The benefits of the verse: “And when We said to the angels, ‘Prostrate to Adam,’ so they prostrated, except for Iblis; he refused and was arrogant and became one of the disbelievers,” and the answer to a difficulty, which is how
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In this noble verse, the virtue of Adam over the angels is made clear. What is the point of indication from the verse? Because Allah commanded the angels to prostrate to him, and it is known that the one who prostrates to another is in a rank lower than him, more humble than him. There is a difficulty in the verse, which is that Allah commanded the angels to prostrate to Adam, and prostration to other than Him is shirk (associating partners with Allah), so how does He command them to commit shirk? And Allah the Exalted says: [Al-A'raf 7:28]?
The student: Shaykh, may Allah reward you. It is said that the prostration here means prostration of greeting, just as the brothers of Yusuf prostrated to Yusuf.
The Shaykh : Yes. And it is not a real prostration. What is the evidence for interpreting it this way?
The student: We took from the religion of Islam that it is not permissible to prostrate to other than Allah?
The Shaykh : From the religion of Islam?
The student: The approval of Yusuf (peace be upon him) to his brothers...
The Shaykh : Do not take us to another place. Answer regarding this place?
The student: It is not shirk.
The Shaykh : If you say, as the brother of Kamil said, that the prostration is a greeting, bowing the head like this? No, is it a real prostration? Real and a greeting.
The student: But it is now prohibited that it be shirk, even Mu'adh ibn Jabal prostrated...?
The Shaykh : There is no power and no strength except with Allah.
The student: Shaykh, we say this happened by the command of Allah.
The Shaykh : Yes, and if it happens by the command of Allah, it becomes worship, even if it is for other than Allah. Prostration is the right of Allah the Exalted, so if He commands that one prostrate to another, who can prevent it? Is not killing the innocent soul among the greatest of major sins? And yet, the killing of Ibrahim, who was commanded to kill his son, became one of the great acts of obedience. So killing the soul is forbidden, without doubt, and a disobedience, especially if a person kills his son or his father or a relative. But because it was by the command of Allah, it became obedience to Allah. For this reason, worship is defined as humbling oneself to Allah the Exalted by what? By doing His commands and avoiding His prohibitions. So the correct thing is to take the Qur'an by its apparent meaning and say that it is a real prostration, but because Allah commanded it, it became part of His right, and its fulfillment became worship.
And when they commit an immorality, they say, "We found our fathers doing it, and Allah has ordered us to do it." Say, "Indeed, Allah does not order immorality.
وإّذا فعلوا فاحشة قالوا وجدنا عليه آباءنا والله أمرنا بها قل إن الله لا يأمر بالفحشاءThe student: Shaykh, may Allah reward you. It is said that the prostration here means prostration of greeting, just as the brothers of Yusuf prostrated to Yusuf.
The Shaykh : Yes. And it is not a real prostration. What is the evidence for interpreting it this way?
The student: We took from the religion of Islam that it is not permissible to prostrate to other than Allah?
The Shaykh : From the religion of Islam?
The student: The approval of Yusuf (peace be upon him) to his brothers...
The Shaykh : Do not take us to another place. Answer regarding this place?
The student: It is not shirk.
The Shaykh : If you say, as the brother of Kamil said, that the prostration is a greeting, bowing the head like this? No, is it a real prostration? Real and a greeting.
The student: But it is now prohibited that it be shirk, even Mu'adh ibn Jabal prostrated...?
The Shaykh : There is no power and no strength except with Allah.
The student: Shaykh, we say this happened by the command of Allah.
The Shaykh : Yes, and if it happens by the command of Allah, it becomes worship, even if it is for other than Allah. Prostration is the right of Allah the Exalted, so if He commands that one prostrate to another, who can prevent it? Is not killing the innocent soul among the greatest of major sins? And yet, the killing of Ibrahim, who was commanded to kill his son, became one of the great acts of obedience. So killing the soul is forbidden, without doubt, and a disobedience, especially if a person kills his son or his father or a relative. But because it was by the command of Allah, it became obedience to Allah. For this reason, worship is defined as humbling oneself to Allah the Exalted by what? By doing His commands and avoiding His prohibitions. So the correct thing is to take the Qur'an by its apparent meaning and say that it is a real prostration, but because Allah commanded it, it became part of His right, and its fulfillment became worship.