Stories of the Prophets

Ibn Kathir

• Publisher: International Publishing House
• Year: 2020
• ISBN:
  9781643543727
• Edition: 1

The stories of the prophets and all the events in their lives have been supported by the Qur'anic Verses and the Sunnah (traditions) of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him). In this edition of the book, we have added many Quranic verses in Arabic. The Quran tells us about many of Allah's prophets. Prophet Adam is mentioned in six suras of the Quran. Allah taught Adam many things so that Adam had more knowledge than the angels. There was one Jinn, called Iblis, the Devil. Iblis tried to compare himself to Adam. He believed that he was more honorable than Adam. Therefore he abstained from prostrating even though Allah had commanded him to do so. Adam was surprised by this creature, Iblis who abhorred him without even knowing him and who imagined himself better than Adam without having proved that he was worthier. Allah gives His commissioned creatures' absolute freedom even to the extent that they can refuse His commands. Allah grants them the freedom of denial, disobedience, and even disagreement with Him. His kingdom will not diminish if the disbelievers do not believe in Him nor will it be extended if many people believe in Him.

Stories of the Prophets

(Peace and Blessings Be Upon Them)

Copyright © u001983197

Contents

1. Prophet Adam and Eve (Hawwa)

2. Prophet Idris (Enoch)

3. Prophet Nuh (Noah)

4. Prophet Hud

5. Prophet Salih

6. Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham)

7. Prophet Isma'il (Ishmael)

8. Prophet Ishaq (Isaac)

9. Prophet Yaqub (Jacob)

10. Prophet Lot (Lot)

11. Prophet Shuaib

12. Prophet Yusuf (Joseph)

13. Prophet Ayoub (Job)

14. Prophet Dhul-Kifl

15. Prophet Yunus (Jonah)

16. Prophet Moses and Aaron

17. Prophet Hizqeel (Ezekiel)

18. Prophet Elyas (Elisha)

19. Prophet Shammil (Samuel)

20. Prophet Dawud (David)

21. Prophet Sulaiman (Soloman)

22. Prophet Shia (Isaiah)

23. Prophet Aramaya (Jeremiah)

24. Prophet Daniel

25. Prophet Uzair (Ezra)

26. Prophet Zakariyah (Zechariah)

27. Prophet Yahya (John)

28. Prophet Isa (Jesus) and Mary

29. Prophet Muhammad

Prophet Adam and Eve (Hawwa)

Allah the Most Exalted says in the Quran: “We relate to you, [O Muhammad], the best of stories in what We have revealed to you of this Qur'an although you were, before it, among the unaware.” (12:3)

And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, “Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority." They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?” Allah said, “Indeed, I know that which you do not know.” (2:30)

“And He taught Adam the names of all things. Then He showed them to the angels and said, “Inform Me of the names of these, if you are truthful.” (2:31)

They said, "Exalted are You; we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, it is You who is the Knowing, the Wise." (2:32)

He said, "O Adam, inform them of their names." And when he had informed them of their names, He said, “Did I not tell you that I know the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and the earth? And I know what you reveal and what you have concealed." (2:33)

And [mention] when We said to the angels, “Prostrate before Adam”; so they prostrated, except for Iblees (Satan). He refused and was arrogant and became of the disbelievers. (2:34)

And We said, “O Adam, dwell, you and your wife, in Paradise and eat therefrom in [ease and] abundance from wherever you will. But do not approach this tree, lest you be among the wrongdoers.” (2:35)

But Satan betrayed them. And We said, “Go down, [all of you], as enemies to one another, and you will have upon the earth a place of settlement and provision for a time.” (2:36)

Then Adam received from his Lord [some] words, and He accepted his repentance. Indeed, it is He who is the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful. (2:37)

We said, “Go down from it, all of you. And when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.” (2:38)

Almighty Allah also revealed: “And surely, We created you (your father Adam) and then gave you shape (the noble shape of a human being), then We told the angels, "Prostrate to Adam", and they prostrated, except Iblis (Satan), he refused to be of those who prostrate.” (7:11)

Allah said, “What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you?” Satan replied, “I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay.” (7:12)

Allah said, “Descend from Paradise, for it is not for you to be arrogant therein. So get out; indeed, you are of the debased.” (7:13)

[The arrogant Satan] said, “Reprieve me until the Day they are resurrected.” (7:14)

Allah said, “Indeed, you are of those reprieved.” (7:15)

Satan said, “Because You have put me in error, I will surely sit in wait for them on Your straight path.” (7:16)

“Then I will come to them from before them and from behind them and on their right and on their left, and You will not find most of them grateful [to You].”

Allah said, “Get out of Paradise, reproached and expelled. Whoever follows you among them - I will surely fill Hell with you, all together.” (7:18)

Adam and Eve said, “Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.” (7:23)

Satan misled Adam and Eve with deception. Then when they ate the forbidden apple, that which was hidden from them of their shame (private parts) became manifest to them and they began to stick together the leaves of Paradise over themselves (in order to cover their shame). When Allah decided to create Adam: God told his angels that He was going to create a vicegerent on the earth who would have children and grandchildren, and who would corrupt the earth and shed each other's blood. That is the reason the angels said: “Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?” Allah said, “Indeed, I know that which you do not know.” (2:30)

The angels were informed about the creation of Adam by the Jinn who lived before Adam. The Jinn had existed for over 2000 years before Adam, and then killed and shed blood. Therefore, Allah sent on them an army of angels that sent them out to the depths of the oceans. The angels knew that no one would be created on earth who would not shed blood. The angels did understand that Allah would mold him and blow His spirit into him. Adam was created from a handful of dust taken from different lands, so the children of Adam were created like the composition of the land. Therefore, we have white people, red, black and yellow ones; we have good and evil, ease and sorrow, and everything that comes in between them. And [mention] when We said to the angles, “Prostrate to Adam,” and they prostrated, except for Iblees (Satan). He said, “Should I prostrate to one You created from clay?” (17:61)

Allah told us in the Quran: He created man (Adam) from sounding clay like the clay of pottery. When the time drew near to breathe the spirit into Adam, as Allah decreed, He commanded the angels: When I breathe My spirit into him prostrate before him. Allah breathed His spirit into Adam and when it reached his head Adam sneezed. The angels said: “Say all praise belongs to Allah.” Adam repeated: “All praise belongs to Allah.” Allah said to him: “Your Lord has granted you mercy.” When the spirit reached his eyes, Adam looked at the fruits of Paradise. When it reached his abdomen Adam felt an appetite for food. So Adam jumped hurriedly before the spirit could reach his legs, so that he could eat from the fruits of Paradise. So Allah said: “Man is created of haste.” (21:37).

Allah created Adam from dust and made into the clay. After that Allah left Adam until he became as potter's clay. Satan (Iblis) used to go past Adam saying, “You have been created for a great purpose.” After that Allah breathed His spirit into Adam. The first thing into which the spirit passed was Adam’s eyes and then his nose. Adam then sneezed. Allah said: “May your Lord have mercy upon you!” Adam go to the angels and see what they would say.” Therefore, Adam went and greeted them. The angels replied by saying: “Peace be upon you and the mercy and blessings of Allah.” Allah said to Adam: “This is your greeting and that of your offspring.” (Bukhari). Allah said: “And [mention, O Muhammad], when We took from the prophets their covenant and from you and from Noah and Abraham and Moses and Jesus, the son of Mary; and We took from them a solemn covenant.” (33:7).

Similarity between Adam and Jesus (peace be upon them) Allah the Almighty declared: Indeed, the example of Jesus to Allah is like that of Adam. He created Him from dust; then He said to him, “Be,” and he was. (3:59)

The Meaning of the Angel's Prostration

Adam opened his eyes and saw all the angels prostrating before him except one being who was standing at a distance. Adam did not know what kind of creature it was nor did he know its name. Iblis was standing with the angels so as to be included in the command given to them but he was not one of them. He was a Jinn, and as such he was supposed to be inferior to the angels. What is clear is that this prostration was to show respect and did not mean that the angels were worshipping Adam. Ibn Jarir reported that Muhammad Ibn Sirin said that the first one to reach a conclusion by reasoning was Iblis and that the sun and moon were not worshiped except through this method. Iblis truly believed that he was more honorable than Adam. Therefore he abstained from prostrating even though Allah had commanded him to do so, just as He had commanded the angels. If an analogy is made we see that Iblis is vain. For indeed clay is better than fire because in it can be found the qualities of calmness, clemency, perseverance and growth; whereas in fire can be found heedlessness, insignificance, haste, and incineration. Iblis tried in vain to justify his refusal: He said: "Shall I prostrate to one whom You created from clay?" (17:61)

Adam was following what was happening around him and had feelings of love, awe, and astonishment. Deep love of Allah, Who had created and glorified him and Who had made His angels prostrate before him. Awe of the Creator's wrath when He excluded Iblis from His mercy. Adam was surprised by this creature, Iblis who abhorred him without even knowing him and who imagined himself better than Adam without having proved that he was worthier. What a strange creature Iblis was, and how strange was his excuse for not prostrating!

He imagined that fire is better than clay, but how did he get such an idea? Such knowledge is exclusive to Allah Who created fire and clay and Who knows which is the better of the two. From the dialogue Adam realized that Iblis was a creature characterized by cunning and ingratitude. He then knew that Iblis was his eternal enemy. He was greatly astonished at Iblis's audacity and Allah's tolerance. Immediately after his creation Adam witnessed the large amount of freedom that Allah gives to His commissioned creatures. Allah could have totally annihilated Iblis or turned him into a handful of dust or stifled the refusal in his mouth. Yet, Allah gives His commissioned creatures' absolute freedom even to the extent that they can refuse Allah the Almighty's commands. He grants them the freedom of denial, disobedience, and even disagreement with Him. His kingdom will not diminish if the disbelievers do not believe in Him nor will it be extended if many people believe in Him. On the contrary, the disbelievers will lose, and the believers will gain but Allah is above all of that.

There were many traditions about Iblis at the time of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Ibn Masud, Ibn Abbas and a group of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said that Iblis had been the head of the angels in the worldly heavens. Ibn Abbas said in one narration that his name had been Azazil and in another narration he said it had been Al-Harith. Ibn Abbas also said that Iblis was a Jinn and that they had once been the keepers of Paradise, with Iblis the most honorable and the most learned and the most pious of them. Another tradition says that he had been one of the famous four possessors of wings (angels), before Allah transformed him into the accursed Satan. Adam realized that Iblis was the symbol of evil in the universe. However Adam did not yet know anything about himself. Then Allah made him perceive his true identity and the reason for his creation, and the secret of his glorification.

Teaching Adam

Almighty Allah granted Adam the power to know the natures of all things and to summarize them by names; that is a bird, and that is a star, and that is a tree, etc. Allah implanted in Adam an insatiable need for and love of knowledge and a desire to bequeath knowledge to his children. This was the reason for his creation and the secret of his glorification.

The angels realized that Adam was the creature who knew what they did not know and that his capacity to learn was his noblest quality. His knowledge included knowledge of the Creator which we call faith or Islam, as well as the knowledge he would need to inhabit and master the earth. All kinds of worldly knowledge which are included in this. Adam knew the names of everything. Sometimes he talked to the angels, but they were preoccupied with worshipping Almighty Allah. Therefore Adam, felt lonely. One day he slept and when he awoke he found near his head, a woman gazing at his face with beautiful tender eyes. The angels asked him her name he replied: “Eve (Hawa),” (Means living things). They asked: “Why did you call her Eve?” Adam said: “Because she was created of me and I am a living being.”

Adam Sees Eve (Hawwa)

Ibn Abbas and a group of companions of the Prophet (pbuh) narrated that when Iblis was sent out of Paradise and Adam was accommodated therein, Adam was alone in Paradise and did not have a partner from whom he could get tranquility. He slept for some time and when he woke up, he saw a woman whom Allah had created from his ribs. So he asked her, “Who are you?” She replied, “A woman” He asked: “Why have you been created?” She said: “So that you could find tranquility in me.” The angels, trying to find out the extent of his knowledge, asked him: “What is her name, O Adam?” He replied, “Eve.” They asked: “Why was she so named?” He replied, “Because she was created from something living.”

Eve's Creation

Muhammad Ibn Ishaaq and Ibn Abbas related that Eve was created from the shortest left rib of Adam while he was sleeping and after a while she was clothed with flesh. That is why Allah said: “O Mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, He created you from one soul and created from it its mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women.” (4:1)

Allah also said: It is He who created you from one soul and created from it Adam and Eve, in order that he might enjoy the pleasure of living with her. (7:189)

Establishing the Greeting

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “O Muslims! I advise you to be gentle with women, for they are created from a rib, and the most crooked portion of the rib is its upper part. If you try to straighten it, it will break and if you leave it, it will remain crooked, so I urge you to take care of the women.” (Sahih Bukhari).

The Location of Adam and Eve's Paradise

The location of this Paradise is unknown to us. The Quran did not reveal it, and the commentators had five different opinions. Some said that it was the paradise of our refuge and that its place was heaven. Others regretted that statement because if it was the paradise of refuge Iblis would have been forbidden admission and disobedience would have been forbidden as well. Still others said that it was another paradise that was created by Allah for Adam and Eve. A fourth group said it was a paradise on the earth located in a high place. Another group of commentators accept what was in the Quran without questioning where this paradise was located.

Allah's Warning to Adam and Eve

Adam and eve were admitted to Paradise and there they lived the dream of all human beings. Allah permitted them to enjoy everything except one tree that might have been the Tree of Pain or the Tree of Knowledge. And We said, “O Adam, dwell, you and your wife, in Paradise and eat therefrom in [ease and] abundance from wherever you will. But do not approach this tree, lest you be among the wrongdoers.” (2:35)

Adam's Weakness

Adam and Eve understood that they were forbidden to eat the fruit of that tree. Adam was however a human being and man tends to forget. His heart changes and his will weakens. Iblis summoned all the envy within him and took advantage of Adam's humanity to exploit him. Satan then whispered to him day after day, coaxing him: “Shall I guide you to the Tree of Immortality and the Eternal Kingdom?” He whispered to them to make apparent to them that which was concealed from them of their private parts. He said, “Your Lord did not forbid you this tree except that you become angels or become of the immortal.” And he swore [by Allah] to them, “Indeed, I am to you from among the sincere advisors.” (7:20, 21)

Adam asked himself: “What will happen if I eat from this tree? It might truly be the Tree of Immortality.” His dream was to live forever in Paradise. Years went by, and Adam and Eve were preoccupied with thoughts of that tree. Then one day they decided to eat of its fruit. Adam stretched out his hand, picked one of the fruits and offered it to Eve. According to the Old Testament, Eve was tempted by the serpent to eat of the forbidden tree. She ate because of the words of the serpent and fed Adam some of it. At that moment, their eyes were opened to the fact that they were naked, and they took the leaves of the fig tree to cover themselves. Their clothing (before their sin) was made of light on the private parts of both of them. This story in the Old Testament is not accurate.

Allah the Almighty revealed: “O Children of Adam, let not Satan tempt you as he removed your parents from Paradise, stripping them of their clothing to show them their private parts. Indeed, he sees you, he and his tribe, from where you do not see them. Indeed, We have made the devils allies to those who do not believe.” (7:27)

Adam had hardly finished eating when he felt his heart contract, and he as filled with pain, sadness and shame. The surrounding atmosphere had changed and the internal music had stopped. He discovered that he and his wife were naked, so they both started cutting tree leaves with which to cover themselv...