Adam عليه السلام

As we commence our discussions on the Prophets AS and their families, it is most appropriate that we begin with no other than the very first of them and the father of them all, Hadhrat Adam AS.

Adam AS is regarded as the first human being, as well as the first Prophet of Islam.

The story of Prophet Adam AS is found in several verses in the Holy Quran. Not only do these verses describe the creation of the first human beings, but also imparts the purpose of life amongst other important values.

According to the Holy Quran, well before the creation of Adam AS, it had already been decided by Allah that mankind would be placed on the Earth.

وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّى جَاعِلٌ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً ۖ قَالُوٓا۟ أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ ٱلدِّمَآءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

“And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, ‘Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority.’ 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.’” [Al Baqarah 2: 30]

Allah informed the angels that he would create Adam, the first human being, who would assume the role as Allah’s vicegerent or deputy to prosper the earth. This indicates that long before the events in which Adam and Hawwa AS were tested, it was intended that Earth would be their destination.

The angels were curious about this choice. As perfect beings created to obediently fulfil their roles, their question to Allah was not meant to challenge, but to gain an understanding. Allah’s reply indicated that Adam AS would be given preference for a reason.

إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى خَلَقَ آدَمَ مِنْ قَبْضَةٍ قَبَضَهَا مِنْ جَمِيعِ الأَرْضِ فَجَاءَ بَنُو آدَمَ عَلَى قَدْرِ الأَرْضِ فَجَاءَ مِنْهُمُ الأَحْمَرُ وَالأَبْيَضُ وَالأَسْوَدُ وَبَيْنَ ذَلِكَ وَالسَّهْلُ وَالْحَزْنُ وَالْخَبِيثُ وَالطَّيِّبُ

“Indeed Allah Most High created Adam from a handful that He took from all of the earth. So the children of Adam come in according with the earth, some of them come red, and white and black, and between that, and the thin, the thick, the filthy, and the clean.” [at-Tirmidhi, 2955]

It is described that Adam was created from a handful of soil that the Angels were instructed to take from the earth. This soil varied in colours of red, brown, black, and white; ranging in textures of soft, gritty, silky, and hard; and varying in attributes such as fertility. This indicates that the progeny of Adam was destined to be diverse.

The highlight of this discussion is to understand that we are all the progeny of Adam AS, it is as if we are one big, huge family and our differences in race and colour is only to distinguish us from one another.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتْقَىٰكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ

O mankind! We created you from a single pair of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes that you might get to know one another. Surely the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is he who is the most righteous. Allah is All-Knowledgeable, All-Aware. [Al Hujurat 49: 13]

And the Prophet ﷺ clearly mentioned this in his address to the Noble Companions during his farewell sermon.

عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ خَطَبَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي وَسَطِ أَيَّامِ التَّشْرِيقِ خُطْبَةَ الْوَدَاعِ فَقَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ وَاحِدٌ وَإِنَّ أَبَاكُمْ وَاحِدٌ أَلا لا فَضْلَ لِعَرَبِيٍّ عَلَى عَجَمِيٍّ وَلا لِعَجَمِيٍّ عَلَى عَرَبِيٍّ وَلا لأَحْمَرَ عَلَى أَسْوَدَ وَلا أَسْوَدَ عَلَى أَحْمَرَ إِلا بِالتَّقْوَى إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ أَلا هَلْ بَلَّغْتُ قَالُوا بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَلْيُبَلِّغِ الشَّاهِدُ الْغَائِبَ

Jabir ibn Abdullah RA reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ addressed us during the middle of the day at the end of the pilgrimage in the farewell sermon. The Prophet ﷺ said, “O people, your Lord is one and your father Adam is one. There is no virtue of an Arab over a foreigner, nor a foreigner over an Arab, and neither white over black nor black over white, except by righteousness. Have I not delivered the message?” They said, “Of course, O Messenger of Allah.” The Prophet ﷺ said, “Let the witness inform those who are absent.” [Shu’ab al-Imān 4706]

The lesson that we take from here is that in the broader sense we all brothers to another and should treat each person with love, only for the pleasure of Allah.