By: Allama Mohammed Shihabuddin Nadvi
A few people opine that the Qur’an does not support the concept that Adam was the very first man of the world. Egyptian scholar Muhammad Taufiq Sidqi is one among such scholars. But they merely exhibit their lack of application and contemplation in the Qur’anic revelations as well as the Traditions of the holy Prophet. Even the other divine scriptures are unanimous on Adam’s fatherhood of man. Therefore a Muslim may risk his faith in a basic tenet of Islam by denying this divine reality. Now references are cited from the Qur’an, the Hadith and other divine scriptural sources on Adam’s fatherhood of man.
Adam: The First Man
Behold! Thy Lord said to the angels: ‘I am about to create man, from sounding clay, from mud moulded into shape;’ When I have fashioned him (in due proportions) and breathed into him of My Spirit, fall ye down in obeisance unto him. (Qur’an, 15:28-29)
These two verses appear even in Chapter 38 of the Qur’an with a little difference. Though the name of Adam does not appear here but the details quite obviously point to Adam. A combined study of these verses along with those in Chapter 2 wherein Allah declares His intention to “appoint a vicegerent on the earth” and elsewhere the description of prostration of angels before Adam and curse on Iblees for refusal make it evident that the first man on the earth was none other than Adam.
And behold, We said to the angels: ‘Bow down to Adam’: and they bowed down: not so Iblees. (Qur’an, 2:34)
Humanity: The Progeny of Adam
The Qur’anic mode of address as “Ya Bani Adam” (O offspring of Adam) also makes it clear that the humanity is in reality offspring of Adam:
O ye Children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover your shame, as well as to be an adornment to you. (Qur’an, 7:26)
The above verses appear in continuation of verses relating Adam’s story. It is a proof that Adam was a specific individual who was raised with a purpose: test in heaven as well as the earth.
O ye children of Adam! Let not Satan seduce you, in the same manner as he got your parents out of the Garden, stripping them of their raiment, to expose their shame.
(Qur’an, 7:27)
This brings the test still nearer to the Adam’s fatherhood of mankind by use of words “Abawaikum” ( your parents). This term has even been used in the story of Prophet Joseph in Chapter 12 of the Qur’an.
And Joseph raised his parents high on the thrown (of dignity). (Qur’an, 12:100)
Further, the mode of address “Ya Bani Adam” (O sons of Adam) has been used elsewhere too for various other purposes. This only reinforces Adam’s personality and individuality even more.
O Children of Adam! Wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer: eat and drink: but waste not by excess, for Allah loveth not the wasters. (Qur’an, 7:31)
O ye Children of Adam! Whenever there come to you apostles from amongst you, rehearsing My Signs unto you, — those who are righteous and mend (their lives), — on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve. But those who reject Our Signs and treat them with arrogance, they are Companions of the Fire, to dwell therein (for ever). (Qur’an, 7:35-36)
Origin of Mankind from Single Soul
The above these verses are evidence enough that the mankind originated from a “single man”. They did not evolve from “ape man” or “sub-humans” nor “man-like apes.” The original man is a specific man. He was neither deaf nor dumb. He was an extremely civilized person, God-conscious and dignified termed as “Adam” by the Qur’an. At other place the Qur’an even avoids a direct reference by name and only quotes the creation of man from a single soul:
O mankind! Be careful of your duty to your Lord Who created you from a single soul and from it created its mate and from them twain hath spread abroad a multitude of men and women. (Qur’an, 4:1)
It is He Who hath produced you from a single person: Here is a place of sojourn and a place of departure: We detail Our Signs for people who understand. (Qur’an, 6:98)
As we have discussed earlier, this description of the holy Qur’an does not apply to unicellular animals or amoeba. According to exegetes, it applies to only Adam, the first Prophet. Ibne Kathir is firmly of the opinion that the ‘Nafsun Wahida’ (single soul) applies only to Adam and ‘Zaujaha’ (its mate) applies to Eve.1
Scholar Zamakhshari writes that: “Allah created you out of Adam, and your mother Hawwa (Eve) out of him and from both of them He created all the previous communities.2
Imam Razi writes that ‘Nafse Wahida’ undoubtedly stands for Adam. Eve was created out of his ribs. By this all people were created out of one single person Adam.3
Creation of Eve, the mother of humanity has been explained thus in Hadith:
Treat your women fairly because the woman has been created out of the rib and the most curved portion of the rib is in its upper portion. If you try to straighten it, you will break it. If you retain it as it is, it will remain so. So treat them nicely.4
Though the manner of creation of Adam and Eve might be against wisdom, once we admit the existence of a Supreme Being, nothing should keep us from accepting the “miracles of the Almighty”. In fact the biological world spread around us has numerous such miracles.
A point that needs to be explained is about use of the term Mustaqar (place of sojourn) and Mustauda (place of departure). I prefer Ibne Masood’s interpretation wherein he explains the former as the “world” and the latter as “life hereafter”5
Imam Razi also supports this meaning.6
The Qur’an also supports this meaning of the term as it declares the life in the world:
On earth will be your dwelling place and your means of livelihood — for a time. (Qur’an, 2:36 & 7:24)
It means that the mankind has to ultimately leave this place to return to its original place. Faithful will return to “Jannatul Mawa” from where Adam had descended to earth.
O ye Children of Adam! Let not Satan seduce you, in the same manner as he got your parents out of the Garden, stripping them of their raiment; to expose their shame: for he and his tribe watch you from a position where ye cannot see them: We made the Evil Ones friends (only) to those without Faith. (Qur’an, 7:27)
Adam’s Immediate Family
Besides being the first man on the earth Adam was a man with a family. The Qur’an describes his wife without referring her name:
O Adam! Dwell thou and thy wife in the Garden, and enjoy (its good things). (Qur’an, 2:35 & 7:19)
The Qur’an refers to his family in the following verse:
Relate them with truth the story of Adam’s two sons. When they sacrificed, sacrifice by one son was accepted while the others was not accepted. (Qur’an, 5:27)
The verse bears several pointers: Two sons of Adam point to Adam’s family and kinship; the use of word “Naba” points to its being a real incident and is beyond doubt.
The incident could be summarized thus: Two sons of Adam offered sacrifices. Allah accepted the sacrifice of one while another’s was not accepted. The second slew the first out of jealousy and was declared the first most cruel and unfortunate man. As a consequence, the Hadith declares that a share of sin of all subsequent murders will be borne by that son of Adam. The Hadith says:
Everyone in the world who will be slain without a justification, a share of all such sins will be borne by that son of Adam. As it was he who introduced the slaying. 7
The Hadith text in Arabic shows that the two sons were among the earliest of Adam’s offspring. The Hadith specifies it, lest any doubt is left on this account. This is very much in keeping with Prophet Muhammed’s status described by the holy Qur’an in the following words:
And We have sent down unto thee (also) the message that thou mayest explain clearly to men what is sent for them, and that they may give thought. (Qur’an, 16:44)
Adam was All-knowing
Adam being the vicegerent of Allah on the earth, was taught all about the nature and the universe in order that he could make proper use of all elements of nature and the earth.
And He taught Adam the nature of all things. (Qur’an, 2:31)
Adam was gifted with the knowledge of all traits, properties, characteristics, nature etc. of all times of the universe. This honor and privilege of Adam speaks itself for the “first man status” of Adam.8 Had anybody else been the first representative of mankind, its mention must have been made. Obviously, any person put in charge of a new post is briefed about every aspect of the responsibilities. It is why Adam was taught about use of everything in order that he could be well aware of pros and cons of everything. This divine duty was discharged before Adam and Eve were sent to the earth.
Our Lord is He Who gave to each (created) thing its form and nature, and further, gave (it) guidance. (Qur’an, 20:50)
Adam: A Prophet and a Dignified Individual
One can just imagine an individual’s status who has been taught and trained by Allah Himself. This determines the dignified status accorded to Adam. The following verses verify it further:
Allah did choose Adam and Noah, the family of Abraham, and the family of Imran above all people. (Qur’an, 3:33)
Allah chooses Messengers from angels and from men. (Qur’an, 22:75)
All the Prophets: the Progeny of Adam
In this context, Adam also stands among the row of the most dignified prophets. It is only apt that such an exalted personality should be the ancestor of the chain of reputed prophets. It does not behoove a whole string of prophets to emerge from some ape-man, or wild beast or a member of Hominidae family. It will be rather contemptuous to relate the prophets to such a being.
Those were some of the prophets on whom Allah did bestow His Grace, — of the posterity of Adam, and of those whom We carried (in the Ark) with Noah, and of the posterity of Abraham and Israel — of those whom We guided and chose. (Qur’an, 19:58)
Their being the successor to or in his line of prophets, who sprang from Adam, is one of the most distinguishing features of these prophets.
At this moment one should not overlook the difference between “Bani” and “Zurriat”. The former stands for sons9 while the latter includes sons and daughters both.10 Therefore Adam had sons and daughters both.
Adam’s fatherhood of mankind was predestined and pre-ordained. The Qur’an bears witness that souls of all human beings had been gathered before the creation of the universe and were asked to pledge in the name of Bani Adam (sons of Adam). It therefore seems to be a decision from the Beginning.
When thy Lord drew forth from the Children of Adam — from their loins — their descendants, and made them testify concerning themselves, (saying): ‘Am I not your Lord (who cherishes and sustains you)?’ — They said: ‘Yea! We do testify!’ (Qur’an, 7:172)
Adam’s Fatherhood of Man is Everlasting Too
Did I not enjoin on you, O ye children of Adam, that ye should not worship Satan; for that he was to you an enemy avowed? (Qur’an, 36:60)
In this way Adam’s fatherhood of mankind is indisputably clear and will remain so till the Day of Judgment. Anything that counters such explicit verses of the Qur’an is worthy of rejection.
Adam is a symbol of human dignity. The status of “best of creatures” for man was accorded to man only on the basis of dignity of Adam. A verse of the holy Qur’an clarifies this position further:
We have honored the sons of Adam; provided them with transport on land and sea; given them for sustenance things good and pure; and conferred on them special favours above a great part of Our Creation. (Qur’an, 17:70)
Hadith Explains Qur’an Further
Having had a look at the Qur’an we can now have an insight into Hadith which basically interprets or explains the Divine Scripture. This could be verified from the following verses:
We have sent down to thee the Book in truth, that thou mightest judge between men, as guided by Allah: so be not (used) as an advocate by those who betray their trust. (Qur’an, 4:105)
And we have sent down unto thee (also) the Message; that thou mayest explain clearly to men what is sent for them, and that they may give thought. (Qur’an, 16:44)
And We have sent down the Book to thee for the express purpose that thou shouldst make clear to them those things in which they differ, and that it should be a guide and a mercy to those who believe. (Qur’an, 16:64)
This makes abundantly clear the role of Hadith. Now we will look at the supporting role of Hadith in whatever we have explained through the Qur’an.
Adam: The First Man on Earth
Allah has eliminated the arrogance of the Jahiliyah days and the pride of lineage. (So only two kinds of people remain): the pious faithfuls or the unfortunate wrong-doers. All of you are offspring of Adam and Adam was created out of dust. (So boasting and pride do not go with creatures created out of dust)11
Delivering his Victory Address of Makkah , the holy Prophet addressed the Makkans thus:
O Quraish! Allah has driven out of you all that was associated with dark ages. Men are created out of Adam and Adam was created out of dust. Then he recited the Qur’anic Verse:
O mankind! We created you from a single (Pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other. Verily the most honoured in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).12
From this it can inferred that Qur’an and Hadith compliment each other.
The following Hadith even goes to say that no human being existed before Adam on the earth:
No creature will be larger than Dajjal between Adam and the Day of Judgment.13
This confirms the above fact. Were there any creatures earlier to Adam, they would never have been overlooked because:
And your Lord never forget. (Qur’an, 19:64)
References:
- Tafseer Ibne Kathir, Egypt, Vol. 1, P.448.
- Tafseer Kashshaf, Iran, Vol. 1, P.492.
- Tafseer Kabeer, New Edition, Vol. 13, P. 102.
- Sahih Bukhari, “Kitabul Anbia”, 1, Istanbul, Vol. 4, P.103.
- Tafseer Ibne Kathir, Egypt, Vol. 2, P. 159.
- Tafseer Kabeer, Vol. 13, P. 103.
- Sahih Bukhari, “Kitabul Anbia”, 1, Vol. 4, P. 104; Sahih Muslim, “Kitabul Qasama”, Hadith 27, Riyadh, Vol. 3, P. 1304.
- For details vide: Tafseer Ibne Jarir Tabri, Vol. 1, P. 170; Tafseer Ibne Kathir, Vol. 1, P. 73; Tafseer Ibne Jauzi, Damascus, Vol. 1, Pp. 62-63; Tafseer Roohul Ma’ani, Beirut, Vol. 1, P. 224; Tafseer Kashshaf, Vol. 1, P.272; Tafseer Kabeer, Egypt, Vol. 1, P. 258.
- Mo’jam Alfazil Qur’anil Kareem, Egypt, 1390 A.H., Vol. 1, P. 129.
- Ibid., Vol. 1, P. 435.
- Abu Daud, “Kitabul Adab”, Hims, Syria, Vol. 5, P. 340; Jamiut Tirmizi, “Abwaabul Manaqib”, Hadith 4049, Beirut, Vol. 5, P. 390; Musnad Ahmed Bin Hambal, Beirut, Vol.2, P.361.
- Hadaiqul Anwaar, Qatar, Vol.2, Pp. 674-75.
- Sahih Muslim, “Kitabul Fitan”, 126, Vol. 4, P. 2267.