Adam and Hawwa عليهم السلام

Unlike the angels, Adam AS was created with freewill and had the ability to discern and make decisions. Furthermore, Adam AS was granted the gift of knowledge. This knowledge included knowing the names, features, and uses of all existing things whether animate or inanimate. This knowledge prepared Adam AS for his coming role on earth. When Adam AS was instructed to present his knowledge to the angels, it resembled that of a teacher to pupils, which further indicated his superiority. The angels came to know that purity and perfect obedience were not the sole qualities necessary to be vicegerents.

Adam AS’s suitability for the role of vicegerent was humbly acknowledged by the angels, but challenged by Shaytaan, who was condemned and banished from heaven.

The Creation of Hawwa رضي الله عنها

Adam AS’s spouse Hawwa RA, is not mentioned by name in the Holy Quran despite being referred to in many places. The details regarding how she was created is not mentioned in the Holy Quran. However, it is made evident that Hawwa RA was created from Adam AS.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱتَّقُوا۟ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَٰحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيرًا وَنِسَآءً

“O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from one soul and created from it, its mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women….” [4:1]

The hadith or traditions of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ further reveal that Hawwa RA was created from Adam AS’s rib which was taken while he was asleep. The narrations that describe this story of the rib is often used to emphasize being gentle and kind to women.

وَاسْتَوْصُوا بِالنِّسَاءِ خَيْرًا فَإِنَّهُنَّ خُلِقْنَ مِنْ ضِلَعٍ وَإِنَّ أَعْوَجَ شَيْءٍ فِي الضِّلَعِ أَعْلَاهُ فَإِنْ ذَهَبْتَ تُقِيمُهُ كَسَرْتَهُ وَإِنْ تَرَكْتَهُ لَمْ يَزَلْ أَعْوَجَ فَاسْتَوْصُوا بِالنِّسَاءِ خَيْرًا

“O Muslims! I advise you to be gentle with women, for they are created from a rib, and the most crooked portion of the rib is its upper part. If you try to straighten it, it will break, and if you leave it, it will remain crooked; so I urge you to take care of the women.” [Sahih al-Bukhari 5185; Sahih Muslim 3468]

After Hawwa RA was created, the couple were given a place in heaven.

وَقُلْنَا يَـٰٓـَٔادَمُ ٱسْكُنْ أَنتَ وَزَوْجُكَ ٱلْجَنَّةَ وَكُلَا مِنْهَا رَغَدًا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمَا وَلَا تَقْرَبَا هَـٰذِهِ ٱلشَّجَرَةَ فَتَكُونَا مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ

“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.’” [Al Baqarah 2: 35]

Hawwa RA was created to accompany Adam AS as his companion and life partner, and they were instructed to live together in tranquility. In heaven, Adam and Hawwa AS were free to eat and enjoy everything with the exception of one tree.

The Quran does not describe what kind of tree it was, however, this prohibition set the stage for the test that was to come.

Lessons:

Though Adam AS had the blessed company of the angels, he was still lonely and needed companionship. Allah had thus created Hawwa RA and made her his wife. This shows us that man by nature needs companionship and who can provide this other than one`s Family.

By forgetting Allah’s command, Adam and Hawwa AS bore equal responsibility for their error. Amongst families there will always be differences and squabbles, don’t play the blame game; rather accept, repair and move on.