Abstract
The transformation of Adam and his progeny.
Full Text
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ مِن سُلَالَةٍ مِّن طِينٍ
ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَاهُ نُطْفَةً فِي قَرَارٍ مَّكِينٍ
ثُمَّ خَلَقْنَا النُّطْفَةَ عَلَقَةً فَخَلَقْنَا الْعَلَقَةَ مُضْغَةً فَخَلَقْنَا الْمُضْغَةَ عِظَامًا فَكَسَوْنَا الْعِظَامَ لَحْمًا ثُمَّ أَنشَأْنَاهُ خَلْقًا آخَرَ فَتَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الْخَالِقِينَ
ثُمَّ إِنَّكُم بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ لَمَيِّتُونَ
ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ تُبْعَثُونَ
We have created the human being from an extract of clay
which was then turned into a living germ and placed in safe depository.
The living germ, then, was turned into a shapeless lump of flesh from which bones were formed. The bones, then, were covered with flesh. At this stage, We caused it to become another creature. All blessings belong to God, the best Creator.
Thereafter you will certainly die
and you will be brought back to life again on the Day of Resurrection.
Blessings
The words formed with ṣād lām wāw (ص ل و) are generally translated as prayer. However, when يُصَلِّي is used for Allah, it is also translated as 'sends His blessings'. The words formed with bā rā kāf (ب ر ك) are generally translated as blessed, as can be seen at this link at corpus.quran.com:
The triliteral root bā rā kāf (ب ر ك) occurs 32 times in the Quran, in five derived forms:
eight times as the form III verb bāraka (بَٰرَكَ)
nine times as the form VI verb tabāraka (تَبَارَكَ)
three times as the noun barakāt (بَرَكَٰت)
four times as the nominal mubārakat (مُّبَٰرَكَة)
eight times as the form III passive participle mubārak (مُبَارَك)
One of the meanings this particular root conveys is blessings which continue and increase, that is, to go from a present state into a better state. In the case of living organisms, this could mean evolution or metamorphosis:
As can be seen in the translation of Q23:14, quoted above, the human النُّطْفَةَ passes through many stages and evolves into a human baby! Similarly, all other living creatures go through various stages of development, evolving from a seed or egg into something that resembles the parent. This process is even more markedly visible in creatures that undergo metamorphosis in their development from a 'child' into an 'adult'. The following is a delightful short documentary:
Something Different
Contrary to the theory of evolution, as generally understood by scientists, we learn from the scriptures that God, the best of creators, created all living things, and they emerge on this Earth as and when they are supposed to. However, seeing the stages of development and change that these creatures undergo on this planet, its easy to believe that upon resurrection, our bodies will transform into something different:
نَحْنُ قَدَّرْنَا بَيْنَكُمُ الْمَوْتَ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَ
عَلَىٰ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ أَمْثَالَكُمْ وَنُنشِئَكُمْ فِي مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ النَّشْأَةَ الْأُولَىٰ فَلَوْلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ
We have decreed death among you, and We are not to be outdone
In that We will change your likenesses and produce you in that [form] which you do not know.
And you have already known the first creation, so will you not remember?
Transformation
The scriptures inform us that we were created excellently, but have been reduced to a much lower form. As the story goes, Adam was dwelling in comfort and luxury in The Garden, but Satan was able to tempt him with false promises of immortality and/or becoming an angel. However, Satan was only trying to bring harm to Adam and his wife... and so, in pursuit of desire, instead of metamorphosing into an angel, they lost their natural clothing! Moulting, the shedding of skin, is a process that snakes and some other creatures undergo periodically. Grasshoppers which turn into locusts are a clear case of genetic transformation:
https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/a-brain-chemical-changes-locusts-from-harmless-grasshoppers-to-swarming-pests
The progeny of Adam is also similarly challenged, facing the temptations and false promises of Satan, who is the sworn enemy, bent on taking along as many as he can to an eternal Hell. As mentioned in Wronging the Nafs, we now also have fossil and genetic evidence pointing towards the transformation of some humans into apes and pigs, as claimed by The Quran.
Repent & Return
Allah has blessed us with guidance in the scriptures, to help us through the tests of this life, repent and return. May Allah accept our repentance, correct and purify us, and make us grow into a beautiful form.
A Prayer
With Allah's help, we can make it through:
https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/a-brain-chemical-changes-locusts-from-harmless-grasshoppers-to-swarming-pests
Locusts belong to the grasshopper family but unlike their harmless relatives they have the unusual ability to live in either a solitary or a gregarious state, with the genetic instructions for both packaged within a single genome.
The progeny of Adam is also similarly challenged, facing the temptations and false promises of Satan, who is the sworn enemy, bent on taking along as many as he can to an eternal Hell. As mentioned in Wronging the Nafs, we now also have fossil and genetic evidence pointing towards the transformation of some humans into apes and pigs, as claimed by The Quran.
While the criminals are expected to suffer a worse state, as a consequence of their faith and deeds, in the Hereafter, as discussed in Blue-Eyed Criminals and The Cursed Tree; there is great hope for a wonderful future for the people whose repentance is accepted by Allah.
The Quran describes the beautiful clothes that the dwellers of The Gardens will be adorned in. It is interesting to note that the description varies according to the level of piety achieved in this life, and the consequent grade of dignity in the Hereafter. Two of the following five descriptions mention green silk:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ مَنْ أَحْسَنَ عَمَلًا
أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهِمُ الْأَنْهَارُ يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَيَلْبَسُونَ ثِيَابًا خُضْرًا مِّن سُندُسٍ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٍ مُّتَّكِئِينَ فِيهَا عَلَى الْأَرَائِكِ نِعْمَ الثَّوَابُ وَحَسُنَتْ مُرْتَفَقًا
As to those who believe and work righteousness, verily We shall not suffer to perish the reward of any who do a (single) righteous deed.
For them will be Gardens of Eternity; beneath them rivers will flow; they will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold, and they will wear green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade: They will recline therein on raised thrones. How good t he recompense! How beautiful a couch to recline on!
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُدْخِلُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَلُؤْلُؤًا وَلِبَاسُهُمْ فِيهَا حَرِيرٌ
وَهُدُوا إِلَى الطَّيِّبِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ وَهُدُوا إِلَىٰ صِرَاطِ الْحَمِيدِ
God will admit those who believe and work righteous deeds, to Gardens beneath which rivers flow: they shall be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearls; and their garments there will be of silk.
For they have been guided (in this life) to the purest of speeches; they have been guided to the Path of Him Who is Worthy of (all) Praise.
ثُمَّ أَوْرَثْنَا الْكِتَابَ الَّذِينَ اصْطَفَيْنَا مِنْ عِبَادِنَا فَمِنْهُمْ ظَالِمٌ لِّنَفْسِهِ وَمِنْهُم مُّقْتَصِدٌ وَمِنْهُمْ سَابِقٌ بِالْخَيْرَاتِ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَضْلُ الْكَبِيرُ
جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَلُؤْلُؤًا وَلِبَاسُهُمْ فِيهَا حَرِيرٌ
وَقَالُوا الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَذْهَبَ عَنَّا الْحَزَنَ إِنَّ رَبَّنَا لَغَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ
الَّذِي أَحَلَّنَا دَارَ الْمُقَامَةِ مِن فَضْلِهِ لَا يَمَسُّنَا فِيهَا نَصَبٌ وَلَا يَمَسُّنَا فِيهَا لُغُوبٌ
Then We have given the Book for inheritance to such of Our Servants as We have chosen: but there are among them some who wrong their own souls; some who follow a middle course; and some who are, by God's leave, foremost in good deeds; that is the highest Grace.
Gardens of Eternity will they enter: therein will they be adorned with bracelets of gold and pearls; and their garments there will be of silk.
And they will say: "Praise be to God, Who has removed from us (all) sorrow: for our Lord is indeed Oft-Forgiving Ready to appreciate (service):
"Who has, out of His Bounty, settled us in a Home that will last: no toil nor sense of weariness shall touch us therein."
إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ فِي مَقَامٍ أَمِينٍ
فِي جَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ
يَلْبَسُونَ مِن سُندُسٍ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٍ مُّتَقَابِلِينَ
As to the Righteous (they will be) in a position of Security,
Among Gardens and Springs;
Dressed in fine silk and in rich brocade, they will face each other;
وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ ثَمَّ رَأَيْتَ نَعِيمًا وَمُلْكًا كَبِيرًا
عَالِيَهُمْ ثِيَابُ سُندُسٍ خُضْرٌ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٌ وَحُلُّوا أَسَاوِرَ مِن فِضَّةٍ وَسَقَاهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ شَرَابًا طَهُورًا
إِنَّ هَٰذَا كَانَ لَكُمْ جَزَاءً وَكَانَ سَعْيُكُم مَّشْكُورًا
And when thou lookest, it is there thou wilt see a Bliss and a Realm Magnificent.
Upon them will be green Garments of fine silk and heavy brocade, and they will be adorned with Bracelets of silver; and their Lord will give to them to drink of a Wine Pure and Holy.
"Verily this is a Reward for you, and your Endeavour is accepted and recognised."
Repent & Return
Allah has blessed us with guidance in the scriptures, to help us through the tests of this life, repent and return. May Allah accept our repentance, correct and purify us, and make us grow into a beautiful form.
A Prayer
With Allah's help, we can make it through:
ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ السَّيِّئَةَ نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَصِفُونَ
وَقُل رَّبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ
وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أَن يَحْضُرُونِ
Repel, by [means of] what is best, [their] evil. We are most knowing of what they describe.
And say, "My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the incitements of the devils,
And I seek refuge in You, my Lord , lest they be present with me."
References & Links
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