Who is Allah?

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A reed shelter in the Chibayish marshes of southern Iraq, near where Genesis places Eden

The first human

Adam

(peace be upon him)
אָדָםآدمAdam · Ādam

Made from the earth, given life by God's breath, and placed in a garden.

▶ Watch the three tellingsBefore history · as tradition places it
Stand-in photograph: Alli Khalil · CC BY-SA 4.0

The name in three scripts

HebrewאָדָםAdam“human”, linked with adamah, “ground”
GreekἈδάμAdamGreek
ArabicآدمĀdamtitle Abū al-Bashar, “father of humankind”

One-minute snapshot

In a minute

Before historyRead time 1 min
TorahGospelQur'an

Jews, Christians and Muslims all begin the human story with Adam (peace be upon him), the first man, made by God from the earth and given life by God's breath. With his wife, called Eve in the Bible and Hawwa in Islamic tradition, he lives in a garden and is told not to eat from one tree. They eat, and they leave the garden. The traditions agree on dignity, choice and a God who seeks people out. They draw different lessons from what happens next.

The Euphrates winding through flat, treeless plain, seen from the air.
The Euphrates from the air, 1930s: the river of the Eden story. American Colony (Jerusalem) Photo Dept. / Matson Photo Service, Library of Congress (public domain)

Watch

Three traditions, three films

Each told by its own community, in its own words, side by side. More on F-ILM.

A Jewish telling

Covenant & Conversation | Bereishit | Rabbi SacksThe Rabbi Sacks Legacy · 10 minRabbi Sacks on Bereishit: what the first human story says about responsibility; ideal length, no depiction.

A Christian telling

Book of Genesis Summary: A Complete Animated Overview (Part 1)BibleProject · 8 min Shows prophets (a film-maker's portrayal)BibleProject Genesis part 1: creation and the garden as Christians read it; stylised figures.

A Muslim telling

The Beginning and the End with Omar Suleiman: Making of Adam (Ep38)Nouman Ali Khan - Official - Bayyinah · 11 minOmar Suleiman, The Beginning and the End ep 38: the making of Adam in the Qur'an and hadith.

Side by side

Three tellings

Quotations: Torah and Hebrew Bible, JPS 1917 · New Testament, World English Bible (British Edition) · Qur'an, Pickthall (1930). Translations and sources

Hebrew Bible · Torah

In Jewish tradition's own words.

An Egyptian limestone block carved with figures hoeing the ground.
Men hoeing the earth: talatat block from Karnak, c. 1353 BCE. “To till the ground from whence he was taken” (Genesis 3:23). Egypt, Karnak, New Kingdom (1540–1069 BCE), Dynasty 18, reign of Akhenaten (1351–1334 BCE), Cleveland Museum of Art (CC0)
  • God forms the human from the dust and breathes into him the breath of life.
  • Adam names the animals; woman is formed from his side.
  • The serpent tempts; they eat, hide, and are sent out of Eden to work the ground.
  • Their sons are Cain, Abel and Seth.
“And God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.”Genesis 1:27 · JPS 1917

The Mishnah teaches that humankind began as one person so that no one could say “my father is greater than yours”, and that whoever saves one life saves a whole world (Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5).

Judaism has no doctrine of inherited guilt. It speaks of two inclinations, to good and to evil (yetzer ha-tov, yetzer ha-ra).

Key passages: Genesis 1:26–28; 2:7–25; 3:1–24; 4:1–2; 5:1–5

Is this how your tradition would say it? Tell us →

The Christian telling

In Christian tradition's own words.

A page of Greek text from a Byzantine Gospel book.
A Gospel book with commentaries, Constantinople, about 1000–1100. Byzantium, Constantinople, Cleveland Museum of Art (CC0)
  • Paul presents Adam as a figure of Christ: through one man came sin and death; through Christ comes life.
  • Luke's genealogy traces Jesus back to “Adam, the son of God”.
“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.”1 Corinthians 15:22 · WEB (British Edition)

Augustine's teaching on original sin shaped Western Christianity. Eastern Orthodox Christians speak of inherited mortality rather than inherited guilt.

Orthodox churches remember Adam and Eve on the Sunday of the Forefathers, before Christmas.

Key passages: Romans 5:12–21; 1 Corinthians 15:21–22; Luke 3:38; 1 Timothy 2:13–14

Is this how your tradition would say it? Tell us →

The Qur'an

In Islamic tradition's own words.

The Earth rising over the grey surface of the Moon.
Earthrise from Apollo 8, 1968: “Lo! I am about to place a viceroy in the earth” (Qur'an 2:30). NASA / JSC (public domain)
  • God tells the angels He will place a khalīfa, a viceroy or steward, on earth.
  • He teaches Adam (peace be upon him) “the names” of all things; the angels bow, except Iblis, who refuses out of pride.
  • Adam (peace be upon him) and his wife eat from the tree together, both repent, and are forgiven.
  • They are sent down to earth, where Adam (peace be upon him) is the first prophet.
“And when thy Lord said unto the angels: Lo! I am about to place a viceroy in the earth, they said: Wilt thou place therein one who will do harm therein and will shed blood, while we, we hymn Thy praise and sanctify Thee? He said: Surely I know that which ye know not.”Qur'an 2:30 · Pickthall (1930)

Because both repent and both are forgiven (7:23), Islam holds there is no inherited sin: each soul answers for itself (6:164).

Eve's name, Hawwa, comes from hadith and tradition, not the Qur'an. The hadith “God created Adam (peace be upon him) in his image” (Bukhari 6227) is read in different ways.

Key passages: Qur'an 2:30–39; 7:11–27; 15:26–43; 20:115–123; 38:71–85; 3:59

Read the passages Hebrew Bible · Torah · 5

Genesis 1:26–28 · Hebrew Bible · JPS 1917

26

וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים נַעֲשֶׂה אָדָם בְּצַלְמֵנוּ כִּדְמוּתֵנוּ וְיִרְדּוּ בִדְגַת הַיָּם וּבְעוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם וּבַבְּהֵמָה וּבְכָל־הָאָרֶץ וּבְכָל־הָרֶמֶשׂ הָרֹמֵשׂ עַל־הָאָרֶץ׃

And God said: ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.’

27

וַיִּבְרָא אֱלֹהִים אֶת־הָאָדָם בְּצַלְמוֹ בְּצֶלֶם אֱלֹהִים בָּרָא אֹתוֹ זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה בָּרָא אֹתָם׃

And God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.

28

וַיְבָרֶךְ אֹתָם אֱלֹהִים וַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם אֱלֹהִים פְּרוּ וּרְבוּ וּמִלְאוּ אֶת־הָאָרֶץ וְכִבְשֻׁהָ וּרְדוּ בִּדְגַת הַיָּם וּבְעוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם וּבְכָל־חַיָּה הָרֹמֶשֶׂת עַל־הָאָרֶץ׃

And God blessed them; and God said unto them: ‘Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that creepeth upon the earth.’

Genesis 2:7–25 · Hebrew Bible · JPS 1917

7

וַיִּיצֶר יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים אֶת־הָאָדָם עָפָר מִן־הָאֲדָמָה וַיִּפַּח בְּאַפָּיו נִשְׁמַת חַיִּים וַיְהִי הָאָדָם לְנֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה׃

Then the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

8

וַיִּטַּע יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים גַּן־בְעֵדֶן מִקֶּדֶם וַיָּשֶׂם שָׁם אֶת־הָאָדָם אֲשֶׁר יָצָר׃

And the LORD God planted a garden eastward, in Eden; and there He put the man whom He had formed.

9

וַיַּצְמַח יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים מִן־הָאֲדָמָה כָּל־עֵץ נֶחְמָד לְמַרְאֶה וְטוֹב לְמַאֲכָל וְעֵץ הַחַיִּים בְּתוֹךְ הַגָּן וְעֵץ הַדַּעַת טוֹב וָרָע׃

And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

10

וְנָהָרּ יֹצֵא מֵעֵדֶן לְהַשְׁקוֹת אֶת־הַגָּן וּמִשָּׁם יִפָּרֵד וְהָיָה לְאַרְבָּעָה רָאשִׁים׃

And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became four heads.

11

שֵׁם הָאֶחָד פִּישׁוֹן הוּא הַסֹּבֵב אֵת כָּל־אֶרֶץ הַחֲוִילָה אֲשֶׁר־שָׁם הַזָּהָב׃

The name of the first is Pishon; that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;

12

וּזֲהַב הָאָרֶץ הַהִוא טוֹב שָׁם הַבְּדֹלַח וְאֶבֶן הַשֹּׁהַם׃

and the gold of that land is good; there is bdellium and the onyx stone.

13

וְשֵׁם־הַנָּהָר הַשֵּׁנִי גִּיחוֹן הוּא הַסּוֹבֵב אֵת כָּל־אֶרֶץ כּוּשׁ׃

And the name of the second river is Gihon; the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Cush.

14

וְשֵׁם הַנָּהָר הַשְּׁלִישִׁי חִדֶּקֶל הוּא הַהֹלֵךְ קִדְמַת אַשּׁוּר וְהַנָּהָר הָרְבִיעִי הוּא פְרָת׃

And the name of the third river is Tigris; that is it which goeth toward the east of Asshur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.

15

וַיִּקַּח יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים אֶת־הָאָדָם וַיַּנִּחֵהוּ בְגַן־עֵדֶן לְעָבְדָהּ וּלְשָׁמְרָהּ׃

And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

16

וַיְצַו יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים עַל־הָאָדָם לֵאמֹר מִכֹּל עֵץ־הַגָּן אָכֹל תֹּאכֵל׃

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying: ‘Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat;

The passage continues; open it in the player or your own Bible or Qur'an.

Genesis 3:1–24 · Hebrew Bible · JPS 1917

1

וְהַנָּחָשׁ הָיָה עָרוּם מִכֹּל חַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל־הָאִשָּׁה אַף כִּי־אָמַר אֱלֹהִים לֹא תֹאכְלוּ מִכֹּל עֵץ הַגָּן׃

Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman: ‘Yea, hath God said: Ye shall not eat of any tree of the garden?’

2

וַתֹּאמֶר הָאִשָּׁה אֶל־הַנָּחָשׁ מִפְּרִי עֵץ־הַגָּן נֹאכֵל׃

And the woman said unto the serpent: ‘Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat;

3

וּמִפְּרִי הָעֵץ אֲשֶׁר בְּתוֹךְ־הַגָּן אָמַר אֱלֹהִים לֹא תֹאכְלוּ מִמֶּנּוּ וְלֹא תִגְּעוּ בּוֹ פֶּן־תְּמֻתוּן׃

but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said: Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.’

4

וַיֹּאמֶר הַנָּחָשׁ אֶל־הָאִשָּׁה לֹא־מוֹת תְּמֻתוּן׃

And the serpent said unto the woman: ‘Ye shall not surely die;

5

כִּי יֹדֵעַ אֱלֹהִים כִּי בְּיוֹם אֲכָלְכֶם מִמֶּנּוּ וְנִפְקְחוּ עֵינֵיכֶם וִהְיִיתֶם כֵּאלֹהִים יֹדְעֵי טוֹב וָרָע׃

for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil.’

6

וַתֵּרֶא הָאִשָּׁה כִּי טוֹב הָעֵץ לְמַאֲכָל וְכִי תַאֲוָה־הוּא לָעֵינַיִם וְנֶחְמָד הָעֵץ לְהַשְׂכִּיל וַתִּקַּח מִפִּרְיוֹ וַתֹּאכַל וַתִּתֵּן גַּם־לְאִישָׁהּ עִמָּהּ וַיֹּאכַל׃

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and she gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat.

7

וַתִּפָּקַחְנָה עֵינֵי שְׁנֵיהֶם וַיֵּדְעוּ כִּי עֵירֻמִּם הֵם וַיִּתְפְּרוּ עֲלֵה תְאֵנָה וַיַּעֲשׂוּ לָהֶם חֲגֹרֹת׃

And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig-leaves together, and made themselves girdles.

8

וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ אֶת־קוֹל יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים מִתְהַלֵּךְ בַּגָּן לְרוּחַ הַיּוֹם וַיִּתְחַבֵּא הָאָדָם וְאִשְׁתּוֹ מִפְּנֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים בְּתוֹךְ עֵץ הַגָּן׃

And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden toward the cool of the day; and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

9

וַיִּקְרָא יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים אֶל־הָאָדָם וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ אַיֶּכָּה׃

And the LORD God called unto the man, and said unto him: ‘Where art thou?’

10

וַיֹּאמֶר אֶת־קֹלְךָ שָׁמַעְתִּי בַּגָּן וָאִירָא כִּי־עֵירֹם אָנֹכִי וָאֵחָבֵא׃

And he said: ‘I heard Thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.’

The passage continues; open it in the player or your own Bible or Qur'an.

Genesis 4:1–2 · Hebrew Bible · JPS 1917

1

וְהָאָדָם יָדַע אֶת־חַוָּה אִשְׁתּוֹ וַתַּהַר וַתֵּלֶד אֶת־קַיִן וַתֹּאמֶר קָנִיתִי אִישׁ אֶת־יְהוָה׃

And the man knew Eve his wife; and she conceived and bore Cain, and said: ‘I have agotten a man with the help of the LORD.’

2

וַתֹּסֶף לָלֶדֶת אֶת־אָחִיו אֶת־הָבֶל וַיְהִי־הֶבֶל רֹעֵה צֹאן וְקַיִן הָיָה עֹבֵד אֲדָמָה׃

And again she bore his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

Genesis 5:1–5 · Hebrew Bible · JPS 1917

1

זֶה סֵפֶר תּוֹלְדֹת אָדָם בְּיוֹם בְּרֹא אֱלֹהִים אָדָם בִּדְמוּת אֱלֹהִים עָשָׂה אֹתוֹ׃

This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made He him;

2

זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה בְּרָאָם וַיְבָרֶךְ אֹתָם וַיִּקְרָא אֶת־שְׁמָם אָדָם בְּיוֹם הִבָּרְאָם׃

male and female created He them, and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

3

וַיְחִי אָדָם שְׁלֹשִׁים וּמְאַת שָׁנָה וַיּוֹלֶד בִּדְמוּתוֹ כְּצַלְמוֹ וַיִּקְרָא אֶת־שְׁמוֹ שֵׁת׃

And Adam lived a hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth.

4

וַיִּהְיוּ יְמֵי־אָדָם אַחֲרֵי הוֹלִידוֹ אֶת־שֵׁת שְׁמֹנֶה מֵאֹת שָׁנָה וַיּוֹלֶד בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת׃

And the days of Adam after he begot Seth were eight hundred years; and he begot sons and daughters.

5

וַיִּהְיוּ כָּל־יְמֵי אָדָם אֲשֶׁר־חַי תְּשַׁע מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה וּשְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה וַיָּמֹת׃

And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years; and he died.

Read the passages The Christian telling · 4

Romans 5:12–21 · New Testament · WEB British Edition

12

Therefore, as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin, so death passed to all men because all sinned.

13

For until the law, sin was in the world; but sin is not charged when there is no law.

14

Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those whose sins weren’t like Adam’s disobedience, who is a foreshadowing of him who was to come.

15

But the free gift isn’t like the trespass. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.

16

The gift is not as through one who sinned; for the judgement came by one to condemnation, but the free gift followed many trespasses to justification.

17

For if by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; so much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ.

18

So then as through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of righteousness, all men were justified to life.

19

For as through the one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one, many will be made righteous.

20

The law came in that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly,

21

that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:21–22 · New Testament · WEB British Edition

21

For since death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man.

22

For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

Luke 3:38 · New Testament · WEB British Edition

38

the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

1 Timothy 2:13–14 · New Testament · WEB British Edition

13

For Adam was formed first, then Eve.

14

Adam wasn’t deceived, but the woman, being deceived, has fallen into disobedience;

Read the passages The Qur'an · 7

Qur'an 6:164 · The Qur'an · Pickthall (1930)

164

قُلْ أَغَيْرَ ٱللَّهِ أَبْغِى رَبًّۭا وَهُوَ رَبُّ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ ۚ وَلَا تَكْسِبُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ إِلَّا عَلَيْهَا ۚ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌۭ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۚ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُم مَّرْجِعُكُمْ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ

Say: Shall I seek another than Allah for Lord, when He is Lord of all things? Each soul earneth only on its own account, nor doth any laden bear another's load. Then unto your Lord is your return and He will tell you that wherein ye differed.

Qur'an 2:30–39 · The Qur'an · Pickthall (1930)

30

وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّى جَاعِلٌۭ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةًۭ ۖ قَالُوٓا۟ أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ ٱلدِّمَآءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

And when thy Lord said unto the angels: Lo! I am about to place a viceroy in the earth, they said: Wilt thou place therein one who will do harm therein and will shed blood, while we, we hymn Thy praise and sanctify Thee? He said: Surely I know that which ye know not.

31

وَعَلَّمَ ءَادَمَ ٱلْأَسْمَآءَ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمْ عَلَى ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنۢبِـُٔونِى بِأَسْمَآءِ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰدِقِينَ

And He taught Adam all the names, then showed them to the angels, saying: Inform Me of the names of these, if ye are truthful.

32

قَالُوا۟ سُبْحَٰنَكَ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَآ إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ

They said: Be glorified! We have no knowledge saving that which Thou hast taught us. Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Knower, the Wise.

33

قَالَ يَٰٓـَٔادَمُ أَنۢبِئْهُم بِأَسْمَآئِهِمْ ۖ فَلَمَّآ أَنۢبَأَهُم بِأَسْمَآئِهِمْ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ إِنِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ غَيْبَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ 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 secret of the heavens and the earth? And I know that which ye disclose and which ye hide.

34

وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ ٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِءَادَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ وَٱسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ

And when We said unto the angels: Prostrate yourselves before Adam, they fell prostrate, all save Iblis. He demurred through pride, and so became a disbeliever.

35

وَقُلْنَا يَٰٓـَٔادَمُ ٱسْكُنْ أَنتَ وَزَوْجُكَ ٱلْجَنَّةَ وَكُلَا مِنْهَا رَغَدًا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمَا وَلَا تَقْرَبَا هَٰذِهِ ٱلشَّجَرَةَ فَتَكُونَا مِنَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ

And We said: O Adam! Dwell thou and thy wife in the Garden, and eat ye freely (of the fruits) thereof where ye will; but come not nigh this tree lest ye become wrong-doers.

36

فَأَزَلَّهُمَا ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ عَنْهَا فَأَخْرَجَهُمَا مِمَّا كَانَا فِيهِ ۖ وَقُلْنَا ٱهْبِطُوا۟ بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّۭ ۖ وَلَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مُسْتَقَرٌّۭ وَمَتَٰعٌ إِلَىٰ حِينٍۢ

But Satan caused them to deflect therefrom and expelled them from the (happy) state in which they were; and We said: Fall down, one of you a foe unto the other! There shall be for you on earth a habitation and provision for a time.

37

فَتَلَقَّىٰٓ ءَادَمُ مِن رَّبِّهِۦ كَلِمَٰتٍۢ فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

Then Adam received from his Lord words (of revelation), and He relented toward him. Lo! He is the relenting, the Merciful.

38

قُلْنَا ٱهْبِطُوا۟ مِنْهَا جَمِيعًۭا ۖ فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّى هُدًۭى فَمَن تَبِعَ هُدَاىَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

We said: Go down, all of you, from hence; but verily there cometh unto you from Me a guidance; and whoso followeth My guidance, there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve.

39

وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَكَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَآ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ

But they who disbelieve, and deny Our revelations, such are rightful Peoples of the Fire. They will abide therein.

Qur'an 7:11–27 · The Qur'an · Pickthall (1930)

11

وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَٰكُمْ ثُمَّ صَوَّرْنَٰكُمْ ثُمَّ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ ٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِءَادَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ لَمْ يَكُن مِّنَ ٱلسَّٰجِدِينَ

And We created you, then fashioned you, then told the angels: Fall ye prostrate before Adam! And they fell prostrate, all save Iblis, who was not of those who make prostration.

12

قَالَ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَلَّا تَسْجُدَ إِذْ أَمَرْتُكَ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا۠ خَيْرٌۭ مِّنْهُ خَلَقْتَنِى مِن نَّارٍۢ وَخَلَقْتَهُۥ مِن طِينٍۢ

He said: What hindered thee that thou didst not fall prostrate when I bade thee? (Iblis) said: I am better than him. Thou createdst me of fire while him Thou didst create of mud.

13

قَالَ فَٱهْبِطْ مِنْهَا فَمَا يَكُونُ لَكَ أَن تَتَكَبَّرَ فِيهَا فَٱخْرُجْ إِنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰغِرِينَ

He said: Then go down hence! It is not for thee to show pride here, so go forth! Lo! thou art of those degraded.

14

قَالَ أَنظِرْنِىٓ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ

He said: Reprieve me till the day when they are raised (from the dead).

15

قَالَ إِنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُنظَرِينَ

He said: Lo! thou art of those reprieved.

16

قَالَ فَبِمَآ أَغْوَيْتَنِى لَأَقْعُدَنَّ لَهُمْ صِرَٰطَكَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ

He said: Now, because Thou hast sent me astray, verily I shall lurk in ambush for them on Thy Right Path.

17

ثُمَّ لَءَاتِيَنَّهُم مِّنۢ بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ وَعَنْ أَيْمَٰنِهِمْ وَعَن شَمَآئِلِهِمْ ۖ وَلَا تَجِدُ أَكْثَرَهُمْ شَٰكِرِينَ

Then I shall come upon them from before them and from behind them and from their right hands and from their left hands, and Thou wilt not find most of them beholden (unto Thee).

18

قَالَ ٱخْرُجْ مِنْهَا مَذْءُومًۭا مَّدْحُورًۭا ۖ لَّمَن تَبِعَكَ مِنْهُمْ لَأَمْلَأَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ

He said: Go forth from hence, degraded, banished. As for such of them as follow thee, surely I will fill hell with all of you.

19

وَيَٰٓـَٔادَمُ ٱسْكُنْ أَنتَ وَزَوْجُكَ ٱلْجَنَّةَ فَكُلَا مِنْ حَيْثُ شِئْتُمَا وَلَا تَقْرَبَا هَٰذِهِ ٱلشَّجَرَةَ فَتَكُونَا مِنَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ

And (unto man): O Adam! Dwell thou and thy wife in the Garden and eat from whence ye will, but come not nigh this tree lest ye become wrong-doers.

20

فَوَسْوَسَ لَهُمَا ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ لِيُبْدِىَ لَهُمَا مَا وُۥرِىَ عَنْهُمَا مِن سَوْءَٰتِهِمَا وَقَالَ مَا نَهَىٰكُمَا رَبُّكُمَا عَنْ هَٰذِهِ ٱلشَّجَرَةِ إِلَّآ أَن تَكُونَا مَلَكَيْنِ أَوْ تَكُونَا مِنَ ٱلْخَٰلِدِينَ

Then Satan whispered to them that he might manifest unto them that which was hidden from them of their shame, and he said: Your Lord forbade you from this tree only lest ye should become angels or become of the immortals.

The passage continues; open it in the player or your own Bible or Qur'an.

Qur'an 15:26–43 · The Qur'an · Pickthall (1930)

26

وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مِن صَلْصَٰلٍۢ مِّنْ حَمَإٍۢ مَّسْنُونٍۢ

Verily We created man of potter's clay of black mud altered,

27

وَٱلْجَآنَّ خَلَقْنَٰهُ مِن قَبْلُ مِن نَّارِ ٱلسَّمُومِ

And the jinn did We create aforetime of essential fire.

28

وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّى خَٰلِقٌۢ بَشَرًۭا مِّن صَلْصَٰلٍۢ مِّنْ حَمَإٍۢ مَّسْنُونٍۢ

And (remember) when thy Lord said unto the angels: Lo! I am creating a mortal out of potter's clay of black mud altered,

29

فَإِذَا سَوَّيْتُهُۥ وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِى فَقَعُوا۟ لَهُۥ سَٰجِدِينَ

So, when I have made him and have breathed into him of My Spirit, do ye fall down, prostrating yourselves unto him.

30

فَسَجَدَ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ كُلُّهُمْ أَجْمَعُونَ

So the angels fell prostrate, all of them together

31

إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰٓ أَن يَكُونَ مَعَ ٱلسَّٰجِدِينَ

Save Iblis. He refused to be among the prostrate.

32

قَالَ يَٰٓإِبْلِيسُ مَا لَكَ أَلَّا تَكُونَ مَعَ ٱلسَّٰجِدِينَ

He said: O Iblis! What aileth thee that thou art not among the prostrate?

33

قَالَ لَمْ أَكُن لِّأَسْجُدَ لِبَشَرٍ خَلَقْتَهُۥ مِن صَلْصَٰلٍۢ مِّنْ حَمَإٍۢ مَّسْنُونٍۢ

He said: I am not one to prostrate myself unto a mortal whom Thou hast created out of potter's clay of black mud altered!

34

قَالَ فَٱخْرُجْ مِنْهَا فَإِنَّكَ رَجِيمٌۭ

He said: Then go thou forth from hence, for lo! thou art outcast.

35

وَإِنَّ عَلَيْكَ ٱللَّعْنَةَ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ

And lo! the curse shall be upon thee till the Day of Judgment.

The passage continues; open it in the player or your own Bible or Qur'an.

Qur'an 20:115–123 · The Qur'an · Pickthall (1930)

115

وَلَقَدْ عَهِدْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ ءَادَمَ مِن قَبْلُ فَنَسِىَ وَلَمْ نَجِدْ لَهُۥ عَزْمًۭا

And verily We made a covenant of old with Adam, but he forgot, and We found no constancy in him.

116

وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ ٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِءَادَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ

And when We said unto the angels: Fall prostrate before Adam, they fell prostrate (all) save Iblis; he refused.

117

فَقُلْنَا يَٰٓـَٔادَمُ إِنَّ هَٰذَا عَدُوٌّۭ لَّكَ وَلِزَوْجِكَ فَلَا يُخْرِجَنَّكُمَا مِنَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ فَتَشْقَىٰٓ

Therefor we said: O Adam! This is an enemy unto thee and unto thy wife, so let him not drive you both out of the Garden so that thou come to toil.

118

إِنَّ لَكَ أَلَّا تَجُوعَ فِيهَا وَلَا تَعْرَىٰ

It is (vouchsafed) unto thee that thou hungerest not therein nor art naked,

119

وَأَنَّكَ لَا تَظْمَؤُا۟ فِيهَا وَلَا تَضْحَىٰ

And that thou thirstest not therein nor art exposed to the sun's heat.

120

فَوَسْوَسَ إِلَيْهِ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ قَالَ يَٰٓـَٔادَمُ هَلْ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَىٰ شَجَرَةِ ٱلْخُلْدِ وَمُلْكٍۢ لَّا يَبْلَىٰ

But the devil whispered to him, saying: O Adam! Shall I show thee the tree of immortality and power that wasteth not away?

121

فَأَكَلَا مِنْهَا فَبَدَتْ لَهُمَا سَوْءَٰتُهُمَا وَطَفِقَا يَخْصِفَانِ عَلَيْهِمَا مِن وَرَقِ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ۚ وَعَصَىٰٓ ءَادَمُ رَبَّهُۥ فَغَوَىٰ

Then they twain ate thereof, so that their shame became apparent unto them, and they began to hide by heaping on themselves some of the leaves of the Garden. And Adam disobeyed his Lord, so went astray.

122

ثُمَّ ٱجْتَبَٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ وَهَدَىٰ

Then his Lord chose him, and relented toward him, and guided him.

123

قَالَ ٱهْبِطَا مِنْهَا جَمِيعًۢا ۖ بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّۭ ۖ فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّى هُدًۭى فَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَ هُدَاىَ فَلَا يَضِلُّ وَلَا يَشْقَىٰ

He said: Go down hence, both of you, one of you a foe unto the other. But when there come unto you from Me a guidance, then whoso followeth My guidance, he will not go astray nor come to grief.

Qur'an 38:71–85 · The Qur'an · Pickthall (1930)

71

إِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّى خَٰلِقٌۢ بَشَرًۭا مِّن طِينٍۢ

When thy Lord said unto the angels: Lo! I am about to create a mortal out of mire,

72

فَإِذَا سَوَّيْتُهُۥ وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِى فَقَعُوا۟ لَهُۥ سَٰجِدِينَ

And when I have fashioned him and breathed into him of My Spirit, then fall down before him prostrate,

73

فَسَجَدَ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ كُلُّهُمْ أَجْمَعُونَ

The angels fell down prostrate, every one,

74

إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ ٱسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ

Saving Iblis; he was scornful and became one of the disbelievers.

75

قَالَ يَٰٓإِبْلِيسُ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَن تَسْجُدَ لِمَا خَلَقْتُ بِيَدَىَّ ۖ أَسْتَكْبَرْتَ أَمْ كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلْعَالِينَ

He said: O Iblis! What hindereth thee from falling prostrate before that which I have created with both My hands? Art thou too proud or art thou of the high exalted?

76

قَالَ أَنَا۠ خَيْرٌۭ مِّنْهُ ۖ خَلَقْتَنِى مِن نَّارٍۢ وَخَلَقْتَهُۥ مِن طِينٍۢ

He said: I am better than him. Thou createdst me of fire, whilst him Thou didst create of clay.

77

قَالَ فَٱخْرُجْ مِنْهَا فَإِنَّكَ رَجِيمٌۭ

He said: Go forth from hence, for lo! thou art outcast,

78

وَإِنَّ عَلَيْكَ لَعْنَتِىٓ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ

And lo! My curse is on thee till the Day of Judgment.

79

قَالَ رَبِّ فَأَنظِرْنِىٓ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ

He said: My Lord! Reprieve me till the day when they are raised.

80

قَالَ فَإِنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُنظَرِينَ

He said: Lo! thou art of those reprieved

The passage continues; open it in the player or your own Bible or Qur'an.

Qur'an 3:59 · The Qur'an · Pickthall (1930)

59

إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَىٰ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ ءَادَمَ ۖ خَلَقَهُۥ مِن تُرَابٍۢ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ

Lo! the likeness of Jesus with Allah is as the likeness of Adam. He created him of dust, then He said unto him: Be! and he is.

Common ground

Where they agree

  • God made the first human from earth and gave him life and dignity.
  • There is one human family.
  • A garden, a command, a fall into disobedience, and life outside the garden.
  • God remains merciful.

Said plainly, ranked never

Where they differ

  • Original sin: Western Christians speak of inherited sin, redeemed by Christ; Judaism and Islam teach no inherited guilt.
  • Eve's part: Genesis and 1 Timothy put Eve first in the eating; the Qur'an speaks to both together, and at times names Adam (peace be upon him) alone (20:121).
  • Iblis refusing to bow is central in the Qur'an. It is not in Genesis, though it appears in later Jewish and Christian writings such as the Life of Adam and Eve.
  • Adam (peace be upon him) is a prophet in Islam, but not in the Jewish or Christian lists.

Era and place

The world of Adam

Where
Eden is placed “eastward”, by four rivers, two of them the Tigris and the Euphrates (Genesis 2:10–14). Islamic traditions place Adam (peace be upon him)'s descent variously: Sri Lanka's Adam's Peak, or Arafat near Makkah, where he and Hawwa meet again.
When
Before history.
What archaeology can and cannot say
Archaeology cannot test this story. Science dates anatomically modern humans to about 300,000 years ago (Jebel Irhoud, Morocco). That is a different kind of question, not a contest between faith and science.

Gallery

The world of Adam

The two rivers meeting: the Tigris and Euphrates reach the Gulf, seen from orbit
The two rivers meeting: the Tigris and Euphrates reach the Gulf, seen from orbit
The animals named: creatures gathered at a waterhole
The animals named: creatures gathered at a waterholeA Herd of Impala (Aepyceros melampus) at a waterhole, Etosha National Park, twiga_swala, CC BY-SA 2.0
Outside the garden: a flint sickle from the first farmers
Outside the garden: a flint sickle from the first farmers
A starry sky over the plain
A starry sky over the plainMilky Way Arch, Bruno Gilli/ESO, CC BY 4.0

Go deeper

Go deeper

A small Sumerian figure of a striding goat.
Striding goat, Sumerian, c. 3200–3000 BCE: from the first farming and herding peoples of Mesopotamia. Sumerian, Iraq, Cleveland Museum of Art (CC0)
The stories
  • Adam and Eve: the story told in full, with the three tellings side by side.
Midrash and Jewish tradition

Genesis Rabbah 8 imagines the angels debating whether humans should be created at all. The rabbis read the single first human as a lesson in equality and in the worth of every life (Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5).

Christian tradition

Paul's contrast of Adam and Christ (Romans 5) is the root of the Western teaching on original sin, developed by Augustine. Eastern churches read the same passages with an emphasis on mortality and healing.

Tafsir and hadith

Ibn Kathir, on 2:30–34, explains khalīfa as people who succeed one another on the earth and are entrusted with it. The Qur'an's account of the names taught to Adam (peace be upon him) is read as the gift of language and knowledge.

Read the passages Qur'an 2:30–34

Qur'an 2:30–34 · The Qur'an · Pickthall (1930)

30

وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّى جَاعِلٌۭ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةًۭ ۖ قَالُوٓا۟ أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ ٱلدِّمَآءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

And when thy Lord said unto the angels: Lo! I am about to place a viceroy in the earth, they said: Wilt thou place therein one who will do harm therein and will shed blood, while we, we hymn Thy praise and sanctify Thee? He said: Surely I know that which ye know not.

31

وَعَلَّمَ ءَادَمَ ٱلْأَسْمَآءَ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمْ عَلَى ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنۢبِـُٔونِى بِأَسْمَآءِ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰدِقِينَ

And He taught Adam all the names, then showed them to the angels, saying: Inform Me of the names of these, if ye are truthful.

32

قَالُوا۟ سُبْحَٰنَكَ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَآ إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ

They said: Be glorified! We have no knowledge saving that which Thou hast taught us. Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Knower, the Wise.

33

قَالَ يَٰٓـَٔادَمُ أَنۢبِئْهُم بِأَسْمَآئِهِمْ ۖ فَلَمَّآ أَنۢبَأَهُم بِأَسْمَآئِهِمْ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ إِنِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ غَيْبَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ 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 secret of the heavens and the earth? And I know that which ye disclose and which ye hide.

34

وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ ٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِءَادَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ وَٱسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ

And when We said unto the angels: Prostrate yourselves before Adam, they fell prostrate, all save Iblis. He demurred through pride, and so became a disbeliever.

Sources and further reading
Picture credits

Watch more: Adam

7 films and talks, chosen for this page. They play here.

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  • Stories of the Prophets EP1: The Repentance of Adam

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  • Two Halves, One Whole: The Story of Adam and Eve

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    Jewish Learning Institute: two halves, one whole, the story of Adam and Eve.

  • N.T. Wright on Adam and Eve

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  • Understanding Adam and Eve and the Fall

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    The Faraday Institute: understanding Adam and Eve and the Fall.

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