Prophet Adam

The Truth About the Origin of Human Beings in Islam

The truth about the origin of all human beings is a matter held dear by many. People from different walks of life, including various ethnic groups and with differing educational backgrounds, have attempted to offer explanations. However, no story or explanation can take the place of the truth as revealed in the Qur’an and explained by the Prophet Muhammad.

The Creation of Adam

Allah created all other creations: water, air, the heavens, the earth, trees, mountains, valleys, animals, and even small insects, before He created humankind. This creation took place over six days, with each day being equivalent to 1,000 years by our counting. On the last part of the sixth day, after the ‘Asr time on a Friday (Jumu’ah), Adam was created.

Adam’s Origin and Composition

Adam was not derived from apes or other animals. These animals existed before Adam was created. The truth is that the origin of all humankind is clay, which is soil mixed with water. As stated in Surat al-Mu’minun, Ayah 12:

وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ مِنْ سُلَالَةٍ مِنْ طِينٍ

(Surat al-Mu’minun, Ayah 12)

This means, “Man was created from an extract of clay.”

The soil used for Adam’s creation was a handful gathered from all the different types of earth’s soils: black, white, red, and all the colors in between, including both soft and firm soil. This mixture was brought to Paradise, mixed with its water, and from it, the shape of Adam was formed. This is why you find among Adam’s descendants all races of people: the white, the black, the red, the yellow, those who are easy to deal with, those who are difficult, and those who are in between.

For a period, this shape remained as clay. Then Allah turned this clay into something dry and hard, like pottery. In Surat al-Hijr, Ayah 26, Allah states:

وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ مِنْ صَلْصَالٍ مِنْ حَمَإٍ مَسْنُونٍ

(Surat al-Hijr, Ayah 26)

This means, “Allah created Adam (the human being) from clay that was poured and then dried, taking the shape of Adam.”

The Creation of Eve and the First Sin

After Adam’s soul joined his body, he sneezed and said, “al-hamdulillah” (praise be to Allah). The first words Adam uttered were in praise and thanks to Allah.

Adam stayed in Paradise for a period of time. During this period, Allah created Hawwa’ (Eve), Adam’s wife. She was created from one of Adam’s ribs. According to Ibnu ‘Abbas, she was created from the shortest rib on Adam’s left side. Eve was tall, suitable for Adam’s height, who was sixty cubits tall and seven cubits broad.

Adam and Hawwa’ lived together in Paradise and were permitted to eat from all its fruits, except for one particular tree. However, Iblis whispered to them, encouraging them to eat from it. Eventually, they both ate from the tree. This was a minor sin, and they quickly repented. Their repentance is mentioned in Surat al-A‘raf, Ayah 23:

قَالَا رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنْفُسَنَا وَإِنْ لَمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ

(Surat al-A‘raf, Ayah 23)

This means, “Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves. So if You do not forgive us and have mercy on us, we will surely be among the losers.” Allah accepted their repentance.

The Descent to Earth and the Spread of Humankind

After this incident, Adam, Hawwa’, and Iblis were ordered to leave Paradise. Adam descended into a place called Sarandib (present-day Sri Lanka). Hawwa’ descended in a different location, and Iblis descended into an area in present-day Iraq, in a town called al-Ubullah. Later, Adam and Hawwa’ were reunited upon Arafat. 

Prophet Adam and his wife had many children. Hawwa’ gave birth to forty sets of twins, each womb holding a son and a daughter. Their children married and had children, and so on, until humans spread to different areas. Adam is the ancestor of all human beings, without any exception. The lineage of all humans, including Gog and Magog (Ya’juj and Ma’juj), traces back to Adam and Hawwa’.

The Prophethood and Teachings of Adam

After descending from Paradise, where he had lived for 130 years, Adam received the revelation of prophethood from Allah. Adam, the first man, became the first prophet and the first Messenger.

Prophet Adam taught his children and their children about Islam. He lived for many years and did not die until he had seen 40,000 of his descendants, all of whom were Muslim. Prophet Adam and Hawwa’ loved and worshipped Allah.

Allah bestowed many forms of knowledge upon Prophet Adam. He was created with the knowledge of languages, without having to study them. He spoke eloquently and without having to use signs. Allah also created in Adam the knowledge of matters of earning a living, including how to plant wheat, make clothes, and create money from gold and silver. Adam knew how to make instruments for farming, like the shovel and sickle, and how to plant and harvest crops. He also knew how to build and construct homes, complete with ceilings and doors. Prophet Adam was the first to build the Ka‘bah, and during his time, the Aqsa Mosque was also built in Palestine.

Important Warnings and Conclusion

Beware of those who claim things contrary to the truth of Islam. Adam was not the first creation altogether, but all human beings originate from him. Prophet Muhammad of course descended from Prophet Adam. Neither was Prophet Muhammad was the first creation of Allah, as some people claim. Also, beware of those who claim the first creation was the light of our Prophet. This is also invalid. There is no confirmed sahih hadith from the Prophet claiming such a thing. A fabricated hadith exists in which the Prophet supposedly said to Jabir, “The first creation is the light of your Prophet, O Jabir.” The Hafidh, Ahmad al-Ghumariyy, mentioned this hadith was fabricated in his book Al-Mughir ‘Ala-l-Jami’ is-Saghir, and the Hafidh, as-Suyutiyy, stated that this hadith is not confirmed in his books Al-Fatawa and The Explanation of at-Tirmidhiyy. What is confirmed from the Prophet is that the first creation was the original water, which exists now underneath the ‘Arsh.

Beware of theories that say human beings descended from apes or that Adam was a primitive caveman. Adam was the first man and the first human to receive the revelation of prophethood. He was the first messenger of Allah and the ancestor of every member of humankind. He taught the first people how to live and worship Allah correctly. He was an honored and blessed creation of Allah, created from soil. In Surat al-Hajj, Ayah 5, Allah said:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ فِي رَيْبٍ مِنَ الْبَعْثِ فَإِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ مِنْ تُرَابٍ

(Surat al-Hajj, Ayah 5)

This means, “O people, if you should be in doubt about the resurrection, then remember that We created you from dust.” This serves as a reminder that if one has difficulty conceptualizing that a person can be resurrected, they should remember that Allah created Adam from soil. The One who created Adam from soil certainly has the power to resurrect you after you turn back into soil. This is the truth about Prophet Adam.