Exegesis of the saying of Allah the Exalted: {And when your Lord said to the angels...}
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
This is a message from the listener, 'Azad al-Din Hasan al-Dalimi, from Iraq, the Anbar Governorate. He says: Allah the Exalted said: [al-Baqarah:30]. He asks: Does this mean that Allah created man before Adam (peace and blessings be upon him) ? If so, how did the angels know that man would corrupt the earth and shed blood? And what is the intent behind Allah making a successor on earth, and a successor to whom?
Answer:
The noble verse indicates that Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) made this man, who is Adam (peace be upon him), a successor in the earth to those who were in it from the people of corruption and lack of uprightness.
The statement of the angels indicates that there were people who were corrupting the earth, so she based what she said on what had occurred on earth, or on other reasons she had come to know, so she said what she said. Then Allah (Mighty and Majestic) informed them that He knows what the angels do not know, and that this successor will rule on earth by the law of Allah and the religion of Allah, and will spread the call to His oneness, sincerity to Him, and faith in Him. And so his descendants after him will include the prophets, the messengers, the righteous, the pious scholars, and the sincere servants, among others, as has occurred on earth in the worship of Allah alone, the implementation of His law, enjoining what He has commanded, and forbidding what He has forbidden. This is how it proceeded with the prophets, messengers, righteous scholars, and sincere servants, among others, and the command of Allah became manifest in that, and the angels came to know this great good after that.
It is said that those before Adam were groups of people, and from the creation are called the jinn and the Han.
In any case, he is a successor to those who passed before him and were on the earth of Allah before him, whom Allah (Mighty and Majestic) knows. We do not have conclusive evidence explaining who was there before Adam and their attributes and deeds. There is nothing that clarifies this matter, but making him a successor indicates that there were people before him on earth, so he succeeds them in manifesting the truth, explaining the law of Allah that He legislated for him, explaining what pleases Allah and brings one near to Him, and forbidding corruption therein. And so those who came after him from his descendants, the prophets, the righteous, and the good, carried out this great matter: they called to the truth, clarified the truth, guided to the religion of Allah, and cultivated the earth with obedience to Allah, His oneness, and ruling by His law. They rebuked those who contradicted that. Yes, Allah is the One to be sought for help.
The presenter: May Allah reward you and preserve you.
This is a message from the listener, 'Azad al-Din Hasan al-Dalimi, from Iraq, the Anbar Governorate. He says: Allah the Exalted said:
And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority." They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?" Allah said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know."
وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً قَالُوا أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَنْ يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّمَاءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ قَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مَا لا تَعْلَمُونَAnswer:
The noble verse indicates that Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) made this man, who is Adam (peace be upon him), a successor in the earth to those who were in it from the people of corruption and lack of uprightness.
The statement of the angels indicates that there were people who were corrupting the earth, so she based what she said on what had occurred on earth, or on other reasons she had come to know, so she said what she said. Then Allah (Mighty and Majestic) informed them that He knows what the angels do not know, and that this successor will rule on earth by the law of Allah and the religion of Allah, and will spread the call to His oneness, sincerity to Him, and faith in Him. And so his descendants after him will include the prophets, the messengers, the righteous, the pious scholars, and the sincere servants, among others, as has occurred on earth in the worship of Allah alone, the implementation of His law, enjoining what He has commanded, and forbidding what He has forbidden. This is how it proceeded with the prophets, messengers, righteous scholars, and sincere servants, among others, and the command of Allah became manifest in that, and the angels came to know this great good after that.
It is said that those before Adam were groups of people, and from the creation are called the jinn and the Han.
In any case, he is a successor to those who passed before him and were on the earth of Allah before him, whom Allah (Mighty and Majestic) knows. We do not have conclusive evidence explaining who was there before Adam and their attributes and deeds. There is nothing that clarifies this matter, but making him a successor indicates that there were people before him on earth, so he succeeds them in manifesting the truth, explaining the law of Allah that He legislated for him, explaining what pleases Allah and brings one near to Him, and forbidding corruption therein. And so those who came after him from his descendants, the prophets, the righteous, and the good, carried out this great matter: they called to the truth, clarified the truth, guided to the religion of Allah, and cultivated the earth with obedience to Allah, His oneness, and ruling by His law. They rebuked those who contradicted that. Yes, Allah is the One to be sought for help.
The presenter: May Allah reward you and preserve you.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.