Adam AS – The First Human Being to Ever Exist
Who was he?
Imagine being the first ever human being to ever exist and set foot on this planet. When we speak about Adam AS, we think about the words “Khalifah” which means a successor or a ruler on Earth. But he was not just any ordinary ruler, he was also our first ever prophet AKA نبي
As Allah SWT has mentioned in the Quran, Adam AS is a human being who was created out of clay and all the Angels were informed about this creation because the only two major creations that existed before mankind that we know for sure of included the Jinns (out of a smokeless flame) and the Angels (out of light).
Where did he live?
Adam (AS) and Hawwa (AS) descended from the Heavens to Earth after he ate from the tree that he was instructed not to go near. However, in terms of where exactly on Earth he descended, the Quran does not explicitly mention anything about it, and there is no authentic hadith either that states a specific location. There are some weak hadiths, such as one narrated by Ibn Asakir in Tarikh Dimashq (7/437) that says: “Adam came down in India and felt lonely…”. This was considered weak by Shaykh Al-Albani in As-Silsilah Ad-Da`ifah, no. 403.
As Allah SWT has mentioned in the Holy Quran, Iblis is a sworn enemy to Adam AS and the rest of mankind. So when Allah SWT casted him out of the Heavens, he was destined to live there with his wife Hawwa (AS) and treat Earth as their abode and place of worship.
What is the story of Prophet Adam AS?
Adam AS was the only man in Jannah at that time. And it is said that while he was napping under a tree, a feeling of loneliness came over him. That is when Allah SWT placed before him a woman who was to be his companion and soulmate for life, Hawwa (AS). Allah SWT ordered both of them to remain in Jannah and have everything they desired, absolutely everything, except there came with it a condition. Allah SWT commanded them not to even go near the tree, let alone touch it or eat from it. This was surely a test from Allah, but Iblis had other plans.
This verse reinforces the fact that Allah SWT had given certain orders to Adam AS and his wife and also a warning about the forbidden tree, thus giving in to the concept of free will and temptation that is indeed not just human nature, but a result of Satan’s trickery.
The verse proves that Satan did in fact tempt Adam AS and his wife to go near that tree, and not just near it, but also to eat from it. He used different methods of persuasion to lead their hearts towards what is prohibited and he succeeded by telling them lies about why Allah SWT had restricted them from it. Iblis convinced them clearly by saying, “Your Lord has forbidden this tree to you only to prevent you from becoming angels or immortals.” Most believe that even though humans are given free will, Adam AS was predestined to eat from it as suggested by the following hadiths:
So what happened after they sinned? There was a part of their body (their awrah) that was concealed with light AKA noor. As they took the fruit from that tree, suddenly they were naked. They were not running around naked, however. But the noor had vanished from their bodies due to the sin they committed. This goes to show how our sins do indeed take away from our spiritual beauty, that is the true power of good deeds and obedience towards Allah SWT. What happened after? A feeling of shame took over them. They had been deceived because of their gullibility and Adam AS had never, ever heard a lie in his entire lifetime before. That was his first ever lie. Most scholars agree that they lived in Jannah, the Garden of Eden, for over 40 years, but again Allah knows best. After their bodies were exposed they began covering themselves with large leaves of Paradise. They begged for Allah’s forgiveness as mentioned in the following verse in the Quran:
Allah SWT did forgive them however as he is the Most Merciful:
Allah SWT reminded them both He will always be there for them when he needs Him and they will continue the rest of their journey on Earth. The most heart-shattering part of the story is that it is known that Adam AS and Hawwa AS did not however land on the same part of the Earth. They had to search for one another, the same way one searches for a spouse in today’s time. They searched and searched until they found each other on Mount Arafat also known as the Mountain of Acquaintance. How beautiful is that?
Who were the children of Adam AS?
It is confirmed that Hawwa AS gave birth to about several sets of twins, with each set containing a boy and a girl. The first brothers that were born were Qabil and Habil, the elder one being Qabil. However, in order to marry and complete half of their deen, the males were only allowed to marry a female from another set of twins and vice versa, which at that time makes sense due to the lack of human population. But there was a twist in the story. Qabil wanted to marry his own twin sister because she was very, very beautiful, whom Habil had ended up marrying instead and due to this, the jealousy inside of him grew. Habil was stronger physically and spiritually as well. When he started to notice the envy in his heart, he tried to guide Qabil towards the straight path by saying to him “Fear Allah SWT for this is the decree”.
Adam AS clearly aware of this brought them together one day and requested them to offer an offering to Allah SWT and see which one is accepted. Habil presented Allah SWT with his fattest and finest sheep while Qabil got the worst bits of wheat he had. Allah accepted the fine one and rejected the one of the worst quality. Qabil then said to his younger brother, “I will kill you.” Habil, because of his closeness and fear of Allah SWT, the Lord of all mankind, said to him, “Oh brother, even if you stretch out your hand to kill me, I will not stretch out my hand to kill you.”
Verily, it was Habil’s piety and faith in Allah SWT that made him good of heart and character, thus allowing him to perform his best, treat others with kindness and forgiveness, and pass Allah’s tests. Surely, the rewards for the good and pious are immense.
So what happens next? Qabil listens to his evil intentions and gives into them, murdering his own brother out of pure hatred and envy. Upon doing this, he realizes he does not know what to do with the body as it is mentioned in the Quran, so Allah SWT sends down 2 crows that fight with one another in which one of them buries the other to demonstrate how to bury a corpse.
As it is mentioned in the previous verse, Qabil immediately became regretful of his actions. The moment he killed his brother, since it was the first murder ever committed on Earth by a human being, he was walking around with the body, completely bewildered as to what he had done and unable to hide his cruel action from anyone. But Allah was watching. And even in that moment Allah SWT was there to show him, this is how you bury a dead body.
Despite Qabil’s sheer devastation after his first murder, he did not repent to Allah. He did not return to Allah even despite feeling that immense load of regret.
So what happens after?
Qabil did not return to his father. Some narrations have said that Iblis came to Hawwa AS and told her Qabil has killed Habil, but she was confused about what it means to be killed.
In other narrations, it is said that Qabil did not know how to kill him so Iblis came to him and educated him on it by instructing Qabil to take a rock and smash it on Habil’s head.
Hawwa did not know what death was so Iblis said to her “It is when a person can no longer walk or talk or eat or do anything”. Hawwa AS was devastated upon hearing this. Eventually, Adam AS came to her and asked her what’s wrong and she kept crying and crying and refused to answer. She had no words, just tears. Adam AS kept silent.
What about the rest of the children of Adam AS?
The grief of losing both of his sons was immense and unimaginable for Adam AS. He lost Habil to death and Qabil to the spell of the devil. So to prevent his other children from going astray like Qabil, he made sure the rest of the children were guided and mentored so they do not fall into the ill temptations of the world and so that they can live a life that will please Allah SWT and only Allah SWT instead. It is said that our father Adam lived a fulfilling and pious life devoting much of his time to worshiping Allah SWT, despite his trials and tribulations, whilst also taking care of his family, and sticking to his morals and of course, our beloved way of life, Islam.
Then came a day when Adam AS fell ill and he said to his children:
“my children, indeed I feel an appetite for the fruits of Paradise.”
Allah SWT informed Adam AS that at a certain place you will find something. What was that something though? Adam AS craved for the fruits of Paradise and wanted his children to satisfy his desire. Being the obedient children they were, they set out to search for those fruits and on their way, they encountered a group of Angels. Allah Hu Akbar. Actual Angels descended to Earth to inform the children of Adam that they are Angels and to instruct the children to return to their father as he is ill and his time on this Earth is up.
So the children hurried back home and then as soon as they entered, Hawwa AS immediately recognized the Angel of Death. She hid behind him, apprehensive. She knew what was to come but Subhan’Allah Adam AS was not worried at all so he informed her to not worry. He reminded his children about how there will be plenty of messengers to come, at different times and places, with different languages and dialects, but their message will be one. To worship Allah SWT and to believe in the Day of Judgement. And so the angels took the soul of Adam AS, wrapped him in a shroud, dug his grave and laid him inside.
Adam AS passed away peacefully as his children and his wife surrounded him. Allah Hu Akbar.
helloooooooo
helloooo