وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَـٰكُمْ ثُمَّ صَوَّرْنَـٰكُمْ ثُمَّ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ ٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِـَٔادَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ لَمْ يَكُن مِّنَ ٱلسَّـٰجِدِينَ 11
Translations
And We have certainly created you, [O mankind], and given you [human] form. Then We said to the angels, "Prostrate to Adam"; so they prostrated, except for Iblees. He was not of those who prostrated.
Transliteration
Wa-laqad khalaqnakum thumma sawwarnakum thumma qulna lil-mala'ikati asjudu li-Adam fa-sajadu illa Iblis lam yakun min al-sajideen.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Allah's creation of humanity in stages—first the creation (khalq) and then the shaping/forming (taswir)—followed by the command to the angels to prostrate before Adam. The angels obeyed except Iblis, whose refusal marked the beginning of his rebellion and eventual expulsion from Allah's mercy. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this prostration as one of respect and honor for Adam, not worship, emphasizing that Adam's superiority lay in his intellect, will, and capacity for knowledge, which the angels lacked.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-A'raf, which is a Meccan surah addressing the fundamental beliefs of Islamic monotheism. It contextualizes humanity's honored position in creation and serves as a prelude to the story of Adam and Eve's dwelling in Paradise and their eventual descent to earth—a major narrative arc in the Quran addressing human nature, free will, and accountability.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'Allah created Adam in His image' (Sahih Bukhari 6227). Additionally, Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj records in Sahih Muslim that the Prophet explained the superiority of humans lies in their intellect and moral reasoning, distinguishing them from other creations including angels.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that humans possess intrinsic honor and dignity in Allah's sight, granted through careful creation and divine wisdom, which should inspire gratitude and righteous conduct. It also warns against arrogance and disobedience to Allah's commands, as exemplified by Iblis, reminding us that no status or knowledge exempts one from submission to the Divine will.
Related Ayahs
قُلْ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنِّى رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا ٱلَّذِى لَهُۥ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ ۖ فَـَٔامِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ٱلنَّبِىِّ ٱلْأُمِّىِّ ٱلَّذِى يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَكَلِمَـٰتِهِۦ وَٱتَّبِعُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "O mankind, indeed I am the Messenger of Allāh to you all, [from Him] to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. There is no deity except Him; He gives life and causes death." So believe in Allāh and His Messenger, the unlettered prophet, who believes in Allāh and His words, and follow him that you may be guided.
قَالُوٓا۟ أَرْجِهْ وَأَخَاهُ وَأَرْسِلْ فِى ٱلْمَدَآئِنِ حَـٰشِرِينَ
They said, "Postpone [the matter of] him and his brother and send among the cities gatherers
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُمَسِّكُونَ بِٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُصْلِحِينَ
But those who hold fast to the Book [i.e., the Qur’ān] and establish prayer - indeed, We will not allow to be lost the reward of the reformers.
سَآءَ مَثَلًا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَأَنفُسَهُمْ كَانُوا۟ يَظْلِمُونَ
How evil an example [is that of] the people who denied Our signs and used to wrong themselves.