The Spiritual and Divine Dimension (Blowing the Spirit):
«إِنِّي خَالِق بَشَرًا مِن طِينٍ * فَإِذَا سَويْتُهُ وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِن روحِى» «فَإِذَا سَوَّيتُهُ وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِن رُوحِي فَقَعُوا لَهُ سَاجِدِينَ» Translation: “Indeed, I created man from clay * So when I had designed him and blew into him of My Spirit, he fell down in prostration before Me.”
By reflecting on and contemplating the verses of the Quran, we realize that man is not only a material being but also possesses a spiritual and divine dimension. In fact, man’s humanity and originality are linked to this spiritual aspect. Thus, man has two dimensions: an earthly and material nature (body) and a divine and spiritual element (an intangible being) known as the soul. Therefore, it is clear that the creation of man was an independent act. Man is not a product of the evolution of other beings; rather, current humans descend from Abu al-Bashar, Prophet Adam (peace be upon him), as indicated by the verses of the Quran. The hypothesis of evolution—that is, the belief that man evolved from another type—is not accepted by the Quran.
Point 1: However, how long did each of these stages last? Did they pass quickly or slowly? What factors contributed to these transitional states? What is the divine breath or spirit? When was it breathed into man’s body? These questions extend beyond human knowledge and are known only to Allah.
Point 2: Of course, what is mentioned in the Quran is sufficient for us; it serves as the measure, standard, and scale of our spiritual, intellectual, and mental well-being. We do not need to delve into such matters. Instead, we seek to understand their true purpose, as highlighted in the Quran. In the commentary “Fi Zilal Al-Quran,” it is stated: “We do not know how Allah commanded or how He commands the angels. We also do not know how the angels received the command from Allah Almighty, nor do we know their origin and reality beyond what attributes are mentioned to us in the Book of Allah. We have no need to probe into these matters, as there is no benefit in exploring them beyond what is provided. Rather, we seek the story and purpose as narrated by the Quran.”
3. The Holy Quran states that Adam’s origin was independently taken from the soil (created from the soil). According to the Quran, the creation of man began from the soil. The Quran does not attribute a father or mother to Adam, nor does it suggest that Adam evolved from other creatures. In the verse stating, «بدأ خلق الانسان من طین» (“He began to create man from clay”), it is clear that the beginning of man’s creation was from clay and not through any other means.
«إن مثل عيسى عند الله كمثل آدم خلقه من تراب ثم قال له كن فيكون» Translation: “Indeed, the likeness of Jesus with Allah is like the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust. Then He said to him, ‘Be,’ and he was.” “بدأ” means “to begin”: began to work, initiated action; بدء means “beginning,” first instance.
The Quran asserts that man is an independent species. «مثل عيسى…الخ» (“Like Jesus…etc.”) signifies that if the creation of Jesus without a father seems unlikely to you, know that the creation of Adam without a father and mother is even more remarkable.
4. The principle of the creation of man is mentioned in this verse. As in Surah Al-Hijr, verse 28, the term ‘man’ is cited: «وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلائِكَةِ إِنِّى خَالِقٌ بَشَراً مِّن صَلْصَالٍ مِّن حَمَإٍ مَسّنُونٍ» “O Prophet, relate the time when your Lord said to the angels: ‘I am indeed creating a human being from dried clay, from foul-smelling mud.’”
This verse refutes the absurd and deviant theory of the materialists and the followers of Darwinism. «بشراً» refers to Adam (peace be upon him).
5. The creation of the human species constitutes an independent and distinct act. A unique and remarkable event occurred in its creation: the divine spirit was blown into the material body, distinguishing it from other creatures. The Quran emphasizes this concept throughout all verses related to the creation of Adam, which reflects the Quran’s view on man’s creation.
6. The stages, levels, and evolution of man as narrated by the Quran are the phases that the dust underwent until man was created by Allah’s power. However, how long did these stages last? There is no explicit statement regarding this, and the clear verses of the Holy Quran contradict Darwin’s theory of evolution (especially regarding humans). The forms mentioned in the Quran distinctly pertain to the creation of Adam (peace be upon him) from dust and the stages of human development, from sperm and embryo to birth. Just like humans experience various states—such as childhood, youth, old age—they also manifest different forms.
7. The compelling evidence supporting the independent creation of humans is found in the verses in question and similar ones. Allah states in verse 26 of Surah Al-Hijr: «وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنْسانَ مِنْ صَلْصالٍ مِّنْ حَمَإٍ مَسْنُونٍ» “And We created man from dry clay taken from dark, foul-smelling clay.”
This language is reiterated concerning “man” in verse 28 of Surah Al-Hijr: «وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلائِكَةِ إِنِّى خَالِقٌ بَشَراً مِّن صَلْصَالٍ مِّن حَمَإٍ مَسّنُونٍ» “And when your Lord said to the angels, ‘Indeed, I am creating a human being from clay, from foul-smelling mud.’”
Following these mentions, the prostration of the angels is described in relation to Adam (peace be upon him), which indicates respect, veneration, submission, and humility. The verses from 29 to 33 of Surah Al-Hijr elaborate on this: «فَإِذا سَوَّيْتُهُ وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِنْ رُوحِي فَقَعُوا لَهُ ساجِدِينَ» “So when I had adorned him and breathed into him of My spirit, they fell down before him in prostration.”
«فَسَجَدَ الْمَلائِكَةُ كُلُّهُمْ أَجْمَعُونَ» “So the angels prostrated all together.”
«إِلاَّ إِبْلِيسَ أَبى أَنْ يَكُونَ مَعَ السَّاجِدِينَ» “Except Iblis, who refused and was arrogant, and he was among those who do not prostrate.”
«قالَ يَا إِبْلِيسُ مَا لَكَ أَلاَّ تَكُونَ مَعَ السَّاجِدِينَ» (Allah) said, “O Iblis, what is the matter with you that you do not prostrate with those who prostrate?” (The question is a rebuke.)
«قالَ لَمْ أَكُنْ لِأَسْجُدَ لِبَشَرٍ خَلَقْتَهُ مِنْ صَلْصالٍ مِنْ حَمَإٍ مَسْنُونٍ» “He said: It is not fitting for me to prostrate to a human being whom You created from dried clay, from dark, rotten clay.”
At first glance, these verses seem to indicate that Adam was initially created from dark clay, and after he was perfected, the divine spirit was breathed into him.
