Q18 50-51 || Q12

 Adam & Joseph 

Exploring the narrative about Adam in Surah al-Kahf (Q18:50-51) in the light of Surah Yusuf 

Our Enemies 

وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ كَانَ مِنَ الْجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِ ۗ أَفَتَتَّخِذُونَهُ وَذُرِّيَّتَهُ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِن دُونِي وَهُمْ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ ۚ بِئْسَ لِلظَّالِمِينَ بَدَلًا

And when We said to the Angels, "Prostrate to Adam," so they prostrated except Iblis. (He) was of the jinn, and he rebelled against the Command (of) his Lord. Will you then take him and his offspring (as) protectors from other than Me, while they (are) to you enemies? Wretched for the wrongdoers (is) the exchange.
[Al-Quran 18:50]

مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِهِ إِلَّا أَسْمَاءً سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُم مَّا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَانٍ ۚ إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۚ أَمَرَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ ۚ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

Not you worship from besides Him but names which you have named, you and your forefathers, not (has) sent down Allah for it any authority. Not (is) the command but for Allah. He has commanded that not you worship but Him Alone. That (is) the religion the right, but most [the] men (do) not know.
[Al-Quran 12:40]

Allah alone is God, the only One worthy of worship. The correct religion is Allah's worship, and only His worship. No partners! 

All false religions have their own mythologies about whom they believe to be their gods. These are but names and stories. Allah has never shared His Command or His Worship with any one. 

As discussed in  جَانٌّ (Snake || Jinn), jinns are snakes. Snakes feature in almost all mythologies, and are visible religious symbols, and are especially revered among many polytheistic traditions. 

Surah al-Kahf begins with a warning of a great war from near Allah. Q18:50 clearly informs us that Iblis and his progeny are our enemies. Surah al-Kahf concludes with the story of Dhul Qarnayn containing Yujuj and Majuj who were causing corruption on Earth. It also informs us that when the promise comes to pass, the barrier will be removed and they will swarm the Earth. We also know from Surah al-Anbiya that when this happens, the city that was destroyed will return. I understand this to be Babylon. Surah an-Naml warns us of a creature from the Earth who will speak with people...  

More on this in: The Serpent & The Snake: a Clear Sign || No Duality, No Trinity, No Divine Family || Gog Magog & The City that will Return || Dhul-Qarnayn [two horns, two generations, or both] || Detailed Guidance in Surah alKahf 

The Sovereignty

 مَّا أَشْهَدتُّهُمْ خَلْقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلَا خَلْقَ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَمَا كُنتُ مُتَّخِذَ الْمُضِلِّينَ عَضُدًا

Not I made them witness the creation (of) the heavens and the earth and not the creation (of) themselves their nafs and not I Am the One to take the misleaders (as) helper(s).
[Al-Quran 18:51; translation edited for clarity in italics]

 رَبِّ قَدْ آتَيْتَنِي مِنَ الْمُلْكِ وَعَلَّمْتَنِي مِن تَأْوِيلِ الْأَحَادِيثِ ۚ فَاطِرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ أَنتَ وَلِيِّي فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ ۖ تَوَفَّنِي مُسْلِمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِي بِالصَّالِحِينَ

ذَ‌ٰلِكَ مِنْ أَنبَاءِ الْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهِ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ أَجْمَعُوا أَمْرَهُمْ وَهُمْ يَمْكُرُونَ

My Lord, indeed, you have given of the sovereignty and taught me of the interpretation of the events. Creator Separator (of) the heavens and the earth, You (are) my Protector, in the world and the Hereafter. Cause me to die (as) a Muslim, and join me with the righteous."
 That (is) from the news (of) the unseen which We reveal to you. And not you were with them when they put together their plan while they (were) plotting.
[Al-Quran 12:101-102; Translation edited for clarity in italics]

From the first narration about Adam (Q2:30), we know that the purpose of creation of Adam is the Khilafat of the Earth. That was not acceptable to Iblis, and his rebellion is mentioned over and over again.  

It is Allah who grants sovereignty to whom He Wills, upon whoever He Wills. Allah is always right in His Choice. Q18:51 clarifies that Iblis and his progeny are misleaders. Q18:51 also clarifies that Allah never took the misleaders as helpers! They were never in a position of knowledge and authority. They cannot, and will not,  guide humans right. As the time for the return of the city approaches, and the corrupters return, we need to seek Allah's cover, lest we are misled by the misleaders. 

Q12:102 reminds us of the planning and plotting of Joseph's brothers, due to the enmity of Satan. The plotting of the plotters does not change or frustrate Allah's Plans. It only generates evidence against the plotters. 

Adam and his progeny have been sent to this Earth. Presently, we have no access to the Gardens of Eternity. Prior to the mention of Adam and Iblis, we read about the disbelieving man with two flourishing gardens, and how it came to ruin.   

The progeny of Adam have been made witness over their nafs, and the believers are also under a covenant and pledge. This life in this world is an opportunity to repent and reform, as we see the brothers of Joseph repentant upon what they did. There is still hope! 

Related posts: Generating The Evidence || ... if you slip || ... and Join Me with The Reformed || The Devils among The Angels & The Khilafat of Adam || Allah, fāṭir (فَاطِر) of the Skies and Earth || Muhammad ﷺ – Ascension & Return || The Covenant & its Ratification 

List of posts on: Surah al-Kahf

Main post with introduction & links to all posts comparing Adam & Joseph 

Last updated on: November 18, 2021