The command to prostrate to Adam is a pivotal point in the story of Adam
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 (69)
By examining the verses related to the story of Adam, we find that the central point and fundamental theme in Adam's story, peace be upon him, is the prostration of the angels to Adam, coupled with Iblees’s refusal to do so. Every chapter that addresses Adam's story includes this point. It appears in different contexts, all conveying the same meaning, as seen in Surahs Al-Baqarah, Al-A'raf, Al-Isra, Al-Kahf, Ta-Ha, and Saad. In Surah Al-Hijr, it is narrated in the form of a report: {So the angels prostrated - all of them entirely, (30) Except Iblees; he refused to be with those who prostrated. (31)} [Sad: 73-74].
This verse in Surah Al-Baqarah comes after Allah informed His angels of His creation of Adam with the intention of making him a vicegerent on earth. It follows the demonstration of Adam's superiority over the angels by teaching him the names, which the angels were unable to declare. This revealed to the angels what had been hidden from them regarding the nature of this new creation. It was not as they had thought—that Adam's role on earth would be limited to shedding blood and causing corruption. Rather, Allah continued to elevate Adam’s status until He made him the one before whom the angels prostrated.
To affirm the importance of this creation and his high status with Allah, the command was given to the angels to prostrate before Adam, as mentioned in Allah’s words: {And [mention] when We said to the angels, "Prostrate before Adam"; so they prostrated, except for Iblees. He refused and was arrogant and became of the disbelievers.} [Al-Baqarah: 34].
This is a great honor from Allah to Adam, one that He graciously bestowed upon his descendants. Allah informed us that He commanded the angels to prostrate before Adam.
- Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi, The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him, pp. 508-509.
- Ibn Kathir’s interpretation, 1/227.
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:
