Adam (a): Difference between revisions

'''Prophet Adam (a)''' (Arabic:النبی آدم) , according to religious reports, has been the first man on earth and the father of all human beings. [[God]] breathed of His spirit in Adam's body, then praised Himself for creating Adam. Then, Angels were ordered to prostrate on Adam. Adam’s wife was [[Eve]] and they were banished from [[paradise]] due to eating a forbidden fruit. Prophet Adam (a) was the first viceroy of God on earth and the first messenger of God. His creations, breathing of God in his body, prostration of [[angel]]s to him, his [[infallibility]] and his coming on earth are [[theology|theological]] and [[Hadith|traditional]] discussions.

The word “Adam” is adopted from [[Hebrew]], but its original root in Hebrew is unknown. Its feminine form is “Adama” which in Hebrew means “soil”.

In ancient [[Arabic]] of the south, the root of the word “Adam” means “servant” and “slave”.

In Arabic, the root of the word “Adam” has a broader sense, ranging from its derivations such as “Udma” meaning a means of mixture, “Adma” for camel, whiteness and blackness in the eyes and tan color in human beings.

About the cause of naming the father of human beings as Adam, [[Azhari]] reports from [[Zajjaj]] that derivation of the word is from “Adim al-ard” since a human being is created from soil. [[Raghib Isfahani]] gives more details and mentions four reasons for it:

* His body is made up of mixing different elements and forces (‘Udma meaning “association and mixing”).

Adam and his creation are two very important issues in [[Islam]]. In Islamic view, Adam is the first prophet and when Muslims want to mark the beginning or end of [[prophethood]], they say “from Adam to the Seal of prophethood”. What is mentioned about Adam in the commentaries of the holy [[Qur’an]], historical and literary books are all based on Quranic verses. In the holy Qur’an, the name of Adam has been mentioned 25 times, but the details of his creation have been mentioned in [[Sura]]s like:

About the meaning of the word “viceroy” (caliph) in the verse where God says, “‘Indeed I am going to set a viceroy on the earth,’” (2:30), exegetes have different opinions, while most of them believe that Adam was the viceroy of God on the earth. Different narrations are mentioned in this regard, but the final word of the exegetes would be the vicegerency of God.

In the dialogue between God and [[angel]]s about creation of Adam, the following statement is quoted from angels towards God, “‘Will You set in it someone who will cause corruption in it, and shed blood…?’” (2:30) How did angels know that human beings would be inflicted with these two vices? In this regard, exegetes have mentioned different narrations which cannot lead to more than one or two points.

* Some have said that God told angels, “I am going to set a viceroy on the earth,’” (2:30) and then angels said, how would it be? He said that it will cause corruption and bloodshed in it. So, they said, “why do you create him?” He said, “In the nature of human beings, I have put many good things, you do not know about."

* Angels just asked it, seeking to understand that, “O God, would human beings cause corruption and bloodshed or not?

In chapters [[Hijr]] and [[Sad]], God says, “…and breathed upon him of My spirit,” (38:72) Also, elsewhere (about Adam and Jesus) the word “spirit” is attributed to God. Regarding the meaning of attribution of “spirit” to God, exegetes believe that “breathing” which is “to flow wind in something” here means “to give life to Adam through giving him spirit.” Attribution of spirit to God is for honoring human beings. God, the Glorious has attributed the spirit of man to Himself out of honoring and glorification so the meaning of the verse is that God created the human spirit which belongs to the body, not blowing something like air into his body.

In the story of Adam, the name of his wife, [[Eve]], has been mentioned for several times. Three times in the holy [[Qur’an]], men have been addressed that “you have been created from one soul and Adam’s wife was created from him.

* “Satan caused them to stumble from it,” (2:36)

* “Thus he brought about their fall by deception.” (7:22), “They said: Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. Lord, we did injustice to ourselves” (7:23)

* “Satan tempted him.” (20:120) “Adam disobeyed his Lord, and went amiss.” (20:121)

The short and simple answer exegetes have given about the agreement of these verses with infallibility of prophets is that upon committing this mistake, Adam was not in “Dar Taklif” [“abode of responsibility”] or he was not in the position of a prophet yet, or that whatever he did was abandoning the priority rather than committing sins.