Allah Almighty created such a huge universe.^¹ And He created it through a Big Bang, through an explosion.^² That explosion was not the kind that makes a sound. Without any sound, it was such a precise explosion that Stephen Hawking says there is so much precision in it, that if a person balances a ballpoint pen on its tip for one billion years, and this ballpoint pen stays standing for one billion years, more balance than this was required for this universe to come into existence.^³ To truly understand how this cosmic design fits into divine wisdom, you can read our detailed scholarly analysis on how Allah created this universe step by step.

The Divine Revelation and the Separation of Creation

Have the disbelievers not seen?^⁴ This is our word-for-word translation. The idiomatic translation is: Have the disbelievers not thought about this point? That the heavens and the earth were joined together, then We separated them, We parted them. And We made every living thing from water. Will they still not believe?^⁴

Unveiling Divine Power in the Cosmos

Allah Almighty showed His power in this verse. Obviously, the way this verse has now clearly come before us, earlier we only had its end result before us that the earth and heavens are made. But this fine detail that the earth and heavens were joined together in the beginning and We tore them apart to separate them, and made every living thing from water, these things have now been established.^⁴ This divine origin set the foundation for all earthly creation, leading directly to the origin of humanity starting with the creation of Hazrat Adam A.S in the beginning.

Cosmic Expansion, Hubble’s Discovery, and Light Speed

Hubble’s Observation and Redshift Spectrum

In 1929, Hubble observed for the first time through a telescope that this universe is expanding.^⁵ The simple test for that is if you draw the spectrum of moving objects and it shifts from green towards red, it means those things are moving away. And if it shifts towards green, things are coming closer.^⁵ So he saw that every heavenly body in the universe, stars, planets, and galaxies, are moving away from each other. The spectrum of all of them is shifting towards red. So this idea clicked for him that it means this universe started from a point that was a single point. From there, this thing spread and such a huge universe came into existence.^⁵ Scientists named it a single point whose volume was zero, but its density was infinite. Meaning, creation ex nihilo.^⁶ Nothing existed, and out of it such a huge thing came out.

Understanding Light Years and Astronomical Scale

Today, scientists and people in the field of astronomy are telling us that the width of this universe discovered so far is almost 63 billion light years. 63 billion light years.^⁷ One light year means if light travels continuously without any stop, the distance it covers in one year is one light year. Nothing faster than light has been discovered in this universe so far. That is why it is shown as a universal constant. In Einstein’s equation E = mc², c is the velocity of light.^⁸ It is so fast that light can circle the earth seven times in one second. The circumference of the earth is 40,000 kilometers. In one second, light can circle the whole earth seven times. It is that fast. This speed comes to 186,000 miles per second. 186,000 miles in one second, which makes almost 300,000 kilometers. Meaning light covers 300,000 kilometers in one second. You cannot even imagine. 300,000 kilometers in one second.^⁸

Measuring Distances in Trillions of Kilometers

That is why distances in the universe are measured in light years. How much distance light will cover in one year, when it covers 300,000 in one second, that becomes billions of kilometers, rather trillions of kilometers. Now this is just one light year. 63 billion light years. Not 63 light years, 63 billion light years.^⁷ And this is the universe that we have discovered so far, and it is continuously expanding.^⁵

There are videos on YouTube that show clear comparisons. Just like the earth is like a small particle compared to the sun, if there are 1.3 million earths, it makes one sun. Similarly, the sun is also like a small particle compared to the whole galaxy. Then, because the galaxy is also like a small particle compared to the whole universe, and their number is also in billions.^⁷

Extreme Precision and the Fall of the Steady State Theory

Allah Almighty created such a huge universe. And He created it through a Big Bang, through an explosion.^² That explosion was not the kind that makes a sound. Without any sound, it was such a precise explosion that Stephen Hawking says there is so much precision in it, that if a person balances a ballpoint pen on its tip for one billion years, and this ballpoint pen stays standing for one billion years, more balance than this was required for this universe to come into existence.^³ If there was a disturbance even by a trillionth of a trillionth part of a second, this universe could not have come into existence.^³ So without any Creator, the universe could not have come into existence with so much harmony.

Einstein, Hubble, and the Steady State Myth

Now this topic is so long that we could speak on it in detail. Anyway, back to Hubble. When Hubble made this discovery, Einstein had also reached the result that this universe is expanding.^⁵ At that time, because the Steady State Theory was popular that the universe has always been like this and is moving like this with no beginning, Einstein modified his theory back then.^⁹ Later, when Hubble saw this thing, Einstein went to Hubble, apologized, and publicly admitted his mistake that he mismanaged it, and he also accepts that this universe expanded.^⁹

The Expanding Universe and Living Things Made of Water

Surah Adh-Dhariyat and the Concept of Expansion

It came in Surah Adh-Dhariyat that We created this universe and We are expanding it.^¹⁰ In older times, the translation used to be that We are Capable. Today we translate that Allah Almighty is expanding this universe.^¹⁰ So many people object why people in older times did not know this translation. The translation they did was completely correct according to their time. It is still valid today. Today science helped us make more progress, so the translation we do now is also valid in the same way. This is the beauty of the Quran that the Quran will never become old. People of today will only have interest in it if the Quran does not become old.

The verse was present from the beginning. Everything floats in the universe and is in continuous motion,^¹¹ but still the concept came among Muslims that the earth is still. Today when science explained it, people are saying that translation was wrong. The earth being still is correct in the sense that it is stable, but it is not correct in the sense that it is not moving. So we saw that the earth is moving. We also saw the round, spherical shape of the earth. All these things have now come into common observation. The whole world was shown through cameras. So now people realized that it was already written in the Quran.^¹¹ Whatever was written in the Quran, people of that time understood according to their limited knowledge, and it was correct in its place. But now with time, as more things are explored, it should be accommodated, because the book of Allah does not get old.

So this thing was established in the 20th century that Allah Almighty created the universe ex nihilo from non-existence into existence,^⁶ and then continuously expanded it.^¹⁰ The hint towards that is that the earth and heavens were joined together and We tore them apart to separate them.^⁴

Idiomatic Meaning of “Not Seen” and Biological Laws

Have the disbelievers not seen?^⁴ Here, “not seen” does not mean seeing physically. It means observe this universe. This is said idiomatically. Just like we say many things in Urdu linguistics idiomatically, it does not mean physical experience at all.

Some time ago, a Hindu brother raised an objection, so in reply I recorded a detailed answer titled “Reply to Hindu Brother on Surah Anbiya Verse 30”. You can watch that.

Anyway, one universal truth established in this is from the point of view of the Big Bang Theory,^² and the second is a law of biology that has been finalized. There are only two laws that are completely final. One is that living things cannot be made from non-living things.^¹² A hen will lay an egg and a chick will come out of it. You cannot make an egg yourself. Similarly, for mammals, whatever material you take and breed in a controlled environment in a laboratory, it will be taken from a living thing. So living things are not made from non-living things.^¹²

Creation of Life From Water and Clay Elements

And second, every living thing mentioned here, We made every thing from water. Will they still not believe?^⁴ So Allah Almighty told something that was truly a new thing for the people of that time. For people living in Arabia, where there was more sand than water, if it were said that everything is made of sand, you could say it was their common observation. If, God forbid, this book was written by the Prophet himself. The Creator of this universe told this fact that Allah Almighty made every living thing from water.^⁴

That is why today scientists are searching for water on other planets. They say as soon as water is found, it means life will be present there. This is such a universal truth. Right now, most part of our body is water. It also came in the Holy Quran that Allah created human from clay,^¹³ created from a drop of water,^¹⁴ created from sounding clay.^¹³ All these statements are correct. Clay was used, water was also used. Just as we say for tea that I made tea with milk, I made tea with tea leaves, and if you want to add water, water also makes tea. All these things are used to make tea. Similarly, all these things were used to create human beings, but water is a main critical thing in it. Human life is dependent on this water later as well. Human cannot stay alive without water. Human existence was completed on Earth when motherly compassion began with the first mother of humanity, Hazrat Eve (Amma Hawwa).

So two truths were stated: one, expanding universe and Big Bang Theory;^²¹⁰ second, creation of every living thing from water.^⁴

Mountain Stabilization, Water Paths, and Protected Sky

Dynamic Balancing Through Mountains

In the next verse, another physical phenomenon of nature is discussed.

And We placed firm mountains in the earth so that it does not shake with them.^¹⁵ The dynamic balancing of the earth, just like wheel balancing where weight is added at different places to dynamically balance it, the earth is also rotating. It rotates around its axis and around the sun.^¹¹ Then it has a sine wave motion, and it moves at a specific angle. It has four types of motions. Allah balanced it through mountains.^¹⁵

And We made wide paths in these mountains so that they could find their way.^¹⁵ And Allah made water the means for this too. For millions of years, water gets stored in the form of glaciers on mountains after evaporating from the sea. When it melts from the heat of the sun, it finds its own way, and now proper paths are formed inside mountains. That is why when roads are built, those paths are kept in mind. If you go to northern areas in Pakistan, the road runs alongside the river so you can reach your destination through the shortest path. Allah placed these paths naturally.^¹⁵

The Sky as a Protected Ceiling (Atmosphere & Magnetosphere)

And We made the sky a protected ceiling.^¹⁶ Now its meaning can be explained in two ways. One is that the ceiling of the sky itself is very strong. The second is that it keeps us safe. Allah Almighty made this sky the means of survival for humanity.^¹⁶

Now what is meant by seven heavens here?^¹⁷ Its details are not told to us. Some people call the layers of the atmosphere as sky too, like the stratosphere, troposphere, and ozone layer.^¹⁸ See how ozone stops millions of wavelengths of different rays coming from the sun. Otherwise, no living being would stay safe on this earth. Every day, the magnetic field of the earth repels millions of tons of harmful things coming from the sun. If that ends too, life cannot remain on this earth. These are two big fine-tunings I told you.^¹⁸

Earth as a Miracle Planet and Lifeboat

In the universe, on this planet Earth, there are millions of fine-tunings present.^³ If even one gets disturbed, for example if the amount of oxygen gets disturbed, no living being can stay alive. If the distance of the sun from the earth increases or decreases, no one will stay alive. All these things show that this earth was designed so that creatures could live here.^¹⁸

I was watching a video the other day. That video was not God-oriented, but it was describing this earth as a miracle planet. In it, a foreigner wrote very good comments below that this earth is a lifeboat in this universe. Just like if someone has a lifeboat in the Pacific or Atlantic, their whole life depends on it, otherwise they will drown in the sea. This earth along with its creatures would drown, but Allah designed it in such a way that for so many creatures, it holds less than a particle’s share in this entire universe. It is a lifeboat. Life is maintained because of it, and Allah designed it like this. Earth is a miracle planet in this universe.^¹⁸

Summary Comparison of Scientific and Quranic Discoveries

Frequently Asked Questions

What We Thought

Reflecting on the cosmic precision described in both astrophysics and divine revelation highlights the deep harmony between true science and the Holy Quran. From the silent explosion of the Big Bang to the protective ozone layer and the biological necessity of water, every discovery underscores a universe designed with intentional balance. Far from being a product of random chance, planet Earth stands as a uniquely fine-tuned lifeboat engineered by the Almighty to sustain life across generations.

If we accept God, then the question is: how did God create this universe? This is a question that comes to mind. To the one who does not get it, he will say it is madness, why think about it needlessly? But for the person in whose mind the question has entered, it becomes a great trouble. He thinks, man does not have control over his own mind. No matter how much he tries to stop it, saying do not think this, he will think even more. This is the trouble of philosophers.

How Was It Created?

Now one concept is this, just as this table is, a carpenter made it. The carpenter is separate, the table is separate. But in this, one has to accept that there was some thing beforehand from which the table was made. Wood was there, right? From it the table was made. Therefore, among Hindus, one belief is that God is eternal and matter is also eternal. God made this thing from that matter. From matter He made this. It is the same clay. There is a basin of clay. The potter makes a dish from it, makes a pot from it, makes a pitcher from it. Clay is there beforehand, right? So matter is also eternal, God is also eternal, and from matter, God made these shapes. Right. This also became dualism, monotheism was finished.^¹

Philosophical Concepts of Monotheism and Pantheism

So the people who had a monotheistic mind, but got entangled in this issue, they proposed another form: that God Himself converted into this shape. How? Just as ice melts and becomes water. Where did the water come from? From ice. Now if someone asks where is the ice, brother, this very water is this very ice or not? You put this same water over fire, it became steam. Now you say where is the ice, where is the water? This very steam, this in reality is water, this very steam, this is ice. This is that pantheism, as it is called in English, that God Himself took the form of this universe. These are two philosophies.^²

The Nature of Polytheistic Exaggerations

What is this? This is the worst shirk (polytheism).^³ If it is the first form, then that human was declared as God. The one accepted as an avatar, did he become God or not? And in the second form, every single thing is God. This is also God, this is also God, stone is also God, tree is also God, everything is God. Because ice melted, so water was made. Whether that water is coming underground, whether that water is coming on top of the earth in the form of a river, or springs are running in the earth, water is the same ice that is lying on the mountains on the Himalayas. That same thing is melting, this something is being made. This is the second type of shirk in the Essence of God that remained in the world, pantheism and incarnation, or indwelling and consubstantiality. Understood?

The Divine Protection of the Muslim Nation against Shirk

Now I will present one thing to you. There is a very great favor of Allah upon this nation for which you should offer gratitude.^⁴ From this type of shirk, this nation, despite entering the fifteenth century, till now as a collective whole is safe. I have said as a collective whole. If some individuals, or the common people, or the ignorant, or the poets, or the reciters of praise say something in exaggeration, then that is a separate matter. But among Muslims, any authentic sect and its authentic beliefs, in them Praise be to Allah till today no such thing is included.

Comparing Devotion Across Traditions

When you compare this, right, what do you think, how much love did Christians have for Jesus? Compare this with the love that Muslims have had with the Prophet. The love of Christians will not equal one tenth. Despite this love, that we have ten times, a hundred times, a thousand times more love with the Prophet, but see that they made him the Son of God.^⁵ Has anyone here said this thing about the Prophet till today? This is a very big contrast, right? This in reality is exaggeration in devotion and love. So there is no lack of devotion and love here either, Praise be to Allah it is more than them, but Praise be to Allah, then Praise be to Allah, then Praise be to Allah, no one made a Son of God.^⁶

Contrast in Devotion and Divine Protection

Now I show you another contrast so that you thank Allah. What is the relation of Ali with the Prophet? Prophet and follower. Did people who call Ali God appear or not? Tell me, right. What is the reason that people calling Ali God were born, but a person calling Muhammad God was not born? Peace be upon him, and May Allah be pleased with him. It is a very important point, please reflect on it. Even though, where is the status of Ali, where is the status of the Prophet?

Even today you see, on the tongue of your common people the slogan is Ya Ali Madad (O Ali help me). Has anyone said Ya Muhammad Madad till today? This Ya Muhammad is useful only for writing work. Write it on the mosque so that it is known that this is the mosque of such a sect, the other person runs away from there himself. This is only for this purpose. Otherwise, where it comes to the real field, does anyone raise the slogan Ya Muhammad Madad? Is the status of Muhammad higher or Ali? So why was help not asked from him? I am placing these questions before you.

Finality of Prophethood as a Safeguard

Then this, that in the manner in which the Supreme Helper (Ghaus-e-Azam) is called upon, is Muhammad called upon? What is the relation? Ali is still a companion, the fourth caliph, the Prophet’s cousin, son-in-law. Ghaus-e-Azam, after all, does not have that relation. See, I connect its relation with the Finality of Prophethood.^⁷ Just as Allah has provided special protection to the Quran, similarly He has provided special protection to Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah.^⁸ This is special protection. Otherwise it could not happen. This is special protection of Allah. If corruption arises here, who will correct it?

The real reality of Jesus was told by the Prophet ahead. Chapter Maryam.^⁹ Did the Prophet come and explain the reality of Jesus or not? When Negus, may Allah have mercy on him, heard these verses from the tongue of Ja’far ibn Abi Talib, what did he say? Picking up a straw, By God, the status of Jesus described in these verses, Jesus is not even a straw more than this.^¹⁰ But if Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, had been made the Son of God, or made God, then who would come for his correction?

Means of Preserving Scriptural and Prophetic Purity

Just as there is protection of the Holy Quran, similarly there is protection of Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah.^⁸ So how did protection happen? As much as the Holy Quran emphasized the humanity of the Prophet.^¹¹ O Prophet, keep telling them, tell them again and again that do not make me into something else, I am also a human being.^¹¹ Yes, revelation comes upon me, it does not come upon you. This is the difference.^¹¹ I am a Messenger, you are not. I will clarify this issue a bit more later. Right now just note this, that this protection, just as protection was given to the Quran, but for it there are means too, right? This system of memorization of the Quran, this became its means. This Tarawih in Ramadan, this became its means. In our countries, memorizers do not find mosques, they go searching around. And like an annual celebration of the Holy Quran takes place, every memorizer is refreshing his memory, memorizers are engaged with each other in refreshing. This is the means of Allah Almighty by which He preserved the Quran.^⁸

So the method by which protection was given to the Prophet, one method was the highlighting of the Prophet’s humanity in the Holy Quran.^¹¹ And second, that the Prophet himself prevented with such detail.^¹² This also you did not like, that when I come, you stand up.^¹³ Did you hear or not? You used to stop the companions.^¹³ From the tongue of one companion it slipped, Whatever Allah wills and whatever you will. Immediately interrupted: Have you made me a rival to God? Will is only His.^¹⁴

This stopping and checking, these are those things on the basis of which Allah granted protection. That which you said, Do not make my grave a center of gathering and celebration.^¹⁵ Did he say or not say? May Allah Almighty curse the Children of Israel that they made the graves of their prophets into fairgrounds.^¹⁶ All these are protections, these are safeguards, this nation is being warned that exaggeration in love and devotion like happened before, Do not commit excess in your religion, O People of the Book.^¹⁷ This is exaggeration of love, exaggeration of devotion, on the basis of which he was made the Son of God.^⁵ And if that had happened here, unknown how the Prophet would have been made equal to Allah. But the Quran itself, the Prophet himself took preventive steps for it, the manifestation of which we are seeing, that by the grace and mercy of Allah this nation till now as a collective whole is safe.

Scholars vs. Poets and Exaggeration

Of course, look, the talk of poets is different, and the talk of common people and preachers and reciters of praise is different. The thing I am denying is the talk of scholars. About poets, Allah Himself exposed them in the Holy Quran.^¹⁸ If they do not exaggerate, then color is not created in poetry. Then why call it poetry, call it prose, brother. Through exaggeration an effect is created in it. Those exaggerations our poets, our reciters of praise have done. And in it may Allah Almighty forgive them, they even used avatar-like words. The very one who was established on the Throne, became God and descended, he became Mustafa in Medina. Tell me, the belief about Ram Chandra, now what difference is left? Not a hair’s breadth of difference. Here people create other points. In the mosque of Medina, upon the pulpit, we saw an Arab without the letter Ain. What was understood? Removed Ain from Arab, what was formed? (Rab/Lord). This is point-creating.

Poetic License vs Authentic Scholarly Doctrine

Similarly, in our poetry some color of pantheism has also been created. He himself is the pot, himself the potter, himself the clay of the pot, himself the drinker, himself broke the pot and went his way. He himself is the pot, himself the clay from which the pot is made, himself the maker of the pot. Understanding? Words are very lovely, very delicious. A person comes into ecstasy once, but what is it? It is the same thing, right, that the same ice melted and became water.^² He himself is the pot, himself the potter, himself the clay of the pot, himself the drinker who fills wine in that pot and drinks too. He himself is clay, himself the maker, himself the pot, himself fills wine in it and drinks too, and himself breaks that pot and takes his way.

Now you clap your head on this and do whatever you want, but did its connection meet or not with that same pantheism?^² But is this the statement of some mufti, or is it the saying of someone among the leaders of religion, brother? Listen to the talk of poets, Allah Allah Khair.^¹⁸ There is no benefit in taking notice of these things very strictly either. The talk should be that which scholars are saying. Authentic beliefs should be those which are recorded in their books, talk should be about them. So these things, these misguidances came, but Praise be to Allah, then Praise be to Allah, that this is among the common people, among the ignorant, among poets, among reciters of praise, this is not present among the authentic scholars of any authentic religious sect.

Resolving the Debates: Humanity (Bashar) and Light (Noor)

However, one issue which is of Light (Noor) and Human (Bashar), that I may resolve a little bit today.^¹¹ You might think it is unsolvable. Just as I said that the saying of Imam Bukhari is also one hundred percent correct and Imam Abu Hanifa’s is also one hundred percent correct, proved or not? Similarly I say, those who call the Prophet human are also one hundred percent correct, those who call the Prophet light are also one hundred percent correct.^¹⁹

Dual Aspects of Human Existence

What is the meaning? Look, every human existence has two parts. I had explained something on the first day perhaps. One earthly existence, the animal being which is our animal part. One that Divine soul which was blown into it. When that soul was blown into Adam, then he became the one to whom angels prostrated.^²⁰ In two places in the Holy Quran, without a difference of a single dot, Surah Al-Hijr and Surah Sad: When I fully fashion him and blow into him from My soul, then fall down before him in prostration.^²⁰ For a deeper understanding of human origin, you can read the complete detailed creation story of Hazrat Adam A.S and explore the beginning of human lineage through Hazrat Eve (Amma Hawwa) on our site.

Our earthly existence is dark, and our spiritual existence is luminous.^²⁰ Its relation is with Allah. Understood the point? But we have buried this luminous existence of ours inside our earthly dark existence. And that luminous existence of Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, was dominant over his earthly existence to such a degree that that earthly existence is in the degree of non-existence. It cannot affect the Prophet, peace be upon him. It is the same earthly existence which we call self (nafs). Can the self dominate Muhammad, peace be upon him? The luminosity of the Prophet’s personality has encompassed the earthly existence of his personality. The darkness of our personality has extinguished, buried, hidden our luminosity. That is all the difference.

Call him light, correct, his luminosity is dominant.^¹⁹ This is the thing which the Prophet explained in this way: Look, with every human there is a devil.^²¹ Now some companion acted with great courage and asked, O Prophet, is it with you too? When it was said with every human, then you are a human too. When asked, is it with you too, you said, Yes, but I have made him Muslim.^²¹ The matter ended, there is no denial. He is subject to me, obedient to me, cannot cause me harm. He is present, correct, but came to the degree of not being present or not? This is the whole difference.

Scholarly Intent and Respectful Terminology

And I want to quote here a very great religious scholar of the Barelvi school of thought, Sahibzada, the name suddenly slipped from my mind, Faiz-ul-Hassan, may Allah Almighty overlook his mistakes and grant him forgiveness. You must have heard the name, right? He delivered a speech one day which I heard, and where was the speech delivered? In Sahiwal. There is a very famous square there, called Mahajreen Mosque, his speech was there, I heard it. His words were these: Do you people consider us fools? Do we not know Arabic? Have we not read the Quran in which it is written again and again that the Prophet is a human, the Prophet is a human?^¹¹ But in reality, we consider highlighting the Prophet’s humanity as disrespect.

Did you understand the point? Such a lovely point. He said, what is your father’s name? Abdul Rehman. Do you call him by saying Abdul Rehman? Father dear. Just now you heard those verses, Hazrat Ibrahim said to his polytheist father, O my dear father, O my dear father.^²² Very lovely translation made. Father dear, father dear. What name will they take? Your father has a name, you do not take the name. Why? Out of respect. For this reason, we in reality consider highlighting the Prophet’s humanity as disrespect, otherwise are we fools, do we not know Arabic, have we not read the Quran?^¹¹ We know that he is a human. Understood the point? How easily the issue gets resolved, provided the intention is to resolve it.

After all, he is the son of Aminah, son of Abdullah, grandson of Abdul Muttalib. Childhood passed upon him, boyhood passed upon him, youth came upon him, young adulthood came upon him, marriage he did, children he has. Who would be such a fool and idiot who will deny his humanity?^¹¹ But that the way it is described, it became a controversial issue, that rejection and altercation and pulling.

And in this also understand, the emphasis on “like you” (mithlukum) which some gentlemen give out of their monotheistic temperament that is inside them, may Allah Almighty make their temperament even firmer, but in it also exaggeration is done.^¹¹ Listen to a Hadith from me in which the Prophet denied “like you”.

The Prophetic Exception in Continuous Fasting

The Prophet used to forbid continuous fasting (Saum al-Wisal).^²³ He himself used to keep it. What is continuous fasting? Kept fast today. Did not break fast in the evening. That same fast is continuing all night. Continuing the next day too. Going till evening then opened it, so two days of continuous fast happened. Did not open the next day either, continued, so 72 hours of continuous fast happened. What is this? Continuous fast he himself kept, and stopped the companions.^²³

Someone among the companions plucked up courage, O Prophet, you yourself keep it, you stop us?^²³ He says: Who among you is like me? As for me, I spend the night near my Lord, He feeds me and gives me drink.^²³ Tell me, who is there who will claim this? These are special attributes of the Prophet. The Prophet himself says, You see only from the front, I see from behind too.^²⁴ Where did that likeness go? If you considered him completely like yourself, then you are in a great misconception.

There is the station of a Prophet, rank of a Prophet, special attributes of a Prophet. If you slept, then your sleep, your ablution broke, and if he slept so much, where did likeness go?^²⁵ Like in the sense that he is a human, from the race of Adam, there is no doubt in this, in this sense like is correct, Say, I am a human like you.^¹¹ But not in every respect. The biggest difference is this, that revelation is coming, went on Ascension (Mi’raj).^²⁶ Sitting in this world, he observes Paradise, it is shown, observation of Hell is shown, seeing the angel, these are things.^²⁷

And then special attributes, as I submitted, that you see from behind too.^²⁴ Your matter is this, that if you sleep, your ablution will not end.^²⁵ Balance all these things, then it will be known that you are a human too, one hundred percent correct, but your luminosity, you are a radiant lamp of guidance,^¹⁹ your blessed soul is dominant over your physical body in such a way as if it destroyed its darkness. In this sense if someone says embodiment of light, then I have no objection. This is the way of combining these things. It is nothing except unnecessary pulling.

Comparing Key Concepts in Islamic Thought

The Nature of Divine Attributes

Anyway, this first part ended, shirk in Essence. Now come to shirk in Attributes. I had submitted that this is a major scholarly issue and a slip occurs in it. What is the reason? Understand this basic point. Our language is very limited. It is our language which Allah made the means of His guidance, otherwise we would not understand anything, obvious, right? But there is limitation of our language. One manifestation of this limitation is this, that the words we use for Allah as an attribute, those same words we use for creatures as well.

Linguistic Sharing and Its Limits

Allah exists, we also exist. Allah is alive, we are also alive. Allah is All-Knowing (Aleem), so human is also knowledgeable, not just knowledgeable but very learned (Allamah).^²⁸ Is it not? This is a word of great exaggeration. Is human highly learned or not? Allah sees, is All-Seeing (Baseer), we are also seeing.^²⁸ Allah hears, is All-Hearing (Samee), we also hear.^²⁸ Allah possesses power, we also possess some. Hazrat Musa gave one punch, took out the life or not?^²⁹ There is something or the other. Allah wills, we also will. See, in willing that happened upon which the Prophet stopped, Whatever Allah wills and you will. Have you made me a rival to Allah?^¹⁴

Deception occurs due to the sharing of these words. Understood the point? Now in this, the formula I had submitted, if you note one down, all issues will be resolved. When we speak any word as an attribute for Allah, and speak that same word for anyone among creation, in creation everyone came: inanimate objects, animals, humans, saints, angels, prophets, messengers, all are creation, right? So for all creation, when we use a word as an attribute for Allah and use that same word for servants, then there are three differences in them which should remain in mind. Count and remember:

Three Core Distinctions Between Creator and Created

1. Allah’s Essence is eternal, has always been. Similarly, His attribute is also eternal, has always been. Creatures are originated, their attributes are also originated. Originated in comparison to eternal, that it was not there before, then it came to be. One difference.

2. Allah’s Essence is self-existent. No one else granted existence to Him, right? Allah’s existence is self-existent, intrinsic. Similarly, His attributes are intrinsic, not granted by anyone else. Whoever the creature may be, their existence is not intrinsic, it is granted. Allah gave, so existence was received. Similarly, their attributes are granted, not intrinsic. Two differences.

3. Allah’s Essence is absolute, unlimited. Similarly, His attributes are absolute, unlimited. Creature’s essence is limited, whoever it may be. Attribute is also limited.

Three differences: Intrinsic – Granted. Eternal – Originated. Unlimited – Limited. Keep these three differences in mind, then whichever attribute you now speak, these three things remain in mind. Understood the point?

Resolving the Issue of Ilm-e-Ghayb (Knowledge of Unseen)

Now apply this, then this issue of knowledge of the unseen (ilm-e-ghayb) will be resolved.^³⁰ This is also considered unsolvable. Whosever knowledge it may be: human, angel, saints, prophets, messengers, the Prophet’s, anyone’s, it is originated, not eternal; it is granted, not intrinsic; it is limited, not unlimited. Accept these three things, there will be no shirk. Drop any one of these, it becomes shirk. Understood the point?

Allah’s power is intrinsic, not granted.^³¹ In creation, whoever possesses power, it is granted, not intrinsic. Allah’s power is unlimited, meaning All-Powerful.^³¹ Whoever the creature may be, their power is limited. Allah’s power has been since He is, always has been. Always power has been too. And in creation power is originated. Keep all three things in front, there will be no shirk. If there is a lack of even one thing, shirk will happen.

Bring this onto all attributes. Allah’s life is intrinsic, ours is granted.^³² Life came, decree took it away. Coming was not in our control, nor going. Life is granted by Him, whenever He wants He can take it. Is Allah’s life like that too? Intrinsic, The Ever-Living.^³² Our life is limited. Otherwise too limited, death will come, perhaps end. Okay, death does not end it, we understand that it is our eternal, limited in this sense it is: if not gotten to eat then weakness, worked a little then fatigue, sleep is coming, drowsiness is coming too. And His life, The Ever-Living, The Sustainer, drowsiness does not overtake Him.^³² Life is intrinsic, unlimited, and eternal. Here life is granted, originated, and limited. All attributes.

Categorizing Unseen and Witnessed Realm

Keep this in mind, so now two issues I may resolve here. People who say the Prophet did not have knowledge of the unseen, and those who say he had, unfortunately both made separate definitions. The definition that those who deny made, according to it, in reality he did not have. They made this definition: that knowledge which is acquired by oneself. The knowledge granted by Allah, they say that is not unseen. So that they also accept, that every knowledge which the Prophet has is granted by Allah.^³⁰

In Sahiwal, I went through all these stages during my student days. There is a Maulana Manzoor Ahmad Shah Sahib in Sahiwal. I presented myself to him, I said, sir, what is this issue of knowledge of the unseen, explain it to me a bit. He took out a book of his, look sir, now we accept these things about the Prophet’s knowledge: the Prophet’s knowledge is originated, not eternal; the Prophet’s knowledge is limited, not unlimited; the Prophet’s knowledge is granted, not intrinsic. I said, if you accept these three things, then I have no quarrel with you.

What happens is, when they come in preaching, in sermonizing, then Knower of what was and what will be. Now words they will use. A preacher is an ordinary speaker, applause does not happen, slogans are not raised, warmth does not come in the gathering until he makes such exaggerations. But that thing written is present with them, that the Prophet’s knowledge is originated, not eternal; the Prophet’s knowledge is limited, not unlimited; the Prophet’s knowledge is granted, not intrinsic. After these three things, no largest Wahhabi and largest Ahl-e-Hadith also does not deny.

Remaining this thing, know that unseen (ghayb) and presence (shahadah), these in reality are words used in relation to ordinary humans.^³³ When it is said in the Quran, Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, Allah is knower of the unseen and what is visible or present,^³³ then tell me, is there any unseen for Allah? Is any thing unseen for Allah? Then why is it being said, Knower of the unseen and the witnessed? That is being said in relation to us. What is unseen for you, Allah knows that too, and what is before you, Allah knows that too. For Allah, everything is witnessed. Not a single particle of the heavens and earth is hidden from Him. Does existence of unseen apply to Allah?

So these words are used relatively in relation to us, and in relation to us the thing that is unseen, out of it a portion Allah gives to the Prophet, only then he became a Prophet.^³⁰ Saw the angel, angel is unseen for us.^²⁷ Showed Paradise or not, it is unseen for us or not?^²⁷ Observation of Hell was shown or not, for us that is unseen or not?^²⁷ The things that are unseen for us, out of their veils Allah lifts some, not all unseen.^³⁰ If knowledge of all unseen happens, then that will become shirk. Wherever the word ‘all’ came, shirk happened. When you are saying it is limited, not unlimited, then you cannot use the word ‘all’. But from the unseen some knowledge was given, only then he became a Prophet, otherwise what was the difference between me and the Prophet then?

Of course, whether it is knowledge of the unseen or knowledge of the present, scientific knowledge or knowledge of revelation, any knowledge it may be, note the words of Ayat al-Kursi: He knows. No one from creation can encompass anything of His knowledge except what He wills.^³² Now this matter is separate, who are we to decide? That sit and measure how much knowledge Allah gave to Ibrahim, can we measure? How much He gave to Jesus, can we know? So Ibrahim’s, Musa’s, Jesus’s we cannot measure, then where will we measure Muhammad’s, the Messenger of Allah? This is madness. This is the mistake that happens, who are we to decide? Allah gave to His Prophet what He gave, matter ended.

Will not say all. Said all, it will become shirk. Said intrinsic, it will become shirk. It is granted, what Allah gave, He gave.^³⁰ And did not give all. Gave as much as He willed.^³² It is originated, not eternal. Accept all three things, then there will be no trace of shirk. Remaining where on one side in the Quran there are those verses that no one knows the unseen of Allah, correct, there it is also present: He does not grant control over His unseen except to whom He wills among His messengers.^³⁰ Both these verses are of the Quran or not?

That is why in reality those who deny unseen for the Prophet say that a thing known by oneself is unseen. We say by oneself no thing is known to anyone, even knowledge of the present Allah gives us then it happens, so unseen is a very far away thing. These issues are very straightforward, needlessly we have made them complex. For God’s sake, untangle these issues and connect. Instead of cutting, think of connecting, that brother, in your own respective places you have made separate definitions, that is why you are quarreling. Otherwise both statements are correct.

Unity of Existence (Wahdat al-Wujud) vs. Pantheism

One issue is a bit more scholarly, I am getting worried that time is increasing. That issue is of Unity of Existence (Wahdat al-Wujud).^³⁴ Many of our Sufis are believers in Unity of Existence. And some of our people who object, they confuse Unity of Existence and Pantheism (Hama Ost), consider them one. Pantheism I have explained that it is the worst shirk.^² Unity of Existence is a different thing, it is a subtle point, ordinary people do not understand. In simplest words I explain to you.

Pantheistic Fallacy vs. Sufi Metaphysics

One theory is this, that God Himself took this form.^² All these things exist in reality, this is also present, this is also present, this is also present, and all this is God Himself. This is the worst shirk, shirk in Essence.^²

One opinion of people is this, that these are nothing at all. This is pure mirage. In a mirage what happens? You see water, right? Is water there? No. However much it says it is, it is not there at all. Only God is, these are not there at all. Look, there is a couplet: Everything that exists is illusion and thought, or like reflections in a mirror, or shadows. Everything in this universe is either illusion, or thought, or like a reflection in glass. You are standing here, appearing in the mirror, there too, but there is no one there. Or like a shadow. Shadow of a tree is falling on the ground, does it have any existence?

So one opinion is this. You disagree with it, call it madness, what foolishness you are talking, whatever you want you may say, do not call it shirk. They say the existing one is only one Essence of Allah.^³⁴ Truly existing, whatever is visible, this is not even existing. This will not be called shirk. Disagree with it, it is not necessary that you accept their statement. I am not saying that you must accept.

Wahdat ash-Shuhud (Unity of Witnessing)

Sheikh Ahmad Sirhindi, may Allah have mercy on him, explained it, what is the reality of this universe, through an example.^³⁵ His theory is called Unity of Witnessing (Wahdat ash-Shuhud), right?^³⁵ Unity of Witnessing, Unity of Existence. Shah Waliullah Dehlavi decided that between both there is a subtle difference, there is no difference, difference of expression.^³⁶

They give an example, look, take an example of a torch. What is a torch? There is a stick, on one end of it you tied cloth etc., poured oil and lit fire. A flame is lit, a single flame, right? They state, give it motion rapidly in a circle. You will see a circle of fire. Will it appear to the viewer or not? Is the circle actually present in reality? The point was proved, that it is not, but is visible. This, states Hazrat Mujaddid: Making the non-existent appear existent.^³⁵ This is Allah Almighty’s craftsmanship, creativity, that the thing which is not, He shows it, like you showed a circle, it is not there. This universe has no existence.

I will submit again, you disagree with it, do not accept it, leave it. These are issues of philosophy. But the question is, you will not call this shirk. Shirk is that when it is said this thing is also there and is God, this is also there and is God, stone is also there and is God. When it is said this is not there at all, only God is, then in reality that will not be called shirk. This is Unity of Existence (Wahdat al-Wujud), Unity of Being.^³⁴

Relative Existence vs Absolute Reality

Now if I explain it from another perspective, then I hope Allah Almighty will open it upon you. Look, our knowledge, Allah’s knowledge. Right. When you compare, what will you say? In comparison to Allah’s knowledge, our knowledge is not there at all.^³² Right. In comparison to Allah’s power, our power is zero.^³¹ In comparison to Allah’s will, our will is nothing. You cannot even will unless Allah wills,^³⁷ so what did it become? Dust.

These are the verses, right, the Hadith in which the Prophet taught the prayer of Istikharah, and the companions state that the Prophet taught us this prayer of Istikharah just as he taught the Quran.^³⁸ In it what are the words? O Allah, You possess power, I possess no power.^³⁸ If you go on apparent words, then this is contrary to fact. Did the Prophet not possess any knowledge? Here the Prophet is saying. Okay, if some other ordinary human says I do not know, does he not possess any knowledge? Something is there, right? But in comparison to Allah’s knowledge it is equal to non-existent.^³²

In the same way understand, in comparison to Allah’s existence, the existence of this universe is not there. Matter ended, issue became clear. Real existence is only Allah’s, this is relative, this is transient, always changing. Everything is changing, nothing has stability. What you were a moment ago, you are not that a moment later, you have changed. There is a continuity of yours that you think you are the same who was ten years ago. Are you the same? Have changed. Blood has completely changed, unknown how many times changed, skin has changed. So what was known is that whatever this is, is transient, temporary, mortal, equal to non-existent. True existence is only Allah’s.

This also in reality is the matter of that same shirk in existence. If we say Allah is also present, we are also present, what did this become? Shirk in existence. About this Ghalib said: Clear the dust of shirk in existence with the broom of ‘La’. If dust has fallen on your carpet, you brush it, right? If there is dust on the floor, clean it with a broom. Ghalib says that if in your heart this dust has come that you are also present and Allah is also present, then clean this dust with the broom of ‘La’ (No God), that this will become shirk in existence. We are not there, brother, what is our existence, what is our reality? Only Allah is.

That’s it, this is in reality. Again I will submit, whether someone accepts or not, calls it misguidance, calls it a lie, calls it madness, I will not quarrel. But you cannot call it shirk. Shirk is that pantheism, between this and that there is difference of earth and sky.^²

Shirk in Worship and Obedience

Now come to the last shirk: shirk in worship, or shirk in rights.^³⁹ For the rights of Allah, if we use one word, then what is that? Worship (Ibadah). I did not create jinn and humans except that they worship Me.^³⁹ Now if there is shirk in worship, then this will become the third type of shirk. What is meant by shirk in worship? Understand this.

Body and Soul of Worship

This I have explained before, what is called worship? Understand two parts of worship, just as one is my body, one is the soul in it. Soul is not visible, body is visible, but the whole existence of this body is from this soul. Okay, leave the soul, life. What thing is called life? Has anyone seen it till today? But it is this life which is sustaining this body. Similarly, worship has a body, has a life.

What is the body? Obedience to Allah. Complete servitude, servitude in all aspects, servitude at all times. This has been explained, right? And what is the soul? Love. Love of Allah.^⁴⁰

If obedience is done by compulsion, then that is not called worship. We used to obey the British, right, but did we do worship? Understood the point? Obedience we were doing, not worship. Worship is that obedience which is done being filled with love of some entity, at all times, completely, in all aspects.^⁴⁰

So what is the apparent body of worship? Obedience. And what is the soul? Love.^⁴⁰ Now according to both of these, what is monotheism, what is shirk, understand this. And these are those things which I had submitted that it is completely like algebra formulas.

Unconditional Obedience vs Conditional Human Authority

What is monotheism in obedience? That absolute authority obeyed is only Allah.^⁴¹ Right. All other obediences are subject to obedience to Allah.^⁴² There is no denial. Obey parents, but where parents command against Allah’s command, matter ended, obedience will not happen.^⁴³ Wife should obey husband, you obey those in authority, student obey teacher, follower obey spiritual guide.^⁴² But does the spiritual guide also have this right that he revokes any command of Allah? Places his command above any command of the Messenger?

Understood what the principle is? That absolute obedience, unconditional, unlimited, is for Allah.^⁴¹ How did the Prophet state this? There is no obedience to creation in disobedience to the Creator.^⁴⁴ There will be no obedience to anyone among creation in which disobedience to the Creator is becoming necessary.^⁴⁴ Where there is no command of Allah, you accept my command, this will not be shirk. Where there is a command of Allah, against it I give a command and you accept, then this will become shirk.^⁴⁴ Understood the point or not?

The Self (Nafs) as an Object of Worship

Now apply this. Make the application at a completely individual level first. What is Allah’s command? It is time for Fajr, pray. What is the self’s (nafs) command? Sleep. You obeyed the self. Who became the one you obeyed? The self. And was it in disobedience to Allah that you subjected to its command? So what did your self become? It became your god, object of worship.^⁴⁵ Or is there any error in this? Recognize this shirk a bit. Who will be saved now? Understood the point?

If that formula is correct, then this applied. Now there should be so much courage inside you, or think that there was an error in the formula. You can refer back, come again, see, the formula is correct. No creature. My self, is it creature or Creator? Creature. I obeyed my self in disobedience to my Creator. So who became the one I obeyed? The self. The one obeyed is the object of worship. Who became my object of worship? The self.^⁴⁵

This is what Maulana Rumi calls: My self is no less than Pharaoh, but he had resources, I do not have resources. My self is also no less than Pharaoh.

Frequently Asked Questions

What We Thought

The philosophical exploration of monotheism versus polytheism reveals how easily human language and devotion can slide into exaggeration if not anchored by clear principles. By systematically distinguishing between intrinsic divine attributes and granted human attributes, the boundaries of absolute monotheism remain firm. The ultimate protection against spiritual excess lies in maintaining complete obedience to the Creator while recognizing human limitations, ensuring that love and devotion never cross into deification.

​”O Adam, should I tell you about a tree by which eternal life, age, and that kingdom is achieved which never becomes old?” The very first false whisper made by Satan,^¹ the first evil suggestion that entered into the hearts. Yes, human was deceived and in that very moment the divine command was given. The doors of paradise were closed for Adam, peace be upon him, and Eve, peace be upon her. Adam was at one place and Eve at another place, and the trial of the children of Adam was to be long and difficult. Iblis said to Allah, “I swear by Your glory and majesty, I will surely lead them all astray except those who are Your chosen servants.”^² From now on, the world was going to become such a place of trial from which they wanted to save themselves. For the first time on this surface of the earth, a mother would bury her child. For the first time, the pain of death would be felt. This is the story of the very first woman of this surface of the earth. The story of the first mother of humanity, Hazrat Eve, peace be upon her.

The Preparation of Earth and the Announcement to Angels

​Yes, now we are going to the very beginning of the story of the children of Adam. Towards that moment when everything started. Boundless ocean, spread layers of earth, mountains raising their heads, and a vast sky surrounding all of these. The world was prepared with all its beauty. The earth had been given shape and a system had been established. Yes, the world was ready and now awaiting its caliph.

Divine Proclamation & Heavenly Query

During this wait, Allah showed two worlds to the angels. Paradise which is full of mercy, and Hell which is full of fire. When the angels saw both these worlds, perhaps they asked themselves: for whom have these two places been prepared? Who will bear the responsibility of such a difficult path?

Then in answer to all their questions came the command of Allah: “I am going to make a caliph for the earth.”^³ The angels were amazed whether this new creation would become the cause of mischief on earth. Therefore, they asked, “Will You create such a creature in it who will spread mischief in it and shed blood, while we are engaged in Your glorification and praise and sanctification?”^³

And Allah replied, “I know those things that you do not know.”^³ This answer was a gesture towards an unknown yet valuable secret. This new creation would not be an infallible entity free from flaws and sins like the angels. He will forget, he will stumble, and perhaps keep making mistakes repeatedly. But through remorse and repentance, he will be able to reach those ranks upon which even angels will not.

The Creation of Adam and the Arrogance of Iblis

Gathering the Clays of Earth

And thus began this grand journey. Allah created Adam from a handful of clay which He took from the entire earth.^⁴ Therefore, the offspring of Adam are according to the clay of the earth. Some red, some white, some black, and some a combination of them. In this way, some soft and some hard, some bad and some good.^⁴

The angel received the command and descended towards the earth. He gathered clay of every color, every structure, and every fragrance. All of them were brought together. In this way, the essence of Adam, peace be upon him, was prepared, and thus the story of humanity began with the characteristics of all those clays as the Quran tells us: Allah created them from clay, then said to them “Be”, so they became.^⁵

Blowing of the Soul & Paradise Entrance

That body which was given shape was waiting in a silent and still state. Then that time came and Allah blew the soul into it;^⁶ Adam’s eyelashes opened slowly. When Adam opened his eyes for the first time, paradise with all its radiance was in front of him. A serene scene, a beauty that had surrounded him with its light. Rivers, trees, and branches laden with all kinds of fruits. He was such a human who observed paradise with his first sight.

Angels were all around him. Hazrat Jibreel said, “O Adam, say: All praises belong to Allah alone.” And Adam uttered his very first words: “All praises belong to Allah alone.” Upon this, our Lord commanded the angels to bring clothing for Adam. The angels brought clothes of paradise for him and Adam wore them. Then Allah seated him on a throne which was a place of honor and generosity.

The Hidden Pride of Iblis

Another observer of this grand scene of creation was Iblis. He was from among the jinns.^⁷ Yet, due to his worship, he had reached that status that he lived among the angels and almost led them. But hidden in the depths of his heart was one thing: pride. As if he said to himself, “Who can be like me? If I want, I can live in the sky or on the earth.”

Allah certainly knew what was hidden in Satan’s heart. But the path decided for humanity was already clear. The earth was going to be entrusted to the caliph, and this trust started with Adam, peace be upon him. The earth was given to him and his offspring as a home. Yes, although Adam opened his eyes in paradise, the actual journey of humanity was to happen on earth. According to divine wisdom, the test of human and the continuation of his lineage was to take place on earth itself.

Yes, angels were present there. They continuously worshipped Allah, but their ranks were fixed. They could neither move one step forward nor step back. However, Allah intended to create such a caliph who would face obstacles, fight with his self, fall, but then rise again through true repentance. Just as a seed has to be buried under the clay to become a tree, similarly human needed the clay of the earth to reach the status of Ashraf-ul-Makhluqat, meaning the most honored among all creations.

The Refusal of Prostration and Creation of Eve

The Command to Prostrate & Satan’s Rebellion

Then Allah commanded the angels, “Prostrate before Adam.”^⁸ All the angels prostrated except Iblis. Allah Almighty asked him, “When I commanded you, what stopped you from prostrating?”^⁹

“I will never prostrate to that human whom You created from sounding clay made from altered black mud. I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay.”^⁹ With these words, Iblis manifested that disbelief which was hidden inside him. Allah said to him, “Then get out from here, because surely you are rejected, and indeed upon you is the curse until the Day of Judgment.”^⁹

From that very moment, Iblis became the enemy of Adam and his offspring. Where Iblis was falling into darkness due to his pride, human was under the protection of divine mercy. Yes, Adam was in paradise, surrounded by beauty, peace, and divine blessings.

Creation of Mother Eve (Hazrat Hawa A.S)

After some time, Adam saw a entity in paradise just like himself. She was created exactly like him, from the same essence and with the same balance. But she was different. Adam was a man, and she was a woman. Adam did not feel any strangerhood from that entity whom he saw for the first time, because Allah had created her from his own rib.^¹⁰

Adam asked her, “Who are you?” Eve replied, “I am your life partner, your companion.” Hazrat Jibreel, peace be upon him, dressed Eve in the clothes of paradise. When the angels saw her, they asked Adam, “Who is this?” Adam replied, “This is Eve”, and thus Eve became the first woman of humanity.

There was no mother or any other woman for her guidance; she was the first entity who had to experience those joys and sorrows which were never felt before. Eve was to leave footprints of initial steps on those paths upon which no one had walked before.

The Temptation, Fall, and Divine Mercy

The Divine Prohibition of the Tree

Then Allah Almighty said to Adam, “O Adam, stay you and your wife in paradise and eat freely from it wherever you wish, but never go near that tree, otherwise you will be counted among the wrongdoers.”^¹¹

The peace and tranquility in which Adam and Eve were increased Satan’s hatred further. He had rejected the commands entrusted to him. His pride had blinded him from the truth, and now he could not see humans living among such blessings. However much Iblis tried, he could not enter paradise. He kept circling around it, but could not step on the illuminated path of the angels. Still, he did not back down.

Now he had only one motive: to get this new creation expelled from paradise and deprive it of this high status which Allah had bestowed upon it. “O Adam, this is an enemy to you and your wife, so let it not drive you both out of paradise and you fall into hardship.”^¹² Then in a low voice he whispered and put evil suggestions, saying, “O Adam, should I tell you about a pain by which eternal life and that kingdom is achieved which never becomes old? I am surely your well-wisher.”^¹

The Slip, Self-Awareness, and Remorse

And then that moment came. Satan’s whispering misled Adam and Eve. They went near that forbidden tree and ate its fruit. Then their Lord said to them, “Did I not stop you both from this tree, and did I not tell you that Satan is an open enemy to both of you?”^¹³

The boundary had been set and was clear even then, yet they were deceived, because human is not perfect. They are not angels. They are flawed, weak. But their greatest strength is hidden inside this very weakness.

That same Satan who trapped Adam and Eve is now trying to pull you into the pit of despair. But the life of Adam and Eve teaches us that even if we fall into the enemy’s net, we can rise again, because as a human, despite knowing the truth, a slip can happen from us and we can make mistakes. Therefore, making mistakes is part of humanity. Being human means stumbling and forgetting occasionally.

The Prophetic Hadith on Human Error

See what the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “I swear by That Being in Whose hand is my life, if you do not commit sins, Allah will erase you by taking you into the embrace of sleep and bring in your place such people who will commit sins and then ask for forgiveness from Allah, and He will forgive them.”^¹⁴

They submitted, “O our Lord, we have wronged our souls, and if You do not forgive us and do not have mercy on us, then we will surely be included among the unsuccessful people.”^¹⁵ And our Lord said, “Now all of you go down from here, you will be enemies to one another. For you, staying in the earth for a period and taking some benefit has been determined. In that same earth you will live, in it death will come to you, and from it you will be brought out alive again.”^¹¹

Their life in paradise had come to an end. Outwardly, it seemed as if they were being expelled from paradise, but in reality, their Lord was sending them off on their actual journey. All deep qualities hidden inside human, such as patience, repentance, and struggle, could manifest only through the trials of this world.

That is why their departure from paradise was not a punishment; it was the first step of a grand mission for all humanity. The earth was opening like a new chapter, a place where they will live, learn, fall, and rise again so that they can mature and flourish through repentance and patience. Humans did not come to this world to receive punishment; they came to achieve through repentance, struggle, and willpower a rank that can exceed even that of the angels.

Life on Earth and the Separation

Landing on Earth & Survival Struggles

And thus the long journey of humanity began. Satan’s trap was just like this: cunning and silent. It was the day of Friday. They were at different places, but the trial they were going to go through was the same. Adam was landed at that place which is now India, and Eve was landed in Jeddah, and life on earth began.^¹⁶

Eve was now living at a place near the seashore, and her food, her sustenance, was provided to her from that very sea. Whenever she felt hungry, she would go near the water, put her hand in it, and pull out a fish. She cooked the fish on a stone heated by the sun, and in this way she ate food.

As far as Adam was concerned, he was taught the knowledge of working on earth and obtaining produce. Allah taught him to grow wheat. Then Jibreel, peace be upon him, explained to him step-by-step how he would grind wheat, knead dough, and transform it into bread. In this way, Adam tasted the flavor of this world’s bread for the first time in life.

Gradually time passed. They learned to cultivate in the soil, sow seeds, and use iron. Their life on earth was such that they remained content with whatever they got, obtained produce with their own hands, and kept learning things through patience.

Building the House of Allah (Kaaba)

Still, the earth was unfamiliar to them. As days passed, they missed paradise. Comfort had ended and exhaustion had begun. Both felt the grief of leaving paradise. Allah commanded Adam to go to Makkah and build a house of stone there.^¹⁶ After this, Jibreel was sent to show the exact place where the house was to be built.

When Adam complied with the command and completed the construction of the house, Jibreel said to him, “O Adam, Allah commands you: perform circumambulation around this house. Angels perform circumambulation around Allah’s Throne, and in the same way, you also perform circumambulation around this house so that the grief of your heart may be removed.”

And thus Adam built that house upon Allah’s command. With the longing for paradise, the pain of remorse, a broken heart, and a bowed head, they prayed to their Lord. When they were performing circumambulation around the house built by them, they were not walking merely around stones; they were walking with the hope of forgiveness.

And with that first circumambulation, that house became the first place of worship on earth, that first sacred place where humanity turned towards its Lord.^¹⁷ With the passage of time it was affected and turned into ruins, but many years later it was raised once again at the hands of Ibrahim and Ismail, and it continued to be considered sacred for coming generations.

Yes, this sacred house of worship was first built by Adam with his own hands, and centuries later, with the arrival of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, it became that center where Allah’s Oneness was declared once again. This was the place where the world was cleansed from the darkness of polytheism and where humanity turned its heart back towards its Lord. Later, Jibreel taught Adam all the rites of Hajj and then took him towards Mount Arafat.

Reunion at Arafat and the First Tragedy

The Rejoining of Hearts

As far as Eve was concerned, she was full of loneliness and remorse. Years had passed; far from paradise and separated from Adam for long years on earth as the first and only woman, Eve was trying to bear a grand trial alone until that moment. Now she could not bear it any further and her feelings were pushing her towards a search.

She kept walking, continuously kept walking. She had set out towards the mountains. As she was moving towards Makkah, she was walking without knowing where her destination was. After some time, when she reached Mount Arafat, she saw Adam there. “Adam!” And Adam also saw her.

Adam and Eve had spent years in search of each other, and when they came face to face, the pain of this long separation was reflected in their eyes. But that immense longing finally ended in Arafat. Their tears were cleansed through repentance. Yes, they were finally reunited in Arafat.^¹⁶

Every year spent far from paradise had deepened the remorse of Adam and Eve further. Through prayer and repentance, they acknowledged their mistake and turned towards their Lord. For many days they neither ate nor drank anything. Not a single moment passed when they did not reflect upon the mistake made by them. There was no desire in their hearts to defend themselves or make any excuse, only true remorse and the wish for forgiveness.

And finally, turning back towards Allah with a true heart did not remain unanswered. Allah accepted their repentance. Its mention in the Quran is like this: Then their Lord chose him, so He accepted his repentance and granted him guidance.^¹⁸

Beginning of Family Life

And now they needed to get used to living life on earth and establish a system. In those very days, Jibreel, peace be upon him, arrived. He taught them the way to live in this world. As Jibreel did, they did the same.

Allah had descended rams, sheep, and other animals on earth. Adam caught a sheep and removed its wool. Eve took that wool and patiently made thread out of it. Then Adam wove it. Adam first stitched a shirt for himself, then he prepared a shirt for Eve, along with a sheet for her head and body. Adam worked and Eve supported her husband. They were the first husband and wife in history. They struggled shoulder to shoulder and jointly overcame every difficulty.

Still, the grief of separation from their first home, meaning paradise, did not lessen from their hearts even for a moment. Just as a sick body needs healing, just as thirsty land craves water, and a hungry child yearns for its mother, similarly human needs his Sustainer, his original home, and paradise.

Allah certainly did not need their prayers, their worship, or their supplications. But for human, it is necessary to go to His door and say, “I cannot do this, but You can.” And they realized that being His servant does not mean giving something to Allah, but acknowledging one’s helplessness and need while asking from His infinite treasures.

During this, the greatest comfort for Adam and Eve was that revelation which was sent from Allah through Jibreel, because Allah had chosen Adam and made him the very first prophet on earth. One day, Jibreel descended once again and brought heavenly scriptures for Adam. He taught him to write letters and words. Every revelation illuminated their path, and although their longing never lessened, this divine proximity gave them courage.

Soon the arrival of good news started one after another. Their family began to grow. When our mother Eve became a mother for the first time, her heart was filled with such joy that had no prior example. But she had no guide or mother to consult who could tell her what motherhood actually means. She was discovering everything from the absolute beginning through her experiences. On one side was immense joy and compassion, and on the other side a feeling of confusion and loneliness.

From that day onwards, at every birth she gave birth to twins, a girl and a boy. Soon valleys began to echo with the voices of children, and their lineage grew rapidly. As far as Adam was concerned, he lifted the burden of fatherly responsibility upon his shoulders. Seeing this scene, a full sense of peace settled in the air, and whatever was being taught in those moments was not merely for that time; this was going to become a heritage for humanity’s future. Their children and their children’s children will find their path on earth through this very knowledge. They will build their lives and raise future generations on the foundation of these teachings.

The Rift Between Cain (Qabil) and Abel (Habil)

However, Iblis was not going to leave them alone here either, just as he had not left them in paradise. This time in his mind was a target even bigger than that: the offspring of Adam and Eve. One day, a daughter was born to Adam and Eve who was born with that son whose name was later kept Cain (Qabil).

Years passed. When they reached the age of marriage, Hazrat Adam wanted to solemnize the marriage of his offspring according to that divine command which Allah had appointed for that era. The rule was clear: twin brother and sister born together could not marry each other; rather, every girl’s marriage was to be with a boy born at a different time. This was the demand of the circumstances of that time, and in this way the chain of the human race proceeded on earth. Just as every era has its unique commands, this process was also specific only to that time.

To comply with this divine command, Hazrat Adam intended to do what was required. That girl who was born twin with Cain would not become his wife; rather, her marriage would be with Abel (Habil) who was born at another time. However, Cain refused to accept this decision because that girl was prominent among all the rest. Her beauty was indeed very captivating. Cain’s heart was adamant on marrying her and he was unable to accept any other decision. In this way, Cain’s jealousy and anger began. As time passed, that jealousy kept growing. The darkness of Cain’s face began to express that anger which he held in his heart against his brother Abel.

Hazrat Adam, peace be upon him, felt the tension between his two sons, but he intended to leave the matter to Allah’s divine decision. He instructed them to offer a sacrifice. Abel was a shepherd; he spent his days in taking care of his sheep. Therefore, he chose the best and flawless sheep from his flock for sacrifice. He performed this act with a heart full of true obedience, whose sole motive was to gain proximity to Allah. On the other hand, Cain was a farmer; he ploughed the land and grew crops. He gathered a very ordinary and worthless bundle of wheat from his crop and brought it to present.

After some time, Allah accepted Abel’s sacrifice, but Cain’s sacrifice was rejected.^¹⁹ This thing gave further fuel to the anger already growing inside Cain. As a mother, Eve felt the change in her children. She saw Cain’s anger and his terrifying silence, but she could not understand what was going to happen, because before her no mother had faced such a child among her children. She felt restlessness in her heart, but she did not know where all this would stop. Incensed with anger, Cain threatened Abel: “I will kill you!”^¹⁹

“Allah accepts sacrifice only from those who fear Him. And even if you stretch your hand to kill me, I will not stretch my hand to kill you, because I fear the Lord of the worlds.”^¹⁹

The First Murder on Earth

But even these words did not cool Cain’s hatred; rather, from these words his hatred became even more severe. From that day onwards, he did not leave Abel alone. For many days he followed him from a distance, waiting for that moment when he would be alone. The growing anger inside Cain had now blinded both his reason and his heart.

And then one day, Abel lay down at the foot of a mountain to rest for a while. Peace was all around. Cain silently moved forward holding a large stone in hand. He approached with those thoughts that were consuming his mind. When he stood there right above Abel, he paused for a moment and looked at his brother. “How can I do this? He is my brother. But he is the cause of my anger.” He raised the stone high and killed Abel right there.^¹⁹

For the first time on the surface of the earth, a human had shed the blood of his own brother. The moment Cain realized what he had done, his heart was filled with fear. His hands began to tremble and his breath got stuck in his throat. He looked at Abel’s lifeless body, but could not understand what to do. He was in shock and terrified.

Then two crows appeared before him. One of them lay still on the ground; it was dead. The second began to dig the soil with its beak and made a small pit in the ground. It dragged the dead crow into the pit and covered it with soil.^²⁰ Cain watched that scene attentively. In that moment he realized what he had to do with his brother’s body. In this way, Allah showed him how one living entity buries another in the ground. Cain said, “Woe to me! Could I not become even like this crow so that I may bury the corpse of my brother?” Then he dug the ground, buried his brother, and covered him with soil.^²⁰

Grief of Motherhood and Lessons of Life

At that time, Hazrat Adam, peace be upon him, had gone far away on a journey. When he returned, he went to meet his children, but he did not find Abel. When he asked, Cain’s guilty face made everything clear. He could not look into his father’s eyes; he could say nothing. This painful news burnt Adam’s heart. For the first time, he trembled with the pain of losing a child. He had neither felt such deep grief ever before nor was he tested with such a big loss previously. As a father, he felt helpless. There were no words to give peace to the storm of his heart, and in that very moment he learned in the most difficult way what the true meaning of patience and submission is.

Adam went to Eve to give the news of their son’s passing. He told her that their child was dead. But Eve could not understand what Adam meant, so she asked, “What is death?” Death! She had no idea what this word meant. She did not know what going away was or what it meant that someone goes and never returns. So Adam explained: a person who dies cannot rise again, cannot eat or drink, cannot walk or speak. In that moment, Eve understood. This was not merely a separation; this was the first death on earth. And thus this pain, which no one had felt before, made its home in her heart for the first time.

Death! Now stop this topic. It is making me very restless. We are still young, our whole life lies ahead of us. This is the voice that comes in our minds, isn’t it? We live as if death will always come to someone else, as if it will come only to our neighbor’s house and will never reach us. But that end from which we all are running away will find us when the time comes. There is no way to escape it. But instead of looking at death as annihilation or turning into soil, we can finally view it as a means of meeting our Lord, meeting our loved ones in paradise, and becoming free from the griefs and worries of this world. If we try to live according to this truth, then death will not be something from which we run away out of fear, but will be that reality for which we prepare.

Our Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Remember frequently the destroyer of pleasures, meaning death.”^²¹ It is just as if he is whispering in our hearts not to get lost in the games, amusements, and glitter of this world. Do not tire your heart so much for those things which will ultimately leave you one day. Remembering death does not mean hating life; it means realizing that you are not the owner of this house which we call earth, but you are merely a traveler passing through here, and finding peace in this lightness is actual life.

Yes, Abel was gone, but a piece of Eve’s heart was also gone. There were no words to describe her pain. She had neither any such example from which she could learn nor were there words that could truly comfort her. Yes, since being sent from paradise to earth, Eve had gone through many difficulties, but the grief of losing a child was the greatest among all of them. This was heavier and more shattering than everything familiar to her. For the first time on earth, a mother buried her child. A father was also facing the great burden of losing his son for the first time. This was their trial: the first pain, the first longing, the first test.

As far as their second son Cain was concerned, he had shed his brother’s blood and had fallen into a great sin. He could not make eye contact with his family. He could no longer live with his parents. Therefore, leaving two different voids in Eve’s heart, he silently went away. He disappeared, and on that day Eve had lost both her children.

Adam and Eve spent many long years on that earth. They saw everything: joy and sorrow, loss and patience. The size of their family increased and their grandsons and granddaughters spread across the earth. Every child came into the world with their own story and their own test. As the human race grew, good and evil, truth and falsehood began to flourish side by side. And thus that journey which started from the offspring of Adam and Eve turned into a lifelong journey of trial for all humanity.

Yes, the journey of humanity started somewhat like this: with deception, with remorse, and with a search. Because of the blessings given to Satan, he fell into arrogance. His pride dropped him from the highest station and threw him into the lowest pit. On the other hand, when a mistake occurred from Adam and Eve, they turned towards their Lord with humility and embarrassment. Today our test is also being taken in this very manner. We are struggling with those same feelings. Yes, perhaps you feel that now it is too late. But know that our Lord is not in search of absolutely perfect servants; He simply wants such servants who turn towards Him in every state.

Eve’s story teaches us this very thing: your fall does not determine your worth, because every step taken by you to gather yourself again brings you closer to Allah. Yes, the journey is long and perhaps taking that first step may seem difficult. But remember, even if you repeat the same mistake 1000 times, your Lord with His infinite mercy is ready to forgive you a thousand times and even more than that. You just need to take one true step to start again. Leave behind the despair of your past. If there is remorse in your heart, then now only repentance remains to be done. It does not matter what mistake occurred from you; just listen to the words of the Prophet, peace be upon him, who is Mercy for the worlds: “All children of Adam are sinners, and the best of sinners are those who repent abundantly.”^²²

The humility of Eve and her true devotion was in fact that same shared condition which was found in all those mothers whom we mentioned in this series. During this entire series, we shared stories of eight mothers of paradise and observed their grief and their prayers. Every mother of ours had her unique trials. Yes, their paths were different and their sorrows were separate, but their direction was always one: their hearts turned only towards Allah.

Sometimes we found ourselves alone amidst the isolation of the desert with Hajar. With her every step between Safa and Marwah, we felt the patience of motherhood and the strength of faith. Right in the middle of the desert, we searched for the most rare thing, meaning water, and during the search for that one drop, we learned that hope should never be lost. And sometimes we saw Maryam standing firm even in front of the worst allegations. In a moment when no one believed her, instead of trying to defend herself, she chose to take refuge in her Lord and remain silent. And from inside that silence, we saw a miracle: we heard the voice of truth from the mouth of a newborn child, meaning Isa, peace be upon him.

Through the story of Asiya, we learned how to hold onto one’s faith even in the depths of oppression. We saw how a heart can belong solely to Allah, even inside that palace of oppression whose owner claimed to be God. Then with the passing of Aminah, we observed how the Holy Prophet was left at such a young age without both mother and father. We could feel his pain when those tears were flowing from his blessed eyes, dropping straight into our own hearts.

When the camel’s intestines were thrown upon the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, like Lady Fatima, we could not just stand there and watch; our heart ached to step forward and clean his blessed body. We observed the courage and pure heart of a little girl running to help her father. With Khadijah, we learned how to believe when everyone else becomes silent, and how to stand with someone when the motherly world turns its back. At a time when everyone distanced themselves from the Holy Prophet out of fear, we saw how saying “I believe in you” can keep an entire movement standing. And Ayesha, she was the guardian of knowledge; she narrated uncounted Ahadith, illuminated the path of the Ummah with her wisdom, and through the malicious allegations levied against her, we learned from her story what it truly means for a woman’s honor to be defended by Allah Himself.

And thus we have reached the conclusion of our eight-part journey of the Mothers of Paradise series. We stepped into the lives of eight extraordinary mothers. We felt the burden of their griefs and joined them in their prayers. Sometimes we smiled, and sometimes we could not hold back our tears. They did not teach us to become perfect; rather, they taught us to turn towards Allah in every state. They showed us not to give up even when no strength remains in us. They reminded us that whenever we feel alone, we have a Lord to take refuge with, and that we are never truly alone. They taught us how to rise after falling, and how to turn towards Allah amidst our deepest griefs and trials. This series may certainly be ending here, but their legacy will continuously live with us, with every step taken by us, InshaAllah.

Summary Comparison of Key Narratives

Frequently Asked Questions

What We Thought

Reflecting upon the journey of Eve and Adam reveals that human existence is fundamentally built upon accountability, struggle, and divine grace. Rather than defining humanity by its initial stumble, the narrative elevates the act of sincere repentance as the ultimate mark of nobility. The transition from Paradise to Earth represents not an exile of condemnation, but the inauguration of a purposeful mission where flawed beings, through patience, willpower, and continuous return to their Creator, can achieve a spiritual station that surpasses even that of the angels.

​We are returning back to an era centuries ago, a time when the pages of history had not even begun to be written. Along with animals, plants, and insects, this world exists with all its splendor. Each one among these is in complete harmony with the other. But there is much silence in the world. Where is human? Oh yes, this thing does not exist. Here it is, the time has come. Now our attention is focused towards the creation of the first human. The very first human, the first prophet, the first person to experience living life in both paradise and earth, the forefather of all humanity, Hazrat Adam, peace be upon him. Because this story helps us in understanding the purpose of life, how we view this world, and how we think about everything happening with us. But this story is narrated in different styles in Islam and Christianity. Today we will look at it from the viewpoint of both the Bible and the Quran, and examine the commonalities and differences between them. What events took place with him in paradise, how Satan deceived him, how he was sent down to earth, and many things. If you are ready, we start our journey from where it had started.

The Announcement of Creation and the Appointment of the Caliph

​When your Lord said to the angels, I am going to establish a continuous human lineage on earth.^¹ They asked God, will You make therein such a person who will spread corruption and bloodshed there, while we praise You and declare Your purity? Allah Almighty replied, I know that which you do not know. In the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty says to the angels that He is going to create humans and will send them to earth by making them caliphs. This means that they will be given responsibility, of being representatives. The authority of the earth will be given into their hands, and they will be free to make their own choices.

The Origin of Creation: Clay vs. Garden of Eden

According to the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty decided to make this caliph from clay.^² Similarly, the Bible also says that Adam was created from clay.^³ God made human from the clay of the earth. Whereas the Quran says that he was created in paradise. The Bible says that he never went to paradise, he never stayed there. According to Chapter two of Genesis, he was placed on earth in a garden named Eden, which he was to look after and cultivate.^⁴

The Reaction of Angels and the Jealousy of Iblis

​The angels were waiting with wonder and curiosity for his creation process to complete, what kind of creature this would be, how he would be different from them, what was going to happen. But amidst all this curiosity, there was a person who did not like this new creation at all. He was thinking whether he would be better than him. He was thinking what after all was the need for this. He had already started becoming restless. This fear was eating him up from inside.

The Identity of Iblis

He was a jinn whose name was Iblis.^⁵ He was an individual of a different creation, but at that time due to his rank, he lived among the angels. Later due to his arrogance, he came to be known as Satan, who is known by the name of Satan in the Quran. Islamic sources clearly state that Satan was a jinn. But in the Bible, instead of Satan, we see a different character in the later parts of the story.

The Test of Knowledge and the Command to Prostrate

​When feelings of anxiety and jealousy surrounded Satan, and the expected moment was about to arrive. The creation of the first human was now complete. He had been given the final shape. Now he was about to open his eyes for life. Almighty Allah blew the soul into his body and he became alive. Now the time had come that his introduction be made in front of the angels and a test be taken. But what kind of test would this be?

Superiority Through Knowledge

He taught Adam the names of everything.^⁶ Whatever thing Hazrat Adam, peace be upon him, was asked about, he would tell its name. The angels were getting amazed by his every answer. That knowledge which was not given to the angels was given to human, and in this way his superiority was demonstrated. Those people who genuinely wanted to understand, meaning the angels, got the answer to their questions. But still there was a person who was keeping many things hidden inside. By stating that I know what you hide, our Lord indicated towards him. But still he kept them hidden. The test of Adam telling the names ended, but now the time for testing others had come. And when We said to the angels, prostrate to Adam, so all did, but Iblis refused.^⁷

The Arrogance of Satan and the Refusal

​So what reason did he tell Allah Almighty for this? According to Islamic viewpoint, ancestral sin. Allah Almighty asked, when I commanded you, what stopped you from prostrating? He replied, I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay.^⁸ Allah Almighty said, then descend down from this place, because it does not belong to your right that you show arrogance here. Now get out, you are among the humiliated.

The Rebellion and Expulsion

Satan’s refusal was born out of pride and envy, leading to his eternal expulsion from divine grace.

The Oath of Deception

Satan said, O my Lord, grant me respite until the day when people will be raised alive from graves. Allah Almighty said, you have been granted respite until the day of a known period. He said, O Lord, now since You have led me astray, therefore I also swear that I will remain sitting in ambush for them on Your straight path. Then I will attack them, from in front of them, from behind them, from their right side, and from their left side, and You will not find most of them grateful. Allah Almighty said, get out from here, humiliated and rejected. I will surely fill hell with you and all your followers.

Key Differences Between Biblical and Islamic Narratives

The Concept of Original Sin

Between these two stories, another difference is the answer to the question: what is the original sin? Answers of both Bible and Quran are different. According to Christian view, the original sin is the sin of Adam and Eve when they violate God’s restriction. Christians believe that every newborn child should be considered a sinner by inheritance. This is the definition of original sin near them. But what does Islam say? First of all, Islam does not accept that children are born sinners. In verse number seven of Surah Az-Zumar, Allah Almighty stated, and no bearer of burden shall bear the burden of another.^⁹ Therefore, in Islam every child is born innocent, and regardless of their religion, they are not accountable for life’s test until maturity. On the other hand, according to Islam’s definition of original sin, the original sin is of Satan, and it is arrogance based on racism. He considered himself superior because he was created from fire, and he considered Hazrat Adam, peace be upon him, inferior because he was made from clay. This was the very sin that destroyed Satan.

The Psychology of Arrogance & Respect for Humanity

When the creation of Hazrat Adam, peace be upon him, took place, Iblis saw a different kind of existence. He considered it a stranger and adopted indifference towards it. Then he started thinking that he is superior to it. All this in reality was the setup by which racism shapes up in someone’s heart and mind. So the Quran actually describes the psychology of crime. A crime that for centuries has been a cause of embarrassment and disgrace for human, and from this it is known that this is the characteristic of Satan, who is the enemy of Allah, so that believers can understand the vileness of this sin and keep themselves away from it. This prostration of the angels was certainly not as worship of Hazrat Adam, peace be upon him. This was a ceremonial prostration, a kind of salutation that was done to accept their high status and authority over angels. Apart from this, since the command for this prostration was given by Allah Almighty Himself, therefore obeying the command of Allah Almighty is in reality worshipping Him. In the upcoming worldly life of humans, the entire universe with all its parts will be their servant for humans’ use. Natural resources, animals, plants, oceans, valleys, mountains, and everything will be subjected to humanity. At that time, angels were also commanded to prostrate to the forefather of human children. Angels immediately acted upon this command and fell into prostration. So from the story to which point, what more differences were there between Quran and Bible? According to the Bible, the names of things and animals were taken by Hazrat Adam, peace be upon him, himself.^¹⁰ On the other hand, contrary to Islam, the command to prostrate to Adam, the rebellion of Satan, and his expulsion, none of these events are mentioned in the Bible. There is also no mention of how Satan became rejected, or why he became the enemy of human children. But immediately after this point, both Quran and Bible mention similar events, but in very different ways. From here we see the contest taking place between human and Satan, between truth and falsehood, which will continue until the Day of Judgment.

Life in Paradise and the Warning About the Tree

Further in the story, Allah Almighty created our mother Eve as the wife of Hazrat Adam, peace be upon him, from his rib bone.^¹¹ The Quran mentions the events occurring after this as follows: We said, O Adam, stay you and your wife in Paradise, and eat freely from it wherever you wish, but do not go near this tree, otherwise you will be counted among the wrongdoers.^¹² According to the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty also gave this warning: so We said, O Adam, this is an enemy to you and your wife, so let it not drive you both out of Paradise, and you fall into hardship.^¹³ According to the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty said that if they violate the command, they will become wrongdoers. But according to the Bible, Allah Almighty said that in such a case they will die. There is a huge difference. And the Lord commanded Adam, you are free to eat the fruit of any tree of the garden, but you must strictly not eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, because if you ate it, you will surely have to die.^¹⁴

The Deception of Satan and the Fall

It was a huge opportunity for Satan. He held Adam responsible for his expulsion from Allah’s court, and he was ready to try everything possible to take revenge. Using all kinds of traps, Satan said to Adam, should I tell you about a tree that gives eternal life and that kingdom which never gets old?^¹⁵ He was pointing towards the forbidden tree. But according to the Bible, it was a serpent who came not near Adam, but to Eve.^¹⁶ According to Christian scholars, it was actually Satan who was talking through the serpent. But the Lord said, you must strictly not eat the fruit of this tree which is in the middle of the garden, and you should not touch it, otherwise you will die. You will strictly not die, the serpent said to the woman, because the Lord knows that if you ate it, your eyes will open and you will become like God, knowing every good and evil.^¹⁷

The Violation and Self-Awareness

To mislead Adam and his offspring from the straight path, finally Satan through his tricks and whisperings deceived both of them. Hazrat Adam and Eve, peace be upon them, forgot for a while the warning of their Lord about the tree. Both of them listened to Satan’s words and tasted its fruit. Immediately their private parts opened in front of each other. Consequently, they felt much embarrassment and started trying to cover themselves with the leaves of paradise.^¹⁸ They realized that he had put them in deception. But now it was too late. So what were they going to do now? According to the Bible, they wanted to run away and hide from the Lord. Then Adam and his wife heard the voice of the Lord when He was walking inside the garden in the cool breeze of the day, and they hid from the Lord between the trees of the garden. But the Lord called Adam, where are you? He replied, I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked. He said, who told you that you are naked? Have you eaten the fruit of that tree from which I commanded you to stay away?^¹⁹

The Divine Omniscience

In Islamic theology, Allah’s knowledge encompasses all actions and secrets across existence.

Omniscience vs Divine Searching

In the Holy Quran, no such event is mentioned, because in Islam there is no such belief that human can hide from God, or that God, God forbid, cannot see at some time, or that He gets news of an event later. He sees and knows everything at every moment. Nevertheless, by definition, God is a perfect entity who is Almighty, in Whom there can be no flaw. Hence, in verse number seven of Surah Taghabun, Allah Almighty stated, whatever you do, He has knowledge of that too, and Allah knows very well even the matters of the hearts.^²⁰ Therefore, when this mistake happened from them, according to the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty addressing them directly said, did I not stop you both from this tree, and did I not tell you that Satan is an open enemy to both of you?^²¹

The Consequences and Earthly Sentences

So what was the result of this action of theirs? Now the time had come that they be sent to the world. But according to the Bible, Adam, Eve, and the serpent were given separate punishments. In Chapter three of Genesis, it is that the serpent was given the curse of crawling on his belly as punishment. Adam was given the curse of the earth as punishment for the mistake, and as a result no crop will grow without hardship and painful struggle. And Eve’s punishment in this chapter is described in this way: so God said to that woman, I will make your pain during childbirth very severe. With painful labor you will give birth to children, your desire will be subject to your husband, and he will rule over you.^²²

The Islamic View on Earthly Labor and Motherhood

But does Islam agree with this view? According to Islam, except for Satan, no one was cursed. The effort required for growing crops is actually part of the test of this world, and giving birth to children is not a punishment for women but a sacred duty. It is a sacred act because Islam has described the worth and status of mothers in every way. To prove this, just one Hadith of the Noble Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family, is enough. When a companion who wanted to participate in Jihad in the way of Allah sought advice from the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family, the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family, asked him if his mother was alive. When he replied in the affirmative, the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family, said, then stay with her, because Paradise lies beneath her feet.^²³ According to the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty reminds Muslims of this difficulty through which their mothers had to pass when they were pregnant, and for this reason Allah Almighty wants Muslims to remain grateful to their mothers.^²⁴

Comparing the Statements: Who Told the Truth?

But apart from all this, there was an astonishing detail which most of us have forgotten. That is, if the fruit of the tree was eaten, what would happen? If the command regarding the tree was violated, if the fruit of the tree was eaten? Furthermore, in both Quran and Bible it is that God had said something, and Satan had also said something. So in the end, what happened and who turned out to be right? Let us compare them. According to the Bible, Allah Almighty said, if you eat it, you will surely die. And what had Satan said, that will it be so? Let us understand the conversation described in the Bible that took place between Mother Eve and Satan when he came in the form of a serpent. Mother Eve says, but God had said you must strictly not eat the fruit of this tree which is in the middle of the garden, and you should not touch it either, otherwise you will die. You will strictly not die, the serpent said to the woman. Strange thing, according to the Bible, Satan’s statement proved right, because when they ate the fruit, they did not die. On the other hand, in the Holy Quran, in verse number 20 of Surah Al-A’raf, Satan says, your Lord prohibited this tree to you only lest you become angels or become of eternal life.^²⁵ But what did Allah Almighty say to them in the beginning? Do not go near that tree, otherwise you will be counted among the wrongdoers. Allah Almighty warned them in another place in these words: so We said, O Adam, this is an enemy to you and your wife, so let it not drive you both out of Paradise, and you fall into hardship. Hence, according to the Holy Quran, naturally Allah Almighty’s statement was true and Satan lied.

Purpose of Creation and Repentance

But even more than this, there is a secret detail that made the story of the Quran very different. Contrary to the Bible, the reason for their being sent to the world was not that they violated this command. So then what after all was the reason? In the very first verse of this video, this detail was described. Let us look at it again. When your Lord said to the angels that I am going to make a caliph in the earth. Human was created from the beginning to be sent to the world. Even before eating the forbidden fruit, Satan had asked permission from God by saying, grant me respite until the day when people will be raised alive from graves. Therefore, it was known that humans will come to the world, will be created, will die, and one day collectively will be raised up, and there will be accountability.

The Lesson of Agency and Sincere Forgiveness

So what were all these events for? Why did it seem like Adam was expelled from Paradise? All these things were to give this fundamental message to all humanity, including you, that contrary to angels, humans have been created with the ability to choose between good and evil, and this very thing makes them superior. Despite having power over choosing evil, choosing good is that method through which they can reach the status of being a caliph, which Allah had told in the beginning. And Satan did what he wanted to do his whole life, and he deceived the first humans. According to Islam, prophets do not commit sin. So this was a forgetfulness, a slip, a mistake which cannot be considered a sin, and from this the message is received that a mistake can happen from every servant of Allah. But then when a mistake happens, what is its solution? Is its solution despair? If you happened to disobey God even once, should you start feeling rejected? No, its answer was also in the story of Hazrat Adam, peace be upon him. After both Hazrat Adam and Eve, peace be upon them, ate the fruit of this tree, they immediately said, O our Lord, we have wronged our souls, and if You do not forgive us and do not have mercy on us, then we will surely be included among the unsuccessful people.^²⁶ So they accepted responsibility, made no excuse, and with sincerity of heart asked for forgiveness from Allah Almighty. After a mistake happens, this is the solution.

Contrast Between Adam’s Repentance & Satan’s Arrogance

Now the time had come that Paradise be left. Allah sent Hazrat Adam and Eve, peace be upon them, to their new home, meaning the earth. Both were very sad and worried. They were on a completely different, strange land. Furthermore, they had become separated from each other. Allah Almighty landed them in different parts of the world. This place was not like Paradise. Now whatever they wanted, they could not obtain immediately. Now they had a life for which patience, effort, and struggle were required. Shortly after, revelation was sent down upon Hazrat Adam, peace be upon him, and glad tidings of forgiveness were received from Allah Almighty. The Quran says, then Adam learned some words from his Lord, so Allah Almighty accepted his repentance. Indeed, He is Most Forgiving, Very Merciful.^²⁷ But in the Bible, there is no mention of this that Hazrat Adam, peace be upon him, asked for forgiveness from Allah Almighty and his repentance was accepted. The comparison I am going to make, it is very important to understand it. When you look at the story from the beginning, a mistake happens from both Satan and Adam. Satan did not prostrate, and Adam ate the forbidden fruit. Then, as we described, Hazrat Adam, peace be upon him, acknowledged his mistake, felt regret, and asked for forgiveness from Allah Almighty, and his repentance was accepted. But on the other hand, Satan, instead of acknowledging his mistake, shows arrogance, to the extent that he blames Allah Almighty. He does not feel remorse, becomes hopeless from Allah, and closes the door of repentance for himself forever. This is that place where a difference comes in the way of looking at life, and this world comes forward. When you learn the story in the correct way, you naturally reach the correct conclusion. Therefore, our Creator is not a tyrant who is angry with entire humanity because of a mistake committed by the first human and considers all of them guilty. Our Creator is Just and Merciful, Who wants all humanity to come on the straight path and enter Paradise.

The Re-union on Earth and Humanity’s Journey

Let us return to the last part of the story. Hazrat Adam had not been able to find Mother Eve yet. They remained separated for many years. They traveled long distances to search for each other. Then finally they met each other on Mount Arafat, and without doubt they united together. Now on earth, the adventure of humanity had started, and the silence of the world was broken. As years passed, the offspring of Adam and Eve, peace be upon them, slowly spread, and the human population kept moving further ahead. In a world full of tests continuing for thousands of years, people kept settling and populating across the entire world. They kept bringing tribal civilizations into existence. For centuries, thousands of prophets came, and like their forefather Hazrat Adam, peace be upon him, kept telling people why they had come here. They kept telling them where they came from and where they were going, and kept inviting them to faith, and that human has come to spend a short time in this world so that they pass the test and return back to their original homeland. And finally, on the Day of Judgment, those people who accepted the message of prophets and believed in Allah, they will go to their real home, Paradise. But on the other hand, Satan will keep following the disbelievers behind him, and they will get nothing except that fire which was promised to them. In this journey of life, what humanity inherited from its forefather Hazrat Adam, peace be upon him, according to Christian belief is that original sin which keeps transferring to every newborn child, and according to Islam it is that act of repentance which erases all sins and grants endless hope.

Frequently Asked Questions

What We Thought

Looking at both narratives side by side shows how fundamental stories shape different worldviews. While both traditions share the core events of creation, temptation, and the transition to earthly life, their ultimate lessons diverge significantly. The Islamic narrative emphasizes complete individual accountability, divine mercy through repentance, and the noble purpose of humanity as stewards on Earth. The comparison highlights that human mistakes do not lead to eternal condemnation when met with sincere repentance, framing earthly life not as a punishment, but as a deliberate and purposeful journey of faith.