Improving the Here for the Hereafter

In an email discussion list, the following opined thus: 

HSK: Iblees was angel from species of Jin was he? Quite a number of  his relatives are settled and living in Pakistan! 

SS: Here you are right. God save Pakistan from the clutches of Iblees and his  progenies. 

AM: Whether Iblees was a jinn or Angel the fact is that he had disobeyed Allah JS.  Because it mentions that all bowed except Iblees. Meaning that he was expected to bow. Later Allah explicitly asks him of the reasons as to why did he not bow? - meaning thereby that he was required to bow. 

NK: Iraqis were discussing 'fiqas,' when Halaku's  armies turned their rivers into blood.

When Ahmed Shah Abdali reached Delhi, the discussion in the mosques was, if the Prophet was 'noorani,' or 'jasmani.'

How about producing a product or a service that the world wants?

Develop Systems that work, armed forces, Edhi Foundation, rely less on Mohammad Bin Qasims.

Reply: Agree with all! 

Allah repeatedly invites the Believers to do Good Works and offers the Gardens of Eden as Inheritance to those who heed to the message. Inheritance implies a huge responsibility! We have to work to make this world a better place to prove our worthiness for such a magnificent inheritance. 

Iblees and his progeny are the sworn enemies of Adam and his progeny (us). The Quran explains the origin and objective of their enmity: the destruction of the progeny of Adam. It is important to revisit the verses which inform us thus, so that we can avoid the temptations and pitfalls. Kindly read:  http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2015/11/mission-of-messengers-ii.html

If our country is to progress and our condition improve, we have to fix our thinking and get rid of our ignorance and complacency. We have to educate ourselves and others, urgently!

Let the Quran shape our Beliefs

On the discussion if angels are a designation or a form of creation, TS asked: What difference it makes for you if they  are made of light or Noor?  

Answer: One of the most serious mistakes people make when reading the Quran is that they try to read it according to their beliefs, and do all sorts of intellectual jugglery to make it read as per what they think it should mean. Among the most misread verses are those where it states that the angels were ordered to prostrate or submit to Adam and Iblis refused. Just to comply with a non-Quranic belief that angels are a separate creation, created from light or Noor, people resort to stories about how a jinn was with the angels and so on. Once you accept that, the way is opened for misinterpretation of other verses as well. 

If we believe the Quran to be guidance from Allah, and if we believe that the Arabic text is in its pristine form, as revealed, then we must let the Quran shape our beliefs rather than our beliefs telling us how to interpret the verses of the Quran. 

MSA brought up the question about Iblis, stating that it would be the key to unlocking the mystery, to which I responded with my understanding that angels are a designation and not a separate form of creation 

SA asserted that it is written in the Quran that angels are created from light. Perhaps I'm missing that verse. Hence I ask him to show me the verse so that I can correct my understanding. 

Angel: a designation by appointment

MSA stated: Both Adam and his wife were asked by Allah not to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree. But they disobeyed Him and ate the fruit. So both of them had committed a great sin.

Allah taught Adam how to seek His forgiveness. But no such tutoring was given to his wife.  

Here is a brief comment on this issue. I hope it explains the basic point on should Adam and his wife have been expelled from heaven and if Iblis was an angel or not. Unlocking this mystery strikes the real heart of Islam. 

quote "......" unquote 

Answer: You raise several points. 

 I've already explained in my previous email why I understand that only Adam was held responsible, even though his wife had also eaten with him. 
Regarding Iblis being a Jinn or an Angel, the Quran states that humans are created from clay and jinn from smokeless fire; as for angels, the Quran does not specify if they are a separate creation and/or what they are made of. In Quran 35:1, the term جَاعِلِ  is used to state that angels are made/appointed as messengers with wings. Moreover, in every narration of the story of Adam, it is related that the angels were ordered to prostrate/submit. Iblis could only disobey this command if he was also an angel. Hence, I believe that angel is a designation by appointment and not by creation. 
In my blogpost on Satan's Enmity: Origin & Objective, I've discussed that Adam was superior to the angels by virtue of the knowledge taught to Adam by God. 
The Quran uses the Arabic term for inheritance for the Gardens promised to the righteous Believers who do Good Deeds. Inheritance implies that we will not be guests but rather owners of those gardens. I think this means we shall have a much larger role and be entrusted with the land we inherit! 
The inheritance will vary in accordance with the faith and actions of each individual, as indicated in the size of the gardens mentioned in 57:21 and 3:133, and as stated in 8:4. For those who believe and seek forgiveness for their sins, God will grace them with a garden as extensive as heaven [singular] and the earth, while those who also keep their duty to God, the pious, the reward will be greater: as extensive as the heavens [plural] and the earth. The believers will have exalted grades/grades of dignity, forgiveness and honourable sustenance.  
The last two verses of Surah al-Ahzab inform us that The Human volunteered for The Trust. Since he has been unjust and ignorant, that is the reason why the hypocrites and the polytheists must be punished, while God turns in mercy and forgives the believers. The verse specifically mentions both men and women of all three categories.   
The second and third verse of Surah Al-Insan inform us that we have been created to be tested, and provided with the faculties and the guidance we need. Its up to us whether we are grateful for it or if we reject it.   
I hope the above helps unlock the mystery for you. 

SA asserted: alQuraan has clearly stated that:
1. Man is made of twisted black clay.
2. Jinn is made of the flame of fire.
3. Angel is made of light with wings in pair(s).
4. All living things are based on water.
5. Only Man and Jinn has the power of choice. 
When ALLAH taala commanded the Angels, Iblis took the benefit of doubt and remained stationed in the Heavens of ALLAH taala. After causing the mischief he got caught and argued with ALLAH taala to invoke HIS wrath upon himself. Mr. and Mrs. Adam repent and begged for HIS mercy so they were pardoned. All three of them were removed from the Heavens as enemies to write the test on earth. This answers the objection of MSA as well. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. Adam were held responsible for their mistake and dealt together.
Rasool is a designation not a creation. 35:1 concludes the two together.

Reply: Can you kindly quote the verse of alQuraan which clearly states that angel is made of light?  

SA responded: I have to declare that I can not substantitate the creation of Angels from alQuraan, so please consider me wrong and scracth that statement. However, whenever, I find that in alQuraan, Inshaa ALLAH, I will share it with everyone. 
Now against your belief that Angels are not a creation but merely a designation, there are quite a few evidences in alQuraan. Here is one that supersedes them all:

اللَّهُ يَصْطَفِي مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ رُسُلًا وَمِنَ النَّاسِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ بَصِيرٌ

This is the 75th ayat of SuratulHajj and it clearly states that Rusul are taken from both The Angels and The Men.  
Please let me know if this does not corrects your misbelief. 

Reply: Thank you for pointing out Q 22:75; I concede that there is a definite gap in our comprehension of these terms - perhaps we will someday understand better, if Allah wills. 
However, consider also Q 6:130 

يَا مَعْشَرَ الْجِنِّ وَالْإِنسِ أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِّنكُمْ يَقُصُّونَ عَلَيْكُمْ آيَاتِي وَيُنذِرُونَكُمْ لِقَاءَ يَوْمِكُمْ هَٰذَا قَالُوا شَهِدْنَا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِنَا وَغَرَّتْهُمُ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا وَشَهِدُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا كَافِرِينَ

O assembly (of) [the] jinn and [the] men! Did (there) not come to you Messengers from (among) you, relating to you My Verses and warning you (of the) meeting (of) this day of yours?" They will say, "We bear witness against ourselves." And deluded them the life (of) the world, and they will bear witness against themselves that they were disbelievers.
http://islamawakened.com/quran/6/130/

SA replied: Weren't we discussing the Angels? Quoting Rusul among Jinn and Ins does not deduce that Angels are nothing but Jinns. 

You are trying to read alQuraan according to your (mis)belief and being an article of Faith it is far worse than just a grave mistake. 

Consider this: 

 مَن كَانَ عَدُوًّا لِّلَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَجِبْرِيلَ وَمِيكَالَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَدُوٌّ لِّلْكَافِرِينَ

http://islamawakened.com/quran/2/98/

And remember:

لَّيْسَ الْبِرَّ أَن تُوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ وَلَٰكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالْكِتَابِ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ وَآتَى الْمَالَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِ ذَوِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ وَالسَّائِلِينَ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَالْمُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِهِمْ إِذَا عَاهَدُوا وَالصَّابِرِينَ فِي الْبَأْسَاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ وَحِينَ الْبَأْسِ أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُتَّقُونَ

http://islamawakened.com/quran/2/177/

Reply: It is an article of faith to believe that angels exist. It is not an article of faith to assert/insist that they are or not a separate form of creation. Since I believe the the entire Quran is from Allah, and free from errors, I wonder what is meant by Q18:50 

وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ كَانَ مِنَ الْجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِ أَفَتَتَّخِذُونَهُ وَذُرِّيَّتَهُ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِن دُونِي وَهُمْ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ بِئْسَ لِلظَّالِمِينَ بَدَلًا

And when We said to the Angels, "Prostrate to Adam," so they prostrated except Iblis. (He) was of the jinn, and he rebelled against the Command (of) his Lord. Will you then take him and his offspring (as) protectors other than Me, while they (are) to you enemies? Wretched for the wrongdoers (is) the exchange. 

http://islamawakened.com/quran/18/50/ 

And Allah knows best! 

Adam held Responsible - not his Wife

MSA stated: Both Adam and his wife had disobeyed Allah, and both of them sought His forgiveness. But Allah forgave only Adam (cf. 20:122). His wife was never pardoned. So she remained under Allah's curse throughout her life on earth. Her offspring, if she had produced any, were also cursed and their descendants remain cursed even today!

Answer: According to the Quran, it was Adam who had disobeyed his Lord. The blame is not placed on Adam's wife anywhere in the Quran! The progeny of Adam is also not blamed for the sin of Adam. However, we suffer from the consequences since we inherit the DNA, as I've discussed in my blogpost: Adam's Attempt to Improve upon Allah's Creation - Outcome: Mutated, Non-Functional Genes
http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2015/11/mission-of-messengers-iii.html 

In the passage from Surah Taha quoted below, Quran 20:115 speaks of a covenant being taken from Adam, and no firm resolve found in him. Quran 20:117 states that Adam was warned that Iblis is an enemy to you and your wife, so do not let him get you both out of the Garden and landed into misery. Quran 20:120 informs us that Iblis whispered evil suggestions to Adam. Quran 20:121 informs us that both Adam and his wife ate from the forbidden tree, but the verse also goes on to place the blame only on Adam stating that Adam had disobeyed his Lord and erred. The next verse then informs us that Adam was pardoned and granted guidance.   

The following verses highlight the importance of the guidance for us, the progeny of Adam, and why it is imperative that we heed the guidance! 

113 Thus have We sent this down - an arabic Qur'an - and explained therein in detail some of the warnings, in order that they may fear Allah, or that it may cause their remembrance (of Him). 114 High above all is Allah, the King, the Truth! Be not in haste with the Qur'an before its revelation to thee is completed, but say, "O my Lord! advance me in knowledge." 115 We had already, beforehand, taken the covenant of Adam, but he forgot: and We found on his part no firm resolve. 116 When We said to the angels, "Prostrate yourselves to Adam", they prostrated themselves, but not Iblis: he refused. 117 Then We said: "O Adam! verily, this is an enemy to thee and thy wife: so let him not get you both out of the Garden, so that thou art landed in misery. 118 "There is therein (enough provision) for thee not to go hungry nor to go naked, 119 "Nor to suffer from thirst, nor from the sun's heat." 120 But Satan whispered evil to him: he said, "O Adam! shall I lead thee to the Tree of Eternity and to a kingdom that never decays?" 121 In the result, they both ate of the tree, and so their nakedness appeared to them: they began to sew together, for their covering, leaves from the Garden: thus did Adam disobey his Lord, and allow himself to be seduced. 122 But his Lord chose him (for His Grace): He turned to him, and gave him Guidance. 123 He said: "Get ye down, both of you,- all together, from the Garden, with enmity one to another: but if, as is sure, there comes to you Guidance from Me, whosoever follows My Guidance, will not lose his way, nor fall into misery. 124 "But whosoever turns away from My Message, verily for him is a life narrowed down, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Judgment." 125 He will say: "O my Lord! why hast Thou raised me up blind, while I had sight (before)?" 126 (Allah) will say: "Thus didst Thou, when Our Signs came unto thee, disregard them: so wilt thou, this day, be disregarded." 127 And thus do We recompense him who transgresses beyond bounds and believes not in the Signs of his Lord: and the Penalty of the Hereafter is far more grievous and more enduring. 128 Is it not a warning to such men (to call to mind) how many generations before them We destroyed, in whose haunts they (now) move? Verily, in this are Signs for men endued with understanding. 129 Had it not been for a Word that went forth before from thy Lord, (their punishment) must necessarily have come; but there is a Term appointed (for respite). 130 Therefore be patient with what they say, and celebrate (constantly) the praises of thy Lord, before the rising of the sun, and before its setting; yea, celebrate them for part of the hours of the night, and at the sides of the day: that thou mayest have (spiritual) joy. 131 Nor strain thine eyes in longing for the things We have given for enjoyment to parties of them, the splendour of the life of this world, through which We test them: but the provision of thy Lord is better and more enduring. 132 Enjoin prayer on thy people, and be constant therein. We ask thee not to provide sustenance: We provide it for thee. But the (fruit of) the Hereafter is for righteousness. 133 They say: "Why does he not bring us a sign from his Lord?" Has not a Clear Sign come to them of all that was in the former Books of revelation? 134 And if We had inflicted on them a penalty before this, they would have said: "Our Lord! If only Thou hadst sent us a messenger, we should certainly have followed Thy Signs before we were humbled and put to shame."135 Say: "Each one (of us) is waiting: wait ye, therefore, and soon shall ye know who it is that is on the straight and even way, and who it is that has received Guidance."
http://searchtruth.com/chapter_display.php?chapter=20&translator=2 

Adam's Clothes

MSA & IQ discussing the previous reply to MSA's query regarding Head Cover: 

IQ: "If Allah wants women to hide themselves with hijab, why are women not born with one?"

MSA: Good question. I would have also placed the same question before Allah, if I could reach Him!!

Answer: According to my study of the Quran, Adam and his wife were indeed clothed before they ate off the forbidden tree. I understand that if we are forgiven and eligible for the Garden of Eden, our DNA will be repaired and our original clothing (libas-ut-taqwa) restored on the Day of Judgement. 

Following are excerpts from my blogpost: 

Mission of the Messengers - III
No change should there be in the creation of Allah [Quran 30:30] 
Adam's Attempt to Improve upon Allah's Creation
Outcome: Mutated, Non-Functional Genes  

The Garden

Quran 20:118 informs us that there was enough in the Garden for Adam and his wife to neither go naked nor hungry.

The popular belief across religions is that Adam and his wife were naked, but only not aware of it. The Quran clearly states that they were not naked. I think this is a key to understanding what happened and the lesson for us in the story of Adam.  

Satan’s Deception: Desire and Temptation

Quran 20:120 informs us of Satan (Iblis)’s attempt to seduce Adam: Then whispered to him Shaitaan, he said, "O Adam! Shall I direct you to (the) tree (of) the Eternity and a kingdom not (that will) deteriorate?"  

The verses of the Quran are very clear that Adam sought Immortality and A Kingdom that Never Decays. According to scientific knowledge, we now know that changes in the genome cause fundamental changes in the organism. Modern science promises to increase longevity and eradicate disease by making sufficient advances in genomics.  Eugenics, Transhumanism, Posthuman and eventually Posthumanism all seek to transcend the human into a utopian superbeing, who will then no longer be a ‘human’. However, as illustrated by Adam’s example, efforts in this direction can only cause depletion and loss. God’s perfect creations cannot be improved upon!

Clothing Stripped Off

[Quran 20:121, Translation: Sahih International]  And Adam and his wife ate of it, and their private parts became apparent to them, and they began to fasten over themselves from the leaves of Paradise. And Adam disobeyed his Lord and erred.

When Adam and his wife were placed in the Garden, they were not naked. When they ate the fruit of the forbidden tree, their clothing was stripped off them and thus their nakedness became apparent. Consequently, they started covering themselves with leaves, repentantly praying that they had wronged themselves. They were forgiven and clothing was then again bestowed upon humans to cover themselves. 

...

...

Humans are among the rare creatures whose skins are bare and not covered with fur, feather, shell or some other form of covering to hide their body.

Scientists have discovered pseudogenes (mutated, inactive genes) in humans, which indicate that perhaps sometime in the distant past, human skin was covered in fur or feather.

Scientists have also discovered a faint glow (bioluminescence) being emitted from the human body. 

Perhaps before Adam and his wife ate of the cursed tree, the clothes were growing upon or glowing off their body, and were shed off due to mutation caused in the genes upon eating the forbidden fruit? Or perhaps, the clothes were not connected to their body, but were to be worn externally like we do here on Earth.  Either way, perhaps this is what is meant by ‘libas-ut-taqwa’, the one that Allah designed for humans. After all, nothing can excel Allah’s design – it has to be the best! Regarding the Hereafter, the Quran provides imagery of clothes made of silk and brocade, and adornments of gold and silver. Noteworthy is the fact that the imagery given is of only one kind of dress, that the ‘muttaqi’ will be adorned with in the Garden. There is no mention of any fancy wardrobe to pick and choose from. Therefore, I infer, that the ‘libas-ut-taqwa’ that the ‘muttaqi’ will be wearing in the Garden will be part of their body, covering and attached to their skins.  

Warning for the Progeny of Adam

Quran 7:27 warns us that: O Children (of) Adam! (Let) not tempt you [the] Shaitaan as he drove out your parents from Paradise, stripping from both of them their clothing to show both of them their shame. Indeed, he sees you - he and his tribe from where not you see them. Indeed, We have made the devils friends of those who (do) not believe.

Tracing our Origin

Someone wrote: I talked about Adam and his wife - the Originators of all the humans on earth ... 

Reply: We trace our origin to Adam as we are all bani Adam (progeny of Adam). Contrary to popular belief, the Quran does not say that Adam was the first or only human. The following might be of interest: 

The First Humans http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-first-humans.html 

Adam

http://www.can-you-answer.com/scripts/miscArticles.asp?artno=92 

http://www.can-you-answer.com/CanChristiansAnswer/notAdam.htm 

Satan

JM wrote: Atheism is more than just absence of belief IMO: it requires a supernatural to disbelief in it. I look at a 'religiously motivated violence' with suspicion since I still look for a fitting definition for 'religious'. I asked Samiya where does 'Satan' come into the picture in vain. IMO every thinking person starts out with SOME belief (e.g. the existence (reality?) of an infinite complexity we like to call 'WORLD'' of which we only know a small fraction.)  

Answer: I'm not sure exactly what you had earlier asked about Satan and how I had attempted to answer it. I will try to answer 'where does 'Satan' come into the picture?' here.  However, my scripture informs me that we can only warn with this Quran those who believe in the unseen, hence perhaps that is the reason why our discussions have been in vain. 

May I ask why you refuse to admit the existence of a supernatural when you yourself admit that we know only a small fraction of the infinite complexity? And what do you mean by 'supernatural'? Do you use this term to refer to 'The Creator of Nature'?  

So, coming back to your question:  'where does 'Satan' come into the picture?' The following is as I understand it from the Quran. However, due to gaps in my understanding, the sequence of the events may be different, as I attempt to collect my thoughts: 

God, Allah: The Creator, The Sustainer, The King and The Deity, created everything for some purpose. 

He created dJinns and Humans to serve Him. He created dJinns from Fire and Humans from Clay.  The dJinns were created earlier, the humans later. However, there was a period of time when humans were nothing worth mentioning. Excerpts from my blogpost Human Evolution [http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2015/01/human-evolution.html]:

Earthly Origins

[Al-Qur’an 71:17, Translator: Sahih International] And Allah has caused you to grow from the earth a [progressive] growth. 

Pre-historic Humans 

[Al-Qur’an 76:1, Translator: Sahih International] Has there [not] come upon man a period of time when he was not a thing [even] mentioned?   

Perfection through Evolution 

[Al-Qur’an 32:7-9, Translator: Sahih International] Who perfected everything which He created and began the creation of man from clay. Then He made his posterity out of the extract of a liquid disdained. Then He proportioned him and breathed into him from His [created] soul and made for you hearing and vision and hearts; little are you grateful. 

[unquote] 

The Trust was offered to the Heavens, Earth and Mountains, all refused, scared to undertake the responsibility. Human undertook it. 

This act of being a Trustee necessitates that God judges humans, punishing the idolaters and the hypocrites, while rewarding the believers. 

Quran 33:72-73 Lo! We offered the trust unto the heavens and the earth and the hills, but they shrank from bearing it and were afraid of it. And man assumed it. Lo! he hath proved a tyrant and a fool. So Allah punisheth hypocritical men and hypocritical women, and idolatrous men and idolatrous women. But Allah pardoneth believing men and believing women, and Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful. 

However, the Compassionate and Just God is not going to punish anyone for no fault of theirs. Hence, after creating Adam, God took out Adam's progeny (all potential consciousnesses) and asked us all if He[God] is their god. We all testified to it, and hence each one of us is a witness to our own covenant with God.

Quran 7:172-174 And [mention] when your Lord took from the children of Adam - from their loins - their descendants and made them testify of themselves, [saying to them],"Am I not your Lord?" They said, "Yes, we have testified." [This] - lest you should say on the day of Resurrection, "Indeed, we were of this unaware." Or [lest] you say, "It was only that our fathers associated [others in worship] with Allah before, and we were but descendants after them. Then would You destroy us for what the falsifiers have done?" And thus do We [explain in] detail the verses, and perhaps they will return.

To establish its eligibility to inherit the eternal Garden(s), each consciousness also receives its own temporal life on Earth to prove its worth as a Trustee, and each will be judged individually. 

After God blew His Spirit in Adam, He asked all angels to prostrate/submit to Adam. However, Iblis (Satan / The Chief Deceiver) refused. His refusal to submit to Adam was based upon arrogance. He believes that his being created from Fire makes him superior to Adam who is created from Clay. Not all dJinns are evil, but Satan and his progeny are the sworn enemies of mankind. They watch us from where we cannot see them (another dimension / shadow biosphere / ??) and they are able to whisper suggestions to our minds (desires / temptations / expectations / fears / doubts / ?? ). Whether to act upon the suggestions or to resist them is in our control. Satan and his progeny do not have any real power upon us. Our intellect and our conscience are great blessings, and we must use them together to overcome the challenges.     

We are clearly and repeatedly warned that Satan is a determined, relentless enemy and that humans should not worship him. The only being worthy of worship is the One, True, Ever-Living God, and all other worship are actually forms of Satan-worship, who deceives us in multiple ways. 

Excerpts from my blogpost: Mission of the Messengers [http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2015/06/mission-of-messengers.html]

Adam’s Covenant and Fall

Quran 20:115 informs us that a covenant was already taken from Adam, but he forgot and there was no firm resolve on his part. The subsequent verses go on to relate the event of all angels prostrating to Adam while Iblees (Satan) refused. Adam is forewarned that Satan is an enemy to Adam and his wife; hence to be careful lest Satan causes their expulsion from the Garden where all their needs (food, clothing, comfort) were taken care of. However, they were seduced by Satan and ate the forbidden fruit. Quran 20:123 informs us that, at the time of their expulsion from the Garden to the earth, Adam and Eve are yet again warned of the enmity between humans and Satan, but that whoever follows God’s guidance will not lose his way or fall into misery. The subsequent verses of Chapter 20 expand upon the result of not heeding to God’s message.  

Satan’s Plan to Destroy Humans

Modern scientific research points to the origin of RNA in clay. Advances in Genetic Engineering are opening new avenues for alterations in and modification of the ‘code of life’. 

Experiments in cloning and cross-breeding on cattle have been going on since the past many years. Though  samples for cloning can be taken from anywhere, the most convenient and popular method is to take sample from the ear. 

The following verses help us understand the relationship between keeping our covenant and duty to God and the womb, and how Satan plans to corrupt creation by means of cloning and cross-breeding: 

Quran 4:117-121 informs us that the rebellious Satan is cursed because he has sworn to take a portion of humans and that: 

‘… And I will mislead them, and I will arouse in them [sinful] desires, and I will command them so they will slit the ears of cattle, and I will command them so they will change the creation of Allah ." And whoever takes Satan as an ally instead of Allah has certainly sustained a clear loss. …’ 

Quran 17:61-66 relating the story when the angels were ordered to prostrate to Adam, quotes Iblees' (Satan) objection to prostrate to one made of clay, vowing that ‘I will surely destroy his descendants, except for a few’. Granting Iblees respite till the Day of Resurrection, he is given permission to: ‘Go, for whoever of them follows you, indeed Hell will be the recompense of you - an ample recompense. And incite [to senselessness] whoever you can among them with your voice and assault them with your horses and foot soldiers and become a partner in their wealth and their children and promise them.’ 

[unquote] 

Leviticus 18-20 also forbids cross-breeding and related harmful practices. 

It is important to note that Iblis [Satan] is not unaware of God. He acknowledges God, yet refuses to obey Him. He arrogantly considers himself superior to another creation, and yet prays, to the same God he is daring to disobey, to grant him respite to the Day of Judgement. In the narrative in the Quran, Adam and his wife also err, tempted by Satan: 'Then Satan whispered to him; he said, "O Adam, shall I direct you to the tree of eternity and possession that will not deteriorate?" ' [http://quran.com/20/120]. Yet they humbly admit their error and turn to God in repentance. Hence, the importance of humility, submission and piety, the will to keep our duty to God. That, in my understanding, is what Faith is all about: willful submission to the Will of God! 

  

What divine consideration allows Satan to ... tempt and mislead, to beguile and decieve?

Question: I am familiar with the Islamic taboo against "partners unto Allah", but I am confused by the reference to Satan, a rebel. Must Satan not originally have been either a servant of God, a mighty being but not divine, like the angels you described, or else a partner of God? If Satan is not divine, then what divine consideration allows him to rebel and live for all these many years and harm so many human souls who otherwise might have pleased God? If Satan is not divine, from whence come "his" powers to tempt and mislead, to beguile and deceive? He often seems to be portrayed as a being of powers divine, greater than those of any angel, Christian or Islamic, and I find it hard to see how Satan is not essentially a partner of God. Does God not allow his rebellion to continue? Is that not a contract or agreement between divine good and evil? 

Answer: Satan (Iblis) refused to obey God out of pride and was cursed (removed from God's blessing forever). He blamed God for his fall from grace, and asked that he be given respite till Judgement Day so as to allow him & his progeny to lead mankind astray. God permitted that, knowing quite well that Satan will only be able to lead astray those who choose to be led by him.

Background:
1) Iblis is a dJinn. dJinns are a creature made of smokeless fire. They can see us but we cannot see them (from another dimension, I suppose).
2) Iblis was among the angels who were ordered to prostrate to Adam. Iblis refused to prostrate to Adam citing that he is superior to Adam as Adam has been created of clay.
3) Before God created Adam, God informed the angels that he is about to create a vice-regent for Earth. The angels asked why someone who would create mischief and shed blood... (Quran 2:30). God told them 'I know what ye know not'. After God had created Adam and taught him names of all beings (inferred from the arabic pronoun used), He then presented Adam to the angels and asked the angels to name them. The angels did not have the knowledge of those names and thus could not answer. Then Adam was asked and he was able to recite the names of them all.
4) Thereafter, the angels were ordered to prostrate to Adam. They all did except Iblis. He refused, was haughty and became of those who reject faith. God asked Iblis what prevented him from prostrating. Iblis said that Thou didst create me from fire and him from clay (Quran 7:12). God told him that it is not for Iblis to be arrogant , that he is the meanest of creatures, and he was ordered out. Iblis asked for respite till the day they (humans) are raised up. He was granted respite, disgraced and expelled. (Quran 7:13-18).
5) Adam and his wife were told to stay and enjoy all things in garden (heaven) and were only prohibited from one tree. They were warned that if they approach it, they will run into harm and transgression. Satan began to whisper suggestions to them and beguiled them, and through deceit brought their fall. God asked them that weren't they forbidden and were they not warned that Satan was their avowed enemy. They were repentant and humble, so God forgave them.    
6) Then were they sent to Earth for a temporal life (Quran 2:36 - 38 and 7:24).
Quran 2:38 'We said: "Get ye down all from here; and if, as is sure, there comes to you Guidance from me, whosoever follows My guidance, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.'
7) We are warned that Satan and his progeny are our enemies, and that we need to be ever aware of that. We are also told that they have no real power over us: they can only whisper and suggest, and stir up desires; it is up to us whether we choose to follow them or not.  

We on Earth, this temporal life and its trials, Satan and his progeny, Prophets and God's guidance, Judgement Day, Heaven and Hell, all this is part of a much larger scheme, of which we have but very little knowledge and insight. Things will be made clear to us when the time is right. So, for the time being, we must use conscience and intelligence as our tools in search of guidance and choose accordingly. 

Original Sin

Question: Many religions, including those of the “people of the book,” posit an “original sin” as the explanation for why and how suffering, pain and death entered into creation. The theory is that humans (symbolized in Adam and Eve) somehow caused it by their fall from grace in paradise.

Answer:The Holy Quran presents a very different picture from what the Christian belief is, even though, unfortunately, many muslims also somehow tend to understand this in biblical terms, as it has come to be the popular belief. According to the Quran, we are all here for a trial period, will be raised after death and will be judged on the basis of all our intents and deeds, big and small, and then live forever, either in the gardens[jannat] of Heaven, or in Hell, or as Allah wills. Humans, specifically, Adam and Eve, are not the cause of our pain, suffering and death. It is but the way Allah has chosen to design our trial period on Earth. Each and every person is responsible for his/her own actions, and all things happen according to Allah’s plan. All we can do is intend and try to make something happen. But, what actually happens, is what Allah has decreed. Which is why we will not be judged on the results, but rather on our intents and actions. Adam was created as a vice-regent/messenger for Earth………… for whom??? Fossil records indicate there were humans pre-dating Adam. We have discussed this also at http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/religiscience/ You’re welcome to join.You can also check out why I do not think man is central to creation at my blog: http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2008/11/man-central-to-creation-or-not.html 

Update March 13, 2026:

Humans & The Human Condition 

Creation of Adam

In the Holy Quran, regarding the creation of Adam, Allah tells us that:
30 And when thy Lord said unto the angels: Lo! I am about to place a viceroy in the earth, they said: Wilt thou place therein one who will do harm therein and will shed blood, while we, we hymn Thy praise and sanctify Thee? He said: Surely I know that which ye know not.
31 And He taught Adam all the names, then showed them to the angels, saying: Inform Me of the names of these, if ye are truthful.
32 They said: Be glorified! We have no knowledge saving that which Thou hast taught us. Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Knower, the Wise.
33 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 secret of the heavens and the earth? And I know that which ye disclose and which ye hide.
34 And when We said unto the angels: Prostrate yourselves before Adam, they fell prostrate, all save Iblis. He demurred through pride, and so became a disbeliever.
35 And We said: O Adam! Dwell thou and thy wife in the Garden, and eat ye freely (of the fruits) thereof where ye will; but come not nigh this tree lest ye become wrong-doers.
36 But Satan caused them to deflect therefrom and expelled them from the (happy) state in which they were; and We said: Fall down, one of you a foe unto the other! There shall be for you on earth a habitation and provision for a time.
37 Then Adam received from his Lord words (of revelation), and He relented toward him. Lo! He is the relenting, the Merciful.
38 We said: Go down, all of you, from hence; but verily there cometh unto you from Me a guidance; and whoso followeth My guidance, there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve.
39 But they who disbelieve, and deny Our revelations, such are rightful Peoples of the Fire. They will abide therein.

Notice that the angels already had an idea of what man was capable of, that is, fighting, shedding blood.

Also, please read the following articles:
Note: Arabic names and their English counterparts:
Isa=Jesus
Daud=David
Nuh=Noah

1. http://can-you-answer.com/scripts/miscArticles.asp?artno=92
Author :Illias Suttar
Title :Holy Torah, Holy Quran, Adam - Conclusive verses

With the name of Allah, The Compassionate, The Merciful. If Allah wills. What Allah wills. Peace be upon all the Holy Prophets.
Holy Torah, Holy Quran, Adam - Conclusive verses Adam, not first man, but, last man made directly from clay
There is not a single verse in the Holy Quran which says that Adam was the first man. It is because he was given the name Adam and made from clay without the involvement of father and mother, so somebody thought that he was the first man. This wrong concept is spread throughout the world, and all the three Jews, Christians, and Muslims have the same faith that Adam was the first man made out of clay/soil. The truth is that Adam was not the first man but the last man made out of clay.
From the Torah Allah proved through me that Adam was not the first man(The name of the article is, "Why I love the Holy Bible?"). The point is so conclusive that I announce a sweet and loving gift of Rs. 3 million to any Muslim, Christian, Jew, Hindu, Buddhist or Parsi, etc who can prove me wrong in any High court or Supreme court of the world.
Now, Allah has given me the following conclusive verses from the Holy Quran also proving that Adam was not the first man. Please see the following two verses: Chapter 15 Verse no. 26: "We have created human being (Nas), from ringing clay of loam moulded" Chapter 15 Verse no. 28: "And recall what time thy Lord said unto the angels: Verily, I am about to create a man (Bashr viz, Adam) from ringing clay of loam moulded"
Observation In verse 26, Allah says "We" and in verse 28, Allah says "I". "We," is used when Allah has engaged His angels and other beings in the job. "I" is used when Allah speaks only of Himself
In the Torah also, speaking about human beings before Adam, God uses the word "We," and says, "Now, We will make human beings" (Genesis 1, verse 26) Again, in the Torah, speaking about creation of Adam, not "We," but "He" (equivalent of "I") is used. "Then the Lord God took some soil from the ground and formed a man out of it;he breathed life-giving breath into his nostrils and the man began to live." (Genesis 2, verse 7)
Insaan In the verse 26, above, Allah through His angels, etc, created human beings (Insaan) from clay.
Bashr In the verse 28, above, Allah created with both His hands directly Bashr (namely, Adam). In chapter 38, verse 75, Allah said "O, Iblis! What prevented thee from prostrating thyself before that which I had created with both My hands?"
Observation So the creation of "Insaan" in verse 26 is different from the creation of "Bashr" in verse 28. "Insaan" was created indirectly by God. Adam was created directly by God. "Insaan" (human beings) were existing when Adam was created. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 3 Verse 59: "Verily the likeness of Isa, with Allah is as the likeness of Adam; him He created out of dust, thereafter He said unto him: Be, and lo!he becometh"
Observation Just as Isa was created away from the normal process when other human beings were being born, so Adam was created away from the normal process when other human beings were being born. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 3, verse 34: "Allah chose Adam, and Nuh, and the house of Ibrahim, and the house of Imran out of the worlds"
Observation Adam was chosen out of the worlds. So, Adam was never alone in the world. He was alone with his wife only in the Garden. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 38 verse 26: "O, Daud! Verily We have appointed thee a vicegerent (Khalifa) in the Earth, so judge between mankind with truth"
Chapter 2 Verse 30: "And what time thine Lord said unto the angels: Verily I am going to place a vicegerent (Khalifa, viz Adam) on the Earth"
Observation From verse 38/26, the one job of Daud as the Khalifa was to judge between mankind with truth. So, Adam as Khalifa was also supposed to judge between mankind with truth. If there were no mankind on Earth, how could Adam act as the Khalifa? Therefore, there were men existing when Adam was sent as the Khalifa. So, Adam was not the first man. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. http://can-you-answer.com/scripts/miscArticles.asp?artno=33
Author :Illias Suttar
Title :Has there not been over man a period of time when he was nothing to be mentioned


Has there not been over man a period of time when he was nothing to be mentioned
On 25th Dec. 2006 I wrote an article "Why I Love The Holy Bible" in which with the help of Torah it was proved (like 1 plus 1 is equal to 2) that Hazrat Adam (ph) was not the first human being and Eve was not the first woman.
Conclusive Proof from Holy Quran
By the Grace of ALLAH on 11-2-2007 Sunday I got the conclusive proof from the Holy Quran ALSO that human beings existed before Hazrat Adam (ph)
And surely We created you (PLURAL) and then gave you (PLURAL) shape, THEN We told the angels , "Prostrate to Adam".......... (Surah 7 Al-Araf verse 11)
The verse clearly says that PLURAL numbers of human beings were created first and after creating them the angels were told to prostrate to Adam.
I was so happy on discovering it that I simply could not be more happy.
The people created before Hazrat Adam (ph) were not worth to be mentioned, therefore no name has been mentioned. Please read the following verse in light of Sura 7 verse 11 mentioned above:-
"Has there not been over man a period of time when he was nothing to be mentioned" (Sura Ad-Dahr 76 verse 1)
The verse 76:1 has been shown by my friends Ali Raza Jaffery and Hanif Motiwala. I am grateful to them.