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
وَمَا تَنقِمُ مِنَّآ إِلَّآ أَنْ ءَامَنَّا بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّنَا لَمَّا جَآءَتْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَآ أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَتَوَفَّنَا مُسْلِمِينَ
And you do not resent us except because we believed in the signs of our Lord when they came to us. Our Lord, pour upon us patience and let us die as Muslims [in submission to You]."
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ لَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَآ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
But those who believed and did righteous deeds - We charge no soul except [within] its capacity. Those are the companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally.
وَنَادَىٰٓ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْجَنَّةِ أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلنَّارِ أَن قَدْ وَجَدْنَا مَا وَعَدَنَا رَبُّنَا حَقًّا فَهَلْ وَجَدتُّم مَّا وَعَدَ رَبُّكُمْ حَقًّا ۖ قَالُوا۟ نَعَمْ ۚ فَأَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنٌۢ بَيْنَهُمْ أَن لَّعْنَةُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَى ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And the companions of Paradise will call out to the companions of the Fire, "We have already found what our Lord promised us to be true. Have you found what your Lord promised to be true?" They will say, "Yes." Then an announcer will announce among them, "The curse of Allāh shall be upon the wrongdoers
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ عَنْهَا لَا تُفَتَّحُ لَهُمْ أَبْوَٰبُ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَلَا يَدْخُلُونَ ٱلْجَنَّةَ حَتَّىٰ يَلِجَ ٱلْجَمَلُ فِى سَمِّ ٱلْخِيَاطِ ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ
Indeed, those who deny Our verses and are arrogant toward them - the gates of Heaven will not be opened for them, nor will they enter Paradise until a camel enters into the eye of a needle [i.e., never]. And thus do We recompense the criminals.