By Dr Humayun
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Introduction of first Human
As I mentioned in the last post that after Allah (SBT)has introduced himself through evidences ,next question which a human can think is the origin of human, so the next topic is introduction to the first human on the earth.
There are questions which raised in my mind when trying to understand these Ayahs.Before we start these Ayahs , common scientific facts are
As we all know that all human have 46 chromosomes and are paired in 23 (22 autosomes and one sex chromosome).
Except 3 humans on the face of the earth {(Adam, Eva and Jesus(PUT)}, all other human beings got , are getting and will get their chromosomes from their parents. As this is very basic understanding but to me important to understand the philosophical discussion of those 7 questions , which two of those (selection of male /female, selection of parents), I left unanswered during my previous post.
As we know that our parents are not our creator, they are just means to bring us to this world.
Also in every human there are three organs which are special, which will make him/her a complete human being (these are eyes, ears and brain), if these are anatomically and physiologically functioning normally. If any of these organs is anatomically or physiologically abnormal, then we call that child a special child.
As these are the most important organs which help the human to decide, to me the rest of the organs are accessories to them, and will follow what human wants to do.
Being a physician I know that human ears will hear frequency between 20-20,000 hertz, eyes will do the same job with out any human differentiation and brain has different parts which perform the same functions in all human.
So Allah SBT has given all human beings the same organs whose functions are same, will remain same and are common.
If we look at these, anatomically there’s no difference between them , either these belong to male or female, neither their function is different for any human since the creation of first human. So Allah (SBT) has created the human beings with equality to make a decision about their actions.
If you want to look into the 5 questions, which I said are at the discretionary power of Allah SBT, to me have no relevance, regarding my accountability on day of judgement, that is my color, shape , date of birth, place of birth and language.
Quran has stressed a lot on these organs ,can talk about these but will deviate away from the topic.
So Allah (SBT) has given everyone eyes to see, ears to listen and brain to put all the information to decide, then use his /her accessories i.e the rest of body to execute his/her thinking.
Before I finish this, let me say this helped me to understand the concept of the two questions which I have left unanswered.
This might help you understand the logic about those two questions in my onward 2 to 3 posts.
So read the Ayahs from 30-39, there were questions which I had, will discuss those as I go along.
Aya: 30
وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ.خَلِيفَةً ۖ قَالُوا أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُفِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّمَاءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
And when your Lord said to the angels, “Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successor.They said, “Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we glorify You with praises and thanks and sanctify You?” Allah said, “Indeed, I know that which you do not know.”
The question which came in mind from this Aya is
Why Allah SBT needed a successor on the earth
I got the answer of this very important question in Sura Al Ahzab الأحزاب :
Aya: 72
إِنَّا عَرَضْنَا الْأَمَانَةَ عَلَى السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَالْجِبَالِ فَأَبَيْنَ أَن يَحْمِلْنَهَا وَأَشْفَقْنَ مِنْهَا وَحَمَلَهَا الْإِنسَانُ ۖ إِنَّهُ كَانَ ظَلُومًا جَهُولًا
Indeed, we offered Al~Amanah to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, and they declined to bear it and feared it; but human accepted to bear it. Indeed, human was unjust and ignorant.
This is very important Aya to understand few questions.
First is , I have not translated deliberately Al~amanah translation which I have read in the translation of Qur’an. If you read these translations and commentaries you will find different opinions.
I am a student and the answer didn’t satisfy me. I am writing my opinion If you have a different opinion and disagree ,please share with me ,why Allah SBT needed a successor on the earth.
My understanding of this Al~ Amanah is as Allah SBT is the creator, he created a common sense (consciousness) that gives ability to decide to do or not to do an action. To me this ability to do or not to do on the basis of logic was Al~ Amanah.
If we read this Aya now with this explanation, then to me it makes sense that the earth, skies and mountains got scared to take it and human being accepted it
Also if you read English translations, إنسان is translated as man ,but Urdu translations translated it as human which to me , is the real meaning.
So this was human being (i.e me) who accepted this responsibility.
Now I accepted this responsibility to do or not to do on the basis of this sense which I call consciousness . So Allah SBT left me on this earth to represent him.
But why this happened and what’s the sequence ,is explained in the Ayahs from 30-39. If we read the next part of Aya 30,
Allah SBT when asked the angels, their reply is ,don’t make human Your representative, as human is going to cause mischief and blood shed in earth.
They said,we praise you , say thanks to you and never make a partner with you . Human will make a partner with you.
In fact the angels are giving their opinion when they saw human, very likely after knowing human nature.But Allah SBT replied that He knows which they don’t know.
As the angels are not convinced by the answer, Allah SBT to convince them ,gives the answer read the next Aya
Aya: 31
وَعَلَّمَ آدَمَ الْأَسْمَاءَ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمْ عَلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنبِئُونِي بِأَسْمَاءِ هَٰؤُلَاءِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
And He taught Adam the names – all of them. Then He showed them to the angels and said, “Inform Me of the names of these, if you are truthful.”
Question from this Aya is
When I, as a human accepted the responsibility, then why Allah SBT only taught Adam (PBUH) the names
A: My explanation which you can disagree, but again give me your reasons, to me Adam (PBUH) is representing the whole humanity.
B: The human (me) and all of humanity had a competition with the angels and knowledge was the basis of competition . So to me , knowledge is the power.
There are two types of knowledge and will discuss these in near future Inshaallah. These are
a: Revealed
b: Acquired
Revealed knowledge is the Books sent by Allah SBT and the last one is Quran
Acquired knowledge is what Allah SBT is referring in this Aya according to my understanding. This has been given to the human beings and is the basis of human success in this life. Which ever society has updated acquired knowledge, prevails in the world.
This is discretionary power of Allah SBT, but very likely gives to those societies and nations which look after poor in their society.
This explains to me that it has nothing to do with believe of the society, as is evident from the history particularly since prophet Muhammad PBUM.
I want to quote the verse of my beloved poet Allama Iqbal who was one of the few, who I feel really understood the message of Qur’an, about the human being.
فرشتے سے بھتر ہے انسان بننا۔
مگر اس مین پڑتی ہے محنت زیادہ
So the next Ayahs 32 and 33 is the result of competition
Aya: 32
قَالُوا سُبْحَانَكَ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ
They said, “Glory be to You; we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, it is You ,the All Knower, the All Wise.”
Aya: 33
قَالَ يَا آدَمُ أَنبِئْهُم بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ ۖ فَلَمَّا أَنبَأَهُم بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ غَيْبَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَأَعْلَمُ مَا تُبْدُونَ وَمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ
He said, “O Adam, inform them of their names.” And when he had informed them of their names, He said, “Did I not tell you that I know the unseen of the heavens and the earth? And I know what you reveal and what you have concealed.”
Allah SBT has convinced the angels that the human knows better than you, as he is better than you, you have to do what I ask you to do for him.
It also shows that angels have a feeling and Allah SBT doesn’t want to hurt their feelings, although, they questioned Allah SBT decision first, but Allah SBT convinced them through logic not by order, although Allah SBT can order as well. He also explains that I know what they conceal and what they reveal.
The reason was the next order which is self explanatory
Aya: 34
وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ وَاسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ
And 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.
Question; is prostration allowed to human by the angels
To me logic is simple, Allah SBT representative human being, who won the competition was going to use Allah SBT provisions in the earth and Allah SBT orders are executed by angels, so Allah SBT wanted angels to bow to human.
It shows that angels accepted the decision of Allah SBT except Iblees and gave his logic with arrogance not to do it.
This will come in detail in the other parts of Qur’an, here is only introduction of event
Aya: 35
وَقُلْنَا يَا آدَمُ اسْكُنْ أَنتَ وَزَوْجُكَ الْجَنَّةَ وَكُلَا مِنْهَا رَغَدًا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمَا وَلَا تَقْرَبَا هَٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةَ فَتَكُونَا مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
And We said, “O Adam, dwell, you and your wife, in Paradise and eat therefrom in abundance from wherever you will. But do not approach this tree, lest you be among the wrongdoers.”
Very obvious that Adam and his wife were allowed to have a conditional stay in the haven and to me I was allowed as well with this condition. I will explain this point in the next Ayahs
Aya: 36
فَأَزَلَّهُمَا الشَّيْطَانُ عَنْهَا فَأَخْرَجَهُمَا مِمَّا كَانَا فِيهِ ۖ وَقُلْنَا اهْبِطُوا بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ ۖ وَلَكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ مُسْتَقَرٌّ وَمَتَاعٌ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ
But Satan made them slip therefrom and got them out from that in which they had been. And We said, “Go down”as enemies to one another, and you will have upon the earth a place of settlement and provision for a time.”
Questions which arise are
a: Adam PBUM, and Eva, who are the parents of all humanity, if they made a mistake, why me and the other humans have been sent out of haven as well
b: Why Adam PBUM and Eva came to this earth as first human being
c: Can I be responsible for the actions of Adam PBUM and Eva and the other human beings
When I tried to understand these questions, the answer to the last question which I read from Qur’an and Hadith that everyone is responsible for his or her actions.
So it is logical to think to me that I was created with the other human beings and I was responsible for the same mistake and sent down from the haven.
Adam PBUM and his wife represented the humanity and sent down to earth as first human beings
Was this coming to earth their own decision.
My understanding is that, this is decision of Allah SBT. Although to explain this with an example which is not a parable to this, is like a coach and manager of a team who decides who will be playing in which position and who will be on the waiting list.
My creator Allah SBT knows the capabilities of every body, so Allah SBT decided who will be going first. This explanation can give answers of questions, that my date of birth , place of birth, shape and colour of body, language and date of death are decided by my creator.
As these have no relevance to what I have been asked to do, that I have to spend this life according to the guidance provided by Him.
When Adam PBUM and his wife were sent out of haven, then Allah SBT didn’t forget them, read next Aya
Aya: 37
فَتَلَقَّىٰ آدَمُ مِن رَّبِّهِ كَلِمَاتٍ فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ
Then Adam received from his Lord words, and He accepted his repentance. Indeed, He who forgives, the most Merciful.
Adam PBUM repented with the words which were sent to him and Allah SBT accepted his repentance and forgive him
Question
If Adam PBUM and His wife were the only human being who made mistake, then Allah SBT says that I forgive them, then rest of humanity should be forgiven as well
We find that, it is not the case and again strengthen my opinion, as I mentioned above , that I and rest of human beings were created at the same time
Next Aya is making this opinion of mine more strong, read the next Aya
Aya: 38
قُلْنَا اهْبِطُوا مِنْهَا جَمِيعًا ۖ فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّي هُدًى فَمَن تَبِعَ هُدَايَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
We said, “Go down from it, all of you. And when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance – there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.
This explains my opinion that all human beings should go down and when guidance comes from me follow it.
Aya number 37 says we sent down the words and Adam PBUM and Eva asked for repentance through those words and Allah SBT accepted the repentance and forgive them.
Now look at the second part of this Aya, Allah SBT is saying that whenever there will be guidance from me, those who will follow the guidance will be forgiven and will not be grieved.
This is very clear to me that I will have to ask for the forgiveness of the mistake which I made it and guidance will be there for me.
Anyone who came before me had a guidance and the human beings going to come after me will have a guidance.
Next Aya is for those who will deny the evidence, their destiny is hell fire, read the next Aya
Aya: 39
وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَكَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
And those who disbelieve and deny Our signs – those will be companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.”
This is self explanatory
I hope this explains the concept of first human send to this world . I will be very happy to have another view point and opinion, if someone wants to share with me. As this’s the basic understanding which helped me to understand logic of those two questions i.e. Did I select my parents and my sex.
Next is very important topic to understand these questions i.e. from Aya from 40 to 46 in more details.
I will continue this next time Inshaallah
