1. Prophets Series – Story of Hazrat Adam and Eve
Complete story of Hazrat Adam and Eve (Hawwa). I will try my best to provide a brief note of their story. The references are mentioned and taken from the Holy Quran and authentic books. If you find any problem, do let me know. My email address is present at the bottom of this post.
The Creation of first human – Hazrat Adam
Allah created Hazrat Adam from clay.
“˹Remember, O Prophet˺ when your Lord said to the angels, ‘I am going to create a human being from sounding clay moulded from black mud……..”
Chapter 15 (Surah Al-Hijr) verse 28
This is how the children of Adam came according to the (color and nature of the) clay. There are white among them, as well as red and black, and cross colors. There are those among them who are of bad nature and good nature, soft as well as harsh and in between. Allah the Almighty created Adam with His Hand. So He created him a human, and he remained as an earthen body for forty years. Allah shaped Adam into a human being, but he remained a figure of clay for 40 years [1] When the angels passed by and saw him, they became frightened. Iblis was the most frightened among them. He would pass by him and hit him, and the body would make a sound like the sound of pottery with a rattle. It is this that Allah has mentioned in this Verse:
“He created man (Adam) from a clay, like the clay of pottery.”
Chapter 55 (Surah Ar-Rahman) verse 14
Iblis said: There must be something for which he is created. He entered through his mouth and came out by his anus, and said to the angels: “Do not be frightened of it, because your Lord is Samad (solid) {i.e. Absolute. Eternal} and this is Ajwaf (hollow). If I overpower him I will destroy him.” When the time approached in which Allah wanted to breathe “into him the soul which He created for him,” He said to the angels: “When I have breathed the soul in him, you should prostrate before him. ”
[1] Sahih Muslim 2611 and Ahmad 3/152
How Adam Sneezed First Time ?
When Allah breathed “into him the soul,” and the soul passed through to his head Adam sneezed. The angels said: “Say: Alhamdu lillah Praise be to Allah! So he said: “Alhamdu illah.” Allah said afterwards: “Rahimaka Rabbula (Your Lord has mercy upon you). Allah created human of haste. When the soul entered into his eyes he saw the fruits of Paradise, and when it entered into his stomach he desired for food. Hence, he jumped up in haste. for the fruits of Paradise before the soul even entered into his legs. [1] That is what Allah indicated in this Verse:
“Man is created of haste.”
Chapter 21 (Surah Al-Anbiya) verse 37
[1] Sahih Ibne Hibban 6165
Allah stroked the back of Hazrat Adam
When Allah created Adam, He stroked his back. So all the souls that were due to be born in his progeny until the Day of Judgement, came out of his back. Between the eyes of every human He made a shining light and put them before Adam. Adam said: ‘O Lord! Who are they?’ He replied: ‘They are your progeny.’ He saw a man among them whose shining light attracted him. Adam asked: ‘O Lord! Who is this?’ Alläh answered him: ‘He is a man who will come in the last of your progeny, and who will be called David’. He asked Him: ‘O Lord! How long have You made his life-span?’ Allah said: ‘Sixty years.’ Adam asked Allah: ‘O Lord! Give him an increase of forty years from my life-span…’
“Allah created Adam, then He stroked his back with His Right Hand and took out from it some of his progeny and said: ‘I have created these for Paradise, and they will be doing the deeds of those who deserve Paradise.’ Then He stroked his back again and took out the rest of his progeny, and said: ‘I have created these for Hell, and they will be doing the deeds of those who deserve Hell’. A Companion said: “O Messenger of Allah! Then what is a deed for?” The Prophet replied: “When Allah creates a person for Paradise, He facilitates for him to do the deeds of the people of Paradise, till he dies on those deeds and so Allah enters him in Paradise for those deeds. And when He creates a person for Hell, He facilitates for him to do the deeds of the people of Hell, till he dies on those deeds, and so Allah enters him in the Hell for those deeds.” [2]
[1] At-Tirmidhi 3076
[2] Mu’atta of Malik 2/899 + At-Tirmidhi 3075
Allah says:
“And ˹remember˺ when your Lord brought forth from the loins of the children of Adam their descendants and had them testify regarding themselves. ˹Allah asked,˺ “Am I not your Lord?” They replied, “Yes, You are! We testify.” ˹He cautioned,˺ “Now you have no right to say on Judgment Day, ‘We were not aware of this.’”
Chapter 7 (Surah Al-A’raf) verse 172
Height of Hazrat Adam
How tall was Hazrat Adam? and What is the history of Assalamu Alaykum? Well Abu Hurairah has narrated that the Prophet said: [1]
“Allah created Adam, and he was sixty Dhira’a (cubits) tall [2] , and then said to him: ‘Go and greet those angels, and listen to what they greet you back with, because that will be your greeting and the greeting of your progeny: Adam said: ‘Assalamu ‘Alaikum. They greeted him back by saying: ‘Assalamu ‘Alaikum wa Rahma ullah. ‘ So, they added to what he said: wa Rahmatullah.’ Hence, everyone who enters Paradise, will enter it in Adam’s image, and since that time humans are being reduced (in their height) till now.”
[1] Al-Bukhari 3326
[2] 90 feets
Placing a Khalifah in the Earth
Let’s begin from the start. Allah says in the Holy Quran:
“Remember˺ when your Lord said to the angels, “I am going to place a successive ˹human˺ authority on earth.” They asked ˹Allah˺, “Will You place in it someone who will spread corruption there and shed blood while we glorify Your praises and proclaim Your holiness?” Allah responded, “I know what you do not know.”
Allah the Almighty informs us that He has addressed the angels saying to them: “I am going to place a Khalifah in the earth.” He expressed His intention of creating Adam and his progeny, of whom one generation would succeed another, as He has said in another Verse: “And He is the One Who has made you to succeed one another on the earth.” (6:165). Thus He informed the angels about the creation of Adam and his progeny. The angels sought more information about the Divine wisdom of creating Adam, and not as to launch any protest or to demean the position of mankind, as some of the ignorant may misunderstand it. They said: “Will you place therein one who will make mischief and shed blood?” (2:30) It is said by Qatadah that the angels knew that this was going to be the case, from what they had observed of other creatures who lived on the earth before Adam, like the jinn.
War Between Jins and Angels
Abdullah bin ‘Umar us said: “jinn lived about two thousand years before Adam on the earth, and they shed blood. Allah sent an army of angels who expelled them to remote islands. Al-Hasan Al-Basri said: Iblis (Satan) has never been from the angels at any time. He was one of the jinn. When they made mischief on the earth, Allah sent to them an army of angels who Killed them and made them flee to remote islands. Iblis was one of those captured and taken to the heavens, and he stayed there.
“And we glorify You with Your praise and sanctify You,” (2:30) means: we always worship You and none of us ever disobey You. If You wanted from the creation of Adam and his progeny that they worship You, then we are here. We unabatedly worship You day and night. “He said I certainly know what you know not.” (2:30) means Allah told them that He had the best of knowledge about the preponderant benefit in their creation, which they had no knowledge of. There will be Prophets, Messengers, righteous, martyrs and pious people from among them.
Allah taught Hazrat Adam the names of Everything
He taught Adam the names of all things, then He presented them to the angels and said, “Tell Me the names of these, if what you say is true?” They replied, “Glory be to You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. You are truly the All-Knowing, All-Wise.” Allah said, “O Adam! Inform them of their names.” Then when Adam did, Allah said, “Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of the heavens and the earth, and I know what you reveal and what you conceal?”
Chapter 2 (Surah Al-Baqarah) verse 31-33
Then Allah the Almighty explained the eminence of Adam above the angels regarding the knowledge and said: “He has taught Adam the names of every thing.” What kind of names did Allah teach Hazrat Adam? Ibn ‘Abbãs u said: These are the names of those objects through which people recognise things and communicate in their daily life, be they big or small, like humans, animals, earth, lands, seas, mountains, camel, donkey, and similar names of the nations and otherwise. Mujahid said: He taught him the names of dishes and pots. He taught him the names of every animal, every bird and every thing. That is how it is explained also by Sa’id bin Jubair, Qatadah and others. Ar-Rabi said: He taught him the names of the angels. However, the preferable opinion is that Allah taught him the names of all creation, and their functions, be they smallest of objects or largest of them, as indicated by In ‘Abbas.
Hazrat Adam told the names to angels
Prostration of Angels
And ˹remember˺ when We said to the angels, “Prostrate before Adam,” so they all did—but not Iblis who protested, “Should I prostrate to the one You have created from mud?”
Chapter 17 (Surah Al-Isra) verse 61
They prostrated except Iblis (Shaytan), who was one of the jinn. He disobeyed the Command of his Lord. Will you then take him and his progeny as your as protectors and helpers rather than Me while they are enemies to you.? [1]. It meant that he disobeyed Allah wilfully, out of stubbornness and being too proud to obey His command. It was his natural disposition and evil composition that betrayed him, as he was created from fire. It is narrated from ‘Aishah who narrated from the Prophet se saying: “The angels are created from light, and jinn are created out of searing fire. And Adam is created from what it had been described to you.” [2]
(click here to read: What fire was used to create the Jinns?)
(click here to read: Is Shaytan a Disbeliever?)
So, Shaytan didn’t obey the command of Allah. Allah asked him: “What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you?” He (Shaytan) replied, “I am better than he is: You created me from fire and him from clay.” [3] The exegetes of the Quran are of different views regarding those angels who were ordered to prostrate before Adam. Were they the angels in general? or Were they the angels of the earth only who were commanded to prostrate before Adam? The context supports the opinion of the majority, as we have seen in the Verses above, as well as this Hadith: “..and He made His angels to prostrate before him.” When Allah said to Iblis: “Get down from here” and “Get out from here” [4] , is a clear indication that he was in the heaven. As a result the angels were also of heavens. “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘When a son of Adam recites a Sajdah and prostrates, Satan withdraws weeping, saying: ‘Woe is me! The son of Adam was commanded to prostrate and he prostrated, and Paradise will be his; I was commanded to prostrate and I refused, so I am doomed to Hell.’” [5]
[1] Chapter 18 (Surah Al-Kahf) verse 50
[2] Sahih Muslim 2996
[3] Chapter 7 (Surah Al-A’raf) verse 12
[4] Chapter 7 (Surah Al-A’raf) verse 13
[5] Sunan Ibn Majah 1052
Punishment of Shaytan (Iblis)
Allah commanded, “Then get out of Paradise, for you are truly cursed. And surely upon you is condemnation until the Day of Judgment.”.[1] This verse clearly depicts that Adam was created in Paradise.
“He (Iblis) said: ‘Because You have sent me astray, certainly I will lie in wait for them on Your straight path. Then I shall come upon them from in front of them, and from behind them, and from their right, and from their left, and You will not find most of them grateful.”[1] . So instead of asking for forgiveness, Iblis said this. Prophet Muhammad Peace be upon him said: “Satan lies in wait for man on every one of his paths.” [2]
[1] Chapter 7 (Surah Al-A’raf) verse 16-17
[2] Ahmad 3/483
Four Honors
How Allah honored Hazrat Adam? So these are four honors: He has created him with His Hand, breathed into him the soul which He created for him, commanded the angels to prostrate before him and taught him the names of things. When Adam met Moses in the Exalted Assembly and had a dispute, Moses said to him:
“You are Adam, the father of mankind, whom Allah has created with His Hand, breathed into you the soul which He created for you, commanded His angels to prostrate before you, and taught the names of all things.” [1]
[1] Al-Bukhari 4476
Creation of Eve (Hawwa)
Iblis (Satan) was expelled from Paradise and Adam was made to dwell in it. He wandered through it alone as he had no partner in whom he could seek his comfort. However, once he slept and when he woke up, he found a woman sitting near his head, whom Allah had created from his rib. Adam asked her: “What are you?” She replied: “A woman.” He asked her again: “What are you created for?” She answered: “So you could seek comfort in me.” Angels who were well aware of the extent of the knowledge of Adam asked: “What is her name O Adam?” He said: “Eve (Hawwa).” They asked him: “Why is it Hawwa?” Adam replied: “Because she was created from something living.” It is said that she was created from the shortest rib of his left side while he was sleeping, and then its place was dressed (bandaged) with flesh.
“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should not hurt (trouble) his neighbor. And I advise you to take care of the 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.”
Al-Bukhari 5186
Story of Adam and Eve in Paradise
Allah ,the Almighty, commanded Adam and his wife to dwell in the Paradise and said: “And We said: ‘O Adam! Dwell you and your wife in Paradise, and eat therefrom, freely as you please; and do not approach this Tree lest you become transgressors.'” [1] click here to read: How long did Adam and Eve stay in paradise?
[1] Chapter 2 (Surah Al-Baqarah) verse 35
Is The Prohibited Tree The Tree of Knowledge? What is the forbidden fruit? What did the Almighty desire? Should man eat the forbidden fruit or not? What fruit did Prophet Adam eat in Islam? Was it the Tree of immortality? I have already given my answers to these questions. If you want to read, just click on the question.
The Forbidden Tree
There are different opinions among exegetes as to what it meant by the Tree in this Verse: “And do not approach this Tree.” In one opinion it is suggested that it was the vine. Jews interpreted it as wheat. Some says that its seeds are softer than butter and sweeter than honey. Abu Malik said that this was the palm tree, while Mujahid suggested that it was the fig tree. However, some says that it is a kind of tree that if anybody eats from it, he would pass the wind, and Paradise is not a place to pass the wind. All these differences are quite close in their nature. However, Allah did not specify its name and left it obscure.
The Paradise in which Adam and Eve stayed
Where was that Paradise? Was it in the heaven or on the earth? The opinion of the majority of the scholars is that this Paradise was in the heaven; called Jannatul-Ma’wa (the Garden of Abode). But the second opinion is that it was a Paradise prepared by Allah specifically for Adam and Eve, which He made as a place for their trial. Those who held this opinion differed further, having two opinions regarding the whereabouts of that Paradise. The opinion is that it was upon the earth, since Allah put them to trial by forbidding them from a particular tree, which they were prohibited. This incident happened after Iblis (Satan) was commanded to prostrate before Adam. However, Allah knows the truth.
The trick of Satan (Iblis)
It is clear from the Quranic contexts that Iblis whispered his evil thoughts to Adam and addressed him by saying: “Shall I guide you to the Tree of Eternity and to a dominion that will never waste away?” Also by saying: “Your Lord has only forbidden you to approach this Tree, lest you become angels or immortal. And he swore to them: Truly I am for you a sincere advisor.’ Thus he led them on by delusion.” [1] The Verses are evidently clear that Iblis met them inside their Paradise. This could be answered (saying): It could not be ruled out that he met them in Paradise while he was passing by, not being a resident there; and that he whispered his evil thoughts to them from the gate of Paradise or from beneath the heavens. However, these answers are questionable. Those who said that Paradise was on the earth, they took evidence from the statement which Abdullah the son of Imam Ahmad has narrated in Ziyadat of Musnad from Ubai bin Ka’b who said: When the time of death approached to Adam, he desired a bunch of the grapes of Paradise. His sons went out to find it for him. On their way, they met angels who asked them: “Where are you going, O sons of Adam?” They answered: “Our father has desired for a bunch of the grapes of Paradise.” The angels said: “Go back, you have fulfilled his desire.” When they returned to him, they found him dead. They washed his body, embalmed it and wrapped it in a cloth. Then Gabriel (Jibrael) came and led other angels in prayer upon him, and buried him. Then they said to Adam’s children: “This is the burial procedure for your dead.” The holders of this opinion argue that were it not possible for Adams children to reach the Paradise, in which Adam had lived, and had a desire to eat from its grapes again, they would not have gone in search for it
[1] Chapter 7 (Surah Al-A’raf) verse 20-22
The Story of Appearance of Shameful parts of Adam and Eve
Iblis (Satan) whispered temptations to them and beautified his evil thoughts in their minds: “The Satan whispered to both of them so that he might lead them to see their shameful parts which had been hidden from each other. And said to them: Your Lord has only forbidden you to approach this Tree lest you become angels or immortal.” [1] Satan whispered to him, saying: ‘O Adam! Shall! guide you to the Tree of Eternity and to a dominion that will never waste away?” [2] i.e, shall I lead you to the Tree that if you eat from it, you will gain eternal state of happiness and bounty, and will have a dominion which will never cease or be destroyed. This was an act of sheer deception and delusion from Satan. Thus he led them on by delusion; and when they tasted of the Tree. Their shameful parts appeared to them and they began to cover themselves with leaves from the Garden.”
What was the first clothing of Hazrat Adam?
Who ate the fruit first? It was Eve who ate first from that Tree and it was her who incited Adam to eat from it. This is what may be understood from the Hadith which says: “Were it not for the Children of Israel, meats would not become rotten; and were it not for Eve, woman would not have cheated their husbands.’ [3] In the Torah which is in the hands of the People of the Book – it is said that the one who instigated Eve to eat from the Tree was the snake. It had a beautiful appearance. Eve was taken in by its word and ate from it and fed Adam as well. There is no mention of Iblis (Satan) in the Torah in this respect. Afterwards their eyes opened and they came to know that they were naked. They stitched together the leaves of figs and made out of it a covering. – So we find in the Torah, as well, that they were naked.
[1] Chapter 7 (Surah Al-A’raf) verse 20
[2] Chapter 20 ( Surah Taha) verse 120
[3] Sahih al-Bukhari 3399
Allah’s response
And their Lord called out to them saying: ” Did I not forbid you from that Tie, and say to you that Satan was an avowed enemy to you. They said. our Lord! We have wronged our souls and if you do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we shall certainly be among the losers… This Verse is a recognition of their mistake and sins and repentance from them. It shows their humility and submission and the need of retreating to Allah in the times of crises. If this wisdom prevailed in any human, he would certainly be successful in both the worlds. “He said: Descend, you are enemies to each other, and there is for you in the earth an abode and a provision until an appointed time.’ [1] This is addressed to Adam and Eve, as well as to Satan. A Hadith is cited to support the opinion that the snake was with them in which the Prophet & ordered to kill snakes, and he said: “We have not compromised with them since we had started our fight with them.’!
[1] Chapter 7 (Surah Al-A’raf) verse 23 -24
Friday
The Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him said: “The best day on which the sun has risen is Friday; on it Adam was created. on it he was made to enter Paradise, on it he was expelled from it. And the last hour will take place on no day other than Friday.” [1]
[1] Sahih Muslim 854
What was the first food for Hazrat Adam on Earth?
Allah accepted the repentance of Adam and Eve
![Surat Al-Baqarah [2:30-39]](https://legacy.quran.com/images/ayat_retina/2_37.png)
“Then Adam was inspired with words ˹of prayer˺ by his Lord, so He accepted his repentance. Surely He is the Accepter of Repentance, Most Merciful.”
Chapter 2 (Surah Al-Baqarah) verse 37
Death of Hazrat Adam
When the time of death approached to Adam, he desired a bunch of the grapes of Paradise. His sons went out to find it for him. On their way, they met angels who asked them: “Where are you going, O sons of Adam?” They answered: “Our father has desired for a bunch of the grapes of Paradise.” The angels said: “Go back, you have fulfilled his desire.” When they returned to him, they found him dead. They washed his body, embalmed it and wrapped it in a cloth. Then Gabriel (Jibrael) came and led other angels in prayer upon him, and buried him. Then they said to Adam’s children: “This is the burial procedure for your dead.”
Writer = Ayhian Ali
email = ayhianali@gmail.com