Adam (Peace be Upon Him) Was Created From Dust
Any person reads the Quran in Arabic or reads a translation of its meanings in any other language finds that Adam (peace be upon him) was created, as the first human being, from the earth's dust (soil). We all know that soil is a non-living thing, and therefore the origin of Adam (peace be upon him) and the origin of the rest of the human beings on earth are not linked to any organism. Moreover, the creation of Adam (peace be upon him) was described in many verses of the Quran in a very clear language. According to the Quran, Allah (Jalla Jalaluhu) created the first human being as a man and named him Adam (peace be upon him). Briefly, Adam (peace be upon him) was created through the following stages:
Dust (soil):
Allah (Jalla Jalaluhu) stated in the Quran that He created Adam (peace be upon him) from the earth’s dust (soil): “And of His signs is this: He created you of dust, and behold you human beings, ranging widely!” (Quran 30: 20). In addition, Allah (Jalla Jalaluhu) mentioned the diversity of skin color and languages seen in Adam’s offspring as one of His signs of being the ultimate and the most powerful Creator: “And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colors. Verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge” (Quran 30: 22). In other words, all of the genetic diversity that is found in mankind comes from one source, which is the body of Adam (peace be upon him). We notice that the components of a dead human body become part of the soil after the process of decomposition. Allah (Jalla Jalaluhu) mentions this aspect of material cycling in the Quran: “Thereof (the earth) We created you, and into it We shall return you, and from it We shall bring you out once again” (Quran 20: 55).
Soft sticky clay (mud):
The Quran mentioned that the dust (soil) was mixed with water and became sticky clay (mud): “Just ask their opinion: are they the more difficult to create, or the (other) beings We have created? Them have We created out of a sticky clay!” (Quran 37: 11). The sticky clay was left for some time until it became darker in color, and it was later molded by Allah (Jalla Jalaluhu) into the form of a human body, which is the body of Adam (peace be upon him): “Iblis (Satan) said: I am not the one to prostrate myself to a human being, whom You created from sounding clay of altered black smooth mud” (Quran 15: 33). It should be made clear that Adam (peace be upon him) was not created in the image of Allah (Jalla Jalaluhu) because Allah (Jalla Jalaluhu) states unequivocally in the Quran that there is nothing like Him: “The Creator of the heavens and the earth. He has made for you mates from yourselves, and for the cattle (also) mates. By this means He creates you (in the wombs). There is nothing like Him; and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer” (Quran 42: 11).
Sounding clay:
Adam’s body, which was until this stage a body of dark soft clay, was left to air dry until it became sounding clay (like pottery): “He created man (Adam) from sounding clay like the clay of pottery” (Quran 55: 14).
Soul and flesh:
Allah (Jalla Jalaluhu) mentioned in the Quran that He breathed the soul into Adam’s body, and as a result, Adam (peace be upon him) became a living human being for the first time ever: “And (remember) when your Lord said to the angels: I am going to create a man (Adam) from sounding clay of altered black smooth mud. So, when I have fashioned him completely and breathed into him (Adam) the soul which I created for him, then fall (you) down prostrating yourselves unto him" (Quran 15: 28-29). Briefly, what started as a mass of soil taken from the earth became a male human being with living cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems. This process was the original creation of the first human being on earth. No scientific explanation can be given here to explain how this process of creation occurred. According to the Quran it occurred by Allah’s power: “Verily! Our Word unto a thing when we intend it, is only that We say unto it: Be! and it is” (Quran 16: 40).
Adam (Peace be Upon Him) Was a Wise and Sane Human Being
Allah (Jalla Jalaluhu) stated in the Quran that He created mankind in the best stature, including the creation Adam (peace be upon him), the first human being: “Verily, We created man in the best stature (mould)” (Quran 95: 4). This verse in Arabic uses the word "Insan", which is translated here as “man.” The word "Insan" includes both male and female human beings. Additionally, Allah (Jalla Jalaluhu) mentioned in a verse that He told the Angels about creating Adam (peace be upon him) as a man and not as an ape or an ape-descendant: “(Remember) when your Lord said to the angels: Truly I am going to create man from clay" (Quran 38: 71). Allah (Jalla Jalaluhu) stated that He honored mankind and preferred them above all of the other creatures: “And indeed We have honoured the Children of Adam, and We have carried them on land and sea, and have provided them with lawful good things, and have preferred them above many of those whom We have created with a marked preferment” (Quran 17: 70). Allah (Jalla Jalaluhu) taught Adam (peace be upon him) how to speak and communicate: “He created man. He taught him eloquent speech” (Quran 55: 3-4). He also taught Adam (peace be upon him) the name and purpose of everything so he would lead a successful life on earth: “And He taught Adam all the names (of everything), then He showed them to the angels and said, Tell Me the names of these if you are truthful" (Quran 2: 31). Allah (Jalla Jalaluhu) mentioned that Adam (peace be upon him) was able to learn the names of everything, refuting any doubt that Adam’s brain was not able to retain and process the information that he had learned: “He said: O Adam! Inform them of their names, and when he had informed them of their names, He said: Did I not tell you that I know the Unseen in the heavens and the earth, and I know what you reveal and what you have been concealing?" (Quran 2: 33). Moreover, Adam (peace be upon him) was chosen by Allah (Jalla Jalaluhu) to be a prophet, and accordingly, he and his family worshiped Allah (Jalla Jalaluhu): “Allah did choose Adam and Noah, the family of Abraham, and the family of 'Imran above all people” (Quran 3: 33).
No Pre-humans
Reaching the correct understanding of one topic in the Quran is achieved by combining all the verses addressing this topic in the Quran. It is very common to find one Surah (chapter) in the Quran addressing several topics (issues). This is one of the characteristics of the Quran. For example, details about Adam (peace be upon him) were given in more than eight Surah’s. Therefore, it is very important for the person who reads the Quran to know and understand all of the verses addressing the topic of interest. Moreover, he/she needs to know how to combine the meanings of these verses correctly. Let us read the following verse as an example: “And your Lord is Rich (Free of all wants), full of Mercy, if He will, He can destroy you, and in your place make whom He will as your successors, as He raised you from the seed of other people.” (Quran 6: 133). Some people think this verse is a proof that there were some early organisms (pre-humans) on earth and that some of them biologically evolved into modern mankind. Also, some people say that Allah (Jalla Jalaluhu) selected Adam (peace be upon him) from these pre-humans and exterminated the rest of this "pre-human" species after that. The correct reading of this verse is that Allah (Jalla Jalaluhu) made it clear that He is in no need of any of His creatures including mankind. So, the verse was saying: O Prophet Muhammad (Salla Allahu alay-hi wa-sallam) if your people do not accept the message of Allah (Jalla Jalaluhu) it is easy for Him to destroy them and put better successors in their place, as He raised them from other people. Similarly, these other people came from people before them and so on and so forth until we reach the first parents of the entire humanity [i.e. Adam (peace be upon him) and his wife]. Therefore, when we combine the correct reading of the above-mentioned verse with the rest of the verses in the Quran about the creation of Adam (peace be upon him) and his wife we find that all of these verses flow together in complete harmony. As a result, the Quran unambiguously confirms that modern humans (mankind) did not evolve from any early "pre-humans" at all and that the origin of mankind is from dust (soil).
The Earth Was Created Before Adam (peace be upon him)
In the Quran, it is very clear that Allah (Jalla Jalaluhu) created Adam (peace be upon him) after creating the earth because Allah (Jalla Jalaluhu) told the angels that He would place mankind on the earth: “And (remember) when your Lord said to the angels: Verily, I am going to place (mankind) generations after generations on earth …” (Quran 2: 30). Clearly, the earth at that time was prepared to serve as a good home for human beings and to provide them with food, clothing, shelter, and all they needed to survive: “See you not that Allah has subjected to you (mankind) all that is on the earth, and the ships that sail through the sea by His Command? …” (Quran 22: 65). “And the cattle, He has created them for you; in them there is warmth (warm clothing), and numerous benefits, and of them you eat” (Quran 16: 5). “And (He has created) horses, mules and donkeys, for you to ride and as an adornment” (Quran 16: 8). “Allah is He Who has created the heavens and the earth and sends down water (rain) from the sky, and thereby brought forth fruits as provision for you; and He has made the ships to be of service to you, that they may sail through the sea by His Command; and He has made rivers (also) to be of service to you. And He has made the sun and the moon, both constantly pursuing their courses, to be of service to you; and He has made the night and the day, to be of service to you” (Quran 14: 32-33). “And He it is Who has subjected the sea (to you), that you eat thereof fresh tender meat, and that you bring forth out of it ornaments to wear. And you see the ships ploughing through it, that you may seek (thus) of His Bounty and that you may be grateful” (Quran 16: 14). Briefly, Adam (peace be upon him) lived on the earth, which had ample resources, including fresh water and food. These materials were sufficient to meet his needs and the needs of his children as well as future generations of mankind.
How do I reconcile what I know from the Quran with modern scientific discoveries about the origin of mankind?
The following three rules form the foundation based on which I build my knowledge in this regard:
(1) Allah (Jalla Jalaluhu) is the Creator of everything (living and non-living) “Allah is the Creator of every thing and He has charge over every thing” (Quran 39: 62).
(2) Allah (Jalla Jalaluhu) is able to do all things "Blessed is He in Whose Hand is the dominion, and He is Able to do all things" (Quran 67: 1).
(3) Allah (Jalla Jalaluhu) created Adam (peace be upon him) as the first human being from the dust (soil) of the earth “… is the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust, then (He) said to him: Be! - and he was” (Quran 3: 59).
As it was explained earlier on this website, that Allah (Jalla Jalaluhu) stated clearly in the Quran that He created Adam (peace be upon him) as a human being. Adam (peace be upon him) was a man who spoke a language, learned the names of everything, and worshiped Allah (Jalla Jalaluhu). Adam’s body did not look differently from the bodies of the humans nowadays, except that he was much bigger. The Prophet Muhammad (Salla Allahu alay-hi wa-sallam) described him to his companions as a big and tall man. Therefore, as a Muslim biologist I know exactly who created the human beings, why, and how they have been created. Scientists dig in the ground and find fossils of extinct creatures including the remains of extinct primate animals. Allah (Jalla Jalaluhu) did not tell us how many animals he had created on earth. Thus, it will always be interesting to me to read what scientists discover about extinct and current primate animals as long as I know who created the human beings, why, and how they have been created. This knowledge about primate animals will always show me part of the power of Allah (Jalla Jalaluhu) as the One and Only Creator.
After talking about the creation of Adam (peace be upon him) as the first man now it is the time to talk about the creation of his wife. GO TO NEXT PAGE.
Reference of verse translations:
Qur’an. Available online: http://quran.com/
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