Prophet Adam (pbuh) part 2
Allah the Almighty recounted this third lesson Adam learned in Paradise:
Indeed We made a covenant with Adam before, but he forgot, and We found
on his part no firm will power. Remember when We said to the angels
"Prostrate yourselves to Adam." They prostrated (all) except Iblis, who
refused. then We said: "O Adam! verily, this is an enemy to you and
to your wife. so let him not get you both out of Paradise, so that you
be distressed in misery. Verily, you have (a promise from Us) that you
will never be hungry therein nor naked. And you will suffer not from
thrist therein nor from the sun's heat."
then Satan whispered to him, saying "O Adam! Shall I
lead you to the Tree of Eternity and to a kingdom that will never waste
away?" Then they both ate of that tree, and so their private parts
appeared to them, and they began to stick on themselves the leaves from
Paradise for their covering. Thus did Adam disobey his Lord, so he went
astray. Then his Lord chose him, and turned to him with forgiveness
and gave him guidance. Allah said: "Get you down (upon the earth), both of you, together from Paradise, some of you are an enemy to some others. THen if there comes to you guidance from Me, then whoever follows My Guidance shall neither go astray, nor fall into distress and misery. But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (neither believes in this Quran nor acts on its orders etc). Verily, for him is a life of hardship and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection."
He will say: "O my Lord! Why have you raised me up blind, while I had sight before." Allah will said: "like this, Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc). came unto you, but you disregarded them (you left them, did not think deeply in them, and you turned away from them), and so this Day, you will be neglected in the Hellfire, away from Allah's Mercy.)"
And thus do We requite him who transgresses beyond bounds (commits the great sins and disobeys his Lord (allah) and believes not in His Messengers, and His revealed Books, like this Quran etc), and believes not in the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc). of his Lord, and the torment of the Hereafter is far more severe and more lasting. (Ch 20:115-127)
Some people believe that the reason why mankind does not
dwell in Paradise is that Adam was disobedient and that if it had not
been for this sin, we could have been there all along. These are naive
fictions because when Allah wanted to create Adam, He said to the
angels, "I shall make a vicegerent on the earth." He did not say, "I
shall make a vicegerent in Paradise."
Adam's descent on earth, then, was not due to
degradation but rather it was dignified descent. Allah knew that Adam
and Eve would eat of the tree and descend to earth. He knew that Satan
would rape their innocence. That experience was essential for their life
on earth; it was a cornerstone of their vicegerency. It was meant to
teach Adam, Eve, and their progeny that it was Satan who had caused them
to be expelled from Paradise and that the road to Paradise can only be
reached by obedience to Allah and enmity to Satan.
Could it be said that Adam and the rest of mankind were
predestined to sin and to be expelled from Paradise and sent to the
earth? In fact, this fiction is as naive as the first one.
Adam complete free will, and he bore the consequences of
his deed. He disobeyed by eating of the forbidden tree, so Allah
dismissed him from Paradise. His disobedience does not negate his
freedom. On the contrary it is a consequence of it.
The truth of the matter is that Allah knew what was
going to happen, as He always know the outcome of events before they
take place. However Allah does not force things to happen. He grants
free will to His human creatures. On that He bases His supreme wisdom in
populating the earth, establishing the vicegerents, and so on.
Adam understood his 3rd lesson. He knew now in a
practical way that Iblis was his enemy, the cause of his losing the
blessing of living in Paradise, and the cause of his distress. Adam also
understood that Allah punishes disobedience and that the way of
Paradise has to be through submission to the will of Allah. And he
learned from Allah Almighty to ask for forgiveness.
Allah accepted Adam's repentance and forgave him. He then sent him to the earth as His first messenger.
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger (PBUH) said:
"Adam and Moses argued with each other. Moses said to Adam: 'Your sin
expelled you from Paradise.' Adam said: ' You are Moses whom Allah
selected as His messenger and as the one to whom He spoke directly. Yet
you blame me for a thing which had already been written in my fate
before my Creation?" Allah's Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said twice, "So
Adam outclassed Moses." (Sahih Bukhari).
Umar Ibn Al Khattab also narrated that the Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) said: "Moses (PBUH) said: 'My Lord! May I see Adam who
removed us and himself from the Paradise?" so Allah made him see Adam
and he said to him: "Are you Adam?" Adam said: "yes." And he said "Were
you the one in Whom Allah breathed His spirit and before whom He bowed
His angels and to whom He taught the names of all things?" Adam
answered: "yes." so Moses said: "What made you remove us and yourself
from Paradise.?"
Adam said: "Who are you?" Moses said: I am Moses." Adam
said: "So you are Moses the prophet of the Children of Israel. Were you
the one Allah spoke to directly?" Moses answered "yes." Adam said: "Why
do you blame me for a matter which Allah had predestined?" So Allah’s
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said twice. "Adam outclassed Moses." (Sahih al
Bukhari).
there are many traditions concerning the place of Adam's
descent upon earth. Ibn Abi Hatim narrated that Ibn Abbas said: "Adam
descended on land 'Dihna' between Mecca and taif." AL Hassan said that
Adam descended in India and Eve in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Iblis
Bodistiman (Iraq), and the serpent in Ashahan (Iran). This last was also
reported by Ibn Hatim.
Ass'ady related that Adam descended with the Black Stone
(a large black stone set into the wall of the ka'ba in Mecca. It is
said to have come from Paradise) in India, and he had a handful of the
seeds of Paradise. He sowed them in India and they grew into the
fragrant tree therein.
Ibn Umar said that Adam descended on As-Safa and Eve on
Al Marwa ( names of two mountains in the vicinity of the sacred house
in Mecca. Part of the rites of pilgrimage (hajj) includes pacing between
these two hills in commemoration of H's search for water). This was
also reported by Ibn Hatim. Abdul Razzaq reported that Abi Musa Al-shari
said that when Allah ordered Adam to descend from Paradise to earth, He
taught him the making of everything and provided him with the crops
from Paradise.
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
said: "The best of days on which the sun has risen is Friday. One this
day Adam was created, and on this day he was descended to earth." (al
Bukhari)
Adam knew he bade farewell to peace and he left
Paradise. On earth he had to face conflict and struggle. No sooner had
one ended than another began. He also had to toil to sustain himself. He
had to protect himself with clothes and weapons and protect his wife
and children from the wild beasts. Above all he had to struggle with the
spirit of evil. Satan, the cause of his expulsion from Paradise,
continued to beguile him and his children in an effort to have them
thrown into the eternal hellfire. The battle between good and evil is
continuous, but those who follow Allah's guidance and should fear
nothing while those who disobey Allah and follow Iblis will be damned
along with him.
Adam grasped all of this and with the knowledge of this
suffering he started his life on the earth. The only thing that allowed
his grief was that he was master of the earth and had to make it yield
to him. He was the one who had to perpetuate, cultivate and construct
and populate the earth. He was also the one who had to procreate and
raise children who would change and improve the world.
The pinnacle of earthly bliss was reached when Adam and
Eve witnessed the birth of their 1st children, a set of twins. Adam was a
devoted father and Eve a contented mother. The twins were Cain (Qabil)
and his sister. Later Eve gave birth to a second set of twins, Abel
(Habil) and his sister. The family enjoyed the bounties and fruits of
the earth provided by their Lord. The children grew up to be strong and
healthy young adults. Cain tilled the land while Abel raised cattle.
The time arrived when the two young men desired life
partners. This was part of Allah’s plan for mankind, to multiply and
form nations with different cultures and colors. Allah revealed to Adam
that he should marry each son to the twin sister of the other. Adam
instructed his children according to Allah's command, but Cain was
displeased with the partner chosen for him, for Abel's twin sister was
not as beautiful as his own.
It appears that since the beginning of time, physical
beauty has been a factor in the attraction between man and women. This
attraction caused Cain to envy his brother Abel. He rebelled against
Allah's command by refusing to accept his father's advice.
At first glance Cain's rebellion might appear strange,
but we should remember that although man has a pure nature, the
potential for dichotomy exists. In other words, he had both good and bad
qualities. He can become greedy, covetous,possessive, selfish and even
destructive. Man is, therefore capable of seeking self-satisfaction even
if it leads to failure in this life and in the hereafter. The path to
goodness lies in harnessing the enemy within him, his baser self by
controlling evil thoughts and deeds and practicing moderation in his
desires and actions. His reward then will be the delights of this world
and the hereafter. Thus Allah tests us through our divided nature.
Adam was in a dilemma. He wanted peace and harmony in
his family, so he invoked Allah for help. Allah commanded that each son
offer a sacrifice, and he whose offering was accepted would have right
on his side. Abel offered his best camel while Cain offered his worst
grain. His sacrifice was not accepted by Allah because of his
disobedience to his father and the insincerity in his offering.
This enraged Cain even further. Realizing that his
hopes marrying his own beautiful sister were fading, he threatened his
brother. "I will kill you! I refuse to see you happy while I remain
unhappy!"
Abel feeling sorry for his brother, replied, "It would
be more proper for you, my brother to search for the cause of your
unhappiness and then walk in the way of peace. Allah accepts the deeds
only from those who serve and fear Him, not from those who reject His
Commands."
Abel was intelligent, obedient, and always ready to
obey the will of Allah. This contrasted sharply with his brother who was
arrogant, selfish and disobedient to his Lord. Abel did not fear his
brother's threats, but neither did he want his brother to be hurt, Allah
had blessed Abel with purity and compassion.
Hoping to allay the hatred seething in his brother Abel
said, " My brother, you are deviating from the right path and are sinful
in your decisions. It is better that you repent to Allah and forget
about your foolish threat. But if you do not then I will leave the
matter in the hands of Allah. You alone will bear the consequence of
your sin, for the Fire is the reward of the wrong-doers."
This brotherly plea did nothing to lessen the hatred in
Cain's heart, nor did he show fear of Allah's punishment. Even familial
considerations were cast aside. Cain struck his brother with a stone
killing him instantly. This was the 1st death and the 1st criminal act
committed by man on earth.
When Abel had not appeared for some time, Adam began to
search for him but found no trace of his beloved son. He asked Cain
about Abel's whereabouts. Cain insolently replied that he was not his
brother's keeper nor his protector. From these words his father
understood that Abel was dead and Adam was filled with grief.
Meanwhile Cain did not know what to do with his
brother's corpse. He carried it on his back wandering from place to
place trying to hide it. His anger had now subsided and his conscience
was saddled with guilt. He was tiring under the burden of the corpse
which had started to have a stench. As a mercy, and to show that dignity
could be retained even in death, Allah sent two ravens that began
fighting, causing the death of one. The victorious bird used its beak
and claws to dig a hole in the ground, rolled its victim into it and
covered it with sand.
Witnessing this, Cain was overcome with shame and
remorse. "Woe unto me!" he exclaimed. "I was unable to do what this
raven has done, that is to hide my brother's corpse." Cain then buried
his brother. This was also the 1st burial of man.
Allah the Almighty revealed: And (O Muhammad) recite
to them (the Jews) the story of the two sons of Adam (Abel and Cain) in
truth; when each offered a sacrifice to Allah, it was accepted from the
one but not from the other. The latter said to the former; "I will
surely kill you."
the former said: "Verily Allah accepts only from those
who are Al Muttaqeen (the pious). If you do stretch your hand against me
to kill me I shall never stretch my hand against you to kill you, for I
fear Allah; the Lord of the Alameen (mankind, jinn, and all that
exists). Verily I intend to let you draw my sin onyourself as well as
yours then you will be one of the dwellers of the Fire, and that is the
recompense of the Zalimeen (polytheists, and wrongdoers)."
So the self of the other (latter one) encouraged
him and made fair seeming to him the murder of his brother; he murdered
him and became one of the losers. Allah sent a crow who scratched the
ground to show him to hide the dead body of his brother. He (the
murderer) said: "Woe to me! Am I not even able to be as this crow and to
hide the dead body of my brother?" Then he became one of those who
regretted. (Ch 5:27-31).
Ibn Abbas, Ibn Masud and a group of the companions of
the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) related that inter-marriage of the male of
one pregnancy with the female of another had been in practice among
Adam's children. Abel wanted to marry Cain's sister, but Cain wanted her
for himself because she was very beautiful. Adam ordered him to give
her in marriage to his brother but he refused. SO Adam ordered both of
them to offer a sacrifice, then went to Mecca to perform the pilgrimage.
After Adam had left, they offered their sacrifices; Abel offered a fat
lamb, he was a shepherd, while Cain offered a bundle of worst grain.
fire descended and devoured Abel's sacrifice, leaving that of Cain so he
became angry and said: "I will surely kill you so that you will not
marry my sister." Abel replied, "Allah accepts from those who fear Him."
According to Abu Ja'afar al Baqer, Adam was watching
their offering and was sure that Abel's sacrifice would be accepted.
Cain complained to Adam that the acceptance was due to his supplication
for Abel and that he had not done the same for him, so he promised his
father to settle the matter between himself and his brother. One night,
Abel was late returning from tending his flock. Adam sent Cain to see
what happened to him. When he found him, he glared at him saying: "yours
was accepted, and mine was not." Abel replied, "Allah only accepts from
the Allah-fearing." Cain became angry on hearing this and hit him with a
piece of iron that was with him and thus killing him. In another
version it was said that he killed him with a rock to the head while he
was sleeping.
Adam was utterly grief stricken by the loss of his two
sons. One was dead, the other was won over by the devil. Adam prayed for
his son and turned to mundane matters for he had to toil for his
sustenance. At the same time he was a prophet advising his children and
grandchildren, telling them about Allah and calling them to believe in
Him. He told them about Iblis and warned them by recounting his own
experience with the devil and of how the devil had tempted Cain to kill
his brother.
Years and years passed, Adam grew old and his children
spread all over the earth. Muhammad Ibn Ishaq related that when Adam's
death drew near, he appointed his son Seth to be his successor and
taught him the hours of the day and night along with their appropriate
acts of worship. He also foretold to him the floor that would come.
Abu Dhar narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "Allah sent down 104 psalms, of which 50 were sent down to Seth."
Abdullah Ibn Al Iman Ahmad Ibn Hanbal narrated that
Ubai Ibn Kab said: "When Adam's death was near, he said to his children:
"O my children, indeed I feel an appetite for the fruits of Paradise."
So they went away searching for what Adam had
requested. They met with the angels, who had with them his shroud and
what he was to be embalmed with. They said to them: "O Children of Adam,
what are you searching for? What do you want? Where are you going?"
They said: "Our father is sick and has an appetite for the fruits of Paradise."
the angels said to them: "Go back, for your father is going to meet his end soon."
So they returned (with the angels) and when Eve saw them
she recognized them. She tried to hide herself behind Adam. He said to
her. "Leave me alone. I came before you; do not go between me and the
angels of my Lord.'
So they took his soul, embalmed and wrapped him, dug the grave and laid
him in it. They prayed on him and put him in his grave, saying: 'O
Children of Adam, this is your tradition at the time of death.""
Before his death Adam reassured his children that Allah would not
leave man alone on the earth, but would sent His prophets to guide them.
the prophets would have different names, traits and miracles, but they
would be united in one thing; the call to worship Allah alone. This
was Adam's bequest to his children. Adam finished speaking and closed
his eyes. Then the angels entered his room and surrounded him. When he
recognized the Angel of Death among them, his heart smiled peacefully. After Adam's death, his soth Seth (Shiith) took over the responsibilities of prophethood, according to a hadith narrated by Abu Dhar. Abu Dhar narrated that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: "Allah sent down one hundred and four psalms, of which fifty were sent down to Seth." (Sahih al Bukhari) When the time of his death came Seth's son Anoush succeeded him. He in turn, was succeeded by his son Qinan, claim that Mahlabeel was the King of the Seven Regions, that he was the first one to cut down trees to build cities and large forts and that he built the cities of Babylonia. He reigned for a period of forty years. When he died his duties were taken ov er by his son Yard, who on his death, bequeathed them to his son Khonoukh, who is Idris (pbuh) according to the majority of the scholars.
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