Chapter 2
The beginning of creation
and wonders of creation
34508: Falseness of the theory of evolution
Question:
There are people who say that long ago man was a
monkey and he evolved. Is this true? Is there any evidence?.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
This view is not correct, and the evidence for that is
that Allaah has described in the Qur'aan the stages of
the creation of Adam. Allaah says (interpretation of
the meaning):
"Verily, the likeness of `Eesa (Jesus) before Allaah is
the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust, then
(He) said to him: `Be!' — and he was"
[Aal `Imraan 3:59]
This dust was moistened until it became sticky mud
or clay that stuck to the hands. Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):
"And indeed We created man (Adam) out of an extract
of clay (water and earth)"
[al-Mu'minoon 23:12]
"Verily, We created them of a sticky
clay" [al-Saaffaat 37:12]
Then it became dried (sounding) clay of altered
mud. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And indeed, We created man from dried (sounding)
clay of altered mud"
[al-Hijr 15:26]
Then when it dried it became sounding clay like the
clay of pottery. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"He created man (Adam) from sounding clay like the
clay of pottery"
[al-Rahmaan 55:14]
Then Allaah moulded it into the form that He wanted
and breathed into him (his) soul created by Him. Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning):
"(Remember) when your Lord said to the angels:
`Truly, I am going to create man from clay'.
So when I have fashioned him and breathed into him
(his) soul created by Me, then you fall down prostrate to him"
[Saad 38:71-72]
These are the stages through which the creation of
Adam passed according to the Qur'aan. As for the stages
of creation which the progeny of Adam pass through,
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And indeed We created man (Adam) out of an extract
of clay (water and earth).
Thereafter We made him (the offspring of Adam) as
a Nutfah (mixed drops of the male and female
sexual discharge and lodged it) in a safe lodging (womb of
the woman).
Then We made the Nutfah into a clot (a piece of
thick coagulated blood), then We made the clot into a little
lump of flesh, then We made out of that little lump of
flesh bones, then We clothed the bones with flesh, and
then We brought it forth as another creation. So Blessed
is Allaah, the Best of creators"
[al-Mu'minoon 23:12-14]
With regard to the wife of Adam _ Hawwa' (Eve) _
Allaah tells us that He created her from him, as He
says (interpretation of the meaning):
"O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created
you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam)
He created his wife [Hawwa (Eve)], and from them both
He created many men and women"
[al-Nisa' 4:1]
From Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, 1/31.
(www.islam-qa.com)
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26876: Is the earth in the first heaven?
Question:
Is the earth in the first heaven (al-sama' al-dunya)
or beneath it, knowing that the Messenger (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was taken up to
the heavens and ascending can only be from something
lower to something higher?.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah. The lowest heaven (al-sama'
al-dunya') encompasses the earth and is high above
it. Wherever a person goes on earth, the heaven is
above him.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said:
It is well known from a rational point of view that the
air is above the earth, and the heaven is above the earth.
This was known before it was known that the heaven encompasses the earth. Being above something does
not necessarily mean encompassing, even though encompassing does not contradict it. Hence the
people knew that the heaven is above the earth, and the
clouds above the earth, before it ever occurred to them that
it encompasses the earth.
Dar' al-Ta'aarud, 6/336, 337
Ibn al-Qayyim said in al-Sawaa'iq
al-Mursalah, 4/1308, that the view that the heaven does not encompass the
earth and is only above it, is a view that goes against
scholarly consensus and that which is indicated by reason
and tangible evidence.
Ibn Hazm said:
Based on this evidence, the earth is a place that is
beneath the heaven, hence the heaven is above the earth…
and with regard to the son of Adam, his head points
towards the heavens and his feet towards the earth.
Al-Fasl bayna al-Milal wa'l-Nahl, 2/243
And Allaah knows best.
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2593: Why are there so many earthquakes?
Question:
Many countries have had earthquakes, such as
Turkey, Mexico, Taiwan, Japan, etc. Does this mean
anything (from an Islamic point of view)?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Praise be to Allaah, and peace and blessings be upon
the Messenger of Allaah, and upon his family,
companions, and those who follow his guidance.
Allaah is the All-Wise, All-Knowing in all that He
wills and decrees, and He is the All-Wise, All-Knowing in
all that He legislates and commands. He creates and
decrees whatever signs He wills, to frighten His slaves and
remind them of their obligations and duties towards Him, and
to warn them against associating anything in worship
with Him, going against His commands and doing that
which He has forbidden. Allaah says (interpretation of
the meaning):
"And We sent not the signs except to warn"
[al-Israa' 17:59]
"We will show them Our Signs in the universe, and
in their own selves, until it becomes manifest to them
that this (the Qur'aan) is the truth. Is it not sufficient in
regard to your Lord that He is a Witness over all things?"
[Fussilat 41:53]
"Say: `He has power to send torment on you from
above or from under your feet, or to cover you with
confusion in party strife, and make you to taste the violence of
one another.'" [al-An'aam 6:65]
Al-Bukhaari narrated in his Saheeh from Jaabir ibn
`Abd-Allaah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that when
the aayah (interpretation of the meaning) "Say: `He has
power to send torment on you from above" was revealed,
the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said, "A'oodhu bi wajhika (I seek refuge in Your Face";
"or from under your feet", he said,
"A'oodhu bi wajhika (I seek refuge in Your Face)."
(Saheeh al-Bukhaari, 5/193).
(Abu'l-Shaykh al-Isbahaani narrated from
Mujaahid concerning the Tafseer of this aayah,
"Say: `He has power to send torment on you from
above": (this means) al-Sayhah (the shout or tumult), stones and strong
wind; "or from under your feet", (means) earthquakes and
being swallowed up by the earth.)
Undoubtedly the earthquakes that are happening
these days are among the signs which Allaah uses to
frighten His slaves. All the earthquakes and other things
which happen and cause harm and injury to people are
because of shirk and sins, as Allaah says (interpretation of
the meanings):
"And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because
of what your hands have earned. And He pardons
much" [al-Shoora 42:30]
"Whatever of good reaches you, is from Allaah,
but whatever of evil befalls you, is from yourself"
[al-Nisaa' 4:79]
And Allaah said concerning the nations of the past:
"So We punished each (of them) for his sins, of them
were some on whom We sent Haasib (a violent wind
with shower of stones) [as on the people of Loot (Lot)], and
of them were some who were overtaken by As-Saihah [torment — awful cry, (as Thamood or Shu`ayb's
people)], and of them were some whom We caused the earth
to swallow [as Qaaroon (Korah)], and of them were
some whom We drowned [as the people of Nooh (Noah),
or Fir`aun (Pharaoh) and his people]. It was not
Allaah Who wronged them, but they wronged themselves"
[al-`Ankaboot 29:40]
What Muslims and others who are accountable and
of sound mind must do is repent to Allaah, adhere firmly
to His Religion and avoid all that He has forbidden of
Shirk and sin, so that they may be safe and attain salvation
from all evils in this world and the next, and so that Allaah
will ward off from them all harm, and bless them with all
good. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And if the people of the towns had believed and had
the Taqwaa (piety), certainly, We should have opened for
them blessings from the heaven and the earth, but they
belied (the Messengers). So We took them (with punishment)
for what they used to earn (polytheism and crimes)."
[al-A'raaf 7:96]
And Allaah says concerning the People of the
Book (interpretation of the meaning):
"And if only they had acted according to the
Tawraah (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel), and what has (now)
been sent down to them from their Lord (the Qur'ân),
they would surely, have gotten provision from above them
and from underneath their feet" [al-Maa'idah 5:66].
And Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Did the people of the towns then feel secure against
the coming of Our punishment by night while they
were asleep? Or, did the people of the towns then feel
secure against the coming of Our punishment in the
forenoon while they were playing? Did they then feel secure
against the Plan of Allaah? None feels secure from the Plan
of Allaah except the people who are the losers."
[al-A'raaf 7:97-99]
Al-`Allaamah Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy
on him) said: "Allaah sometimes gives the earth
permission to breathe, which is when major earthquakes happen;
this makes people feel scared, so they repent, give up
sins, pray to Allaah and feel regret [for their sins]. When
there had been an earthquake, some of the Salaf said: your
Lord is warning you. When Madeenah was struck by
an earthquake, `Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be
pleased with you) addressed the people and said: if there is
another earthquake, I will not stay here with you."
And there are many similar reportes from the Salaf.
Our response when there is an earthquake or some
other sign such as an eclipse, strong winds or floods, should
be to hasten to repent to Allaah and pray to Him for
safety, and to remember Him much and seek His forgiveness,
as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said when there was an eclipse: "If you see anything
like that, hasten to remember Him, call on Him and seek
His forgiveness." (Part of an agreed-upon hadeeth
narrated by al-Bukhaari (2/30) and Muslim (2/628)).
It is also mustahabb (recommended, encouraged) to
show compassion to the poor and needy, and to give charity
to them, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said:
"Show mercy, you will be shown mercy."
(Narrated by Imaam Ahmad, 2/165)
"Those who are merciful will be shown mercy by the
Most Merciful. Have mercy on those who are on earth, and
the One Who is in heaven will show mercy to you."
(Narrated by Abu Dawood (13/285), al-Tirmidhi (6/43)).
"Whoever does not show mercy will not be shown
mercy." (Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5/75), Muslim (4/1809)).
It was reported that when there was an earthquake,
`Umar ibn `Abd al-`Azeez (may Allaah have mercy on
him) would write to his governors telling them to give in charity.
One of the things which will help to keep people safe
and sound is if the authorities impose an immediate
crack-down on the foolish elements in society, forcing them
to behave and applying the laws of sharee'ah to
them, enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"The believers, men and women, are Awliyaa'
(helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another; they
enjoin (on the people) Al-Ma`roof (i.e. Islamic Monotheism
and all that Islam orders one to do), and forbid (people)
from Al-Munkar (i.e. polytheism and disbelief of all kinds,
and all that Islam has forbidden); they perform
As-Salaah (Iqaamat-as-Salaah), and give the Zakaah, and obey
Allaah and His Messenger. Allaah will have His Mercy on
them. Surely, Allaah is All-Mighty, All-Wise" [al-Tawbah 9:71]
"Verily, Allaah will help those who help His
(Cause). Truly, Allaah is All-Strong, All-Mighty. Those
(Muslim rulers) who, if We give them power in the land,
(they) enjoin Iqamat-as-Salaah [i.e. to perform the
five compulsory congregational Salaah (prayers) (the
males in mosques)], to pay the Zakaah and they enjoin
Al-Ma`roof (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam
orders one to do), and forbid Al-Munkar (i.e.
disbelief, polytheism and all that Islam has forbidden) [i.e.
they make the Qur'aan as the law of their country in all
the spheres of life]. And with Allaah rests the end of
(all) matters (of creatures)." [al-Hajj 22:40-41]
"And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to
Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from
every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources)
he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust
in Allaah, then He will suffice him." [al-Talaaq 65:2-3]
And there are many aayaat on this topic.
The Prophet ( peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said: "Whoever meets the need of his brother, Allaah
will meet his needs."
(Agreed upon; al-Bukhaari, 3/98; Muslim, 4/1996).
And he ( peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said: "Whoever relieves a believer of some of the
distress of this world, Allaah will relieve him of some of
the distress of the Day of Resurrection. Whoever makes
things easier for one who is suffering hardship, Allaah will
make things easier for him in this world and in the
Hereafter. Whoever conceals a Muslim's faults, Allaah will
conceal his faults in this world and in the Hereafter. Allaah
will help a person so long as he helps his brother."
(Narrated by Muslim, 4/2074). And there are many ahaadeeth
on this topic.
Allaah is the One Whom we ask to reform the affairs
of all the Muslims and to bless them with proper understanding of Islam and help them to adhere
steadfastly to it and repent to Allaah from all their sins. We ask
Him to reform all those who are in authority over the
Muslims' affairs and to support the Truth and eradicate
falsehood through them, and to help them to rule the
people according to the laws of sharee'ah, and to protect
them and all the Muslims from misguidance and
temptation and the tricks of the Shaytaan, for He is Able to do
all that.
May the blessings and peace of Allaah be upon
our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and companions, and those who follow them in truth
until the Day of Resurrection.
Abd al-`Azeez ibn `Abd-Allaah ibn Baaz (may
Allaah have mercy on him). (www.islam-qa.com)
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42237: What is the purpose of animals and plants
on Earth?
Question:
What is the purpose of animals and plants on Earth?.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
It should be noted that Allaah has created man to
worship Him, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And I (Allaah) created not the jinn and mankind
except that they should worship Me (Alone)"
[al-Dhaariyaat 51:56]
Allaah has created for man and has subjugated to
him what is in the heavens and on earth, so that he may
benefit from it and enjoy it, and meet his needs, and use it to
help him to worship Allaah.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"He it is Who created for you all that is on earth"
[al-Baqarah 2:29]
"See you not (O men) that Allaah has subjected for
you whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in
the earth, and has completed and perfected His Graces
upon you, (both) apparent (i.e. Islamic Monotheism, and
the lawful pleasures of this world, including health,
good looks) and hidden [i.e. one's faith in Allaah (of
Islamic Monotheism), knowledge, wisdom, guidance for
doing righteous deeds, and also the pleasures and delights
of the Hereafter in Paradise]?" [Luqmaan
31:20]
"And has subjected to you all that is in the heavens
and all that is in the earth; it is all as a favour and
kindness from Him. Verily, in it are signs for a people who
think deeply"
[al-Jaathiyah 45:13]
"And He has made the sun and the moon, both
constantly pursuing their courses, to be of service to you; and
He has made the night and the day, to be of service to you"
[Ibraaheem 14:33]
There follow some of the reasons and purposes for
the existence of animals and plants on Earth:
Plants are food for people and animals. Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Verily, the likeness of (this) worldly life is as the
water (rain) which We send down from the sky; so by it
arises the intermingled produce of the earth of which men
and cattle eat"
[Yoonus 10:24]
"Then let man look at his food:
We pour forth water in abundance.
And We split the earth in clefts.
And We cause therein the grain to grow,
And grapes and clover plants (i.e. green fodder for
the cattle),
And olives and date palms,
And gardens dense with many trees,
And fruits and herbage.
(To be) a provision and benefit for you and your
cattle." [`Abasa 80:24-32]
Plants remind man that this world will come to an end:
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Verily, the likeness of (this) worldly life is as the
water (rain) which We send down from the sky; so by it
arises the intermingled produce of the earth of which men
and cattle eat: until when the earth is clad in its
adornments and is beautified, and its people think that they have
all the powers of disposal over it, Our Command reaches
it by night or by day and We make it like a
clean-mown harvest, as if it had not flourished yesterday! Thus do
We explain the Ayaat in detail for the people who reflect"
[Yoonus 10:24]
Allaah gives people the likeness of the resurrection
of the dead and their coming forth from their graves,
by reminding them of what they see of the earth coming
back to life after it was dead. He says (interpretation of
the meaning):
"And among His Signs (in this), that you see the
earth barren, but when We send down water (rain) to it, it
is stirred to life and growth (of vegetations). Verily, He
Who gives it life, surely is Able to give life to the dead (on
the Day of Resurrection). Indeed He is Able to do all things"
[Fussilat 41:39]
Man also derives medicines from plants, the greatest
of which are the black seed of which the Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said that it is a cure
for every disease apart from death (narrated by
al-Bukhaari, 5687); and honey, which is gathered from the nectar
of flowers, of which Allaah says (interpretation of
the meaning): "… wherein is healing for man…"
[al-Nahl 16:69].
Animals are also food for people.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And the cattle, He has created them for you; in
them there is warmth (warm clothing), and numerous
benefits, and of them you eat"
[al-Nahl 16:5]
"And He it is Who has subjected the sea (to you),
that you eat thereof fresh tender meat (i.e. fish), and that
you bring forth out of it ornaments to wear. And you see
the ships ploughing through it, that you may seek (thus)
of His Bounty (by transporting the goods from place to
place) and that you may be grateful"
[al-Nahl 16:14]
And animals are a means of transportation and
an adornment.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And (He has created) horses, mules and donkeys,
for you to ride and as an adornment. And He creates
(other) things of which you have no knowledge"
[al-Nahl 16:8]
From animals man makes the tents in which he lives
and the clothes that he wears. Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):
"And Allaah has made for you in your homes an
abode, and made for you out of the hides of the cattle (tents
for) dwelling, which you find so light (and handy) when
you travel and when you stay (in your travels); and of
their wool, fur, and hair (sheep wool, camel fur, and goat
hair), furnishings and articles of convenience (e.g.
carpets, blankets), comfort for a while"
[al-Nahl 16:80]
Horses are a means of jihad and will remain so until
the Hour begins; the Muslims wage jihad on horseback
and achieve victory, acquire war booty and are rewarded
by Allaah.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And make ready against them all you can of
power, including steeds of war to threaten the enemy of
Allaah and your enemy, and others besides whom, you may
not know but whom Allaah does know" [al-Anfaal
8:60]
Al-Bukhaari (2852) and Muslim (1873) narrated
from `Urwah al-Baariqi that the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Good will remain (as
a permanent quality) in the foreheads of horses (for
Jihad) till the Day of Resurrection, for they bring about
reward (from Allaah) and booty."
These are some of the benefits of animals and plants.
And there are other purposes and benefits which no one
knows except Allaah.
And Allaah knows best.
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36521: Maqaam Ibraaheem and the footprints on it
Question:
Are the marks on Maqaam Ibraaheem the footprints
of Ibraaheem (peace be upon him) or not?.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Maqaam Ibraaheem (the Station of Ibraaheem) is the
stone on which he stood when the building became higher
than he could reach. So his son put this famous stone there
for him so that he could stand on it when the building
grew tall… The footprints of al-Khaleel (Ibraaheem, peace
be upon him) remained on the rock until the beginning
of Islam.
From al-Bidaayah wa'l-Nihaayah, 1/163
Ibn Hajr said: What is meant by Maqaam Ibraaheem
is the stone on which are the marks of his feet.
Ibn Katheer said:
The marks of his feet were clear on it and were
well known; the Arabs were familiar with that during
their jaahiliyyah and the Muslims also knew of that, as
Anas ibn Maalik said: I saw the Maqaam on which were
the marks of his toes and heels.
But they disappeared because of people touching
them with their hands.
Ibn Jareer narrated that Qataadah said: "
`And take you (people) the Maqaam (place) of Ibraaheem
(Abraham) [or the stone on which Ibraaheem (Abraham) stood
while he was building the Ka`bah] as a place of prayer
(for some of your prayers, e.g. two Rak`at after the Tawaaf
of the Ka`bah at Makkah)' [al-Baqarah 2:125 _ interpretation of the
meaning]. This means that they were commanded to pray at that place; they were
not commanded to touch it. This ummah went beyond
what was prescribed for it, to an extent that no previous
nation did. We have heard from those who saw the marks of
his heels and toes on it, but this ummah kept touching
them until they disappeared."
From Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 1/117
Shaykh Ibn `Uthaymeen said:
Undoubtedly Maqaam Ibraaheem is proven and that
on which the glass enclosure is built is indeed
Maqaam Ibraaheem. But the engraved marks that appear on it
do not seem to be footprints, because what is well
known from an historical point of view is that those
footprints disappeared a long time ago. But these engraved
marks were meant as a marker only, and we cannot be
certain that these are the footprints of Ibraaheem (peace be
upon him).
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14527: Who moved the Ka'bah to where it is now?
Question:
Who moved the kab'ah to where it is now?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
The Ka'bah was not in one place and then moved,
rather it was built in the place where it is now, and it has
not been moved from that time. The scholars differed as
to who built the Ka'bah. It was said that it was the
angels, or Adam (peace be upon him), or Ibraaheem (peace
be upon him) _ the latter is the correct view.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And (remember) when Ibraaheem (Abraham) and
(his son) Ismaa'eel (Ishmael) were raising the foundations
of the House (the Ka`bah at Makkah), (saying), `Our
Lord! Accept (this service) from us. Verily, You are the
All-Hearer, the All-Knower'"
[al-Baqarah 2:127]
It was narrated that Abu Dharr (may Allaah be
pleased with him) said: I said, "O Messenger of Allaah,
which mosque was built first on earth?" He said, "Al-Masjid
al-Haraam." I said, "Then which?" He said, "Al-Masjid
al-Aqsa." I asked, "How much time was between
them?" He said, "Forty years. So wherever you are when the
time for prayer comes, then pray."
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3186; Muslim, 520.
The scholars of the Standing Committee said:
The Holy Ka'bah is the qiblah of the Muslims
towards which they face in every prayer, in obedience to
the command of Allaah, as He says (interpretation of
the meaning):
"Verily, We have seen the turning of your
(Muhammad's) face towards the heaven. Surely, We shall turn you to
a Qiblah (prayer direction) that shall please you, so
turn your face in the direction of Al-Masjid Al-Haraam
(at Makkah). And wheresoever you people are, turn
your faces (in prayer) in that direction"
[al-Baqarah 2:144]
It is also the place where they perform the rituals of
Hajj and `Umrah, by circumambulating it, in obedience to
the command of Allaah (interpretation of the meaning):
"and circumambulate the Ancient House (the Ka`bah
at Makkah)" [al-Hajj 22:29]
And in obedience to what Allaah has prescribed on
the lips of His Messenger Muhammad (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him).
It was built by Ibraaheem al-Khaleel and his son
Ismaa'eel (peace be upon them both) as Allaah tells us
(interpretation of the meaning):
"And (remember) when Ibraaheem (Abraham) and
(his son) Ismaa'eel (Ishmael) were raising the foundations
of the House (the Ka`bah at Makkah), (saying), `Our
Lord! Accept (this service) from us. Verily, You are the
All-Hearer, the All-Knower'"
[al-Baqarah 2:127]
And it has been renovated several times since then.
Shaykh `Abd al-`Azeez ibn `Abd-Allaah ibn Baaz,
Shaykh `Abd al-Razzaaq `Afeefi, Shaykh `Abd-Allaah
ibn Ghadyaan, Shaykh `Abd-Allaah ibn Qa'ood.
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, 6/310
And Allaah knows best.
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4811: So let man see from what he is created
Question:
Did Allaah create man from clay or from something
else that is not fully described in the Qur'aan?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
Allaah created Adam (peace be upon him) from the
earth i.e., from what it contains. Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):
"Thereof (the earth) We created you, and into it We
shall return you, and from it We shall bring you out once again"
[Ta-Ha 20:55]
He created him from the dust of the earth, as He
says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Verily, the likeness of `Eesa (Jesus) before Allaah is
the likeness of Adam. He created him from
dust…" [Aal `Imraan 3:59]
There are many similar verses in the Qur'aan.
Then the dust was combined with water to form clay,
as the Lord of the Worlds says (interpretation of
the meaning):
"He it is Who has created you from clay, and then
has decreed a (stated) term (for you to die). And there is
with Him another determined term (for you to be resurrected)"
[al-An'aam 6:2]
There are also many similar verses.
This clay was sticky _ or it was said, viscous _ as it
says in the verse (interpretation of the meaning):
"Verily, We created them of a sticky clay"
[al-Saaffaat 37:11]
Ibn Manzoor said: the words laazib (sticky) comes
from the root lazuba which has the meaning of becoming
sticky and solid. Lisaan al-`Arab, 1/738
Then this sticky clay became muntin (stinking).
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And indeed, We created man from dried (sounding)
clay of altered mud [min hama'in masnoon]"
[al-Hijr 15:26]
Al-Raazi said:
Al-hama' means black mud.
(Mukhtaar al-Sihaah, p. 64).
It says in Lisaan al-`Arab (1/61):
Al-hama' means black, stinking mud. In the Qur'aan
it says "min hama'in masnoon."
And it says in Lisaan al-`Arab (13/227):
"Masnoon means muntin (stinking), as in the verse
`min hamaa'in masnoon.' Abu `Amr said: this means
altered and stinking. Abu'l-Haytham said: sunna al-ma', fa
huwa masnoon, i.e., the water changed, so it was
altered (masnoon)."
When this mud was mixed with sand, it became
salsaal (dried clay).
Al-Raazi said:
Salsaal is hot mud mixed with sand, so it starts to
clank or clatter when it dries. If it is baked with fire it
becomes fired clay or earthenware pottery.
Mukhtaar al-Sihaah, 1/154.
It says in Lisaan al-`Arab (11/382):
Al-Salsaal min al-teen (clay made from mud) is that
which has not been made into pottery. Any mud or clay that
dries is described as salla saleelan (rattling or clattering)
… i.e., it makes a noise like new pottery. Thus
salsaal is likened to pottery, as in the verse,
"He created man (Adam) from sounding clay like the
clay of pottery"
[al-Rahmaan 55:14 _ interpretation of the
meaning]
All of this is confirmed by the hadeeth of Abu Moosa
al-Ash'ari who said: "I heard the Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: `Allaah
created Adam from a handful that He gathered from the
entire earth, so the sons of Adam come like the earth. Some
of them are red, some are white, some are black and
some are in between. Some of them are easy, some of them
are difficult, some are evil and some are good."
(Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2955; Abu Dawood, 4693.
Al-Tirmidhi said that this hadeeth is hasan saheeh, and
it was classed as saheeh by Ibn Hibbaan, 14/29;
al-Haakim, 2/288; and al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi
Dawood, 3926).
This is how Adam was created: from the earth _ i.e.
from its dust _ which was then mixed with water to form
mud, which then became black, stinking mud. And this
dust was created from the earth which is partly sand and
when it is mixed it becomes sounding clay like the clay
of pottery.
Hence when Allaah describes the creation of Adam
in the Qur'aan, in each case He describes one of the
stages through which his creation passed and through which
the mud was formed. So there is no contradiction in the
verses of the Qur'aan.
Then after that the sons of Adam started to multiply
and they were created through water which is the sperm
and fluids which are emitted by men and women, as is
well known.
This is explained by the Qur'aan in the verses (interpretation of the meanings):
"And it is He Who has created man from water, and
has appointed for him kindred by blood, and kindred
by marriage"
[al-Furqaan 25:54]
"Then He made his offspring from semen of
despised water (male and female sexual discharge)"
[al-Sajdah 32:8]
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
When the perfection, complete power,
all-encompassing knowledge, ever-executed will and utmost wisdom of
the Lord decreed that His creation should be of materials
of different kinds, and that they should vary in their
forms and attributes and natures, His wisdom decreed that
He should take a handful of dust from the earth, then mix
it with water. So it became like black stinking mud.
Then the wind was sent upon it and it dried out, until it
became clay like pottery. Then it was given shape and limbs
and faculties, and each part of it was given a shape suited
to its purpose.
Then he mentioned how people are created by means
of intercourse and the emission of semen.
Al-Tabaayun fi Aqsaam al-Qur'aan, p. 204
And Allaah knows best.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
(www.islam-qa.com)
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20907: How many years were there between Adam
and Muhammad (peace be upon them both)?
Question:
How long was the period of time between the creation
of Adam (peace be upon him) and the creation of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
There is nothing in Islam that defines the period
between Adam and Muhammad (peace be upon them both);
indeed the length of time that Adam (peace be upon him) lived
is not known.
But there are some ahaadeeth and reports which, if
we put them together, we can arrive at an approximate
length of time, but that does not cover the complete period.
Some of these ahaadeeth and reports are saheeh (sound)
and others are subject to differences of scholarly opinion,
and some periods of time are not defined precisely in
any reports. Among the saheeh reports concerning that
are the following:
1 _ Allaah says concerning the length of time that
Nooh (peace be upon him) remained calling his people:
"and he stayed among them a thousand years less
fifty years"
[al-`Ankaboot 29:14]
2 _ The period between `Eesa and our Prophet (peace
be upon them both): al-Bukhaari narrated that Salmaan
al-Faarisi said: "The period between `Eesa and our
Prophet (peace be upon them both) was six hundred years."
There are also other reports whose soundness is debatable,
which mention the following:
3 _ The period between Adam and Nooh (peace be
upon them both): it was narrated from Abu Umaamah that
a man said: "O Messenger of Allaah, was Adam a
Prophet?" He said, "Yes, and Allaah spoke to him." The man
asked, "How much (time) was there between him and
Nooh?" He said, "Ten centuries." Narrated by Ibn Hibbaan in
his Saheeh, 14/69; and by al-Haakim, 2/262. He said it
is saheeh according to the conditions of Muslim, and
al-Dhahabi agreed with him. Ibn Katheer said in
al-Bidaayah wa'l-Nihaayah (1/94): this is (saheeh) according to
the conditions of Muslim, even though he did not narrate it.
4 _ The period between Nooh and Ibraaheem (peace
be upon them both): our evidence is in the continuation
of the hadeeth of Abu Umaamah (may Allaah be
pleased with him) quoted above: … He said, "And how long
was there between Nooh and Ibraaheem?" He said,
"Ten centuries." (Narrated by al-Haakim in
al-Mustadrak, 2/288. He said: this hadeeth is saheeh according to
the conditions of Muslim, although he did not narrate it.
And it was narrated by al-Tabaraani in al-Mu'jam
al-Kabeer, 8/118.
It was reported that some of the narrators of this
hadeeth were da'eef (weak), but al-Albaani classed it as
saheeh on the basis of corroborating reports.
Some of the reports that were narrated include
the following:
5. The period between Moosa and `Eesa (peace be
upon them both). Al-Qurtubi said: there was some
difference of opinion as to the length of this period. Muhammad
ibn Sa'd mentioned in his book al-Tabaqaat that Ibn
`Abbaas said: "between Moosa ibn `Imraan and `Eesa ibn
Maryam (peace be upon them both) there were one thousand
and seven hundred years, and there was no fatrah
(interval when no Prophet was sent) between them, for
one thousand Prophets of the Children of Israel were
sent between them, apart from other Prophets who were
also sent (to other nations). And between the birth of
`Eesa and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) there were five hundred and ninety-nine
years." (Tafseer al-Qurtubi, 6/121). Ibn Hajar said: "The
narrators are agreed that the period of the Jews until the coming
of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) was more than two thousand years, and the period of
the Christians until the coming of the Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was six hundred
years." (Fath al-Baari, 4/449)
By looking at the verse, ahaadeeth, reports and
opinions quoted above, if they are correct then we may use
them to work out the period in question.
But as for being certain of the length of time
between Adam and Muhammad (peace be upon them both),
then in addition to the above there are many other considerations to be addressed before we can work it
out, including the following:
· Differences of scholarly opinion concerning
the definition of the word qarn (translated above as
"century") _ does it mean one hundred years, or does it mean
one generation? What we know is that the lifespan of
the people at that time was a fraction of the time that
Nooh spent in calling his people, and we do not know how
long the people of those generations lived.
· There is no report which defines the number of
years between Ibraaheem and Moosa (peace be upon
them both).
It remains to be said that being certain about such
matters or researching them are not things on which we base
our acts of worship or our actions, and the words of
Allaah are sufficient for us:
"And (also) `Aad and Thamood, and the Dwellers
of ArRass, and many generations in between"
[al-Furqaan 25:38 _ interpretation of the meaning]
We must strive to follow the example of these
Prophets and walk in their footsteps, because this is the
purpose behind mentioning them and their lives:
"They are those whom Allaah had guided. So follow
their guidance"
[al-An'aam 6:90]
And Allaah knows best.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid (www.islam-qa.com)
Search Inside This Book At Google Book Search - (400 pages)
22058: Man was created tall then he kept getting
shorter until now
Question:
Was man short at the time of Adam (peace be upon
him) then he gradually grew taller, or was it the other
way round? May Allaah reward you with good.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Allaah created Adam (peace be upon him) sixty
cubits tall, then mankind gradually grew shorter until
they stopped and remained as they are now. The evidence
for that in the Sunnah is the hadeeth of the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): "Allaah
created Adam sixty cubits tall, then mankind kept getting
shorter until now." (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3326;
Muslim, 2841). Ibn Abi Haatim narrated with a hasan isnaad
from Ubayy ibn Ka'b that the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) said: "Allaah created Adam a
tall man with a lot of hair on his head, as if he were a
tall palm tree."
Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him)
said in Fath al-Baari:
" `Mankind kept getting shorter until now' means
that each generation grew shorter than the generation
before, and that decrease in height ended with this ummah,
and that is how they stayed."
And Allaah knows best. May Allaah send blessings
and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid (www.islam-qa.com)
Search Inside This Book At Google Book Search - (400 pages)
20965: The pigeons of Makkah and Madeenah
Question:
Is there anything special about the pigeons of
Makkah and Madeenah?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
There is nothing special about the pigeons of Makkah
or the pigeons of Madeenah, apart from the fact that
they may not be hunted or disturbed so long as they are
within the boundaries of the sanctuary, because of the
general meaning of the hadeeth: "Allaah had made
Makkah sacred, and (fighting therein) was not permitted to
anyone before me and will not be permitted to anyone after
me. It was only permitted to me for a brief time on one
day. Its shrubs are not to be uprooted, its trees are not to be
cut down, and its game is not to be disturbed." (Narrated
by al-Bukhaari, 1349). And he SAWS (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Ibraaheem made Makkah
a sanctuary, and I have made Madeenah a sanctuary, whatever is between its two lava fields [?]; its trees
are not to be cut down and its game is not to be
hunted." (Narrated by Muslim, 1360).
Standing Committee for Academic Research and
Issuing Fatwas, Fataawa al-Lajnah, 11/199. (www.islam-qa.com)
Search Inside This Book At Google Book Search - (400 pages)
14085: Are the monkeys and pigs that exist
nowadays humans who have been transformed?
Question:
Could you please tell me about monkeys. Are they
humans who were turned into monkeys for disobeying
Allahs commandments? if so which people were they and
what did they do?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Maskh (transformation) refers to the changing of
a person's exterior appearance. Allaah has told us in
more than one place in the Qur'aan that He transformed
some of the Children of Israel into monkeys as a
punishment for their disobedience towards Allaah. Allaah
says, addressing the Children of Israel (interpretation of
the meaning):
"And indeed you knew those amongst you
who transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath (i.e.
Saturday). We said to them: `Be you monkeys, despised and rejected.'
So We made this punishment an example to their
own and to succeeding generations and a lesson to those
who are Al-Muttaqoon (the pious)"
[al-Baqarah 2:65-66]
And Allaah tells us their story in more detail in Soorat
al-A'raaf, where He says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And ask them (O Muhammad) about the town that
was by the sea; when they transgressed in the matter of
the Sabbath (i.e. Saturday): when their fish came to
them openly on the Sabbath day, and did not come to them
on the day they had no Sabbath. Thus We made a trial
of them, for they used to rebel against Allaah's
Command (disobey Allaah)
And when a community among them said: `Why do
you preach to a people whom Allaah is about to destroy or
to punish with a severe torment?' (The preachers) said:
`In order to be free from guilt before your Lord (Allaah),
and perhaps they may fear Allaah.'
So when they forgot the reminders that had been given
to them, We rescued those who forbade evil, but with a
severe torment We seized those who did wrong because they
used to rebel against Allaah's Command (disobey Allaah).
So when they exceeded the limits of what they
were prohibited, We said to them: `Be you monkeys,
despised and rejected'"
[al-A'raaf 7:163-166]
And Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Say: `O people of the Scripture (Jews and
Christians)! Do you criticize us for no other reason than that we
believe in Allaah, and in (the Revelation) which has been
sent down to us and in that which has been sent down
before (us), and that most of you are Faasiqoon [rebellious
and disobedient (to Allaah)]?'
Say (O Muhammad to the people of the Scripture):
`Shall I inform you of something worse than that, regarding
the recompense from Allaah: those (Jews) who incurred
the Curse of Allaah and His Wrath, and those of whom
(some) He transformed into monkeys and swines, and those
who worshipped Taaghoot (false deities); such are worse
in rank (on the Day of Resurrection in the Hellfire), and
far more astray from the Right Path (in the life of this world)'"
[al-Maa'idah 5:59-60]
This transformation was a punishment from Allaah
to them for their doing that which Allaah had forbidden
to them. This punishment was not exclusively for
the Children of Israel, rather the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) told us that the Hour will
not begin until such transformation happens among
this ummah too. He issued this warning to those
who disbelieve in the divine decree (al-qadr), and those
who drink alcohol and listen to singing _ we seek refuge
with Allaah from that.
Ibn Maajah (4059) narrated from `Abd-Allaah ibn Mas'ood that the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: "Shortly before the Hour
begins, people will be transformed into monkeys and
pigs, swallowed up in the earth, and pelted with
stones." (Saheeh Ibn Maajah, 3280).
Being swallowed up in the earth means that the earth
will split open and swallow up a person, house or city, just
as Allaah caused the earth to swallow Qaaroon and
his household. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning);
"So We caused the earth to swallow him"
[al-Qasas 28:81]
Pelting with stones is the same as Allaah did to the
people of Loot. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"and rained down on them stones of baked clay"
[al-Hijr 15:74]
Al-Tirmidhi (2152) narrated that Ibn `Umar said: "I
heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) say, `Among this ummah those
who disbelieve in the divine decree
(al-qadr) will be wallowed up by the earth, transformed into monkeys and pigs
or pelted with stones." (Saheeh
al-Tirmidhi, 1748).
And al-Tirmidhi (2212) narrated from `Imraan ibn
Husayn that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) said: "Among this ummah,
people will be transformed into monkeys and pigs,
swallowed up in the earth, and pelted with stones." A man
among the Muslims said, "O Messenger of Allaah, when
will that be?" He said, "When singing-girls and
musical instruments become widespread and wine is
drunk." (Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, 1802).
These ahaadeeth indicate that such transformations
will happen in this ummah as a punishment for some sins.
So let the Muslim beware of doing anything that Allaah
has forbidden. Woe be to the one who provokes the
anger, wrath and vengeance of Allaah. May Allaah keep us
all safe from the things that incur His punishment.
But these monkeys and pigs that exist nowadays are
not the people from the earlier nations who were
transformed, because Allaah does not enable those who have
been transformed to have offspring, rather He causes them
to die after being transformed, so they have no offspring.
Muslim (2663) narrated that `Abd-Allaah ibn
Mas'ood said: "A man said, `O Messenger of Allaah, are
the monkeys and pigs those who have been
transformed?' The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said: `Allaah does not enable those who have
been transformed to have offspring or children. The
monkeys and pigs existed before that.'" al-Nawawi (may
Allaah have mercy on him) said: "The Prophet's words
`The monkeys and pigs existed before that' means that
they existed before the Children of Israel were
transformed, which indicates that they are not from among those
who were transformed."
And Allaah knows best. May Allaah bless our
Prophet Muhammad and grant him peace. Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid (www.islam-qa.com)
Search Inside This Book At Google Book Search - (400 pages)
22233: Does Iblees have any offspring?
Question:
Does Iblees have any offspring? If so, is the via
marriage? And does he have a wife?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Shaykh al-Shanqeeti said in his commentary on the
aayah (interpretation of the meaning):
"Will you then take him (Iblees) and his offspring
as protectors and helpers rather than
Me…?"[al-Kahf 18:50]
The word dhurriyah (offspring) in this aayah
indicates that the Shaytaan has offspring. The claim that he
does not have offspring clearly contradicts this aayah as
you can see. Everything that clearly contradicts the
Qur'aan is undoubtedly false. But there is no clear text
concerning the way in which his offspring come into being,
whether that is through marriage or otherwise, and the
scholars differed concerning this matter. Al- Shu'bi said: A
man asked me whether Iblees has a wife? I said, "That is
a wedding party I never attended!", then I remembered
the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):
"Will you then take him (Iblees) and his offspring
as protectors and helpers rather than Me…?"
[al-Kahf 18:50]
Then I realized that he could not have offspring unless
he had a wife, so I said, Yes.
Something similar to what al-Shu'bi understood from
this aayah, that having offspring implies having a wife,
was also narrated from Qutaadah. Mujaahid said: the way
in which his offspring came into being is that he
inserted his private part into his private part, then he laid five
eggs, and this was the origin of his offspring. Some of
the scholars said that Allaah created a penis on his right
thigh and a vagina on his left thigh, so he impregnates
himself in this manner and ten eggs are laid every day, from
each of which emerge seventy male and female devils.
It is obvious that these views are unreliable, because
they are not supported by any text in the Qur'aan or
Sunnah. The aayah indicates that he has offspring, but as to
how these offspring are born, there is no reliable
text concerning that, and such matters cannot be
known through mere opinions.
Al-Qurtubi said in his commentary on this aayah: I
say: what is proven in saheeh reports concerning this
matter is that which was narrated by al-Humaydi in
al-Jam' bayna al-Saheehayn from Imaam Abu Bakr al-Burqaani,
who narrated in his book with an isnaad from Abu
Muhammad `Abd al-Ghani ibn Sa'eed al-Haafiz from the report
of `Aasim from Abu `Uthmaan from Salmaan that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) said: "Do not be the first one to enter
the market-place or the last one to leave, for there the
Shaytaan lays his eggs and there they hatch." This indicates
that the Shaytaan has offspring from his loins.
Those who interpreted this report literally (may
Allaah forgive them) said that this hadeeth indicates that he
(the Shaytaan) lays eggs and that they hatch. But there
is nothin | 
