The Educational Purpose Of Teaching Adam All The Names
Selections from the Book The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him …
Written by Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi...
Episode (65)
In light of the Almighty’s saying: {And He taught Adam the names - all of them.} [Al-Baqarah: 31].
Allah, the All-Knowing, has honored Adam and granted him dignity by teaching him the knowledge of names, through which he recognized, peace be upon him, all existing entities by name and function. Adam's knowledge was a divine gift from the Most High, acquired without effort or hardship. In contrast, the knowledge given to the descendants of Adam is obtained through toil and filled with labor and hardship. However, Allah has created humans with an innate readiness to acquire this knowledge so that they may harness the things of the universe and fulfill their responsibilities toward the succession of the Earth.
Through this divine knowledge and gift from Allah, the understanding of names is achieved in terms of recognition, concept, usage, and comprehension. This allows for the expression of the essence of things, the unveiling of their secrets, and the ability to benefit from them, as well as to elevate their functions and develop them.
Names are the true key that unlocks the meaning of knowledge. The greatness of divine education lies in Allah's wisdom, which mandates that the knowledge of names is complete and flawless because it comes solely from Allah, who possesses absolute perfection. This is evident in Allah's intentions, as revealed through His words in the Holy Book: {And He taught Adam the names - all of them.}.
This complete knowledge, prepared for Adam's succession on Earth, equips him to be worthy of succession, armed with knowledge in his life. Names serve as the gateway to understanding existence, and the comprehensive teaching of names signifies the fullness of comprehension regarding the universe. This encompasses knowledge, concept, application, and genuine interaction in life. Thus, names form the foundation upon which human knowledge is built. The significance of teaching Adam all the names is reflected in the following educational implications:
- The first educational lesson that Adam (peace be upon him) received from Allah Almighty was that the knowledge of names and awareness of them is a divine instruction given directly to Adam (peace be upon him) by Allah Almighty.
Allah Almighty said: {And He taught Adam the names - all of them.}; Then, the subsequent generations acquire knowledge through learning, as the first generation teaches the later generations through education and upbringing. Allah Almighty also said: {And Allah has extracted you from the wombs of your mothers not knowing a thing, and He made for you hearing and vision and hearts [i.e., intellect] that perhaps you would be grateful.} [An-Nahl: 78].
- The names enable a person to perceive the realities of existence as they are, distinguishing these realities from others. They also empower individuals to express the various elements and truths of existence.
- Knowledge of names enables us to assess the value of things positively or negatively, helping us distinguish between good and bad. It also aids in recognizing the names of objects, people, and concepts, allowing us to express them all. Allah Almighty says: {He gives wisdom to whom He wills, and whoever has been given wisdom has certainly been given much good. And none will remember except those of understanding.} [Al-Baqarah: 269].
- Teaching Adam the names is the solid foundation and the true support for understanding sciences, acquiring knowledge, developing life, and improving living conditions and construction. It also endowed humans with conscious awareness, making reason the primary basis while instinct remains subordinate and obedient to it. In contrast, an animal, deprived of this beneficial knowledge, relies solely on instinct to determine its movement and behavior.
- Teaching Adam the names is a complete divine knowledge that indicates the perfection of Allah who taught the names. This teaching is a reflection of Allah's knowledge, and the fruit of that knowledge is the ability to comprehend all the names.
Teaching Adam aids in knowing Allah through His names and attributes, and it helps individuals in their faith and righteous actions.
- Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi, The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him, pp. 479-482.
- The Righteous Man, Al-Ghamdi, p. 181.
For further information and review of the sources for the article, see:
The Book of The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him on the official website of Sheikh Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi:
