Has there not been upon man a time when he was not a thing mentioned? (Qur’aan76:1 )
As human beings we forget our own creation just like we forget our own death, not paying heed to the signs within the universe and the signs within ourselves. Do we not ponder over the time when no human being existed in the universe, not even as a speck of dust or a whispering, until Allah conferred His grand favor and created our father Adam. Who was he, how did he look, how would we feel if we saw him, and how would it feel to receive a warm fatherly hug? We talk about his creation from clay and his mistake which led to the fall, but how often do we talk about his special gift which Allah to him bestowed- the gift of knowledge through which Allah raised him. A created soul with knowledge, the first of its kind, covered in flesh, blood and bones.
And indeed We created Man from dried clay of altered mud. And the Jinn We have created before (Qur’aan15:27 )
Before Allah created Adam He had already created many life forms in accordance with the writings in His Book which He keeps with Himself above His Throne. The seven heavens were flooded with angels and the earth was a home to animals and Jinn. Allah created all living things from water and from that which was specific to them; Angels from light, Jinn from fire, and the animals from earth. Sometime thereafter, at a historical point in time, Allah chose to create another living being. The pens had long dried from His magnificent Decree and it was now time for the creation of Adam.
And when your Lord said to the Angels, ‘Verily I am going to place a Khaleefah on Earth.’ They said, ‘Will You place therein those who will make mischief and shed blood, while we glorify Your praises and sanctify You.’ He said, ‘I know that which you know not.’ (Qur’aan2:30 )
Before bringing Adam’s existence into the view of His nearest Angels who surround His Magnificent Throne, Allah chose to inform them and prepare them for the upcoming event. He is The Most Powerful Who permits His nearest Angels to directly speak to Him, allowing them to ask questions and gain knowledge of that which He brings into existence. Yet they cannot speak except by His permission and He only reveals that which He wants. Blessed is He Who is not asked about that which He desires and does.
So Allah informed the Angels that He was going to place a Khaleefah on Earth, a being through which would come an entire race, multiplying generations after generations on Earth; a slave who would fulfil the command of his Lord while having free will; a ruler who would fulfil the trust and maintain the balance on Earth through preservation of justice and the suppression of anything oppressive. When the Angels were informed of this, that a human being made from clay was to emerge as Khaleefah on Earth, they asked Allah about it, seeking knowledge to understand how generations of beings made from clay could fulfil such a mighty responsibility. Allah had bestowed knowledge to the Angels but above all those endowed with knowledge is Al Aleem, the All Knowing Creator Who knows everything and the purpose for its existence.
And remember when your Lord brought forth from the children of Adam, from their loins, their descendants and made them testify as to themselves, ‘Am I not your Lord?’ They said, ‘Yes! We Testify’ Lest you should say on the Day of Resurrection, ‘Indeed, we were of this unaware.’ (Qur’aan7:172 )
After Allah created Adam He gave him his right of knowledge and increased him in knowledge as a gift from Him. As for his right of knowledge then it was his right, as a created object, to know that Allah was his Lord and Creator. Through such knowledge he would be able to give Allah His right by worshipping Him alone. Without this knowledge there is no good in any additional knowledge and this is why Allah took out all the souls of the children of Adam, at the time of his creation, and made them testify to His being their Lord.
And He taught Adam all the names, then He showed them to the Angels and said, ‘Tell Me the names of these if you are truthful.’ They said, ‘Glory be to You! We have no knowledge except what you have taught us. Verily, it is You, The All Knowing, The All Wise.’ 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 in the heavens and the earth, and I know what you reveal and what you conceal?’ (2:31-33 )
As for the knowledge which was bestowed as a gift from Allah, then that was the knowledge of knowing the names of all things. The knowledge was vast with the Angels themselves not knowing many aspects of it. Such knowledge was not limited to just knowing names, attributes and functions of objects in the universe but also knowing the names of phenomenon and laws. He was given knowledge of actions around him and actions which came from the heart. So the knowledge was vast and He knew Allah and he knew of His Book and Throne. He knew the names of the Angels and their functions. He knew the reality of the seven heavens and he knew how to live on Earth, knowing how to use its resources for his benefit and knowing how to maintain peace and justice on it. This was all part of the knowledge he was given.
Yes, Adam was created as a soul clothed with a body of clay made from earth. He was created with a mind to think, a heart to feel, a mouth to speak and limbs to move. He was created with the ability to interact with his surroundings with hearing, sight, smell, taste and touch. He was created with physical light placed between his eyes giving him his facial glow. Yes, Adam was created with all of this but he was also created with knowledge. This was his gift which Allah to him bestowed.
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet said, ‘No child is born except in the state of Fitrah, then his parents make him Jewish, Christian, or Zoroastrian.’ (saheeh of muslim)
As children of Adam we seek to return to the natural inclinations of our Fitrah with which Allah created us all, believing in His Complete Oneness and worshipping only Him without setting up any partners, associates or lords. As children this is how we were naturally inclined. Out of mercy and justice Allah sent Messengers in succession to revive the message of old, so that those inflicted by the devils would again return to the worship of their Lord. This favor was again conferred when Allah sent Muhammad (SAW) as a messenger confirming the call of the previous messengers, calling to Tawheed of Allah and calling away from Shirk. As inheritors of this message we strive to make our worship pure, solely for the sake of Allah, and we strive to help others along the way, and this is the call. We do not look upon the disbelievers with hatred to the point that we neglect their right to be told about Allah and His call, and their right to be treated with justice. Allah has prescribed justice for all.
Have they not observed things that Allah has created (Qur’aan16:48 )
As children of Adam we have also inherited the ability to acquire knowledge of creation. This begins by correctly understand the universe we live in, knowing the truth about the seven heavens as vast spatial layers, one above the other, with the Throne of Allah above them, and the heaven of stars being only the nearest heaven of them all. We have been given knowledge about our purpose on Earth and our temporary stay on it as we witness death and the death of other living forms. We have been given the ability to acquire knowledge of the Earths’ resources full of Allah’s bounties which He has given us and subjected to us. From food, medicine, drink, clothing, shelter, travel and the knowledge related to them all, to the numerous other benefits we derive from the Earth including our ability to extract resources within it.
And He has subjected to you the night and the day, and the sun and the moon; and the stars are subjected by His command. Surely, in these things there are proofs for people who understand (Qur’aan16:12 )
We have also been given the ability to acquire knowledge related to regulation and laws. From the movement of celestial bodies and alteration in night and day, to the movement of clouds driven by winds and the periodic growth of vegetation as the seasons come and go. We have been given the Divine Law, receiving scriptures from Allah given to His Messengers who came to explain His Laws. Through this we know how to act and behave on Earth, knowing how justice and balance are restored.
This is all part of knowledge that Allah gave Adam, giving his children the ability to acquire it thereafter, but the one who dissociates knowledge of the creation from knowledge of The Creator is truly destroyed. Such knowledge is not beneficial and there is no good in any knowledge which does not draw us closer to our Lord. To Him is the return of the Raaji’oon and with Him is the life of the eternal Home.
by Kamillah Khan