The Oldest Commandments In The History Of Humanity
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 (90)
The most significant implications of the story of Adam (peace be upon him) are the profound value imparted by the divine Islamic perspective that Allah has outlined for humanity, guiding them in their journey on Earth. This is evident in His words: {And when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. (38) And those who disbelieve and deny Our signs - those will be companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally." (39)} [Al-Baqarah: 38-39].
This was Allah's command to Adam and his wife when He expelled them from Paradise and sent them down to Earth. In Surah Taha, it is mentioned: {[Allah] said, "Descend from it [i.e., Paradise] - all, [your descendants] being enemies to one another. And if there should come to you guidance from Me - then whoever follows My guidance will neither go astray [in the world] nor suffer [in the Hereafter].} [Taha: 123].
A declaration of enmity was made in the highest assembly between Adam and his descendants and Iblees and his tribe. Allah's mercy towards His servants willed that He send them messengers with guidance before taking them to account for what their hands have earned. As He said: {[Allah] said, "Descend from it [i.e., Paradise] - all, [your descendants] being enemies to one another. And if there should come to you guidance from Me - then whoever follows My guidance will neither go astray [in the world] nor suffer [in the Hereafter]. (123) And whoever turns away from My remembrance - indeed, he will have a depressed [i.e., difficult] life, and We will gather [i.e., raise] him on the Day of Resurrection blind." (124) He will say, "My Lord, why have you raised me blind while I was [once] seeing?" (125) [Allah] will say, "Thus did Our signs come to you, and you forgot [i.e., disregarded] them; and thus will you this Day be forgotten." (126) And thus do We recompense he who transgressed and did not believe in the signs of his Lord. And the punishment of the Hereafter is more severe and more enduring. (127)} [Taha: 123-127].
This was Allah's command to the parents of humanity when He sent them down to Earth. It is one of the oldest commandments, making it fit to be a universal law that applies to all of His creation in all circumstances. The Holy Quran is full of universal laws that do not change or transform. Allah Almighty said: {But you will never find in the way [i.e., established method] of Allah any change, and you will never find in the way of Allah any alteration.} [Fatir: 43].
These laws are everlasting, and whoever follows the guidance of Allah, believes in His messengers and scriptures, and is guided by them—by affirming all the messages of the prophets and scriptures, obeying the commands, and avoiding the prohibitions—will indeed be guided and successful. Allah Almighty said: {whoever follows My guidance - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve} [Al-Baqarah: 38]. He also said: {then whoever follows My guidance will neither go astray [in the world] nor suffer [in the Hereafter].} [Taha: 123].
Following this divine command results in the negation of four things: fear, sorrow, misguidance, and misery.
Regarding the negation of fear and sorrow, the difference between the two is that sorrow arises from something negative that has already occurred, while fear arises from something negative that is anticipated. By negating both from those who follow His guidance, the opposite—guidance and happiness—becomes established. Therefore, whoever follows His guidance will attain worldly and otherworldly security and happiness, and will be free from all undesirable outcomes, such as fear, sorrow, misguidance, and misery. They will gain what they desire and be protected from what they dread.
The guidance provided by the prophets and messengers, along with what they convey from Allah to the people, makes following them a source of happiness and disobeying them a source of misery. Allah Almighty said: {And whoever turns away from My remembrance - indeed, he will have a depressed [i.e., difficult] life, and We will gather [i.e., raise] him on the Day of Resurrection blind."} [Taha: 124].
- Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi, The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him, pp. 670-672.
- Stories of the Most Gracious in the Shade of the Qur’an, Ahmad Fayez Al-Homsi, Al-Risala Foundation, first edition, 1/579.
- Al-Saadi’s Interpretation, 1/76-77.
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:
