Explanation from <Quran> Surah 2: 31- 38
Since ancient times, human had been known as the crown of creations. What does this mean? Let us study the origin of man’s ancestor – Adam.
When Allah SWT created Adam, He used two things. Firstly, Allah SWT used clay(mud) to make the body, and then Allah SWT breathed His spirit into the body (note 1). These are the features of man as mentioned in <Quran> Surah 32: 9 But He fashioned him in due proportion, and breathed into him something of His spirit. And He gave you (the faculties of) hearing and sight and feeling (and understanding): little thanks do ye give!
Although Allah SWT did not use clay to create Adam’s descendants, Allah SWT breathed His spirit into each of our bodies when we were born.
What is so special about this ‘spirit’? (note 2). Its purpose is to enable us to communicate with Allah SWT. Many people like to keep pets; the westerners especially favor dogs. This is because they think dogs can understand human nature. The dogs will come to you and wag their tails when you arrive home; dogs will go and retrieve ball that you throw out. If given special training, some who are smarter can even help investigate drug smuggling and involve in rescue work. However, can a dog share man’s worry? Regardless of how smart the dog is, it is not able to share man’s inner heart. Besides man, no other animals in this world can share a man’s inner heart.
We think that language is the medium of communication for men; nevertheless, the spirit has caused an amazing effect between men’s communications. Many times, our communications can be beyond the limit of language. Recently, scientific research has discovered that a new born baby can sense whom they can trust and can get help from. In fact, our bosom friends are the ones who understand us without needing to do a lot of talking.
<Quran> Surah 26: 192-193
Verily this is a Revelation from the Lord of the Worlds:
With it came down the spirit of Faith and Truth-
It is mentioned here, with Allah’s spirit, Al-Quran was directly revealed (note 3) to man’s heart. Although people from different places all over the world speak in different languages (anthropologist estimated there are over 6000 languages around the world), through Allah’s spirit everyone can understand His will.
<Quran> Surah 15: 29, 38: 72
“When I have fashioned him (in due proportion) and breathed into him of My spirit, fall ye down in obeisance unto him.”
<Quran> Surah 15: 29 and 38: 72 mentioned, when Allah SWT breathed into Adam of His spirit, He demanded all the angels to bow down to Adam. What is happening here?
Among all the creations, only men have Allah’s spirit. And because of this spirit, men’s status become superior. <Quran> Surah 2: 30- 34 recorded what had happened when Adam was in the garden (note 4).
<Quran> Surah 2: 30- 34
2: 30 Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: “I will create a vicegerent on earth.” They said: “Wilt Thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood?- whilst we do celebrate Thy praises and glorify Thy holy (name)?” He said: “I know what ye know not.”
2:31. And He taught Adam the names of all things; then He placed them before the angels, and said: “Tell me the names of these if ye are right.”
2:32. They said: “Glory to Thee, of knowledge We have none, save what Thou Hast taught us: In truth it is Thou Who art perfect in knowledge and wisdom.”
2:33. He said: “O Adam! Tell them their names.” When he had told them, Allah said: “Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of heaven and earth, and I know what ye reveal and what ye conceal?”
2:34. And behold, We said to the angels: “Bow down to Adam” and they bowed down. Not so Iblis: he refused and was haughty: He was of those who reject Faith.
When Allah SWT breathed into Adam of His spirit, Adam became alive. Allah SWT then started to teach Adam so that he would understand the knowledge of all things and the meaning of creating them (note 5). After this, Allah SWT tested Adam and the angels, demanding them to tell the knowledge of all things. In this competition, Adam spoke what the angels could not. Allah’ spirit had played a decisive role in Adam and thus he could beat the opponents.
From <Quran> Surah 2: 34 we can see, the award for Adam in this competition was all angels bowed down to him. What does ‘bow down’ represent? During ancient times, there was no television or internet. When the Chinese Emperor wanted to publicize his command, he sent messengers to all parts of the country to declare the imperial decree. While reading the decree, all local ministers and people had to kneel down. This was because reading the decree represented the presence of the emperor. Therefore, <Quran> Surah 17: 106- 108 mentioned, while reciting the <Quran>, the believers will fall down on their faces in humble prostration, praising Allah SWT, because reciting the <Quran> represents the presence of Allah SWT.
<Quran> Surah 17: 106- 108
(It is) a Qur’an which We have divided (into parts from time to time), in order that thou mightest recite it to men at intervals: We have revealed it by stages.
Say: “Whether ye believe in it or not, it is true that those who were given knowledge beforehand, when it is recited to them, fall down on their faces in humble prostration,
“And they say: ‘Glory to our Lord! Truly has the promise of our Lord been fulfilled!'”
<Quran> Surah 84: 21 And when the Qur’an is read to them, they fall not prostrate,
And so, the effect when Adam told the knowledge of all things was the same as when the Quran was recited. Thus, all the angels had to fall down on their faces and prostrate.
To be continued in ……….. Why Allah SWT created man (2) Surah 2: 31- 38?
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Note 1:
Allah SWT created Adam from the mud and breathed into him of His spirit.
See <Quran> 15: 26- 29, 32: 7, 38: 71- 72
Note 2:
The Arabic root word （ روح ）has the following meanings:
a) Wind, for example cold wind, breeze, storm, hurricane, strong wind, devastating wind, furious wind, moist wind, winds as heralds of Glad Tidings.
See <Quran> 2:164，3:117，7:57，10:22，14:18，15:22，17:69，18:45，21:81，22:31，34:12，38:36，42:33，51:41，25:48，27:63，30:46，30:48，30:51，33:9，34:12，35:9，41:16， 45:5，46:24，54:19，69:6; it also has the meaning of scent and sweet smell, 12:94，55:12
b) Rest, mercy
See <Quran> 56: 89, 12: 87.
c) The evening, working in the dusk or evening.
See <Quran> 16:6，34:12
d) The spirit of Allah
When creating Adam, Allah SWT breathed into him of His spirit. See <Quran> 15:29，38:72,
It is the same when the progeny of man is fashioned. See <Quran> 32: 9
When creating Isa, Allah SWT also breathed His spirit into Maryam. See <Quran> 21:91，66:12
Prophet Isa is called the spirit from Allah in <Quran> 4:171.
e) Holy Spirit
（ الْقُدُسِ بِرُوحِ ）is translated as Holy Spirit, means Allah’s spirit.
See <Quran> 2:87，2:253，5:110，16:102.
（ الْقُدُسِ ）has the meaning of Holy, (See <Quran> 59:23，62:1), emphasizing holiness belongs to Allah SWT, and
（ الْمُقَدَّسِ بِالْوَادِ ）is translated as Holy Valley, (see <Quran> 20:12，79:16),（الأرْضَ الْمُقَدَّسَةَ ）is translated as Holy Land, emphasizing its difference from common land. Allah SWT will help the prophets and believers with Holy Spirit, see <Quran> 2:87，2:253，5:110，16:102，58:22.
The function of the Spirit (Holy Spirit) is to deliver Allah’s command, see <Quran> 16:2，16:102，26:193，40:15，42:52. It will work together with the angels, see <Quran> 16:2，78:38，70:4，97:4.
However, there is a warning in <Quran> 17: 85- 86, if man disobeys Allah SWT, Allah SWT will take away His spirit.
They ask thee concerning the Spirit (of inspiration). Say: “The Spirit (cometh) by command of my Lord: of knowledge it is only a little that is communicated to you, (O men!)”
If it were Our Will, We could take away that which We have sent thee by inspiration: then wouldst thou find none to plead thy affair in that matter as against Us,-
Note 3:
The root word for ‘came down’ in <Quran> 26: 193 is （ نزل ）, is translated as revelation in <Quran> 26: 192.
Verily this is a Revelation from the Lord of the Worlds:
Note 4:
Adam initially lived in the Garden.
See <Quran> 2:35-36，7:19，7:27，20:117-123，38:77
Note 5:
The root word for ‘names’ in Arabic is （ سمو ）, the ‘names’ includes the related knowledge and the meaning of creating, <Quran> 45: 13 mentioned,
And He has subjected to you, as from Him, all that is in the heavens and on earth: Behold, in that are Signs indeed for those who reflect.
The names of the idols mentioned in <Quran> 53: 23- 24, are not only names but they reflect men’s desires.
These are nothing but names which ye have devised,- ye and your fathers,- for which Allah has sent down no authority (whatever). They follow nothing but conjecture and what their own souls desire!- Even though there has already come to them Guidance from their Lord!
Nay, shall man have (just) anything he hankers after?
(Also see <Quran 12: 40, 7: 71)
The words ‘same Name’ in <Quran> 19: 65, is not referring to the name but creator who is the same in every aspect.
“Lord of the heavens and of the earth, and of all that is between them; so worship Him, and be constant and patient in His worship: knowest thou of any who is worthy of the same Name as He?
(Note: All Al-Quran verses are sourced from English Translation of Al-Quran by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, with thanks)