom I never knew before. I asked one of them “Who are You?” “We are among your earliest predecessors”, he replied. I inquired as to how many years before were they on earth. He said a little over 40,000 years. I told him that the period appeared to be more than the expected period of Prophet Adam. He asked “about which Adam I was talking about, the Adam proximate to us or someone else?” I grew anxious at his reply and was terrified.

Then I remembered a Hadith of the holy Prophet wherein it is stated that Allah had created one lakh Adams before the Adam recognised by us.54

This observation has been confirmed by another observation of Futuhate Makkiah:

I met Prophet Idrees (Pbuh) in the heavens and sought verification of the above observation (as every observation which is not supported by a statement is unacceptable to the scholars). Idrees said, “the narration as well as your observation is also correct.55

This seems to be a fake narration which has not been provided with any reference. It finds no place in any authentic book of Hadith. A Mukashafa supported by another one cannot be a parallel to direct narration. It bears no relevance with the Shariah. Historical events are not backed by Mukashafas. Nor any history could be compiled with their help.

Even Ibne Kathir is of the opinion that dreams cannot be taken as lawful (Shar’i) evidence.56 There is no basis for their scholarly acceptance. Hafiz Ibne Kathir quoting Kabul Ahbar and Ibne Adi writes that Abul Bashar (father of the mankind) is a surname reserved for Adam only on the earth. In the hereafter he will be known as “Abu Muhammad”.57

So even it is clear that Adam is a specific individual. Anything contrary to this will constitute denial of the Qur’an and the Sunnah.

Ahle Sunnah’s Faith
Scholar Abdul Qahir Baghdadi (died 429 A.H.) had defined the Muslim faith with regard to the Adam’s fatherhood of man in certain terms. His stand is accepted without the least doubt by all Ahle Sunnah. It states:

Ahle Sunnah are of the view that there were several prophets in the world. Of them 313 were messengers (Rasool). First among all prophets was Prophet Adam and final among them was our holy Prophet Muhammad. This basic tenet is in conflict with the claim of the Zoroastrians who considered Kiumert is the father of mankind. He carried the title of “Kulshah”. The final prophet for them was Zoroaster.58

According to him, all those who refuse to accept these tenets could be categorised under “people gone astray”.59

Commenting on the above differences among the Zoroastrians over the father of mankind, scholar Ibne Aseer writes:

Most of the Persians claim that Kiumert himself is Adam. Others claim that he was son of Adam who was born out of Eve’s womb. But yet another version is that the Kiumert, who was Adam was in reality Ham bin Yafiz bin Noah who appeared on Tabristan and captured Persia He named himself Adam. He was the great grandfather of the Persians. 60

Scholar Sa’aduddin Taftazani writes that Adam was the first Prophet and his prophethood is proven from the Qur’an, the Hadith and Ijma (consensus). So denial of his prophethood is Kufr (disbelief) for some Ulama.61

References:

32. Ibne Daiba, Hadaiqul Anwaar, Qatar, Vol. 2, P. 711. 33. Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1983, Vol. 10, P. 194.
33. Sahih Bukhari, “Kitabul Anbia”, Vol. 4, P. 105; Sahih
    Muslim, “Kitabul Iman”, 327, Vol. 1, P. 184.
34. Ibne Maja, Beirut, “Abwaabuz Zuhd”, Hadith 4312. 36. Jamiut Tirmizi, Beirut, Hadith 3610, Vol. 5, P. 585. 37. Ibid., Hadith 3615, Vol. 5, P. 587. 38. Abu Daud, “Kitabus Sunnah”, 14, Vol. 5, P. 54.
35. Ibne Kathir, Al-Bidayah wan Nihayah, Beirut, 1404 A.H., Vol. 1, P. 85.
36. Sahih Bukhari, “Kitabul Qadr”, Vol. 7, P. 214.
37. Ibid., “Kitabul Anbia”, 5, Vol. 4, Pp. 106-07.
38. Kanzul Ummal, Hyderabad, Vol. 12, P. 39.
39. Ibid., P. 38.
40. Sahih Bukhari, “Kitabul Anbia”, Vol. 4, Pp. 109-10; Sahih Muslim, “Kitabul Iman”, 379, Vol. 1, P. 201; Musnad Ahmed Bin Hambal, V. 3, Pp. 32-33.
41. Sahih Bukhari, “Kitabur Reqaq” – Kaifal Hashr, Vol. 7, P.196.
42. Sahih Muslim, “Kitabul Bir”, 111, Vol. 4, P. 2016;Musnad Ahmed Bin Hambal, V. 3, P. 229.
43. Abu Bakr Muhammed Bin Tayyib Baqillani, Ejazul Qur’an, Egypt, II Edition, P. 34.
44. Tafseer Kabeer, New Edition, Vol. 19, P. 179.
45. Fatawa Ibne Thaimiyah, Riyadh, Vol. 17, P. 294. 50. Ibid., P. 295.
46. Qazi Abdul Rahman Aiji, Al-Mawaqif fi Ilmil Kalaam, Beirut, P. 244.
47. Imam Razi, Tafseer Kabeer, Vol. 19, P. 179.
48. Ibid.
49. Dairatul Ma’arifil Qarnil Ishreen, Beirut, 1971, Vol. 1, Pp.125-26.
50. Ibid., P. 126.
51. Albidayah wan Nihayah, Vol. 1, P. 94.
52. Ibid., Vol. 1, P. 97.
53. Abdul Qahir Baghdadi, Al-Farqu Bainal Firaq, Beirut, P.342.
54. Ibid., P. 323.
55. Al-Kamil fit Tareekh, Beirut, 1982, Vol. 1, Pp. 45-46.
56. Sharah Aqaidun Nasafiah, Karachi, P. 135.