Look at the following Hadith Qudsi, Allah the Almighty says, “O My servant, I brought you from nothingness to existence, I endowed you with hearing, seeing, mind and heart. O My servant, I hide your sins in front of the other creatures, and you do not fear Me. O My servant, I remember you, and you forget Me. O My servant, I feel ashamed for you, but you do not feel ashamed before Me. Who is but more bounteous than Me? Who knocked at My door, and I did not open? Who asked Me, and I did not give him? Am I miser so My slave is so miserly to Me?”

In another sublime Hadith Qudsi Allah the Almighty says, “O My servants, all of you are hungry except for those I have fed, so seek food from Me and I shall feed you. O My servants, all of you are naked except for those I have clothed, so seek clothing from Me and I shall clothe you. O My servants, all of you are astray except for those I have guided, so seek guidance from Me and I shall guide you. O My servants you sin by night and by day, and I forgive all sins, so seek forgiveness from Me and I shall forgive you. O My servants, you cannot seek to harm Me, and you cannot seek to benefit Me. O My servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you, to be as pious as the most pious heart of any one of you, that would not increase My kingdom in anything. O My servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you as wicked as the most wicked heart of any one of you, that would not decrease My kingdom in anything. O My servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you, to rise up in one place and make a request of Me, and were I to give everyone what he requested, that would not decrease what I have, anymore than a needle decreases the water in the sea if put into it. My servants, it is but your deeds that I count up for you and then recompense you for, so let him who finds good, praise Allah and let him who finds other than that, blame no one but himself.”

Dear brothers and sisters, this is our God (SWT). Do you know how He created you? Here is a very important point concerning our creation that is worthy of reflection. Did you look at the other intelligent creatures and what substances they were created from? They were created from one substance. The angels were created from light: one substance. The jinn were created from one substance, too. The only intelligent creature who was created from two substances is man. Angels and jinn were created of one substance in order to follow one road without having any instincts. Man is the only one who was created of two substances to have such conflicting instincts. What are these two substances? They are: (1) an external covering (try to perceive this meaning) called the body, (2) the soul where the body has a hallowing to let the soul go into. The external covering is made of earth’s dust. The soul is created from the kingdom of the heavens. Therefore, we have part from the earth and part from heaven’s kingdom; we were created of both. One part of you always pushes you downwards—called the body. The second part tries to elevate you upward to the purity of heavens—called the soul. Why? Because the body is from earth and the soul is from heavens. Each of them needs a special kind of nourishment. Thus, you have to be fed on two kinds of food.

The body’s sustenance is to eat, drink, marry, enjoy your time, practice sports, etc. While the soul’s food is to be near to Allah (SWT), to adhere to As-Salat (prayer), As-Siyam (fasting), and Tasbeeh (glorifying Allah), and to be attached to Allah.

In that way Allah (SWT) has created us: a body from the outside and a soul from the inside. We are the ones who imprisoned our souls. The soul complains because the Qur’an does not have access to come into it. Do you know, for example, why two men standing beside each other in As-Salat behind the same Imam and hearing the same verses have a difference as that between the heaven and earth between their Salat? One of them has his soul in the heavens and the other has his soul on earth. Why? It is because the second neglected his soul and only thought about his body. Therefore, the soul could no longer be moved. It wishes to come closer to Allah (SWT) for a moment. When you read this lecture you seize a mere second of closeness to Allah (SWT), so you start to breathe in and your soul starts to become alive. Then, you succeed it with `Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) to elevate your soul. Ramadan follows, and you adhere to As-Salat. Your soul, this way, elevates more and more. The result is that your soul becomes attached to Allah.

When the soul starts to refresh, you might leave it for a month or a week. You may say to yourself, “I am devout and attend a religious lecture, for example, once a week”. Yet, during the rest of the week you have no relation to religion. Surely, this must not be.

Look at how Allah (SWT) speaks about the risk of the people who live only for their bodies and never for their souls in the Qur’an, “The mutual rivalry for piling up the good things of this world..” (TMQ, 102:1) (1) (i.e. The food of your bodies: eating, drinking, enjoying life, playing…) “..diverts you (from the more serious things)” (TMQ, 102:1). The prohibition in this verse is not from piling up good things but is from being diverted by feeding the body and from forgetting to feed the soul. Allah (SWT) reminds us of the end, “…until you visit the grave” (TMQ, 102:2); the end will come when we go to the grave. O people! You are diverted by your bodies and have forgotten your souls. Then the Surah warns, “But nay, you soon shall know (the reality). Again, you soon shall know! Nay, were you to know with certainty of mind, (you would beware!) You shall certainly see Hell-fire! Again, you shall see it with certainty of sight! Then, shall you be questioned that Day about the joy (you indulged in!)” (TMQ, 102:3-8); i.e. the indulgence of the body.

What is the solution?

The solution is to balance between the soul and the body. Did not you eat and drink? Then, go and pray Qiyyam Al-layl (night prayer). Did not you chat with your friend for two hours over the phone? Then, recite Dhikr (remembrance) of Allah for ten minutes. As you feed your body, you should feed your soul. Do not you travel every year and spend money to enjoy your summer vacation? Why not go to `Umrah? If you went with your friends on a picnic, go and attend a religious lecture.

You must have a balance between the soul and the body. I want to follow with you step by step. However, I see that the priority at the beginning is not to have such balance; it is to give preference to the soul over the body. Thus, the soul is directed to Allah (SWT); consequently, the body becomes satisfied too. I wish that you would always work towards keeping the balance between the body and the soul. As we satisfy our bodies, we must satisfy our souls. For example, you can say, “After watching a serial on the T.V. and laughing at it, I need now to recite Qur’an for at least ten minutes.” This is because the body is the one who laughed not the soul. I wish we would all understand this concept and know that the balance mentioned in Surat At-Takathur (piling up of worldly things) is the one we need.

Now let us continue the story of Adam’s creation (PBUH). Once Adam (PBUH) was created, and once the soul entered the head, Adam (PBUH) sneezed. The angels said to him, “Say Al-Hamdu lillah (praise be to Allah)”. He said so. Allah the Almighty said, “Your God bestowed His mercy upon you”. Thus, the first thing Adam (PBUH) heard of Allah (SWT) was His mercy. I swear by Allah (SWT), dear brothers and sisters that once you behave seriously with Allah (SWT) you will taste His mercy. Instead of having your parents upset with you, try to show them love and try to please them. Allah (SWT) will make them pleased with you. In the same manner, when you face any situation with your boss at work, once you become near to Allah (SWT), you will have it solved.

Everything changes and you will find that it is from Allah’s Mercy upon us that it does. Dear brothers and sisters, Allah (SWT) is Merciful with us. He wants to make us the people of His Paradise because He created us with His hand; we are of His dearest creatures.

Imagine that the first word by which the universe met Adam (PBUH) was “Your God bestowed His mercy upon you.” (Narrated by At-Tirmithi). From here came the Sunnah of saying, “May Allah have mercy upon you” to the one who sneezes. When you sneeze, you say “Al-Hamdu lillah”. Then, the one beside you replies, “May Allah have mercy upon you”. You, then, reply, “May Allah guide you and reconcile your mind”. Look nowadays, when somebody sneezes, you say, “May Allah have mercy upon you.” He answers: “Merci!”

The next question is: On which day was the soul breathed into him?

One may ask: Can you determine the day, the hour, and the minute? The answer is yes because we have Authentic Hadith.

The Prophet (PBUH) said, “The best of days on which the sun rises is Friday. In it Adam was created, in it he was made to enter Paradise, in it he was expelled from it, in it he was forgiven, in it he died, and in it the Hour occurs.” (Narrated by Muslim and Abu-Dawud)

I will show you the importance of Friday, but before that we have another question, Can you determine the hour at which Adam (PBUH) was created? The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Adam was created on Friday afternoon. He was the last of the creatures (created after all creatures were created) at the last hour of Friday between afternoon and night”. One may say, “What is the importance of knowing the time and the day of Adam’s creation?” I reply there are two points of importance:

First: the importance and the value of Friday

I want to ask you how many of you observe the Sunnah on Friday? It is an honorable day that has special Sunnahs that our Prophet (PBUH) ordered us to follow. They are called Friday’s Sunnahs;

1. Taking a bath on Friday is compulsory for every adult man.
2. Wearing perfume, for men.
3. Cleaning one’s teeth using siwaq (tooth-stick) or toothbrush.
4. Wearing clean clothes.
5. Going early to the mosque. One becomes sad nowadays to see some people going to the mosque after the Imam takes his seat on the pulpit.
6. Reciting Surat Al-Kahf as Allah’s messenger (PBUH) ordered us.

These are the Sunnahs of Salatul Jumu`ah (Friday prayer).

One Friday Ibn Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) entered the mosque and found that two men had arrived earlier than him. He became so sad and hit his leg with his hand saying, “O Ibn Mas`ud! You became the third of the three.” When he reached the peak of sadness and regret, he said, “The third of the three is not so far from Allah”. Compare this to what happens these days and to the people who come late. Thus, we can realize how special Friday is.

Second: Adam was created in the afternoon

The Prophet (PBUH) says: “There is an hour (opportune time) on Friday and if a Muslim catches it while praying and asks something from Allah, then Allah will definitely meet his demand.” (An-Nawawi, 752/2). The Dua‘a (supplication) at this hour is surely accepted, as Allah will give to whoever supplicates at this hour.

Most of the scholars say that the last hour before the sunset is that opportune one. Why? Because Allah (SWT) created Adam (PBUH) in this hour. Allah accepts our Dua’a’ to Him In order to remind us that we are dear to Him and to remind us of the value of this day and this hour when the dust was formed to be a human being.

Another question arises: what was Adam’s shape when he was created?

The Prophet (PBUH) said in a Hadith narrated by Bukhari, “Allah created Adam in his same shape, making him 60 cubits tall,” (Can you imagine?), the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Any person who will enter Paradise will resemble Adam (in appearance and figure). People have been decreasing in stature since Adam's creation.” (Sahih Bukhari, 6227). In this Hadith there are three important points.

Can you imagine how tall Adam (PBUH) was? He was similar to a five-story building, for example. Can you imagine that you will enter Paradise with the same height? Why are the creatures getting shorter? Why didn’t we stay at our father’s height? Do you believe that this is because of Allah’s (SWT) Mercy upon us?

Imagine after we reached this technology, rockets, and widespread science, destruction that will likely destroy the earth due to technology and destructive weapons, and our increasing sins. Imagine that we are giants! What could happen? Because of Allah’s Mercy, when we gain more knowledge, our size becomes smaller in order not to transgress (too far).

Also, the Hadith imparted a very serious matter. It says Allah (SWT) created Adam (PBUH) in his (Adam’s) same shape. What does this mean? It means that he was in the same shape when he descended to earth as he was created in Paradise. Our Prophet (PBUH) wanted to show us that Adam descended to earth having the same shape he was created with. Why did the Prophet (PBUH) tell us this?

When I was researching this point in the Hadith, I found old scholars saying that they do not know why the Prophet (PBUH) told us this—that Adam (PBUH) descended to earth having the same shape he was created with. They commented that the matter might hold a wisdom that will be known later. Then, Darwin came and said that the origin of man was the monkey. The Hadith of the Prophet (PBUH) was told 1400 years ago and he said that Adam (PBUH) was created and descended to earth having the same shape. Is not this an evidence of prophecy? Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon you Mohammad.

Now you have the evidence, so you do not believe in what Darwin said because our Prophet (PBUH) told us that Adam (PBUH) descended to earth having the same shape he was created with in Paradise. Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “Nor does he (Mohammad) speak of (his own) desire” (TMQ, 53:3).

Then, Allah (SWT) said to Adam (PBUH) once he created him, "Go and greet that group of angels, and listen to their reply, for it will be your greeting (salutation) and the greeting (salutations) of your offspring." So, Adam (PBUH) went and said (to the angels), As-Salamu `Alaikoum (i.e. Peace be upon you). The angels said, "As-Salamu `Alayeka wa Rahmatu Allah wa Barakatuh" (i.e. Allah’s Peace and Mercy and Blessings be upon you). Thus, this became our greeting and not what is currently used from Hi and bye. Sometimes I receive a question about religion from a young person and then he ends his speech with “bye” or “Merci”! This must not be.

This Hadith teaches us a very good thing. What did Adam (PBUH) say to the angels upon greeting them? “As-Salamu `Alaykum.” They replied, "As-Salamu `Alayeka wa Rahmatu Allah wa Barakatuh". Therefore, what was Adam’s language? It was Arabic. None of the old scholars emphasized it. Yet, I believe it is a point of view. The words of the Hadith are clear, and I built my opinion on it. This is not strange, and I am not exaggerating in my love for the Arabic language. Also, I believe that this view is accepted because the language of the people in Paradise will be Arabic, and Adam’s origin (PBUH) was in Paradise. Therefore, it is probable that his language was Arabic.

The third point in this Hadith is the fact that the first dealing between Adam (PBUH) and others starts with “Peace” and the first word he said to introduce himself to others was “Peace”. The Prophet (PBUH) said, “You will not enter Paradise until you have faith, and you will not have faith until you love one another. May I direct you to a way by which you will love one another. Spread greetings and salutations among yourselves. Spread the practice of saying: “As-Salamu `Alaykum” among yourselves.”

Now the soul was breathed into Adam (PBUH), and he greeted the angels and knew his greeting.

The thing we will end with is that Allah (SWT) stroked Adam’s back so his progeny (you and me) until the Day of Judgment were issued from it. The Prophet (PBUH) said as narrated by At-Tirmidhi, “When Allah created Adam He stroked his back and issued every progeny of Adam that will be created until the Day of Judgment.” Why? Modern science proved that man’s fluid originates from his backbones. Therefore, from Adam’s back (PBUH) every progeny of his descendants until the Day of Judgment came out by one stroke on his back. Also the verses of the Qur’an shows us what can be translated as, “When your Lord took the progeny of Bani Adam from their backs and made them testify against themselves. 'Am I not your Lord?' They said, 'Yes, we bear witness’ Lest you should say on the Day of Rising, 'We were heedless of that'.” (TMQ, 7:172). We came to this world to witness against ourselves; Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “Am I not your Lord?” and we said, “Yes”. This is so that no one can come on the Day of Judgment and say it did not happen.

Surely, at this moment you will ask yourself a question: I cannot remember anything of this, so will I be judged for something that I cannot remember? How can I say that it did not happen because the Qur’an says it? I cannot remember.

The meaning here is that our standing and bearing witness are those events which formed the true and instinctive nature within us. The true nature inside you is that which has made you believe that you have one God who created you; it developed when you stood at this assembly. It is as if Allah (SWT) wanted to embed the true nature inside us through this tangible scene. You cannot remember it, but there is evidence that it happened; it is your true nature that invites you to Allah (SWT); that makes you resist sins. A proof for this is that there were Muslims who lived for 70 years in atheism in the Russian Republics, and children were brought up on the fact that there is no God. Yet, once the Soviet Union fell, the first thing they called for was that they need religion. From where did they get the need for religion? It came from the first true nature that was put in them, that of knowing Allah’s existence and the necessity of worshipping Him. It seems as if I am telling you about the Hadith which states, “Every one is born to his true nature”. This true nature always calls you to Allah.

Dear brothers and sisters, do you see how your true nature is wholesome? Formerly I said that Allah’s (SWT) noble hands created you; so you shouldn’t commit sins. Also I told you that your origin is dust and water; two pure elements, so do not pollute them. Moreover, you contain Allah’s (SWT) breath; so do not defile it. Again, I reiterate to you that inside you there is a wholesome true nature that is related to the time we stood before Allah when He issued us forth from Adam’s back (PBUH). Thus, we must not defile our form [body and soul]. We must not defile it or make it deteriorate by committing sins. This true nature deteriorates when a girl [or boy] smokes a water pipe (shishah)—besides that, it is forbidden. Also the true nature deteriorates when one sees unpleasant scenes on the Internet or the T.V. This true nature deteriorates through forbidden obscene talk between a girl and a boy on the phone at midnight after their parents go to sleep. This true nature deteriorates when a girl betrays her Mom and Dad by having a relationship with a boy behind their backs. It also deteriorates when two biological brothers dispute with each other and stop talking to each other for months. This true nature deteriorates when a young man shouts at his father or mother, or deteriorates inside a man who has not prostrated before Allah (PBUH) once for a week or two, a month or two.

Please, brothers and sisters do not let your true nature deteriorate.

Here is a Hadith of our Prophet (PBUH) (narrated by Muslim and Imam Ahmad), “Allah would say to a man who will go to the hell on the Day of Judgment: ‘Would you like to pay as ransom all your worldly riches?’ He would say: ‘Yes!’ Allah would say to him: ‘When you were in the loins of Adam, I demanded from you something easier than this that you should not associate anything with Me (the true nature) but you defied and attributed divinity (to others besides Me)’”.

This is what happened at Adam’s creation.
The next time will be about the prostration of the angels, why Allah (SWT) ordered them to prostrate to Adam (PBUH), what are the reasons behind Allah’s (SWT) using the word vicegerent, the reasons that stopped Iblis from prostrating to Adam (PBUH), how Hawa’ (Eve) was created, and why she was called Hawa’. This will come in the next lecture, Insha’ Allah (God willing).

1) TMQ= Translation of the Meaning of the Qur'an. This translation is for the realized meaning, so far, of the stated (Surah:Ayah) of the Qur'an. Reading the translated meaning of the Qur'an can never replace reading it in Arabic, the language in which it was revealed.

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