DRAFT
Exploring the narrative about Adam in Surah Saad (Q38:71-88) in the light of Surah Yusuf
Q38:70 إِن يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ إِلَّا أَنَّمَا أَنَا نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ
Events in the Future
إِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي خَالِقٌ بَشَرًا مِّن طِينٍ
When said your Lord to the Angels, "Indeed, I Am going to create a human being bashran from clay.
[Al-Quran 38:71; translation edited to retain word bashran]
إِذْ قَالَ يُوسُفُ لِأَبِيهِ يَا أَبَتِ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوْكَبًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ رَأَيْتُهُمْ لِي سَاجِدِينَ
قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ لَا تَقْصُصْ رُؤْيَاكَ عَلَىٰ إِخْوَتِكَ فَيَكِيدُوا لَكَ كَيْدًا ۖ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لِلْإِنسَانِ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ
When said Yusuf to his father, "O my father! Indeed, I I saw one ten (i.e eleven) star(s) planet(s) and the sun and the moon; I saw them to me prostrating."
He said, "O my son! (Do) not relate your vision to your brothers lest they plan against you a plot. Indeed, the Shaitaan (is) to man an enemy open.
[Al-Quran 12:4-5; Translation edited for clarity]
Allah informed the angels that He planned to create a bashr from clay. From Surah Al-Baqarah, we know that the angels questioned the need for the creation of the khalifa, but did not rebel. Allah proved to them why this creature was necessary. The only one who rebelled was Iblis, the Shaitaan (Satan).
Allah informed Joseph about a future event through a dream. When he related the dream to his father, his father warned him to not to share his dream with his brothers, lest Satan incites them to plot against him.
Visions are a private matter, and, perhaps, only by speaking about them can they be known to others.
Knowing about the future may lead people to try to change it. Satan could only incite the brothers to plot against Joseph if they knew about the vision.
From the Bible, we learn that alas, Joseph did not heed to his father's advice, resulting in the brothers plotting against Joseph.
The Command of Prostration
فَإِذَا سَوَّيْتُهُ وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِي فَقَعُوا لَهُ سَاجِدِينَ
So when I have proportioned him and breathed into him of My spirit Ruh, then fall down to him prostrating."
[Al-Quran 38:72; translation edited to retain the word Ruh]
إِذْ قَالَ يُوسُفُ لِأَبِيهِ يَا أَبَتِ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوْكَبًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ رَأَيْتُهُمْ لِي سَاجِدِينَ
قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ لَا تَقْصُصْ رُؤْيَاكَ عَلَىٰ إِخْوَتِكَ فَيَكِيدُوا لَكَ كَيْدًا ۖ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لِلْإِنسَانِ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ
وَكَذَٰلِكَ يَجْتَبِيكَ رَبُّكَ وَيُعَلِّمُكَ مِن تَأْوِيلِ الْأَحَادِيثِ وَيُتِمُّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ يَعْقُوبَ كَمَا أَتَمَّهَا عَلَىٰ أَبَوَيْكَ مِن قَبْلُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْحَاقَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
لَّقَدْ كَانَ فِي يُوسُفَ وَإِخْوَتِهِ آيَاتٌ لِّلسَّائِلِينَ
When said Yusuf to his father, "O my father! Indeed, I I saw one ten (i.e eleven) star(s) planet(s) and the sun and the moon; I saw them to me prostrating."
He said, "O my son! (Do) not relate your vision to your brothers lest they plan against you a plot. Indeed, the Shaitaan (is) to man an enemy open.
And thus will choose you your Lord and will teach you of (the) interpretation (of) the narratives and complete His Favor on you and on (the) family (of) Yaqub as He completed it on your two forefathers from before - Ibrahim and Ishaq. Indeed, your Lord (is) All-Knower, All-Wise."
Certainly were in Yusuf and his brothers signs for those who ask.
[Al-Quran 12:4-7; Translation edited in italics for clarity]
The angels were ordered to prostrate to the bashr that Allah was going to create only after Allah blew His Ruh into it. Allah creates with materials, and commands with His Words. Surah as-Sajdah (The Prostration, Q32:7-9) mentions the order: clay (طِين), progeny from water (سُلَالَةٍ مِّن مَّاءٍ مَّهِين), shape/proportion/fashion (سَوَّاهُ), and then breathing in the command (نَفَخَ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِهِ).
Note: Q17:85 informs us that The Ruh (الرُّوحِ) is from the commands/matters (أَمْرِ) of our Lord-Sustainer, that is Allah, and we haven't been given except very little knowledge about it.
At the tenth week of development, the embryo transitions into a fetus, and it is called so until birth. At the same tenth week, the fetus starts to breathe, and fetal breathing is detectable. However, regular and continuous breathing begins only after delivery. As the fetal lung matures, there is some correlation between the development of respiratory and sleep centres of the central nervous system, as indicated by breathing measurements made during REM and NREM periods. REM (rapid eye movement) sleep is associated with dreams, and associated brain patterns are similar to those made while awake. REM state is generally detected in the third trimester of fetal development.
Jacob interpreted Joseph's vision of prostration to mean that Allah will choose Joseph to complete His favours upon the family of Jacob, as He did upon Abraham and Isaac before.
Surah Yusuf (Joseph) takes us through the various phases of Joseph's life till he is finally well-established.
The Act of Prostration
فَسَجَدَ الْمَلَائِكَةُ كُلُّهُمْ أَجْمَعُونَ
So prostrated the Angels all of them together.
[Al-Quran 38:73]
لَّقَدْ كَانَ فِي يُوسُفَ وَإِخْوَتِهِ آيَاتٌ لِّلسَّائِلِينَ
Certainly were in Yusuf and his brothers signs for those who ask.
[Al-Quran 12:7]
All the angels prostrated together, to Adam, with the exception mentioned in the next ayat (Q38:74).
Towards the end of Joseph's story in Surah Yusuf, when he was well-established as a high official in the Kingdom of Egypt, all his brothers prostrated to him, as was shown in the vision to him when he was just a young boy.
Arrogance & Rejection
إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ اسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ
Except Iblis; he was arrogant and became of the disbelievers.
Except Iblis; he was arrogant and was of the rejectors.
[Al-Quran 38:74; re-translated for clarity in italics]
قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ لَا تَقْصُصْ رُؤْيَاكَ عَلَىٰ إِخْوَتِكَ فَيَكِيدُوا لَكَ كَيْدًا ۖ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لِلْإِنسَانِ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ
He said, "O my son! (Do) not relate your vision to your brothers lest they plan against you a plot. Indeed, the Shaitaan (is) to man an enemy open.
[Al-Quran 12:5]
Iblis was arrogant, and so he rejected Allah's command to prostrate to Adam.
According to The Bible, the brothers of Joseph plotted against him after he told them about his vision.
Conformation of ... between His Hands
قَالَ يَا إِبْلِيسُ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَن تَسْجُدَ لِمَا خَلَقْتُ بِيَدَيَّ ۖ أَسْتَكْبَرْتَ أَمْ كُنتَ مِنَ الْعَالِينَ
He said, "O Iblis! What prevented you that you (should) prostrate to (one) whom I created with My Hands? Are you arrogant or are you of the exalted ones."
[Al-Quran 38:75]
لَقَدْ كَانَ فِي قَصَصِهِمْ عِبْرَةٌ لِّأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ ۗ مَا كَانَ حَدِيثًا يُفْتَرَىٰ وَلَـٰكِن تَصْدِيقَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
Verily, (there) is in their stories a lesson for men (of) understanding. Not (it) is a narration invented, but a confirmation (of that) which (from) between his hands and a detailed explanation (of) all things, and a guidance and mercy for a people who believe.
[Al-Quran 12:111]
This last ayat of Surah Yusuf states [تَصْدِيقَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ]. The word يَدَيْ is alternately translated as before and hands. Surah Saad explicitly quotes Allah as asking Iblis what prevented him from prostrating to the one Allah Himself created with His Hands.
The Exalted Ones
قَالَ يَا إِبْلِيسُ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَن تَسْجُدَ لِمَا خَلَقْتُ بِيَدَيَّ ۖ أَسْتَكْبَرْتَ أَمْ كُنتَ مِنَ الْعَالِينَ
إِذْ قَالُوا لَيُوسُفُ وَأَخُوهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىٰ أَبِينَا مِنَّا وَنَحْنُ عُصْبَةٌ إِنَّ أَبَانَا لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ
When they said, "Surely Yusuf and his brother (are) more beloved to our father than we, while we (are) a group. Indeed, our father (is) surely in an error clear.
[Al-Quran 12:8]
Surah Saad focuses on the rich and powerful people, believers and non-believers. So, its no wonder that الْمَلَإِ الْأَعْلَىٰ (The High Chiefs) are mentioned in this surah (Q38:69) before commencing the narrative about Adam. In Q38:75, the question implies that الْعَالِينَ (The Exalted Ones), the High Chiefs were exempt from this command of prostration to Adam. Iblis was not a high chief, and thus not exempt.
Q38:69 also implies that there is a back story, but we have not been given knowledge about it. There is always great purpose in all that Allah does, and so there must be a very good reason why He created Adam, and commanded the angels to prostrate to him.
According to the Biblical account on Wikipedia, Jacob had twelve sons from four women. Joseph and his younger brother were sons of the same mother, while the ten elder brothers were from three different women. Joseph's elder half-brothers considered themselves as a group superior to Joseph and his younger full-brother!
A screenshot from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel taken on March 9, 2021
The Better Group?
قَالَ أَنَا خَيْرٌ مِّنْهُ ۖ خَلَقْتَنِي مِن نَّارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُ مِن طِينٍ
He said, "I am better than him. You created me from fire and You created him from clay."
[Al-Quran 38:76]
إِذْ قَالُوا لَيُوسُفُ وَأَخُوهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىٰ أَبِينَا مِنَّا وَنَحْنُ عُصْبَةٌ إِنَّ أَبَانَا لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ
When they said, "Surely Yusuf and his brother (are) more beloved to our father than we, while we (are) a group. Indeed, our father (is) surely in an error clear.
[Al-Quran 12:8]
Iblis, a jinn, a snake, created from fire, ... putting all of the clues together, I believe that the comparison is between Ectotherms and Endotherms, as discussed in detail in: جَانٌّ (Snake || Jinn) and The Creation & Emergence of Species.
Why the elder half-brothers considered themselves a superior group to Joseph and his full-brother is unclear.
<Title>
قَالَ فَاخْرُجْ مِنْهَا فَإِنَّكَ رَجِيمٌ
He said, "Then get out of it, for indeed, you (are) accursed.
[Al-Quran 38:77]
<arabic>
<english>
[Al-Quran 12:00]
<Lessons & Points to Ponder>
<Title>
وَإِنَّ عَلَيْكَ لَعْنَتِي إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ
And indeed, upon you (is) My curse until (the) Day (of) Judgment."
[Al-Quran 38:78]
<arabic>
<english>
[Al-Quran 12:00]
<Lessons & Points to Ponder>
<Title>
قَالَ رَبِّ فَأَنظِرْنِي إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ
He said, "My Lord! Then give me respite until (the) Day they are resurrected."
[Al-Quran 38:79]
<arabic>
<english>
[Al-Quran 12:00]
<Lessons & Points to Ponder>
<Title>
قَالَ فَإِنَّكَ مِنَ الْمُنظَرِينَ
He said, "Then indeed, you (are) of those given respite,
[Al-Quran 38:80]
<arabic>
<english>
[Al-Quran 12:00]
<Lessons & Points to Ponder>
<Title>
إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْوَقْتِ الْمَعْلُومِ
Until (the) Day (of) the time well-known."
[Al-Quran 38:81]
<arabic>
<english>
[Al-Quran 12:00]
<Lessons & Points to Ponder>
<Title>
قَالَ فَبِعِزَّتِكَ لَأُغْوِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
He said, "Then by Your might I will surely mislead them all.
[Al-Quran 38:82]
<arabic>
<english>
[Al-Quran 12:00]
<Lessons & Points to Ponder>
The Chosen Sincere Slaves
إِلَّا عِبَادَكَ مِنْهُمُ الْمُخْلَصِينَ
Except Your slaves among them the chosen ones."
[Al-Quran 38:83]
وَلَقَدْ هَمَّتْ بِهِ ۖ وَهَمَّ بِهَا لَوْلَا أَن رَّأَىٰ بُرْهَانَ رَبِّهِ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ لِنَصْرِفَ عَنْهُ السُّوءَ وَالْفَحْشَاءَ ۚ إِنَّهُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا الْمُخْلَصِينَ
And certainly she did desire him, and he would have desired her, if not that he saw the proof (of) his Lord. Thus, that We might avert from him the evil and the immorality. Indeed, he (was) of Our slaves the sincere.
[Al-Quran 12:24]
وَقَالَ الْمَلِكُ ائْتُونِي بِهِ أَسْتَخْلِصْهُ لِنَفْسِي ۖ فَلَمَّا كَلَّمَهُ قَالَ إِنَّكَ الْيَوْمَ لَدَيْنَا مَكِينٌ أَمِينٌ
And said the king, "Bring to me him." I will select him for myself nafs." Then when he spoke to him, he said, "Indeed, you (are) today with us firmly established (and) trusted."
[Al-Quran 12:54; translation edited in italics to retain the word nafs]
Joseph was one of the عِبَادِنَا الْمُخْلَصِينَ , and thus Satan could not tempt him into sin. Joseph was human, and he could have also desired her, but he was a chosen one, sincere. Surah as-Saaffaat presents examples of the chosen ones (الْمُخْلَصِينَ) while Surah az-Zumar discusses in detail the serving sincerely (مُخْلِصًا) in Deen.
Kings have their laws and govern according to it. Allah's Laws of Recompense are known as Allah's Deen. Allah chooses whom He wills for His Nafs. In Q20:41, we read Allah informing Moses that He has chosen him for His Nafs. In 12:54, we read about the King of Egypt choosing Joseph for his nafs.
Joseph was in polytheistic Egypt when these situations arose. Several centuries later, Moses was sent to the Pharaoh of Egypt. In Surah Ghafir, while Pharaoh was conspiring to kill Moses, we read about another man (Q40:28-44), an Egyptian, who was an undeclared believer. He reminds his people that Allah had earlier sent Joseph, and he had foretold the coming of a Messenger (Moses), but later on the people fell in doubt about it after Joseph perished (هَلَكَ). This is perhaps of significance as the Egyptians used to embalm to preserve the dead as mummies. Even though Joseph's body was embalmed, he perished, and as per his will, his bones were taken away from Egypt when Allah rescued the the Bani Israel, and punished the Pharaoh and his people.
In Q40:44, that Egyptian believer is quoted as stating: فَسَتَذْكُرُونَ مَا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ ۚ وَأُفَوِّضُ أَمْرِي إِلَى اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَصِيرٌ بِالْعِبَادِ And you will remember what I say to you, and I entrust my affair to Allah. Indeed, Allah (is) All-Seer of (His) slaves." The next two ayaat informs us that: فَوَقَاهُ اللَّهُ سَيِّئَاتِ مَا مَكَرُوا ۖ وَحَاقَ بِآلِ فِرْعَوْنَ سُوءُ الْعَذَابِ So protected him Allah (from the) evils that they plotted, and enveloped (the) people (of) Firaun (the) worst punishment, النَّارُ يُعْرَضُونَ عَلَيْهَا غُدُوًّا وَعَشِيًّا ۖ وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ أَدْخِلُوا آلَ فِرْعَوْنَ أَشَدَّ الْعَذَابِ The Fire; they are exposed to it morning and evening. And (the) Day (will be) established the Hour, "Cause to enter (the) people (of) Firaun (in the) severest punishment."
<Title>
قَالَ فَالْحَقُّ وَالْحَقَّ أَقُولُ
He said, "Then (it is) the truth and the truth I say,
[Al-Quran 38:84]
<arabic>
<english>
[Al-Quran 12:00]
<Lessons & Points to Ponder>
Hell: The Final Prison
لَأَمْلَأَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنكَ وَمِمَّن تَبِعَكَ مِنْهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
Surely I will fill Hell with you and those who follow you among them all."
[Al-Quran 38:85]
وَمَا أَكْثَرُ النَّاسِ وَلَوْ حَرَصْتَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ
[Al-Quran 12:103]
حَتَّىٰ إِذَا اسْتَيْأَسَ الرُّسُلُ وَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ كُذِبُوا جَاءَهُمْ نَصْرُنَا فَنُجِّيَ مَن نَّشَاءُ ۖ وَلَا يُرَدُّ بَأْسُنَا عَنِ الْقَوْمِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ
Until when gave up hope the Messengers, and thought that they certainly were denied, then came to them Our help, and was saved whom We willed. And not (can) be repelled Our punishment from the people (who are) criminals.
[Al-Quran 12:110]
While there are people who err and then repent and attempt to reform, there are some who refuse to repent and reform. Hell is the destined eternal abode for the criminals.
The Messenger of Allah
قُلْ مَا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُتَكَلِّفِينَ
Say, "Not I ask of you for it any payment, and not I am of the ones who pretend.
[Al-Quran 38:86]
وَمَا تَسْأَلُهُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ ۚ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَالَمِينَ
And not you ask them for it any reward. Not (is) it but a reminder to the worlds.
[Al-Quran 12:104]
The Messenger of Allah does not pretend to know everything (Q38:69-70), nor does he charge any fee for his preaching. He is simply reminding the worlds.
The Reminder
إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَالَمِينَ
Not it (is) except a Reminder to the worlds.
[Al-Quran 38:87]
ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ أَنبَاءِ الْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهِ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ أَجْمَعُوا أَمْرَهُمْ وَهُمْ يَمْكُرُونَ
[Al-Quran 12:102]
The story of Adam and Iblis needs to be taken on faith, for us to beware of the enmity of Satan, and understand the grave danger we are in.
Surah Saad presents us examples of rich, powerful men. Surah Yusuf presents us with examples of plots and plans.
Our inheritance awaits us. On the Day of Judgement, Allah will shower His Mercy on the chosen inheritors of the Gardens of Eternity, and complete His Favours upon them.
After a Time
وَلَتَعْلَمُنَّ نَبَأَهُ بَعْدَ حِينٍ
And surely you will know its information after a time."
[Al-Quran 38:88]
فَلَمَّا ذَهَبُوا بِهِ وَأَجْمَعُوا أَن يَجْعَلُوهُ فِي غَيَابَتِ الْجُبِّ ۚ وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْهِ لَتُنَبِّئَنَّهُم بِأَمْرِهِمْ هَـٰذَا وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
So when they took him and agreed that they put him in (the) bottom (of) the well. But We inspired to him, "Surely, you will inform them about affair this. while they (do) not perceive."
[Al-Quran 12:15]
Allah's promise of Judgement and sorting into Heaven and Hell is true. Just like Joseph's dream came true. Just like what was inspired to Joseph, when he was thrown in the well, came true. The Prophets of Allah have spoken the truth. We will face our deeds, just like Joseph's brothers were reminded of it when they least expected it. We will settle in another place, just like the family of Joseph migrated, to settle in another land. We can hope for Allah's Mercy and Forgiveness for those who repent and uphold Allah's Deen.
Main post with introduction & links to all posts comparing Adam & Joseph
Last updated on: March 26, 2021
