SERIES 01

LIFE STORIES
OF THE
AMBIYAA
ALAYHIMUS SALAAM
SAYYIDINA AADAM AND
SAYYIDINA SHEETH
ALAYHIMAS SALAAM

Moulana Yusuf Laher

anwaarulilm.com
Contents
A FEW IMPORTANT POINTS BEFORE STUDYING THE LIVES OF THE
AMBIYAA ALAYHIMUS SALAAM ........................................................... 3
PURPOSE OF THE MESSENGERS OF ALLAH ...................................... 4
HOW DOES A MAN BECOME A MESSENGER OF ALLAH? ................. 4
THE NUMBER OF AMBIYAA .............................................................. 5
A FEW BELIEFS REGARDING THE MESSENGERS OF ALLAH TA’AALA .... 6
IMPORTANT ETIQUETTE ................................................................... 8
THE PURPOSE OF THE CREATION OF JINN AND MAN .......................... 8
CONVERSATION BETWEEN ALLAH TA’AALA AND THE ANGELS
REGARDING THE CREATION OF MAN ................................................... 9
THE CREATION OF THE FIRST MAN NABI AADAM ALAYHIS SALAAM . 11
WHAT WAS HE CREATED FROM? ................................................... 11
WHEN WAS NABI AADAM ALAYHIS SALAAM CREATED? ............... 12
SALAAM TO THE ANGELS................................................................ 12
WHERE WAS HE CREATED? ............................................................ 13
THE COMMAND TO PROSTRATE TOWARDS NABI AADAM ALAYHIS
SALAAM .......................................................................................... 13
THE KNOWLEDGE OF NABI AADAM ALAYHIS SALAAM AND VIRTUE
OVER THE ANGELS .......................................................................... 14
THE CREATION OF SAYYIDAH HAWWA ALAYHAS SALAAM ............ 16
JINN AND SHAYTAAN .......................................................................... 16
DECEPTION OF SHAYTAAN AND EATING FROM THE FORBIDDEN
TREE ................................................................................................ 20
THE EFFECT OF EATING FROM THE FORBIDDEN TREE ................... 22
THEIR WORDS OF REGRET AND REPENTANCE ............................... 22
1
 LIFE ON EARTH................................................................................ 24
OFFSPRING...................................................................................... 25
LIFESPAN AND DEMISE OF NABI AADAM ALAYHIS SALAAM .......... 25
BUILDING OF THE KA’BAH .............................................................. 27
THE INCIDENT OF QAABEEL AND HAABEEL ........................................ 28
NABI SHEETH ALAYHIS SALAAM ......................................................... 31

2
 ‫الر ِح ْيم‬ َّ ِ‫بِ ْس ِم اهلل‬
َّ ‫الر ْحـمن‬
ِِ ِ
ْ ‫لـحمدُ ِهللِ وكَفى َو َس َل ٌم عل ع َباده ا َّلذ ْي َن‬
، ُ‫اص َطفى َا َّما َب ْعد‬ َ ‫َا‬

A FEW IMPORTANT POINTS BEFORE STUDYING

THE LIVES OF THE AMBIYAA ALAYHIMUS
SALAAM
RASOOL – singular RUSUL – plural

The Qur’aan also uses the words Mursaloon/Mursaleen in the plural

form for Rasool.

NABI – singular AMBIYAA – plural

The Qur’aan also uses the words Nabiyyoon/Nabiyyeen in the plural

form for Nabi.

The words Rasool and Nabi have different connotations.

Rasool is a Messenger of Allah who was given a Divine book and a

new Shari’ah (set of laws). He establishes a new code of law
(Shari’ah) and abrogates the previous code of law and book.

Nabi is a Messenger of Allah who was not given a new book, nor a
new Shari’ah. A Nabi would follow the book and laws of the Rasool
before him. He does not abrogate the book and the code of law
which was in vogue before him.1

Thus, every Rasool is a Nabi, but every Nabi is not a Rasool.

1
Mafaateehul Ghayb Imam Raazi
3
PURPOSE OF THE MESSENGERS OF ALLAH
The purpose of the Messengers of Allah was to remind the people of
the Oneness of Allah Ta’aala and to worship Him alone. Every
Messenger preached Islam. The three basic teachings of every Nabi
were: (a) to worship only Allah, (b) acceptance of the Messenger as a
Messenger from Allah, and (c) belief in the hereafter.

Although the day-to-day laws of the Ambiyaa differed, they all were
Muslim, they preached the same Deen (religion) of Islam and
preached the same fundamental points of the oneness of Allah, etc.

َ ُ
2
َ ‫اج َت ين ُب ْوا‬
،‫الطاغ ُْو َت‬ َ ‫َو لَق َْد َب َع ْث َنا يِف ك ُ يل أ َم ٍة َر ُس ْو اًل أ ين ا ْع ُب ُد ْوا ا‬
ْ ‫هلل َو‬
AND WE DID RAISE A MESSENGER AMONG EVERY NATION, WITH THE
MESSAGE: WORSHIP ALLAH AND STAY AWAY FROM ‘TAAGHOOT’ I.E.
FALSE DIETIES.

Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah Radhiyallaahu Anhu said that Rasulullah

Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam said: “I AM THE CLOSEST TO EESAA SON
OF MARYAM IN (BOTH) THE WORLD AND THE HEREAFTER. THE
AMBIYAA ARE PATERNAL BROTHERS; THEIR MOTHERS ARE
DIFFERENT BUT THEIR DEEN IS ONE.” 3

HOW DOES A MAN BECOME A MESSENGER OF ALLAH?

A man is chosen by Allah Ta’aala to become His Messenger. Man
himself cannot earn this position. There is absolutely nothing man
can do to become a Messenger. It is Allah who chooses and appoints
a man as His Messenger. The person whom Allah chooses as His
Messenger is given noble and virtuous qualities from birth. No one
can point a finger at him or criticise him regarding anything, whether
prior to his appointment as a Messenger, or after being appointed.

2
Surah Nahl
3
Bukhaari
4
When Allah decides to appoint the person as His Messenger, the
Angel Sayyidina Jibra’eel Alayhis Salaam goes to the person with
Wahi (revelation) from Allah. The revelation is his appointment and
confirmation of him being a Messenger of Allah.

Sometimes in the case of a Nabi, a Rasool informs him of his

appointment by Allah.4

A female was never appointed as a Messenger of Allah. A woman

was never a Nabi or Rasool.

THE NUMBER OF AMBIYAA

According to a narration, there were one hundred and twenty-four
thousand (124 000) Messengers, from them three hundred and
fifteen (315) were Rasools.

Sayyidina Abu Umaamah Al Baahiliy Radhiyallaahu Anhu narrated

that Sayyidina Abu Dharr Al Ghifaari Radhiyallaahu Anhu asked
Rasulullah Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam: “O NABI OF ALLAH, WHICH
OF THE AMBIYAA WAS FIRST?” RASULULLAH SALLALLAAHU ALAYHI
WA SALLAM REPLIED: “AADAM ALAYHIS SALAAM.” HE ASKED: “O
NABI OF ALLAH, WAS AADAM A NABI?” RASULULLAH SALLALLAAHU
ALAYHI WA SALLAM REPLIED: “YES, ALLAH CREATED HIM WITH HIS
HAND AND BLEW HIS SOUL INTO HIM.” HE ASKED: “O RASOOL OF
ALLAH, HOW MANY AMBIYAA WERE THERE?” RASULULLAH
SALLALLAAHU ALAYHI WA SALLAM REPLIED: “ONE HUNDRED AND
TWENTY-FOUR THOUSAND MESSENGERS, FROM THEM WERE THREE
HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN RASOOLS.”5

Three points are learnt from this narration:

1. The first Messenger was Nabi Aadam Alayhis Salaam.

4
Tafseer Raazi
5
Musnad Ahmad
5
2. The total amount of Messengers were one hundred and twenty-
four thousand.

3. From this amount, three hundred and fifteen were Rasools.

A FEW BELIEFS REGARDING THE MESSENGERS

OF ALLAH TA’AALA
1. All the Ambiyaa Alayhimus Salaam were human beings and
servants of Allah Ta’aala. The first Nabi was Sayyidina Aadam Alayhis
Salaam and the final Nabi is our Nabi Sayyidina Muhammad
Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam.

2. Although Sayyidina Muhammad Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam came

last and is the final Messenger of Allah, he is the most superior and
leader of all the Ambiyaa Alayhimus Salaam. Notwithstanding this,
we must respect and honour every single Messenger of Allah.

3. No member of any Ummah can be greater than any Nabi.

4. The Ambiyaa Alayhimus Salaam are sinless. They are

protected from sin by Allah. A sin must never be attributed to
any Nabi. They are the chosen servants of Allah to guide
mankind and therefore protected from sin.

5. If a person attributes a sin to any Nabi, he will be out of the

fold of Islam.

6. A Nabi will never be disrespected in any way.

7. Nabi Aadam Alayhis Salaam was the first man created by

Allah without the agency of parents. His wife was Sayyidah
Hawwa Alayhas Salaam. They were placed on earth from
Jannah and their progeny increased. Man did not evolve from
apes, as mentioned in Darwin’s theory. Darwin’s theory of
6
evolution is false and against the beliefs of Islam. Sayyidina Abu
Hurayrah Radhiyallaahu Anhu narrated that Rasulullah
Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam said: “THE PEOPLE ARE THE
PROGENY OF AADAM, AND AADAM IS FROM SAND.” 6

8. Every Nabi including Nabi Mohammed Sallallaahu Alayhi wa

Sallam was a human being. They possessed knowledge and
authority which was granted to them by Allah. They performed
miracles (Mu’jizaat) through the permission of Allah and not by
themselves. They too were dependent on Allah. They do not
have a share in the divine powers and attributes of Allah.

9. Nabi Eesaa Alayhis Salaam was born from his mother

Sayyidah Maryam Alayhas Salaam without the agency of a
father. He is not the son of Allah. Allah was not born from
anyone, nor was anyone born from Him.
Nabi Eesaa Alayhis Salaam was lifted alive into the heavens and
will return to earth prior to Qiyaamah. It is mentioned in the
Qur’aan that he was not killed, nor crucified.
He will live on earth for a while and thereafter die a normal
death and will be buried alongside Rasulullah Sallallaahu Alayhi
wa Sallam. Details will be discussed under his section.

10. When the final Nabi Sayyidina Mohammed Sallallaahu

Alayhi wa Sallam came, the religions of the other Ambiyaa
Alayhimus Sallam became annulled. It became compulsory for
every person thereafter to follow him and the Shari’ah he
brought. Following of any other religion or Nabi after the
advent of Rasulullah Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam is not
accepted. Salvation lies in the acceptance of the prophethood

6
At Tabaqaatul Kubraa
7
of Sayyidina Mohammed Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam and
practicing on his teachings.

IMPORTANT ETIQUETTE
Say Alayhis Salaam or Alayhis Salaatu Wassalaam after taking
the name of a Messenger. Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah
Radhiyallaahu Anhu reports that Rasulullah Sallallaahu Alayhi
wa Sallam said: “SEND SALUTATIONS ON THE AMBIYAA OF
ALLAH AND HIS RUSUL, FOR, VERILY ALLAH HAS SENT THEM
JUST AS HE HAS SENT ME.” 7

Singular: Alayhis Salaam

Dual: Alayhimas Salaam
Plural: Alayhimus Salaam
Feminine form: Alayhas Salaam. This will be used for ladies like
Sayyidah Maryam and Sayyidah Hawwa.
Radhiyallaahu Anhaa will be used for the honourable wives and
daughters of Sayyidina Muhammad Sallallaahu Alayhi wa
Sallam, and also for the Sahaabiyaat.

THE PURPOSE OF THE CREATION OF JINN AND

MAN
Allah Ta’aala mentions in the Qur’aan:

8
،‫اْل ْن َس يإ ًَل ل َيي ْع ُب ُد ْو ين‬
‫ْت الْ يج َن َو ْ ي‬
ُ ‫َو َما َخلَق‬
AND I DID NOT CREATE THE JINN AND THE HUMANKIND EXCEPT
THAT THEY SHOULD WORSHIP ME.

7
Shu’abul Imaan Bayhaqi
8
Surah Dhaariyaat
8
Allah Ta’aala created us for a purpose, and that is so we may
recognise Him and worship Him alone. This means all our beliefs,
actions and forms of worship must be in accordance with Divine law.
If man goes against the Divine law, he is culpable and will be
defeating the purpose of his creation.

This system has been established from the time man was created and
will carry on till the end. The first man to be created was Nabi Aadam
Alayhis Salaam. He was the first human created and he was also the
first Messenger of Allah for mankind. After he was created, his
spouse Sayyidah Hawwa Alayhas Salaam was created, and then the
progeny of mankind followed.

Prior to creating Nabi Aadam Alayhis Salaam, Allah Ta’aala mentions

this plan to the Angels. The conversation between Allah Ta’aala and
the Angels is mentioned in the Qur’aan.

CONVERSATION BETWEEN ALLAH TA’AALA AND

THE ANGELS REGARDING THE CREATION OF
MAN
The Qur’aan mentions:

‫ قَا ل ُْوا أ َ َت ْج َع ُل يف ْي َها‬،‫ك ليل َْم ََلئي َك ية يإ ينْ َجاع ٌيل يِف ْاْل َ ْر يض َخ يل ْي َف اة‬
َ ُ‫َو يإذْ قَا َل َرب‬
‫ َونَ ْح ُن نُ َس يبحُ يب َح ْم يدكَ َونُق يَد ُس‬،‫الد َمآ َء‬
‫ك ي‬ ُ ‫َم ْن يُف يْس ُد في ْي َها َو َي ْس يف‬
9
،‫ قَا َل يإ ينْ أ َ ْعل َُم َما ًَل َت ْعل َُم ْو َن‬،‫َك‬
َ ‫ل‬
AND WHEN YOUR LORD SAID TO THE ANGELS: I AM GOING TO
CREATE A DEPUTY ON EARTH. THEY SAID: WILL YOU CREATE THERE

9
Surah Baqarah
9
ONE WHO WILL SPREAD DISORDER THEREIN AND CAUSE BLOODSHED
WHILE WE, ALONG WITH YOUR PRAISES, PROCLAIM YOUR PURITY
AND GLORIFY YOUR NAME? HE (ALLAH) SAID: I KNOW WHAT YOU DO
NOT KNOW.

Allah Ta’aala is informing the Angels He is about to create man and

man will be His vicegerent (deputy) on earth. The Angels raise a
query as to why would Allah want to create such a creation who will
spread disorder on earth and cause bloodshed. They also said they
worship and glorify Allah, thus what is the need for another creation.
How did they know man will spread disorder and shed blood whereas
man was not yet even created? There are two answers to this:

a) Allah Ta’aala informed them of these qualities of man.

b) They had seen the behaviour of the Jinns and judged man
accordingly. It is related from Sayyidina Abdullah ibni Umar
Radhiyallaahu Anhu and Sayyidina ibni Abbaas Radhiyallaahu Anhu
that the Jinn were two thousand years before the creation of man on
earth. They were shedding blood so Allah sent an army of Angels who
drove them to the islands in the oceans.10 (A detailed discussion on
Jinn will follow later).

At this juncture, Allah Ta’aala responds with a very concise answer to

their query: I KNOW WHAT YOU DO NOT KNOW. Later, after the
creation of Nabi Aadam Alayhis Salaam, the reason becomes more
apparent to them.

The question by the Angels was not an objection. Rather, it was to

know the Divine wisdom behind the creation of man.

The name Aadam is mentioned twenty-five times in the Qur’aan.

10
Al Bidaayah wan Nihaayah
10
 ‫نبى ادم عليه الصلة والسلم‬

THE CREATION OF THE FIRST MAN NABI AADAM

ALAYHIS SALAAM
WHAT WAS HE CREATED FROM?
Nabi Aadam Alayhis Salaam was created from sand. The sand was
kneaded and formed into clay. When it was formed it began to give
off a sound, Allah Ta’aala blew the soul into it, and it immediately
transformed into bones and flesh, and possessed all human qualities
such as intelligence, feeling, etc.

Allah Ta’aala informed the angels that man will be created from sand.

ٍ ْ ‫ك ليل َْمآلئي َك ية يإ ينْ َخا لي ٌق َب َش ارا يم ْن يط‬

،‫ي‬ َ ُ‫اي ْذ قَا َل َرب‬
11

WHEN YOUR LORD SAID TO THE ANGELS: I AM GOING TO CREATE

MAN FROM CLAY.

A narration from Sayyidina Abu Moosa Ash’ari Radhiyallaahu Anhu

mentions that Rasulullah Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam said: “VERILY
ALLAH CREATED AADAM FROM A HANDFUL OF SAND THAT WAS
TAKEN FROM THE ENTIRE EARTH (FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE
EARTH). SO, THE PROGENY OF AADAM (MANKIND) CAME IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE EARTH. FROM AMONG THEM ARE RED (IN
COMPLEXION), WHITE, BLACK, AND IN-BETWEEN. AND SOME SOFT-
NATURED, SOME HARSH, SOME BAD, AND SOME GOOD.” 12

11
Surah Saud
12
Abu Dawood
11
It is mentioned in a narration the sand was kneaded with the water
of Jannah to form the clay. 13

Sayyidina Anas Radhiyallaahu Anhu narrated from Rasulullah

Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam that when the form of Sayyidina Aadam
was moulded and left for a time before the soul was blown into it,
Iblees circled his lifeless form. When he saw that it was empty, he
concluded that it is a creation that will not have self-control.14

WHEN WAS NABI AADAM ALAYHIS SALAAM CREATED?

A narration by Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah Radhiyallaahu Anhu makes
mention of the different things Allah Ta’aala created on the different
days. Thereafter towards the end of the narration it is mentioned
that Nabi Aadam Alayhis Salaam was created on a Friday between
the time of Asr and the evening (just prior to the evening), and he
was the last of the creations to be created.15

SALAAM TO THE ANGELS

A narration mentions the length of Nabi Aadam Alayhis Salaam was
sixty cubits16. After he was created, Allah Ta’aala told him ‘Go to a
group of Angels and greet them (make Salaam to them). Listen
carefully how they answer your greeting, for that will be your
greeting and the greeting of your progeny.’ He went and greeted
them with Assalaamu Alaykum. They replied: Wa Alaykumus Salaam
wa Rahmatullah. They added the words ‘wa Rahmatullah’. Thereafter
the same narration mentions that whoever will enter Jannah will be

13
Kanzul Ummaal
14
Muslim
15
Saheeh ibni Khuzaymah
16
A cubit is the approximate length from the elbow to the tip of the middle
finger, and this is approximately 45cm. Thus, his size was between 27 and 30
metres.
12
in the appearance of Aadam and he was sixty cubits. The creation
(man) has kept decreasing in stature (size) until now.17

Sayyidina Anas bin Maalik Radhiyallaahu Anhu narrated that

Rasulullah Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam said when the soul was blown
into Aadam and it reached his head, he sneezed. After sneezing he
said ‘Alhamdulillahi Rabbil Aalameen’. Allah Tabaaraka wa Ta’aala
replied: Yarhamukallah.18

It is mentioned in another narration when he sneezed, the Angels

told him to say Alhamdulillah.19

It is also mentioned that when the soul reached his eyes, he saw the
fruits of Jannah and when the soul entered his stomach, he desired
the fruit. He tried to leap and reach for the fruit, but the soul had not
yet reached his legs. This is when Allah Ta’aala said:

20
ْ ‫ان م‬
،‫ين َع َج ٍل‬ ُ ‫ُخل َيق اْل ْن َس‬
MAN IS CREATED OF HASTE (WITH THE QUALITY OF BEING HASTY)

WHERE WAS HE CREATED?

He was created in Jannah and resided there until he was sent to
earth. He first resided alone and then with his wife, and thereafter
both were sent to earth.

THE COMMAND TO PROSTRATE TOWARDS NABI AADAM

ALAYHIS SALAAM
Allah Ta’aala mentions this in the Qur’aan:

17
Bukhaari, Saheeh ibni Hibbaan
18
Saheeh ibni Hibbaan
19
Qasasul Ambiyaa ibni Katheer
20
Surah Ambiyaa
13
 21
،‫ين ُر ُو يح ْي فَق َُع ْوا لَ ُه َسا يج يد ْي َن‬
ْ ‫ت في ْي يه م‬
ُ ‫ف يَإذَا َس َو ْي ُت ُه َونَ َف ْخ‬
SO, WHEN I HAVE FASHIONED HIM COMPLETELY AND BLOW INTO
HIM FROM MY SOUL, FALL DOWN PROSTRATING YOURSELVES UNTO
HIM.

This was the instruction by Allah Ta’aala to the Angels, and because
Shaytaan (at that time not yet known as Shaytaan) was also there, he
was included in this instruction.

When the soul was blown into Sayyidina Aadam Alayhis Salaam and
he became alive, following the instruction of Allah Ta’aala, the Angels
immediately fell into prostration (Sajdah). This Sajdah was to
acknowledge the greatness and power (Qudrah) of Allah Ta’aala. All
of them fell into Sajdah except Iblees (Shaytaan). He refused to
accept this command of his Rabb. He did not make the Sajdah. A
discussion ensued between Allah Ta’aala and Shaytaan and he was
expelled from the heavens. This will be discussed later.

THE KNOWLEDGE OF NABI AADAM ALAYHIS SALAAM AND

VIRTUE OVER THE ANGELS
After being created, Sayyidina Aadam Alayhis Salaam was inspired by
Allah Ta’aala with knowledge. This is mentioned in the Qur’aan:

‫َو َعل َ َم ا َد َم ْاْل َ ْس َمآ َء ك ُل َ َها ثُ َم َع َر َض ُه ْم ع َََل ال َْمآلئي َك ية فَقَا َل أ َ ْن يب ُئ ْو ين‬

‫ك ًَل عيل َْم لَ َنا يإ ًَل َما‬ َ
َ َ‫ قَا ل ُْوا ُس ْب َحا ن‬،‫ي‬ َ ْ ‫يبأ ْس َمآ يء ه ُؤآل يء يإ ْن ُك ْن ُت ْم َصا يدقي‬
،‫ قَا َل َيا ا َد ُم أ َ ْن يب ْئ ُه ْم يبأ َ ْس َمآئي يه ْم‬،‫ت ال َْعلي ْي ُم ال َْح يك ْي ُم‬ َ ‫ إ َن‬،‫علَم َتنا‬
َ ‫ك أ ْن‬ َ ‫َ ْ َ ي‬

21
Surah Hijr
14
 َ َ َ َ َ َ
‫ات‬
‫او ي‬
َ ‫الس َم‬
َ ‫ب‬ َ ‫فَل َمَا أ ْن َبأ ُه ْم يبأ ْس َمآئي يه ْم قَا َل أل َْم أقُ ْل ل َك ُْم يإ ينْ أ ْعل َُم غ َْي‬
22
،‫ك ُت ُم ْو َن‬ْ ‫َو ْاْل َ ْر يض َوأَعْل َُم َما ُت ْب ُد ْو َن َو َما ُك ْن ُت ْم َت‬
AND HE (ALLAH) TAUGHT AADAM THE NAMES, ALL OF THEM, THEN
PRESENTED THEM TO THE ANGELS AND SAID: TELL ME THEIR NAMES
IF YOU ARE TRUTHFUL. THEY (THE ANGELS) SAID: TO YOU BELONGS
ALL PURITY, WE HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE EXCEPT THAT WHICH YOU
HAVE TAUGHT US. SURELY, YOU ARE THE ALL-KNOWING, THE ALL-
WISE. HE (ALLAH) SAID: O AADAM, TELL THEM THE NAMES OF ALL
THESE. WHEN HE TOLD THEM THEIR NAMES, HE (ALLAH) SAID: DID I
NOT TELL YOU THAT I KNOW THE SECRETS OF THE HEAVENS AND
THE EARTH, AND I KNOW WHAT YOU REVEAL AND WHAT YOU HAVE
BEEN CONCEALING.

In order to function properly as a deputy on earth, one must know

the names, properties and characteristics of things found on earth,
and the Angels did not have this knowledge. This knowledge was
given to Sayyidina Aadam Alayhis Salaam by Allah.

When Allah Ta’aala told the Angels: ‘I KNOW WHAT YOU DO NOT
KNOW’, He implied that they are not aware of the requirements of
being a deputy on earth, nor do they possess the capability to fulfil
this role. The Angels are an innocent and sinless creation, the Jinn
were dominated by evil whereas man possesses good and evil. They
will try to overcome the evil within themselves and make goodness
dominant, thereby seeking and attaining the pleasure of Allah
Ta’aala.

22
Surah Baqarah
15
THE CREATION OF SAYYIDAH HAWWA ALAYHAS SALAAM
After being created, Sayyidina Aadam Alayhis Salaam was in Jannah
He became lonely because he did not have company of his own kind.
He slept for a while and when he awakened, he saw a person sitting
next to him. Allah created her from his rib. He asked her: “who are
you?” She answered: “a woman.” He asked her: “why have you been
created?” She answered: “so that you may find solace in me.” It is
mentioned that she was created from the smallest rib from his left
side. That place where the rib was removed from was filled with
flesh. 23

Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah Radhiyallaahu Anhu narrated from Nabi

Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam: “DEAL KINDLY WITH WOMEN. VERILY A
WOMAN WAS CREATED FROM A RIB, AND THE MOST CROOKED PART
OF A RIB IS ITS UPPER PART. IF YOU TRY TO STRAIGHTEN IT, YOU WILL
BREAK IT, AND IF YOU LEAVE IT (AS IS), IT WILL REMAIN CROOKED.
DEAL KINDLY WITH WOMEN.” 24

JINN AND SHAYTAAN

The Jinn were created long before man was created. According to the
narration of Sayyidina Abdullah ibni Umar Radhiyallaahu Anhu, they
were created two thousand years before man.

Just like man, they are also obligated to follow the laws of the
Shari’ah. There are the good and the bad among them, the believers
and the non-believers (Kaafirs), as mentioned in Surah Jinn. The
Kaafir Jinns are the Shayaateen, and their leader is Iblees.

The Jinn eat, drink, and they also procreate and have children. They
are created from fire, and this is mentioned in the Qur’aan:

23
Al Bidaayah wan Nihaayah
24
Muslim
16
 25
ٍ َ‫ار ٍج يم ْن ن‬
،‫ار‬ ْ ‫َو َخل َ َق ال َْجآ َن م‬
‫ين َم ي‬
AND HE (ALLAH) CREATED JINN FROM SMOKELESS FIRE

Sayyidah Aa’ishah Radhiyallaahu Anhaa said that Rasulullah

Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam said: THE ANGELS WERE CREATED FROM
LIGHT, THE JINN WERE CREATED FROM SMOKELESS FIRE, AND
AADAM WAS CREATED FROM THAT WHICH HAS BEEN DESCRIBED TO
YOU (IN THE QUR’AAN, I.E. SOIL). 26

From among them there was a Jinn who was extremely

knowledgeable, excessive in Ibaadah27, and would be in the company
of the Angels. His name was Azaazeel. Azaazeel is a name in the
Syriac (Suryaani) language. His name was Haarith in Arabic. He was
also known as Abu Kurdoos.28

It is narrated from Sayyidina Jaabir Radhiyallaahu Anhu that

Rasulullah Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam said regarding Shaytaan: the
throne of Shaytaan is on the sea. He sends out his armies. The one
who cause the most strife (among man) is the highest in rank by
him.29

When the command was given by Allah Ta’aala to make the Sajdah,
he was included in this command, but he did not make the Sajdah.
Allah Ta’aala asked him the reason for not fulfilling the command. He
said he is created from fire and Sayyidina Aadam Alayhis Salaam is
created from soil, and fire is superior to soil, so why should a superior
make Sajdah to an inferior. He made a baseless analogy and analogy
has no place when a direct command is given. His duty was to fulfil

25
Surah Ar Rahmaan
26
Muslim
27
Al Bidaayah wan Nihaayah
28
Al Itqaan Fee Uloomil Qur’aan
29
Musnad Ahmad
17
the command as the Angels did. What he did not focus on at that
time was who the command was coming from. It was from Allah, and
he disobeyed a direct command. It was merely pride, arrogance and
jealousy that prevented him from fulfilling the Divine command. This
caused the wrath and anger of Allah Ta’aala to settle on him and
from this moment he became Shaytaan and Iblees. He lost his Imaan
for refusing a direct command and became accursed for all time. His
hundreds of years of Ibaadah became useless and destroyed. His
excuses were worse than his sin of not making the Sajdah.

Even at this moment of the wrath of Allah, he asked that he be given

life till the end of time so that he may lead man astray. Allah
accepted his plea. He will remain till Qiyaamah, and he and his
cronies are constantly trying to lead man astray. He is the enemy of
man. He wants to take as much of mankind into Jahannam with him.
All this is mentioned in the Qur’aan in many places.

َ َ َ ‫قَا َل ما منع‬
ٍ َ‫ين ن‬
‫ار‬ ْ ‫َن م‬ْ ‫ْي يم ْن ُه َخل َ ْقت ي‬
ٌ ْ ‫ قَا َل أ َنا َخ‬،‫ك‬ َ ‫ك أ ًَل َت ْس ُج َد يإ ْذ أ َم ْر ُت‬َ َََ َ
َ ‫ قَا َل فَاهبط يمنها فَما يكُون ل‬،‫و َخل َ ْق َته مين يطي‬
،‫َّب في ْي َها‬َ َ ‫َك أ ْن َت َتك‬ َ ُ ْ َ َ َْ ْ‫ْي‬ ٍ ْ ْ ُ َ
َ
‫ك‬َ ‫ قَا َل يإ َن‬،‫ قَا َل أ ْن يظ ْر ينْ يإل َي ْو يم ُي ْب َعثُ ْو َن‬، ‫الصا يغ ير ْي َن‬ َ ‫ين‬ َ ‫كم‬ َ ‫فَا ْخ ُرجْ يإ َن‬
َ
،‫ك ال ُْم ْس َت يق ْي َم‬َ ‫اط‬ َ ‫َن َْلَق ُْع َد َن ل َُه ْم يص َر‬ْ ‫قَا َل ف يَب َما أغ َْو ْيت ي‬- ،‫ين ال ُْم ْن َظ ير ْي َن‬
َ ‫م‬
‫ين َخل ْ يف يه ْم َو َع ْن أ َ ْي َما ني يه ْم َو َع ْن‬ َ ‫ثُ َم ًَلتيي ََّن مين ب‬
ْ ‫ي أ ْي يد ْي يه ْم َوم‬
‫َ ُْ ْ َْ ي‬
‫قَا َل ا ْخ ُرجْ يم ْن َها َمذْ ُء ْو اما‬- ،‫َش َمآئيلي يه ْم َو ًَل َت يج ُد أ َ ْكث ََر ُه ْم َشا ك يير ْي َن‬
َ َ
30
َ ْ ‫يَّن َْل َ ْم ََل َن َج َه َن َم يم ْنك ُْم أ ْج َم يع‬
،‫ي‬ ْ ُ ْ ‫كم‬ َ ‫ ل ََم ْن َت يب َع‬،‫َم ْد ُح ْو ارا‬

30
Surah A’araaf
18
HE (ALLAH) SAID: WHAT STOPPED YOU FROM PROSTRATING WHEN I
ORDERED YOU? HE SAID: I AM BETTER THAN HIM, YOU HAVE
CREATED ME FROM FIRE AND HIM FROM SAND. HE (ALLAH) SAID:
THEN GO DOWN FROM HERE, IT IS NOT FOR YOU TO BE ARROGANT
HERE. SO GO, YOU ARE FROM THE LOW ONES (FROM THE
HUMILIATED AND DISGRACED). HE SAID: GIVE ME RESPITE UNTIL THE
DAY ALL WILL BE RESSURECTED. HE (ALLAH) SAID: RESPITE IS GIVEN
TO YOU. HE SAID: THEN AS YOU HAVE MADE ME GO ASTRAY, I
SWEAR THAT I WILL SIT WAITING FOR THEM (IN AMBUSH) ON YOUR
STRAIGHT PATH. THEN I WILL COME FROM IN FRONT OF THEM AND
FROM BEHIND THEM AND FROM THEIR RIGHT AND FROM THEIR
LEFT. AND YOU WILL FIND MOST OF THEM NOT GRATEFUL. HE
(ALLAH) SAID: GET OUT OF HERE, CONDEMNED, REJECTED. INDEED,
THOSE OF THEM WHO FOLLOW YOU, I WILL FILL JAHANNAM WITH
YOU ALL.

The attack of Shaytaan on man is multi-dimensional. He will attack

from whatever possible angle. He will make a wrong seem right and a
right seem wrong. He will make man follow stupid reasoning and
stupid analogies just as he had done when commanded to make
Sajdah. Man will ignore the instructions of Allah and the Rasool and
follow his own warped reasoning. Just as Shaytaan did, man will give
his own logic preference over the Divine laws. Man will choose vice
over virtue and Kufr over Imaan. This will cause the destruction of a
person just as it caused destruction to Shaytaan. Logic that opposes
Divine law will be rejected and discarded.

Every possible trick will be used by him to lead man astray. A part of
the verse mentions that Shaytaan will lead man away from Allah and
make them ungrateful to their Lord.

Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah Radhiyallaahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullah

Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam said: WHEN A PERSON RECITES THE
VERSE OF SAJDAH (IN THE QUR’AAN) AND MAKES SAJDAH,

19
SHAYTAAN MOVES AWAY CRYING. HE SAYS: WOE! THE SON OF
AADAM IS INSTRUCTED TO MAKE SAJDAH, HE MAKES THE SAJDAH
AND FOR HIM IS JANNAH. I WAS COMMANDED TO MAKE SAJDAH, I
REFUSED AND FOR ME IS THE FIRE. 31

Shaytaan has now become a sworn enemy of Sayyidina Aadam

Alayhis Salaam in particular, and of humanity in general. Thus, his
first attack is on Sayyidina Aadam and Sayyidah Hawwa Alayhimas
Salaam.

DECEPTION OF SHAYTAAN AND EATING FROM THE

FORBIDDEN TREE
After creating them Allah tells them to reside in Jannah and enjoy the
bounties of Jannah except for one tree. The one tree (plant) is
forbidden on them, and they must not eat from it.

َ
‫ث يش ْئ ُت َما‬ ُ ‫ك ال َْج َن َة َوك ََُل يم ْن َها َرغ اَدا َح ْي‬ َ ‫ت َو َز ْو ُج‬ َ ‫َوقُل ْ َنا يَا ادَ ُم ا ْس ُك ْن أ ْن‬
‫ان‬
ُ ‫الش ْي َط‬َ ‫ فَأ َ َزل َ ُه َما‬،‫ي‬ َ ‫ين‬
َ ْ ‫الظا لي يم‬ َ ‫الش َج َرةَ فَ َتك ُْونَا م‬ َ ‫َو ًَل َتق َْر َبا ه يذهي‬

،‫ضك ُْم لي َب ْع ٍض عَ ُد ٌو‬ َ

ُ ‫ َوقُل ْ َنا ا ْه يب ُط ْوا بَ ْع‬،‫َع ْن َها فَأ ْخ َر َج ُه َما يممَا ك َانَا في ْي يه‬
ْ ‫ فَ َتلَق ا َد ُم م‬،‫ي‬ َ
ٍ ‫ين َر يب يه كَلي َم‬
‫ات‬ ٍ ْ ‫َو لَك ُْم يِف ْاْل ْر يض ُم ْس َتق ٌَر َو َم َتاعٌ يإل يح‬
32
،‫الر يح ْي ُم‬
َ ‫اب‬ َ ‫ يإنَ ُه ُه َو‬،‫اب عَل َْي يه‬
ُ ‫الت َو‬ َ ‫فَ َت‬
AND WE SAID: O AADAM, RESIDE YOU AND YOUR WIFE IN JANNAH
AND EAT FREELY WITH PLEASURE WHATEVER YOU LIKE, BUT YOU
BOTH DO NOT GO NEAR THIS TREE, OTHERWISE YOU BOTH WILL
BECOME FROM THE WRONGDOERS. THEN SHAYTAAN CAUSED THEM

31
Ibni Maajah
32
Surah Baqarah
20
TO SLIP FROM IT AND BROUGHT THEM OUT FROM WHERE THEY HAD
BEEN. AND WE SAID: GO DOWN YOU ALL, SOME OF YOU ENEMIES OF
SOME, AND ON EARTH THERE WILL BE FOR YOU A DWELLING PLACE
AND ENJOYMENT FOR A TIME. THEN AADAM RECEIVED FROM HIS
LORD CERTAIN WORDS AND (ALLAH) ACCEPTED HIS REPENTANCE.
VERILY, HE IS THE ONE WHO FORGIVES, THE MOST-MERCIFUL.

There are different opinions as to which tree it was. Some say it was
the fig-tree, some say it was the grapevine, and some say it was the
wheat plant. Allah Ta’aala has not specified which tree it was, so we
leave it at that.

Shaytaan tricked them into eating from the forbidden tree. He used
his art of deception and tricked them into eating from it. He swore an
oath and convinced them that he was their well-wisher. They never
expected someone to take an oath and at the same time lie. They
never experienced this before. The Qur’aan mentions the oath taken
by Shaytaan to convince them of his being their well-wisher.

‫ين َس ْوا تي يه َما‬ْ ‫ي َع ْن ُه َما م‬ َ ‫ور‬

‫ي ل َُه َما َما ُو ي‬ َ ‫ان لي ُي ْب يد‬ َ ‫ف ََو ْس َو َس ل َُه َما‬
ُ ‫الش ْي َط‬
‫َي أ َ ْو‬ َ
‫الش َج َر ية يإ ًَل أ ْن َتك ُْونَا َملَك ْ ي‬
َ ‫َوقَا َل َما نَ َها ك َُما ربُك َُما َع ْن ه يذهي‬
َ
‫ ف ََد ًَل ُه َما‬،‫ي‬ َ ْ ‫اص يح‬
‫الن ي‬ َ ‫َاس َم ُه َما يإ ينْ لَك َُما لَ يم َن‬
َ ‫ َوق‬،‫ين الْ َخا لي يد ْي َن‬
َ ‫َتك ُْونَا م‬
33
،‫بيغ ُُر ْو ٍر‬
THEN SHAYTAAN WHISPERED TO THEM, SO THAT HE MAY UNCOVER
WHAT WAS COVERED OF THEIR SHAME AND SAID: YOUR LORD HAS
NOT PROHIBITED THIS TREE FOR YOU, BUT JUST TO AVOID YOU BOTH
BECOMING ANGELS, OR BECOMING FROM THOSE WHO ARE

33
Surah A’araaf
21
ETERNAL. AND HE SWORE ON OATHS: I AM ONE OF YOUR WELL-
WISHERS. SO, HE CAST THEM DOWN BY DECEPTION.

Shaytaan took an oath and tricked them to eat from it. He said that it
is not really forbidden, it was just to prevent you from becoming
Angels, or becoming from those who are eternal. Thus, if you eat
from it, these will be the benefits, and I am not lying to you, I swear
an oath that it is the absolute truth.

THE EFFECT OF EATING FROM THE FORBIDDEN TREE

They ate from it and the result was the clothing of Jannah that was
on their bodies fell away and they became exposed. Due to shame
and modesty, they immediately grabbed from the leaves of Jannah to
cover themselves. It is mentioned it was leaves from the fig-tree.
Thereafter Allah reminds them that Shaytaan is an open enemy.

ْ ‫َان عَل َْي يه َما م‬

‫ين‬ ‫الش َج َرةَ َب َد ْت ل َُه َما َس ْوا تُ ُه َما َو َط يفقَا َي ْخ يصف ي‬َ ‫فَل َمَا ذَاقَا‬

‫الش َج َر ية َوأَقُ ْل‬

َ ‫ َو َنا َدا ُه َما ربُ ُه َما أَل َْم أ َ ْن َهك َُما َع ْن تيلْك َُما‬،‫َور يق ال َْج َن ية‬
َ َ
34
،‫ي‬ ٌ ْ ‫ان لَك َُما عَ ُد ٌو ُم يب‬
َ ‫الش ْي َط‬ َ ‫ل َك َُما يإ َن‬
SO, WHEN THEY TASTED (THE FRUIT) OF THE TREE, THEIR SHAME
BECAME APPARENT TO THEM, AND THEY BEGAN TO GATHER UPON
THEMSELVES SOME LEAVES OF JANNAH. AND THEIR LORD CALLED
UNTO THEM: DID I NOT FORBID YOU FROM THAT TREE, AND DID I
NOT TELL YOU THAT SHAYTAAN IS AN OPEN ENEMY FOR YOU?

THEIR WORDS OF REGRET AND REPENTANCE

They severely regretted their error and turned to Allah in repentance.
The words used in their repentance is also in the Qur’aan.

34
Surah A’araaf
22
 َ
َ ‫َاًل َربَ َنا َظل َْم َنا أ ْنف َُس َنا َو يإ ْن ل َ ْم َت ْغ يف ْر لَ َنا َو َت ْر َح ْم َنا لَ َنك ُْونَ َن م‬
‫ين‬ َ ‫ق‬
35
،‫اس ير ْي َن‬
‫الْ َخ ي‬
THEY SAID: OUR LORD, WE HAVE WRONGED OURSELVES, AND IF YOU
DO NOT FORGIVE US AND BLESS US WITH MERCY, WE SHALL INDEED
BE AMONG THE LOSERS.

They sought pardon for their error and Allah bestowed them with
forgiveness and mercy. Thus, it will be improper to attribute a sin to
them. It was an error, and they were tricked by Shaytaan. They did
not eat from the tree intentionally. This is mentioned in the Qur’aan.

36
،‫ين ق َْب ُل فَ َن يس َي َو ل َْم نَ يج ْد لَ ُه َع ْز اما‬
ْ ‫َو لَق َْد َع يه ْدنَا يإل ادَ َم م‬
AND EARLIER WE HAD GIVEN A DIRECTIVE TO AADAM, THEN HE
FORGOT, AND WE DID NOT FIND HIM IN A FIRM RESOLVE.

It was a lapse from Sayyidina Aadam Alayhis Salaam for which he was
pardoned. It is never permissible to say that he committed a sin. This
is against the reverence of a Messenger of Allah. Attributing a sin to a
Messenger is a major crime and sin.

It is mentioned that Sayyidah Hawwa Alayhas Salaam first ate and

then encouraged him to eat. Rasulullah Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam
said: “IF IT WAS NOT FOR THE BANI ISRAA’EEL, MEAT WOULD HAVE
NEVER DECAYED, AND IF IT WAS NOT FOR HAWWA, NO FEMALE
WOULD HAVE EVER BETRAYED HER HUSBAND.” 37

35
Surah A’araaf
36
Surah Taha
37
Bukhaari
23
LIFE ON EARTH
After committing the error, they were sent to live on earth. There are
different opinions as to where they had landed and where they
eventually met and resided. One opinion is that Sayyidina Aadam
Alayhis Salaam descended in India, Sayyidah Hawwa Alayhas Salaam
in Jeddah, and they met on the plains of Arafah.

It is also mentioned when Sayyidina Aadam Alayhis Salaam

descended to earth, he brought with him a stone of Jannah. It was
white in colour at that time but eventually turned black, it is the
Hajarul Aswad.38

After reaching earth they needed food and clothing. The first food
they ate was wheat. Sayyidina Jibra’eel Alayhis Salaam presented him
with seven wheat seeds. Sayyidina Aadam asked him what to do with
it. He instructed him to plant it. He planted it and it grew. He then
harvested it. Then he threshed it and separated the seed from the
chaff and then he crushed it. Thereafter it was kneaded into dough
and finally the bread was baked. They ate after great effort and
struggle.39 The favours in Jannah are achieved without the slightest
effort, but to survive in this world great effort and sacrifice is
required.

The first clothes they wore was from sheep wool. The wool had to be
sheared, spun and then formed into garments. A Jubbah (long outer
garment) was made for Sayyidina Aadam Alayhis Salaam and a long
outer garment and head covering (Khimaar) were made for Sayyidah
Hawwa Alayhas Salaam.40

Sayyidina Abu Moosa Al Ash’ari Radhiyallaahu Anhu narrated that

when Sayyidina Aadam was sent down from Jannah to earth, he was

38
Al Bidaayah wan Nihaayah, Musnad Ahmad
39
Al Bidaayah wan Nihaayah
40
Al Bidaayah wan Nihaayah
24
taught how to make everything. He also came down with some fruits
from Jannah. The origins of the fruit we have is from Jannah. The
difference is that the fruit of Jannah remains the same and the fruit
here undergoes change and decay.41

OFFSPRING
Sayyidah Hawwa Alayhas Salaam underwent twenty pregnancies. In
each pregnancy she carried twins; a boy and a girl. So, in total she
had forty children. The eldest was Qaabeel and his sister Iqleemiyaa’
(or Qileemaa). The last was Abdul Mugheeth and his twin sister
Ummul Mugheeth.

Historians have written that Sayyidina Aadam Alayhis Salaam saw

four hundred thousand of his progeny (his children and their children
and so forth) before he passed away. Another narration mentions the
figure of forty thousand.42

LIFESPAN AND DEMISE OF NABI AADAM ALAYHIS SALAAM

There is an interesting narration recorded regarding his age. After
creating him, Allah Ta’aala presented his entire progeny to him (all of
mankind). While looking at them he noticed a luminous one among
them. He asked as to who that is. He was told that it is your son
Dawood (Nabi Dawood Alayhis Salaam). He asked what the lifespan
of Dawood was. He was told that it is sixty years. He requested that
the lifespan of Dawood be increased. Allah Ta’aala tells him the only
way it will be increased is if you give some years from your lifespan to
him. He agrees and gives Dawood forty years from his own lifespan.
This is recorded and the Angels are made to witness this. The actual
lifespan of Sayyidina Aadam was one thousand years. When he
reached nine-hundred and sixty years, the Angels came to take his
life. He said that he still had forty years of life left. He was reminded

41
Musnadul Bazzaar
42
Al Bidaayah wan Nihaayah, Tafseer Qurtubi
25
that he gave it to Nabi Dawood Alayhis Salaam. He forgot about this
and argued. The agreement and the Angels were brought who had
witnessed it, but he forgot and argued. Rasulullah Sallallaahu Alayhi
wa Sallam said that Aadam argued and so his progeny also argues. He
forgot so his progeny forgets. He committed an error, and his
progeny commits errors. The narration mentions that he was given
his full one thousand years of life and Nabi Dawood was given one
hundred years.43

Just prior to his demise he desired the fruit of Jannah. He told his
sons to go out in search of the fruit. They proceeded in search of it
and while they were out searching, the Angels met them and asked
them where they were off to and for what reason. The sons replied
that our father is ill, and he desires the fruit of Jannah, so we are
searching for it. The Angels told them to return because the time
(lifespan) of their father has come to an end. The Angels had digging
implements, spades, large baskets and scents to apply on the
deceased with them. When Sayyidah Hawwa saw them, she
recognised them and clung on to Sayyidina Aadam. He said to her:
move away from me, I came before you (created before you), clear
the way between me and the Angels of my Rabb Azza wa Jall. The
Angels removed his soul, gave him Ghusl, applied the scents on him,
wrapped him in Kafan, and dug a grave for him. Then they performed
his Janaazah Salaah, placed him in the grave and covered him with
sand. Then they said: O children of Aadam, this is the Sunnah (when
someone dies).44

Sayyidah Hawwa passed away one year after him.

Sayyidina Aadam Alayhis Salaam passed away on a Friday.

43
Musnad Ahmad, Tirmidhi
44
Musnad Ahmad, Al Bidaayah wan Nihaayah
26
Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah Radhiyallaahu Anhu narrated that Rasulullah
Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam said: “THE BEST DAY THE SUN HAS EVER
RISEN ON IS THE DAY OF FRIDAY. ON THIS DAY AADAM WAS
CREATED, WAS SENT DOWN, WAS GRANTED FORGIVENESS, PASSED
AWAY (ON THIS DAY OF JUMU’AH) …” 45

There are different opinions as to where he was buried. Some say in

India, some say at Jabal Abu Qubays in Makkah, and some say at
Baytul Muqaddas.46

The creations mourned and cried on the death of Sayyidina Aadam

Alayhis Salaam for one week. The sun and moon went into eclipse for
seven days and nights.47

BUILDING OF THE KA’BAH

It is narrated that Allah Ta’aala sent Sayyidina Jibra’eel Alayhis
Salaam to Sayyidina Aadam Alayhis Salaam with the instruction to
build a house for Allah. Sayyidina Jibra’eel demarcated the spot.
Sayyidina Aadam commenced digging at the spot and Sayyidah
Hawwa would move the sand away. After it was built, Allah Ta’aala
instructed them to make Tawaaf. He was told: you are the first
human, and this is the first house (of Allah).48

45
Abu Dawood
46
Al Bidaayah wan Nihaayah
47
Qisasul Ambiyaa
48
Dalaa’ilun Nubuwwah Bayhaqi
27
 ‫قصة قابيل وهابيل‬

THE INCIDENT OF QAABEEL AND HAABEEL

This incident is mentioned briefly in the Qur’aan.

َ
ْ ‫ يإذْ ق ََر َبا ق ُْر َبا ناا فَ ُتق يُب َل م‬،‫ن ا َد َم يبا لْ َح يق‬
‫ين‬ ْ َ ْ‫هْي نَ َبأ ا ب‬ ُ ‫َوا ت‬
ْ ‫ْل َعل َ ْ ي‬
َ
‫هلل‬ َ ‫ قَا َل َْلَقْ ُتل ََن‬،‫ين ْاًل َخ ير‬
ُ ‫ قَا َل يإنَ َما َي َتق ََب ُل ا‬،‫ك‬ َ ‫أ َح يد يه َما َو ل َْم ُي َتق ََب ْل م‬
49
َ ْ ‫ين ال ُْم َت يق‬
،‫ي‬ َ ‫م‬
AND RECITE TO THEM THE STORY OF THE TWO SONS OF AADAM
TRUTHFULLY. WHEN THEY BOTH OFFERED A SACRIFICE, THEN IT WAS
ACCEPTED FROM ONE OF THEM AND WAS NOT ACCEPTED FROM THE
OTHER.

As mentioned earlier, Sayyidah Hawwa Alayhas Salaam carried twins

in each pregnancy. The law was that the children of one pregnancy
must marry the children of another pregnancy. They were not
permitted to marry the child of the same pregnancy. Qaabeel was
the eldest and he had a sister. He was supposed to marry the girl
from the next pregnancy who was the twin sister of Haabeel.
Qaabeel was not happy with this because he felt that his own twin
sister was prettier, and he wished to marry her. To resolve the issue,
Sayyidina Aadam Alayhis Salaam told them to offer a sacrifice each.
The sacrifice would be placed in an open area and a fire would come
down and consume the sacrifice if it was accepted by Allah. If it was
not accepted, then it would not be consumed by the fire. The reason
Sayyidina Aadam told them to offer a sacrifice each was to show

49
Surah Maa’idah
28
them who was on the right in this issue and who was wrong. Haabeel
offered a healthy ram and Qaabeel offered some low-quality produce
from his farm. This itself indicates who was on the truth and who was
on falsehood. The fire came down and consumed the ram but did not
touch the sacrifice of Qaabeel. This angered him even more. He was
now angry with his brother and jealous. Eventually he murdered his
brother by either throwing a boulder at him while he was sleeping, or
by strangling him. This was the first murder committed in the world.

After committing the murder, he was filled with remorse. He was also
faced with the problem of what to do with the corpse of his brother
Haabeel. No one had died before this, so he was not aware of the
system of burial. He roamed around for a long period with the corpse
of his brother on his shoulders. Eventually Allah Ta’aala sent two
crows in front of him. The crows started fighting and the one crow
killed the other. The surviving crow started digging a hole to bury the
crow that died.50 He watched this entire scene and realised he had to
do the same with the corpse of his brother. So, he dug a hole and
buried his brother. This was the first burial on earth.

،‫ي َس ْو َءةَ أ َ يخ ْي يه‬ْ ‫ار‬ ‫ث يِف ْاْل َ ْر يض ل ُ ي‬

‫يْي َي ُه ك َْي َف ُي َو ي‬ ُ ‫الل غ َُرا باا يَ ْب َح‬
ُ ‫ث‬ َ ‫ف ََب َع‬
،‫ي َس ْو َءةَ أ َ يخ ْي‬ ُ َ َ َ
َ ‫ار‬
‫اب فَأ َو ي‬ ‫قَا َل َيا َو ْيل َ َتا أ َع َج ْز ُت أ ْن أك ُْو َن يمث َْل هذَ ا الْغ َُر ي‬
َ
51
،‫ي‬ َ ‫ين‬
َ ْ ‫النا يد يم‬ َ ‫فَأ ْص َبحَ م‬
THEN ALLAH SENT A CROW WHO WAS SCRATCHING THE EARTH TO
SHOW HIM HOW HE SHOULD HIDE THE CORPSE OF HIS BROTHER. HE
SAID: ALAS! WAS I NOT EVEN ABLE TO BE LIKE THIS CROW SO THAT I

50
Tafseer Qurtubi
51
Surah Maa’idah
29
COULD HIDE THE CORPSE OF MY BROTHER? SO, HE BECAME
REGRETFUL.

Qaabeel received punishment in this world. He was afflicted with an

illness that caused spasms in his limbs and his legs would bend and
shrink. He died soon thereafter.

It is also mentioned that Haabeel was fair in complexion but when he

killed his brother, his body became blackened. His father asked him
regarding his brother, and he answered that he was not the keeper
of his brother. Sayyidina Aadam said to him: you have killed him;
therefore, you have become blackened.52

Among the children of Sayyidina Aadam was Sayyidina Sheeth Alayhis

Salaam. He was the Nabi after his father.

52
Roohul Ma’aani
30
 ‫نبى شيث عليه الصلة والسلم‬

NABI SHEETH ALAYHIS SALAAM

When Nabi Aadam Alayhis Salaam was nearing his demise, he taught
his son Nabi Sheeth Alayhis Salaam the hours of the day and night
and the Ibaadah for the different times. He also informed him about
the flood that would come.

The name Sheeth means ‘a gift from Allah’. He was named Sheeth
because he was given to his parents after the death of Haabeel. The
other children were all born as twins, but Nabi Sheeth was born
alone. He was born five years after the death of Haabeel, and the age
of Nabi Aadam was one-hundred and thirty years. Nabi Aadam lived
for approximately eight-hundred years after the birth of Nabi Sheeth.

Nabi Sheeth had many children and among them was Anoosh who
carried on the religious duties of Nabi Sheeth after his demise. Nabi
Sheeth was one-hundred and sixty-five years old when Anoosh was
born and lived for approximately eight-hundred and seven years
after the birth of his son.

In a lengthy narration by Sayyidina Abu Dharr Radhiyallaahu Anhu it

is mentioned that one hundred smaller books (Suhuf) were revealed
to various Ambiyaa Alayhimus Salaam. Fifty were revealed to Nabi
Sheeth, thirty to Nabi Idrees, ten to Nabi Ibraheem, and ten to Nabi
Moosa before he received the Taurah (Alayhimus Salaam).
(Saheeh ibni Hibbaan)

31
 ‫الس ِم ْي ُع ا ْل َعلِ ْي ُم‪،‬‬ ‫َر َّبنَا َت َق َّب ْل ِمنَّا‪ ،‬اِن َ‬
‫َّك َان َ‬
‫ْت َّ‬

‫وص َّل اهللُ َع َل النَّبِ ِّي ا ْلك َِر ْي ِم‪،‬‬

‫َ‬

‫وص ْحبِه َاجـ َم ِع ْ َ‬

‫ْي‪،‬‬ ‫واله َ‬

‫والـح ْمدُ هللِ َر ِّب ا ْل َعا َلـ ِم ْ َ‬

‫ْي‪،‬‬ ‫َ‬

‫‪Muharram 1445‬‬

‫‪August 2023‬‬

‫‪32‬‬