The story of Adam, peace be upon him: The beginning of creation, the secret of prostration, and the first human test
In the vastness of the universe, before mankind was created, God Almighty wanted to create a new being who would be his successor on earth and carry the trust of duty and worship. This being is Adam, peace be uponhim, the father of mankind, with whom the story of mankind on this earth began, and great wisdom and timeless lessons in repentance and return to God were manifested in him.
Creation of Adam: From Mud to Spirit
The story of Adam (peace be upon him) began with a great divine command. God created Adam from clay, from clay like pottery, then molded him and breathed his soul into him, and he was a normal human being. This unique creation demonstrates the greatness and omnipotence of the Creator, and that man, although his origin is from dust, carries a whiff of God’s spirit, which gives him a special dignity and status.
Evidence: The Holy Qur’an mentions this fact in its words:
إِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي خَالِقٌ بَشَرًا مِّن طِينٍ (71) فَإِذَا سَوَّيْتُهُ وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِي فَقَعُوا لَهُ سَاجِدِينَ (72)
(Surah S: 71-72).
The mystery of prostration: Honoring Adam and rejecting Lucifer
After God created Adam and breathed his soul into him, He commanded the angels to prostrate themselves to him. This command was a great honor for Adam and a declaration of man’s place in the universe. All the angels prostrated in obedience to their Lord’s command, except for Iblis.
Iblis refused to prostrate to Adam and argued with his Lord, saying: “I am better than him, you created me from fire and him from clay.” This refusal was the beginning of the eternal enmity between Iblis and his progeny on the one hand, and the children of Adam on the other. Iblis was the first to disobey God through pride and envy, so God expelled him from His mercy, and he became a terrible demon.
Evidence: The Almighty said:
وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ وَاسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ
(Surat al-Baqarah: 34).
The first human test in paradise: The forbidden tree
God gave Adam and his wife Eve (who was created from his rib to be his dwelling place) Paradise, and allowed them all its blessings, except for one tree that He forbade them to eat from. This was the first human test, a test of obedience and commitment to God’s command.
But Iblis, who swore to seduce Adam and Eve, tempted Adam and Eve to eat from the tree, saying that it was the tree of immortality or that it would make them kings. Adam and Eve responded to Satan’s temptation and ate from the tree, showing them their shame and realizing their mistake.
Evidence: The Holy Qur’an mentions the details of this test in the words of Almighty God:
فَوَسْوَسَ لَهُمَا الشَّيْطَانُ لِيُبْدِيَ لَهُمَا مَا وُورِيَ عَنْهُمَا مِن سَوْآتِهِمَا وَقَالَ مَا نَهَاكُمَا رَبُّكُمَا عَنْ هَٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةِ إِلَّا أَن تَكُونَا مَلَكَيْنِ أَوْ تَكُونَا مِنَ الْخَالِدِينَ
(Surat al-A’raf: 20).
Repentance and return to God: Mercy and forgiveness
Adam and Eve did not continue in their mistake, but soon realized their guilt and regretted it deeply. They repented and prayed to God with words taught to them by their Lord:
قَالَا رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
(Surat al-A’raf: 23).
Adam received words from his Lord, and God repented, because He is a merciful repentant. Thus, Adam’s sin was a lesson for all mankind in the importance of repentance, and that the door of God’s mercy is always open to people if they sin, repent, and return to Him.
Descent to Earth: The Beginning of Succession and Architecture
After repentance, God brought Adam and Eve down to the earth, which was to be their abode and enjoyment for a time. The descent was not a punishment, but the beginning of a new stage, the stage of succession on earth and its colonization. Adam was brought down to the earth to colonize it with worship, work, and science, to face the challenges of life, to learn from his mistakes, and to repent and return to his Lord.
Conclusion: Timeless lessons from the story of the father of mankind
The story of Adam, peace be upon him, is one of the most profound stories in the Qur’an that holds timeless lessons for humanity:
- Human dignity: Man’s status is great in the eyes of God, as he is His successor on earth.
- The danger of pride and envy: Arrogance and envy are the first sin with which God was disobeyed, and they are the root of all evil.
- The importance of obedience and commitment: Adherence to God’s commands is the path to survival and happiness.
- The door to repentance is open: No matter how great the sins are, the door to repentance is always open, and God is forgiving and merciful.
- The worldly life is a test: The earth is a place of work and trials, not eternity, and the ultimate goal is to return to paradise.
The story of Adam (peace be upon him) is the story of every human being, the story of testing, falling, repentance, returning to common sense, and seeking the satisfaction of the Creator.
What is the most important lesson you took away from the story of Adam?
