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Question No. 2853 31 August 2022 Official answer by Master Ali Saei (Abdullah Meshkat) verified Content level: Intermediate

Did the Angels Prostrate Only to Adam?

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The essence and first answer at a glance (60-word summary)

According to the Quranic verses, the command to prostrate was given only in relation to Adam, peace be upon him, and Eve was created later from Adam himself. Therefore, the angels prostrated only to Adam, while Iblis refused to prostrate out of arrogance.

Answer by Master Ali Saei (Abdullah Meshkat)

Teacher and researcher in the intellectual tradition of wisdom and the Ahl al-Bayt | Soroush Bamdadān Cultural Center

In light of the verses of mercy, their explicit emphasis and allusions, and the pronouns and their referents, your heart inclines to the view that the command to prostrate was given for Adam alone. Wherever the passage speaks of (الأعراف : 19 و یا آدم اسکن أنت و زوجک الجنه فکلا من حیث شئتما و لا تقربا هذه الشجره فتکونا من الظالمین), the tenor of the verses suggests that the prostration took place immediately after Adam had been fashioned and the spirit breathed into him. Adam, then, was alone; Eve was created from Adam’s own self afterward. (God knows best.)

فإذا سویته و نفخت فیه من روحى فقعوا له ساجدین(72)ص

Adam in the arena of prostration.

إذ قال ربک للملئکه إنى‏ خالق بشرا من طین(71)ص

فإذا سویته و نفخت فیه من روحى فقعوا له ساجدین(72)

فسجد الملئکه کلهم أجمعون(73)

إلا إبلیس استکبر و کان من الکفرین(74)

قال یإبلیس ما منعک أن تسجد لما خلقت بیدى أستکبرت أم کنت من العالین(75)

قال أنا خیر منه خلقتنى من نار و خلقته من طین(76)

And remember when your Lord said to the angels, “I am creating a human being from clay. (71)

When I have fashioned him and breathed into him of My spirit, fall down before him in prostration.” (72)

Then all the angels prostrated, (73)

except Iblis. He grew arrogant and was among the unbelievers. (74)

He said, “O Iblis, what kept you from prostrating before one I created with My own hands? Were you arrogant, or did you consider yourself among the exalted?” (75)

He said, “I am better than he is. You created me from fire and created him from clay.” (76)

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