🌍 Prophet Adam (AS) – The First Human and Prophet in Islam
🧪 The Divine Plan: Creation of Adam (AS)
In the beginning, before the existence of humans, Allah (SWT) decided to create a new being—a human who would serve as His vicegerent (khalifah) on Earth. Allah ﷻ announced to the angels:
❝ Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority (khalifah). ❞
— Surah Al-Baqarah (2:30)
🌱 Allah created Adam (AS) from a mixture of earthly clay. He shaped him and breathed into him His soul, giving life to the first human.
❝ When I have fashioned him and breathed into him of My Spirit, fall down in prostration to him. ❞
— Surah Sad (38:72)
Once Adam (AS) was shaped, Allah breathed His spirit into him, bringing him to life. As soon as he took his first breath, Adam (AS) sneezed and praised Allah by saying, “Alhamdulillah” (All praise is due to Allah). Allah responded, “May Allah have mercy upon you, O Adam” (Jami at-Tirmidhi 3367).
📚 The Gift of Knowledge
After creating Adam (A.S.), Allah honored him in a profound and unique way: by granting him knowledge that even the angels did not possess. This moment is deeply symbolic in Islamic theology, establishing the foundational importance of knowledge, reason, and understanding in the human role on Earth.
❝ And He taught Adam the names – all of them. Then He presented them to the angels and said, ‘Tell Me the names of these, if you are truthful.❞
— Surah Al-Baqarah (2:31)
When the angels were asked to name these things, they admitted their limitation:
❝ They said, ‘Glory be to You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, it is You who is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.❞
— Surah Al-Baqarah (2:32)
❝ 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 [aspects] of the heavens and the earth?❞
— Surah Al-Baqarah (2:33)
🌟 What Were “the Names”?
Scholars have discussed what “the names” refer to. The Arabic word al-asmaa’ (الأسماء) can mean more than just literal names:
Names and attributes of all things — animals, plants, objects, and concepts.
Knowledge of functions and purposes of creation.
Language and communication — possibly the first form of human speech.
Spiritual and moral concepts — some scholars suggest Adam was taught moral knowledge, divine attributes, or even names of future prophets and righteous people.
This knowledge gave Adam the ability to understand, name, categorize, and articulate — a capacity that distinguishes humans from other creatures.
Angels Prostrate, Iblis Refuses
After bestowing Adam (A.S.) with knowledge and demonstrating his unique status, Allah commanded the angels to prostrate to Adam. This act was not worship (which is due to Allah alone), but a gesture of honor and recognition of Adam’s elevated rank among creation.
❝ So the angels prostrated — all of them entirely. Except Iblis — he refused and was arrogant and became of the disbelievers. ❞
— Surah Al-Baqarah (2:34)
All the angels, created from light and programmed for obedience, immediately submitted to Allah’s command without hesitation. Their prostration was a demonstration of:
Respect for Allah’s decision.
Recognition of Adam’s God-given honor and knowledge.
Affirmation of divine wisdom.
🔥 Iblis Refuses: The Birth of Arrogance
❝ Except Iblis — he refused, was arrogant, and became of the disbelievers ❞
— Surah Al-Baqarah (2:34)
Iblis, though included in the command, refused to prostrate. While not an angel by origin — he was a jinn, created from smokeless fire (Surah Al-Kahf 18:50) — he had been elevated to dwell among the angels due to his former righteousness. However, when tested, his hidden pride was exposed.
❝ [Iblis] said, ‘I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay❞
— (Surah Al-A‘raf 7:12)
His objection was rooted in arrogance, prejudice, and flawed reasoning. He considered fire superior to clay, overlooking that superiority in Allah’s sight is based on piety and obedience, not material origin. Because of his defiance and pride, Allah cast Iblis out of Paradise and stripped him of his honored status:
❝ Get down from Paradise. It is not for you to be arrogant here. ❞
— Surah Al-A‘raf (7:13)
This marked the beginning of Iblis’s fall — not just physically, but spiritually. He was no longer among the righteous. He became Shaytan — the accursed, the enemy of mankind. Rather than repent, Iblis made a bold and dangerous vow — he would dedicate his existence to misleading humanity, out of spite for Adam and his descendants. Iblis vowed:
❝ I will surely mislead them all — except Your sincere servants. ❞
— Surah Sad (38:82–83)
This declaration made clear:
His open rebellion against Allah’s plan.
His intense jealousy and hatred toward humankind.
That only those truly sincere (mukhlaseen) — the loyal servants of Allah — would be protected from his influence.
🌳 Adam and Hawwa in Paradise
After creating Adam (A.S.), Allah gifted him with a partner — Hawwa (Eve) — to bring him comfort and companionship. According to Islamic tradition, she was created from Adam himself, and they became the first human pair, united in peace and harmony.
Allah placed Adam and Hawwa in Jannah, a place of unimaginable beauty, peace, and abundance. In this perfect environment, they were free to enjoy every blessing:
“O Adam, dwell — you and your wife — in Paradise and eat therefrom in [ease and] abundance from wherever you will. But do not approach this tree, lest you be among the wrongdoers.”
— Surah Al-Baqarah (2:35)
They were granted complete freedom, with only one clear restriction: Avoid a specific tree. This command was not a burden, but a test of their obedience and trust in Allah’s wisdom. Iblis, already cast out and burning with envy, now focused on misleading Adam and Hawwa. He was determined to make them fall — just as he had fallen.
He whispered slyly:
“Your Lord only forbade you this tree so that you would not become angels or become of the immortals.”
— Surah Al-A‘raf (7:20)
He swore falsely that he was giving sincere advice:
“And he swore [by Allah] to them, ‘Indeed, I am to you from among the sincere advisors.’”
— Surah Al-A‘raf (7:21)
Shaytan preyed on two human vulnerabilities:
Desire for permanence (immortality)
Aspiration to be elevated (like the angels)
🌲 The Forbidden Act
Tempted and deceived, they eventually gave in to Shaytan’s whisper and ate from the forbidden tree.
“So they both ate of it, and their nakedness became apparent to them, and they began to cover themselves with leaves of Paradise.”
— Surah Al-A‘raf (7:22)
This act symbolized the loss of innocence. Before the sin, they were clothed in spiritual light. Afterward, they became aware of their vulnerability and shame.
💔 Repentance and Allah’s Mercy
Realizing their mistake, Adam and Hawwa turned to Allah in repentance:
❝ Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves. If You do not forgive us and have mercy on us, we will be among the losers. ❞
— Surah Al-A‘raf (7:23)
💧Allah accepted their repentance:
❝ Then Adam received words from his Lord, and He accepted his repentance. Indeed, He is the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful. ❞
— Surah Al-Baqarah (2:37)
🌍 Descent to Earth
Allah then said:
❝ Get down from Paradise – some of you enemies to others. And for you on Earth is a place of dwelling and provision for a time. ❞
— Surah Al-A‘raf (7:24)
According to traditions:
Adam (AS) descended to the Indian subcontinent 🌏
Hawwa (AS) descended to the region of Jeddah 🌊
They reunited at Jabal Rahmah near Mount Arafat 🗻
This marked the beginning of life on Earth.
👨👩👦 The First Family and First Sin on Earth
After being sent down to Earth, Prophet Adam (A.S.) and Hawwa (Eve) began their new life as the first human beings. They had many children over time. According to Islamic tradition (though not detailed in the Qur’an), Adam and Hawwa had twins — a boy and a girl — with each birth. One of the earliest pairs included Habil (Abel) and Qabil (Cain), two sons of Adam who would play a pivotal role in the early moral history of mankind.
🐑 The Test of Sacrifice: To settle a matter of marriage (according to some narrations), Adam instructed both sons to offer a sacrifice for the sake of Allah. It was a test of sincerity and righteousness
❝ When they both offered a sacrifice, and it was accepted from one and not the other, he (Qabil) said: I will kill you. ❞
— Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:27)
Habil, being righteous and sincere, offered his best livestock.
Qabil, with a rebellious heart, offered poor-quality crops.
🔹 Allah accepted Habil’s offering — because it came with sincerity and obedience.
🔹 He rejected Qabil’s offering — due to his insincerity and arrogance.
This rejection sparked envy in Qabil’s heart. Instead of correcting himself, he turned on his brother.
🔪 The First Murder in Human History
Overcome by jealousy and pride, Qabil threatened his brother:
“He said: I will surely kill you.”
(Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:27)
Habil responded with humility and piety:
“Indeed, Allah only accepts from the righteous. If you raise your hand against me to kill me — I will not raise mine to kill you. Indeed, I fear Allah, Lord of the worlds.”
(Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:27–28)
Despite this gentle plea, Qabil gave in to his hatred:
“So his soul permitted to him the murder of his brother, and he killed him. Thus, he became among the losers.”
— Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:30)
This was the first act of murder on Earth — a grave sin that introduced violence, injustice, and bloodshed into human history.
🪦 The First Burial: A Lesson from a Crow
After killing his brother, Qabil was struck with guilt and confusion. He didn’t know what to do with the lifeless body of Habil. It was then that Allah sent a powerful lesson through nature:
“Then Allah sent a crow scratching the ground to show him how to hide the disgrace of his brother.”
— Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:31)
Qabil watched as the crow dug into the earth and buried another dead crow — demonstrating the method of burial.
“He said: Woe to me! Have I failed to be like this crow and hide the body of my brother?”
— Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:31)
Thus, Qabil became remorseful, but he had already committed a grave sin that could not be undone.
📜 Adam (AS) as the First Prophet
Adam (AS) was not only the first human but also the first prophet.
He taught his children:
☝️ Worship Allah alone
⚖️ Live justly
🙏 Repent after sin
📚 Share knowledge
He passed divine teachings, guided society, and laid the spiritual foundation of humanity.
🕊️ His Death and Legacy
Prophet Adam (A.S.), the first human and the first prophet, lived a long and purposeful life on Earth. According to authentic Islamic narrations and historical sources such as Ibn Kathir’s “Stories of the Prophets,” Adam lived for approximately 960 years.
📜 His Final Advice
As his time on Earth drew to a close, Adam (A.S.) gathered his children and descendants to leave them with his final words — a message that would become the foundation of every divine message to come
“O my children, obey Allah, stay on the straight path, and follow the guidance of the prophets.”
These final words reflected the essence of his mission:
Worship Allah alone (Tawheed)
Avoid Shaytan’s deception
Uphold righteousness and moral responsibility
Await future prophets who will continue Allah’s guidance
Adam taught his children how to live by divine principles, and he passed down the knowledge that Allah had given him — planting the seeds of revelation and spirituality.
🪦 His Passing and Burial
Upon his death, Adam (A.S.) was buried on Earth — making his burial the second after that of his son Habil. Islamic tradition holds that his son Sheeth (Seth), also a prophet, led the funeral prayer and buried him with honor.
📍 The exact location of his grave is disputed, but some classical narrations suggest:
Near Mount Abu Qubais close to Mecca
In India or Jerusalem
Wherever he rests, Adam’s burial established a practice for future generations: to honor the dead through burial and prayer.
