Question: There are people who say, “Âdam and Hawwâ (Eve) were not the first human beings. We descended from other creatures.” Do these statements have any scientific value?
ANSWER
These statements do not square with the mind, reason, and science. All people are the descendants of Hadrat Âdam. When addressing humans in the Qur’ân al-karîm, Allahu ta’âlâ says, “Yâ banî Âdama = O sons of Âdam” [Sûrat-ul-A’râf 26, 27, 31, 35; Sûrat-u Yâsîn 60]

Pertinent âyat-i karîmas (Qur’anic verses) purport as follows:
(When your Lord said, “I will create a caliph on earth,” the angels said, “Will you create those who will make mischief on earth and shed blood?” He said, “I know what you do not know.” He taught Âdam the names of all things [what they are used for, knowledge of methods and techniques of doing them]. Then He said to the angels, “If you, too, know them, utter them.” The angels said, “We have no knowledge other than what You have taught us.” He said to Âdam, “Tell the names of all things [what they are used for].” When Âdam told all of them, your Lord said, “Did I not tell you that I know everything, whether it is unseen, hidden, or manifest, in the heavens and on earth?”) [Sûrat-ul-Baqara 30-33]

(O sons of Âdam! Let not Shaitan deceive you as he got your parents [Hadrat Hawwa and Hadrat Âdam] out of Paradise.) [Sûrat-ul-A’râf 27]

(It is Allah who created you from a single soul [from Âdam ‘alaihis-salâm] and who created from that his mate [our mother Hawwâ].) [Sûrat-ul-A’râf 189, Sûrat-uz-Zumar 6]

Humans were created from a single person, Hadrat Âdam. (Sûrat-un-Nisâ’ 1, Sûrat-ul-An’âm 98)

The first human was created from soil; his offspring, from a semen-drop. (Sûrat-u Fâtir 11, Sûrat-ul-Hajj 5, Sûrat-ul-Kahf 37, Sûrat-ul-Mu’min 67)

It is declared in hadîth-i sharîfs:
(Allahu ta’âlâ created Âdam ‘alaihis-salâm from soil gathered from all quarters of the earth. Therefore, among his offspring, just as there are black, white, dark-skinned, and red ones, so there are also those who are in between these colors. Of them, some are easy-going, some are austere, and some are clean.) [Abû Dâwud]

(Having created Âdam ‘alaihis-salâm, Allahu ta’âlâ told him, “Go and greet those angels. Your greeting and the greeting of your offspring will be in this manner.”) [Bukhârî]

(Allahu ta’âlâ will ask the person who will suffer the lightest punishment in Hell, “If all things in the world were in your possession, would you sacrifice them so as to be released from Hell?” He will reply, “Yes.” Allahu ta’âlâ will say, “When you were in Âdam’s loins, I demanded very little of you. ‘Do not commit an act of polytheism,’ I said. But you committed an act of polytheism.”) [Hâkim]

(In my ancestral lineage back up to Hadrat Âdam, there were no people who committed adultery. All of them were pure.) [Ibn Sa’d]

(From Hadrat Âdam up to my father, I always passed through married fathers and mothers.) [Daylamî]

(Gog and Magog, too, are of the descendants of Âdam ‘alaihis-salâm.) [Bayhaqî]

(All of you are the children of Âdam ‘alaihis-salâm.) [Bazzâr]

After these documentary proofs, can anyone say anything to a person who, by saying, “We descended from not Âdam, but evolved from monkeys and other creatures,” cannot bear being a human and who desires to be an animal?

Question: Is the prophethood of Âdam, Idrîs, and Shît ‘alaihimus-salâm open to doubt?
ANSWER
No, it is not. Idrîs ‘alaihis-salâm is one of the grandchildren of Shît ‘alaihis-salâm. Hadrat Shît is the son of Hadrat Âdam. That Shît ‘alaihis-salâm is a prophet is established by ahâdîth. The names of the other two are mentioned in the Qur’ân al-karîm as prophets. Denying them means denying the Qur’ân al-karîm. The Qur’ân al-karîm proclaims as follows, closing the door on drawing different inferences:
(Idrîs, too, was a truthful prophet.) [Sûrat-u Maryam 56]

Just as denying any Qur’anic verse causes disbelief, so does denying this verse. That Hadrat Idrîs is a prophet has been communicated by ahâdîth as well. There follows the purport of two pertinent hadîth-i sharîfs:

(During the Mi’râj, we reached the second sky. Jibrîl [Gabriel] said to its gatekeeper, “Open the gate!” The angel asked him questions similar to the ones asked by the gatekeeper of the first sky. When I called on Hadrat Idrîs, he said to me, “Welcome, O pious Prophet and pious brother!” I asked, “Who is he?” Jabrâil [Gabriel] answered, “He is Prophet Idrîs.”) [Bukhârî, Muslim, I.Ahmad]

(The first of the rasûls [messengers] is Âdam, and the last of them is Muhammad. The first of the prophets of the sons of Israel is Mûsâ, and the last of them is ‘Îsâ. The first prophet to write with a pen is Idrîs.) [Hâkim-i Tirmidhî]

The fact that Âdam ‘alaihis-salâm is the first human and the first prophet is written in all Islamic books. Also, it is purported in the Qur’ân al-karîm:

(Allah chose Âdam, Nûh, the family of Ibrâhîm, and the family of ‘Imrân [as prophets], who were in the same line of descent, and exalted them over the worlds.) [Sûrat-u Âl-i ‘Imrân 33]

(These prophets [all of the prophets We sent from Zakariyya ‘alaihis-salâm to Idrîs ‘alaihis-salâm], on whom Allah bestowed favors, are of the descendants of Âdam, are of those whom We carried with Nûh [in the Ark], are of the descendants of Ibrâhîm and Israel [Ya’qûb], and are whom We have guided, chosen, and liked.) [Sûrat-u Maryam 58]

Another hadîth-i sharîf confirming the prophethood of Âdam ‘alaihis-salâm is as follows:
(The first of the prophets is Âdam ‘alaihis-salâm.) [Tabarânî]

Besides, Hadrat Imâm-i a’zam declares:
The first of the prophets is Âdam ‘alaihis-salâm, and the last of them is Muhammad ‘alaihis-salâm. (Fiqh-i akbar)

The superiority of Hadrat Âdam
Question: Two âyât purport as follows:
(We took a pledge from prophets [that they would worship only Allah and would invite their communities to this]. We took a pledge from you, Nûh, Ibrâhîm, Mûsâ, and ‘Îsâ, son of Maryam [We took a solemn pledge from those messengers, who were true to their word, that they would fulfill their pledge.].) [Sûrat-ul-Ahzâb 7]

(In the matter of religion [fundamentals of îmân], He enjoined on Nûh, “Uphold [know Allah as one; obey Him; have belief in His prophets, in His books, in the life to come; be Believers and Muslims] the Religion and do not be split.” He laid down for you [your community] as religion what He enjoined on Nûh. He also laid down for you as religion what was revealed to Ibrâhîm, Mûsâ, and ‘Îsâ.) [Sûrat-ush-Shûrâ 13]

Do these verses not prove that the religions revealed to these prophets are the same, that the number of arch-prophets is five, and that Hadrat Âdam is not an arch-prophet?
ANSWER
No, they do not. You cannot take only two verses because it is possible that one verse may be explained by other verses. These verses show that the religions brought by all prophets are the same in terms of essentials of faith. That is, the fundamentals of Âmantu had been the same in all religions before these religions were distorted by evil people.

There follows the purport of three âyat-i karîmas about Hadrat Âdam, who is one of the selected:

(Allah exalted Âdam, Nûh, the family of Ibrâhîm, and the family of ‘Imrân over the worlds.) [Sûrat-u Âl-i ‘Imrân 33]

(He taught Âdam the names of all things. Then He showed them to the angels and said, “Tell Me the names of these if you are sincere in your words.”) [Sûrat-ul-Baqara 31]

(We created you, then gave you shape, then said to the angels, “Prostrate yourselves before Âdam.” All of them prostrated themselves except Iblîs. He was not of those who prostrated.) [Sûrat-ul-A’râf 11]

It is explained in these Qur’anic verses that Hadrat Âdam is one of those who are preferred over the worlds and thus is superior to angels, that angels prostrate themselves before him, and that he knew the essence of all things. It is declared in the Qur’ân al-karîm that no punishment will be inflicted on a nation to which no prophet was sent and that Qâbil (Cain), son of Hadrat Âdam, is of the dwellers of Hell. These verses, in the same way, demonstrate that Hadrat Âdam is a prophet.

The following is the purport of some hadîth-i sharîfs about Hadrat Âdam:
(The first of the rasûls [messengers] is Âdam, and the last of them is Muhammad. The first of the prophets of sons of Israel is Mûsa, and the last of them is ‘Îsâ.) [Hâkim-i Tirmidhî]

(Âdam is a prophet who spoke to Allahu ta’âlâ.) [Hâkim, Bayhaqî]

(Allahu ta’âlâ created Âdam with His hands of power on Friday and blew into him from His spirit.) [Muslim]

(Friday is the master of days in the sight of Allahu ta’âlâ. It is more valuable than the days of Qurbân and Ramadan festivals. One of the five peculiarities of Friday is this: Allah created Âdam on Friday. He was descended on earth on this day, and he passed away on this day.) [Bukhârî, I.Ahmad]

(Mûsâ asked, “O my Lord! How did Âdam give thanks to you?” Allahu ta’âlâ said, “Whatever befell him, he knew it as coming from Me. This recognition of his was regarded as his thanks.”) [Hâkim-i Tirmidhî]

(Allahu ta’âlâ taught Âdam the art of everything. He provided sustenance for him from the fruits of Paradise. Earthly fruits spoil, but fruits in Paradise do not spoil.) [Tabarânî]

(If a person says “Salâwatullahi ‘alâ Âdama” three times every day, all his sins will be forgiven, and he will be a companion to Âdam ‘alaihis-salâm in Paradise.) [Daylamî]

(Âdam and Mûsâ discussed in the presence of their Lord. Âdam won a victory over Mûsâ.) [Bukhârî, Muslim]

Hadrat Âdam is an ulu’l- ‘azm prophet (arch-prophet). (I’tiqâd-nâma, Ahlâq-i ‘alai)

Denying the first prophet
Question: Some people deny the fact that Hadrat Âdam is the first prophet. Qâbil, his son, is one of those who will be in Hell. Isn’t this another proof that Hadrat Âdam is the first messenger?
ANSWER
Of course it is. That Qâbil, who refused Allah’s commandment, is one the dwellers of Hell proves that his father is a prophet. For Allahu ta’âlâ does not hold people responsible for what they have done and does not inflict punishment on them without first sending them a prophet and communicating His religion. As a matter of fact, an âyah purports:

(We do not torment unless We send a messenger [who informs people about what is lawful and what is unlawful] before.) [Sûrat-ul-Isrâ’ 15]

(Idrîs, too, was a truthful prophet.) [Sûrat-u Maryam 56]

Just as there people who deny the prophethood of Hadrat Âdam, so there are people who deny the prophethood of Idrîs ‘alaihis-salâm. Hadrat Idrîs is one of the grandsons of Prophet Shît, and he is a prophet to whom 30 suhuf (small books) were revealed.

Three hadith-i sharîf purport:
(During the Mi’râj, Jabrâil said in the second sky, “He is Prophet Idrîs.”) [Bukhârî, Muslim]

(The first of the rasûls [messengers] is Âdam, and the last of them is Muhammad. The first prophet to write with a pen is Idrîs.) [Hakîm]

(The first of the prophets is Âdam ‘alaihis-salâm.) [Tabarânî]

Hadrat Âdam is the first prophet. There follows the purport of two Qur’anic verses:

(Allah chose Âdam, Nûh, the family of Ibrâhîm, and the family of ‘Imrân [as prophets], who were in the same line of descent, and exalted them over the worlds.) [Sûrat-u Âl-i ‘Imrân 33]

(These prophets [all of the prophets We sent from Zakariyya ‘alaihis-salâm to Idrîs ‘alaihis-salâm], on whom Allah bestowed favors, are of the descendants of Âdam, are of those whom We carried with Nûh [in the Ark], are of the descendants of Ibrâhîm and Israel [Ya’qûb], and are whom We have guided, chosen, and liked.) [Sûrat-u Maryam 58]

The first of the messengers is Âdam, and the final of them is Muhammad [‘alaihimas-salâm]. (Fiqh-i akbar by Imâm-i a’zam)

The murder of Qâbil (Cain)
Question: Why did Qâbil, the son of Hadrat Âdam, murder his brother Hâbil?
ANSWER
Hadrat Hawwa (Eve) used to give birth to a boy and a girl at every delivery. The girl [Aklima] who was born with Qâbil was very beautiful. Qâbil wanted to marry this sister of his, but Hadrat Âdam objected, saying, “This is Allah’s command. You cannot marry your sister Aklima. If you do not believe me, offer sheep for sacrifice with your brother! The one whose offering is accepted will marry Aklima.” Hâbil, owner of livestock, put forth a ram; and Qâbil, a farmer, a bunch of wheat ears. A fire used to descend from the sky and burn the offering accepted. The fire that descended from the sky burnt Hâbil’s offering. Nothing happened to the bunch of wheat ears. Qâbil became furious at it and murdered Hâbil.

This incident is mentioned in the Qur’ân al-karîm as follows:
(Relate to them the true news of the two sons of Âdam: They each offered a sacrifice, but it was accepted from one of them and was not accepted from the other. “I will surely kill you,” he [Qâbil, whose sacrifice was not accepted, said to his bother Hâbil out of jealousy] said. The other said, “Allah only accepts from the pious. Verily, even if you extend your hand towards me to kill me, I will not extend my hand towards you to kill you; I fear Allah, the Lord of the worlds. You will bear both my sin and your sin [that you will commit by killing me and by disobeying Allahu ta’âlâ and our father] and will be one of those who will be thrown into the Fire. Such is the requital for zâlims.” Thereupon, [Qâbil did not know how to kill a human. Murdering a human was a first. He saw Iblis kill a bird by hitting it over the head with a stone, so] following his nafs, he killed his brother [by hitting him over the head with a stone]. He thus became [one of the inmates of Hell and thus suffered a great loss] one of the losers. [Qâbil did not know that the dead body had to be buried] Then Allah sent him a crow digging the ground [to bury a dead crow] to show him how to bury the corpse of his brother. He [Qâbil] said, “Woe to me! I failed to be like this crow to bury the corpse of my brother.”) [Sûrat-ul-Mâ’ida 27-31]

Ancient times
Question: What happened to the people who lived in ancient times? How could they get through the Pleistocene Epoch, which such strong and tough animals as dinosaurs could not withstand, and sustain their race?
ANSWER
Since all people are the descendants of Âdam ‘alaihis-salâm, they somehow stood up to it and came to this day. This is not a difficult thing for Allah. Can’t He, the Creator from nothing, protect the existing beings?

There is not positive information about the dinosaur, which semantically means a terrifying lizard. It is not known for certain why they became extinct. The then conditions might have been fit for humans to survive while it might not have been for animals. A building cannot be erected on an imaginary foundation.

Am I not your Lord?
Question: It is said, “When Allahu ta’âlâ asked all people, ‘Am I not your Lord?’ disbelievers did not say ‘Yes.’” At that time, did all humans not reply in the affirmative?
ANSWER
Yes, all of them replied in the affirmative. An âyat-i karîma purports:
(Lest you should say on the Day of Resurrection, “We were unaware of this,” your Lord brought forth from the loins of sons of Âdam their descendants, made them bear witness for themselves, and said, “Am I not your Lord?” They said, “Yes, we bear witness [to this].”) [Sûrat-ul-A’râf 172]

In addition, Hadrat Imâm-i Ghazâlî declares:
Allahu ta’âlâ asked them, “Am I not your Lord?” All of them answered, “You are our Lord. We witness it.” Allahu ta’âlâ made angels and Âdam ‘alaihis-salâm witnesses, and they affirmed that Allahu ta’âlâ is the Lord. (Kıyamet ve Ahiret)

Hadrat Hawwa (Eve)
Question: Some Christians claim that Hadrat Âdam had another wife before Hadrat Hawwa. Is it true?
ANSWER
This is the fabrication of Christian evolutionists. Such a made-up statement is not even written in defiled Bibles. Some evolutionists, without basing their argument on any evidence, say that they evolved from the monkey or the bear. But the fact is that Allahu ta’âlâ created all human beings from Hadrat Âdam and Hadrat Hawwa, his spouse. This reality is explicitly made known in the Qur’ân al-karîm:

(Fear your Lord, who created you from a single soul and who created from that his mate and who created from them both many men and women.) [Sûrat-un-Nisâ’ 1]

(It is Allah who created you from a single soul [Âdam] and who created from that his mate [Hawwa].) [Sûrat-ul-A’râf 189]

(O mankind! We created you from a male and a female. We separated you into nations and tribes so that you would meet one another.) [Sûrat-ul-Hujurât 13]