Category: The Life of The Prophets

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

Before the existence of mankind, the world was occupied by another creation of Allah named the jinn. They, just like us, have a choice in life – to choose right or wrong and whether or not to worship the creator. Unlike the mala’ika (angels) who simply follow Allah’s commands without option.

The jinn occupying the earth caused great calamity. Blood shed and corruption diseased the land until Allah sent the angels to fight against them pushing them into the seas. Allah says in the Qur’an:

“And when your Lord said to the angels, ‘Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority [mankind].’ They said, ‘Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?’Allah said, ‘Indeed, I know that which you do not know.'” 2:30

Allah paints a scene where He announces to the angels that he is to create another life form to live on earth. To which they responded knowing very well what previously happened with the jinn – that a life form with choice will cause more blood shed. They doubted the new creation and Allah responded accordingly.

Allah continues:

“And He taught Adam the names – all of them. Then He showed them to the angels and said, ‘Inform Me of the names of these, if you are truthful.'” 2:31

They said, “Exalted are You; we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, it is You who is the Knowing, the Wise.” 2:32

Allah then created mankind gave them knowledge which the angels did not have – thus proving to them His mightiness. They, as humble creatures accepted that they were wrong. Allah introduces the first human being:

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? And I know what you reveal and what you have concealed.'” 2:33

Moving forward Allah ordered Adam – of human creation – to prove the knowledge he was given. Allah then commanded the angels to prostrate to Adam.

And [mention] when We said to the angels, “Prostrate before Adam”; so they prostrated, except for Iblees. He refused and was arrogant and became of the disbelievers. 2:34

The shaytan (devil) who was formerly known as Iblees (he is from the jinn) reached such a noble state as to be with the angels.  Thus why he was commanded to prostrate along with them which he then refused.

“[ Allah ] said, ‘O Iblees, what prevented you from prostrating to that which I created with My hands? Were you arrogant [then], or were you [already] among the haughty?'” 38:75

“He said, ‘I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay.'” 38:76

He was arrogant and thus was expelled as a disbeliever and cursed until the day of judgement. He then asked Allah to give him until mankind is resurrected.

Shaytan wishes to get back at mankind, through his humiliation his plan is to take us all with him to jahanam (hell). He blames the humans as a whole for his expulsion and curse thus will be relentless with his revenge.

[ Allah ] said, “Then get out of Paradise, for indeed, you are expelled.

And indeed, upon you is My curse until the Day of Recompense.”

He said, “My Lord, then reprieve me until the Day they are resurrected.”

[ Allah ] said, “So indeed, you are of those reprieved

Until the Day of the time well-known.”

[Iblees] said, “By your might, I will surely mislead them all

Except, among them, Your chosen servants.”

[38:77-83]

Iblees vows to manipulate humans to do sin and do evil – except the true righteous servants who follow the path of Allah. This is the greatest test put upon mankind by Allah through the shaytan.

This is the introduction to mankind that is given to us in the Qur’an. Allah created us with the ability to make choices and these choices determine our fate when we return to Him after we pass.

Allah knows best.

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

After introducing Adam to the angels and Iblees, he was sent by Allah into jannah (paradise) to live. Allah then created Hawa’ from the creation of Adam who was made to be his partner.

The prophet (ﷺ) said: “Treat women nicely, for a woman is created from a rib, and the most curved portion of the rib is its upper portion, so, if you should try to straighten it, it will break, but if you leave it as it is, it will remain crooked.  So treat women nicely.” [Bukhari]

This is an important lesson we need to take heed from the creation of the first woman. Allah says:

“And We created you in pairs” 78:8

They proceeded to live a blessed life in jannah with everything they could ever want at their disposal. Out of everything available to them, Allah forbade only one thing:

And We said, “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.” 2:35

One tree to avoid was their only order. Let us try to imagine, how many trees would there be in jannah? Jannah translates to “garden”, the size of which we can never contemplate. The width of which is the only size we know, yet even that does not give us a clear image, only an idea:

“Race toward forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden whose width is like the width of the heavens and earth, prepared for those who believed in Allah and His messengers. That is the bounty of Allah which He gives to whom He wills, and Allah is the possessor of great bounty.” 57:21

They could have had anything at all. However, the Shaytan had a plan – he schemed to have them expelled from jannah. Allah also warned Adam and Hawa’ of the Shaytan’s intentions:

“So We said, ‘O Adam, indeed this is an enemy to you and to your wife. Then let him not remove you from Paradise so you would suffer.'” 20:117

Yet Shaytan is smart and knows how to play mankind. He knows of the greed human beings possess and plays it against Adam and Hawa’.

Then Satan whispered to him; he said, “O Adam, shall I direct you to the tree of eternity and possession that will not deteriorate?” 20:120

And Adam and his wife ate of it, and their private parts became apparent to them, and they began to fasten over themselves from the leaves of Paradise. And Adam disobeyed his Lord and erred. 20:121

There are some extremely important lessons to be learned from this scene. The first of which is the power of Shaytan’s whisper. This is not a literal whisper as we perceive; this is a deeper whisper in the mind of the human being drawing us towards evil.

Adam and Hawa’ were in paradise yet they were still deceived by Shaytan. We can only imagine his power against mankind on earth – a much lower place compared to jannah. This is so we never tell ourselves that Shaytan won’t effect us. As pious or righteous one may see oneself, Shaytan will always be there calling to evil. Allah says:

“Those who avoid the major sins and immoralities, only [committing] slight ones. Indeed, your Lord is vast in forgiveness. He was most knowing of you when He produced you from the earth and when you were foetuses in the wombs of your mothers. So do not claim yourselves to be pure; He is most knowing of who fears Him.” 53:32

Only Allah knows the true righteous. We cannot claim it upon ourselves as we will come to learn the weakness of mankind.

The second lesson is from where Allah mentions that Adam and Hawa’s private parts were made apparent. This is extremely significant, showing Shaytan’s intentions to strip mankind of his/her clothing.

“O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the clothing of righteousness – that is best. That is from the signs of Allah that perhaps they will remember.” 7:26

We see today everything being sexualised. Clothes are getting tighter and more revealing. The half naked dressers are looked up at while the people dressed modestly are looked down upon. Allah mentions:

“O children of Adam, let not Satan tempt you as he removed your parents from Paradise, stripping them of their clothing to show them their private parts. Indeed, he sees you, he and his tribe, from where you do not see them. Indeed, We have made the devils allies to those who do not believe.” 7:27

Shaytan has deceived the world in such a manner as these days it is barely socially acceptable to dress modestly.

Allah continues the story:

“Did I not forbid you from that tree and tell you that Satan is to you a clear enemy?” 7:22

They said, “Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the lose” 7:23

The difference between Adam and Shaytan is that Adam accepted that he made a mistake and asked for forgiveness. Shaytan from his pride and arrogance simply stated that he is better than mankind as he was created from fire while the human was created from clay.

“[ Allah ] said, ‘Descend, being to one another enemies. And for you on the earth is a place of settlement and enjoyment for a time.'” 7:24

“He said, ‘Therein you will live, and therein you will die, and from it you will be brought forth.'” 7:25

Unlike the Christians, we as Muslims do not believe that man was sent upon the earth as a punishment for eating from the tree. It was always Allah’s plan for mankind to live on earth. This life is not a burden upon mankind but a blessing. Allah says:

“And We have certainly established you upon the earth and made for you therein ways of livelihood. Little are you grateful.” 7:10

Furthermore, Christianity teaches that it was Hawa’ (Eve) who deceived Adam making it her fault that they were expelled from the garden. Islam teaches us that Shaytan deceived them both.

Islam was with Adam and Hawa’ as they were sent to earth and needed guidance not with the prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) – he was not the start of the deen as most people think.

“We [Allah] said, ‘Go down from it, all of you. And when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance – there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.'” 2:38

This is the introduction to the first prophet of Allah – Adam (عليه السلام).

Allah knows best.