Adam (2:30–37):
God's Relationship with His Prophets
- Relevant Passage
- God bestowed special status on Adam by making him first human and the first prophet.
- God had told the angels He would place a representative on earth, and the angels asked why, if he will only make mischief unlike the angels who only glorify God.
- When God spoke to Adam, he taught Him and gave him knowledge of things that the angels did not know.
- God’s relationship with Adam was that of a teacher and student.
- It shows the superiority of humans over angels due to what they know, and so it stresses the importance of gaining knowledge.
- God gives knowledge to whom He wills.
- God required obedience from Adam and tested him by forbidding him from touching a specific tree, without explaining why – so God tested Adam from the beginning.
- Satan, who was jealous of Adam and had refused to bow to him, came to tempt Adam and his wife into eating from the tree.
- He is from the mischief makers who whisper evil into the minds/hearts of humans.
- God sent Adam and his wife to live on earth.
- Adam realised his mistake and through this event turned to God for forgiveness.
- And God, because He is the most merciful, turned towards Adam, meaning He forgave Him.
- This passage tells Muslims about the favours God gives his prophets. He gives them knowledge for guidance, and He forgives when people turn to Him in repentance.
- It is the nature of humans to sin and for God to forgive.
The ways in which God gave knowledge of Himself to His Messengers.
- Adam knowledge about Himself through the things he was taught the names of, and the lessons he learnt in obedience to God.
- Adam was taught the names of all the things in creation, and because of his status near God, the angels were asked to bow to him.
- Iblis refused, and was banished.
- He vowed to lead Adam and his future generations astray.
- He did this by making Adam approach the tree he had been forbidden from.