Reflections on Story of Adam 1.Why did Allah “consulted” the angels about His plan for creating man on earth? 2.Why did the angels knew that man will cause.

Reflections on Story of Adam1. Why did Allah “consulted” the angels about His

plan for creating man on earth?

2. Why did the angels knew that man will cause disorder and shed blood on the earth ?

3. Allah responded: “I know what you know not.” What is the implication of the reply?

4. Why did Allah ordered the Angels and Jins to prostrate to Adam?

5. What was man created for ?

6. Why was he not sent to earth directly right after his being created?

7. The Qur’an mentioned that man was created from essence of clay. Was it reasonable or “scientific” ?

8. Why did Allah forgive Adam and not Iblis ? Was it unfair ?

9. What was the purpose of the Qur’an repeating the story of Adam ? OR, what is the lesson we can draw from the story of Adam?

10. Did Iblis believe in the existence of God? Is Belief sufficient for salvation?

Summary• According to the Holy Qur’an, Adam and Eve were

both responsible for the mistake they made

• Both of them repented and were forgiven

• Man was sent to the earth with a mission, as the trustee of God, not as punishment

• Test in the Garden was designed for preparing man to take up his mission on earth. Allah taught Adam & Eve by practical experience so that they may learn the real intention/motives of Iblis. It can be regarded as a pre-service training program.

• Man should overcome the temptation of Iblis so as to

attain a respectable status and fulfill the assignment

given by Allah, the Creator.

• The challenge of Iblis may serve to strengthen

man’s determination and WILL POWER against

temptation. An analogy to the invasion of

bacteria for immunity of our phsical body.

• The great weakness of Iblis was ： self –

conceitedness and jealousy

• Man was born in the state of fitrah (inclined to the

truth)

• Man is not the true owner of this world. He is the

trustee of Allah. Therefore, he should follow the

will of Allah in making use of resources on earth.

• Allah promised to send guidance to man on earth

Concept of Life

• Role of man : vicegerent of Allah ( Q 6:165)

• Worship (serve) Allah ( Q 51:56 )

• Born in pure state ( Q 30 : 30 )

• Each will bear what they have done ( Q 65:7 )

• Not abstain from desire, nor indulge in lust

• Repent to Allah directly upon committing mistake

and be determined to improve

• Satan is our enemy, don’t underestimate its power

I have not created the jinn and the men

except for this that they should worship

Me.

عبد

male slave, servant

(Qur’an 51:56)

(Worship)

(serve)

Purpose of Creation of man

Believe in Allah and His Messenger and

spend out of what He has made you

successor. For those of you who will believe

and expend of their wealth there is a great

reward. (Qur’an 57:7)

Generous & Charitable

And thus have We willed you to be a

community of the middle way, so that

[with your lives] you might bear witness to

the truth before all mankind, and that the

Apostle might bear witness to it before you.

(Qur’an 2:143)

The Middle Way – no indulgence in nor abstain from desire

So, set your face sincerely and truly towards this

Faith and be steadfast on the Nature whereupon

Allah has created mankind. (Qur’an 30:30)

Narrated Abu-Huraira:Allah's Apostle said, "No child is born except on Al-fitra and then his parents make him Jewish, Christian or Magian (Zoroastrian), as an animal produces a perfect young animal: do you see any part of its body amputated?"- Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 23, Number 441

Man is Born Sinless

"O David, We have made you vicegerent in the

earth, so rule among the people with justice and do

not follow your lust, for it will lead you astray

from Allah's Way." For those who go astray from

Allah's Way, there is a severe punishment because

they forgot the Day of Reckoning."

(Qur’an 38:26)

Answerable to Allah

「… . Every person is himself

accountable for what he earns,

for no bearer of burden bears

the burden of another … 」(Qur’an 6 : 164)

Everyone Will Be Responsible For His Own Deeds

“Allah does not burden any human being with a responsibility heavier than he can bear. ”

(Qur’an 2:286)

Man Will Be Held Accountable According To What He Has Been

Given

(Qur’an 65 ： 7)

“ Let the rich man spend according to his means

and let the one whose means are restricted,

spend out of what Allah has given him. Allah

does not burden anyone with more than what

He has given him. …. ”

Man Will Be Held Accountable According To What He Has Been

Given

“Be sure we shall test you with

something of fear and hunger, some

loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of

your toil), but give glad tidings to

those who patiently persevere, ”(Qur’an 2 ： 155)

Man Will Be Tested

It is He, Who has made you the vicegerents

on the earth, and raised some of you above

others in ranks so that He may test you in

what He has given you. Indeed your Lord is

swift in inflicting punishment: yet He is also

very Forgiving and Merciful.

(Qur’an 6 :165)

Men Are Made in Ranks