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

Q2 30-39 || Q12

Adam & Joseph 

Exploring the narrative about Adam in Surah al-Baqarah (Q2:30-39) in the light of Surah Yusuf 

Responsibility

وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً قَالُوا أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّمَاءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ قَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُون

And when said your Lord to the angels, "Indeed, I (am) going to place in the earth a vicegerent, they said, "Will You place in it (one) who will spread corruption in it and will shed [the] blood[s], while we, [we] glorify (You) with Your praises and we sanctify [to] You." He said, "Indeed, [I] know what not you know."
[Al-Quran 2:30]

وَكَذَٰلِكَ يَجْتَبِيكَ رَبُّكَ وَيُعَلِّمُكَ مِن تَأْوِيلِ الْأَحَادِيثِ وَيُتِمُّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ يَعْقُوبَ كَمَا أَتَمَّهَا عَلَىٰ أَبَوَيْكَ مِن قَبْلُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْحَاقَ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيم

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."
[Al-Quran 12:6]

Knowledge & Wisdom 

وَعَلَّمَ آدَمَ الْأَسْمَاءَ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمْ عَلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنبِئُونِي بِأَسْمَاءِ هَٰؤُلَاءِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِين

قَالُوا سُبْحَانَكَ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيم

And He taught Adam the names - all of them. Then He displayed them to the angels, then He said, "Inform Me of (the) names (of) these, if you are truthful." 
They said, "Glory be to You! No knowledge (is) for us except what You have taught us. Indeed You! You (are) the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
[Al-Quran 2:31-32]

وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ آتَيْنَاهُ حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِين

And when he reached his maturity, We gave him wisdom and knowledge. And thus We reward the good-doers.
[Al-Quran 12:22]

Both Adam and Joseph were granted knowledge above the others. Adam was more knowledgable than the angels, and Joseph was bestowed wisdom and knowledge above his brothers and the people in Egypt. 

The Unseen & The Concealed  

 قَالَ يَا آدَمُ أَنبِئْهُم بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ فَلَمَّا أَنبَأَهُم بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ غَيْبَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَأَعْلَمُ مَا تُبْدُونَ وَمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْتُمُون

He said, "O Adam! Inform them of their names." And when he had informed them of their names, He said, "Did not I say to you, Indeed, I [I] know (the) unseen (of) the heavens and the earth, and I know what you reveal and what you [were] conceal."
[Al-Quran 2:33]

قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ لَا تَقْصُصْ رُؤْيَاكَ عَلَىٰ إِخْوَتِكَ فَيَكِيدُوا لَكَ كَيْدًا إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لِلْإِنسَانِ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِين

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]

Allah has full knowledge of all things. He bestows whatever knowledge He wills to whomever He wills. He commands whatever He wills, and He is always correct, as His Knowledge and Wisdom comprehend all things. He chose Adam as Khalifa, and he chose Joseph to complete His favours upon him and the family of Jacob. 

In Q2:33, it seems the angels had been concealing something from Allah, yet Allah knew about it, and made it known to Adam. 

In Q12:5, Jacob is asking Joseph to conceal his vision, which Allah had shown to him, lest Satan stirs trouble.  

Prostration 

وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ وَاسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِين

And when We said to the angels, "Prostrate to Adam," [so] they prostrated except Iblees. He refused and was arrogant and became of the disbelievers.
[Al-Quran 2:34]

إِذْ قَالَ يُوسُفُ لِأَبِيهِ يَا أَبَتِ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوْكَبًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ رَأَيْتُهُمْ لِي سَاجِدِين

قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ لَا تَقْصُصْ رُؤْيَاكَ عَلَىٰ إِخْوَتِكَ فَيَكِيدُوا لَكَ كَيْدًا إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لِلْإِنسَانِ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِين

When said Yusuf to his father, "O my father! Indeed, I I saw one ten (i.e eleven) star(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]

Iblis' enmity was clearly established when he refused to prostrate to Adam. He is the sworn enemy of the progeny of Adam. The Bible informs us that when Joseph told his brothers about the dream, they plotted against him to have Joseph removed from his father's presence...  

Disobedience & Loss of Clothing 

وَقُلْنَا يَا آدَمُ اسْكُنْ أَنتَ وَزَوْجُكَ الْجَنَّةَ وَكُلَا مِنْهَا رَغَدًا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمَا وَلَا تَقْرَبَا هَٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةَ فَتَكُونَا مِنَ الظَّالِمِين

 فَأَزَلَّهُمَا الشَّيْطَانُ عَنْهَا فَأَخْرَجَهُمَا مِمَّا كَانَا فِيهِ وَقُلْنَا اهْبِطُوا بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ وَلَكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ مُسْتَقَرٌّ وَمَتَاعٌ إِلَىٰ حِين

And We said, "O Adam! Dwell you and your spouse (in) Paradise, and [you both] eat from it freely (from) wherever you [both] wish. But do not [you two] approach this [the] tree, lest you [both] be of the wrongdoers."
Then made [both of] them slip the Shaitaan from it, and he got [both of] them out from what they [both] were in [it]. And We said, "Go down (all of you), some of you to others (as) enemy; and for you in the earth (is) a dwelling place and a provision for a period."
[Al-Quran 2:35-36]

قَالُوا يَا أَبَانَا إِنَّا ذَهَبْنَا نَسْتَبِقُ وَتَرَكْنَا يُوسُفَ عِندَ مَتَاعِنَا فَأَكَلَهُ الذِّئْبُ وَمَا أَنتَ بِمُؤْمِنٍ لَّنَا وَلَوْ كُنَّا صَادِقِين

وَجَاءُوا عَلَىٰ قَمِيصِهِ بِدَمٍ كَذِبٍ قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ وَاللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُون

They said, "O our father! Indeed, we [we] went racing each other and we left Yusuf with our possessions, and ate him the wolf. But not you (will) believe us, even if we are truthful."

And they brought upon his shirt with blood false. He said, "Nay, has enticed you your souls (to) a matter, so patience (is) beautiful. And Allah (is) the One sought for help against what you describe."

[Al-Quran 12:17-18]

The Quran informs us of Iblis' role in tempting Adam to disobey Allah and suffer the consequence of not heeding to the warning. Joseph's father Jacob also feared that Iblis, the Satan (Shaitaan) will cause his sons to plot against their brother Joseph. When Joseph didn't heed to his father's warning, he also suffered a somewhat similar consequence: his brothers took the shirt his father had given him. More on this at: Joseph's قَمِيصَ (Shirt / Jacket)  

Presence & Comforts  

وَقُلْنَا يَا آدَمُ اسْكُنْ أَنتَ وَزَوْجُكَ الْجَنَّةَ وَكُلَا مِنْهَا رَغَدًا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمَا وَلَا تَقْرَبَا هَٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةَ فَتَكُونَا مِنَ الظَّالِمِين

 فَأَزَلَّهُمَا الشَّيْطَانُ عَنْهَا فَأَخْرَجَهُمَا مِمَّا كَانَا فِيهِ وَقُلْنَا اهْبِطُوا بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ وَلَكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ مُسْتَقَرٌّ وَمَتَاعٌ إِلَىٰ حِين

And We said, "O Adam! Dwell you and your spouse (in) Paradise, and [you both] eat from it freely (from) wherever you [both] wish. But do not [you two] approach this [the] tree, lest you [both] be of the wrongdoers."
Then made [both of] them slip the Shaitaan from it, and he got [both of] them out from what they [both] were in [it]. And We said, "Go down (all of you), some of you to others (as) enemy; and for you in the earth (is) a dwelling place and a provision for a period."
[Al-Quran 2:35-36]

وَقَالَ الَّذِي اشْتَرَاهُ مِن مِّصْرَ لِامْرَأَتِهِ أَكْرِمِي مَثْوَاهُ عَسَىٰ أَن يَنفَعَنَا أَوْ نَتَّخِذَهُ وَلَدًا وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلِنُعَلِّمَهُ مِن تَأْوِيلِ الْأَحَادِيثِ وَاللَّهُ غَالِبٌ عَلَىٰ أَمْرِهِ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُون

And said the one who bought him of Egypt to his wife, "Make comfortable his stay. Perhaps that (he) will benefit us or we will take him (as) a son." And thus We established Yusuf in the land that We might teach him from (the) interpretation of the events. And Allah (is) Predominant over His affairs, but most (of) the people (do) not know.
[Al-Quran 12:21]

Adam was comfortably living in The Garden, in the presence of Allah, with all the comforts. Joseph was living with his father and family. However, even when Joseph is removed from his father's loving presence, his stay is made comfortable, by the Grace of Allah. Similarly, Allah has provided for the Bani Adam many comforts in this brief life on Earth. Yet, we cannot see and hear Allah the way Adam could when he lived in The Garden. 

 

Allah's Mercy & The Human Nafs  

فَتَلَقَّىٰ آدَمُ مِن رَّبِّهِ كَلِمَاتٍ فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّهُ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيم

Then received Adam from his Lord words, So (his Lord) turned towards him. Indeed He! He (is) the Oft-returning, the Most Merciful.
[Al-Quran 2:37, typos edited]

قَالَا رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِين

Both of them said, "Our Lord we have wronged our Nafs, and if not You cover [for] us and have mercy (on) us, surely, we will be among the losers."
[Al-Quran 7:23, edited for clarity]

وَمَا أُبَرِّئُ نَفْسِي إِنَّ النَّفْسَ لَأَمَّارَةٌ بِالسُّوءِ إِلَّا مَا رَحِمَ رَبِّي إِنَّ رَبِّي غَفُورٌ رَّحِيم

"And not I absolve my nafs. Indeed, the nafs (is) a certain enjoiner of evil, unless [that] bestows Mercy my Lord. Indeed, my Lord (is) Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
[Al-Quran 12:53, edited for clarity]

The Separation & The Plan 

قُلْنَا اهْبِطُوا مِنْهَا جَمِيعًا فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّي هُدًى فَمَن تَبِعَ هُدَايَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُون

وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَكَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُون

We said, "Go down from it all (of you), and when, comes to you from Me Guidance, then whoever follows My Guidance, [then] no fear (will be) on them and not they will grieve.
And those who disbelieve[d] and deny Our Signs, those (are the) companions (of) the Fire; they in it (will) abide forever."
[Al-Quran 2:38-39]

فَلَمَّا ذَهَبُوا بِهِ وَأَجْمَعُوا أَن يَجْعَلُوهُ فِي غَيَابَتِ الْجُبِّ وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْهِ لَتُنَبِّئَنَّهُم بِأَمْرِهِمْ هَٰذَا وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُون

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]

Adam had to leave The Garden, and all along with him, as a consequence of his disobedience, but also as part of Allah's original plan, as Satan's enmity had been made evident. 

Joseph was forcibly removed from his home, as Satan's enmity had exploited the jealousy in his brothers. Eventually, several years later, the entire family also comes and settles in Egypt. 

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

Last updated on: March 27, 2021