Creation of Adam 5: Are We Guardians or Violators?

This is the shortest of the Creation of Adam narratives, consisting of only two ayat, whose central section is taken from the second half of the first aya 18:50. The center in bluegreen above is essentially a question addressed to us as Adam’s descendants. It is intended for the here and now, regardless to what era in time or what place on earth we are in. The words are crystal clear and stark: Satan, who represents evildoing and destruction, is an obvious enemy, an imminent threat to our very souls/ selves as humans — shall we then take him and his descendants as guardians or protectors? Instead of the Almighty All-Merciful who alone can protect us and guide us? 

Creation of Adam 3 – Now Satan is in the middle, Surrounded

Ring analysis of 3rd Creation-of-Adam narrative (15:26-44)

The Basic Issues:

All 7 of the creation-of-Adam narratives in the Quran include Iblees’ refusal to prostrate after being commanded by Allah to do so, an indication of its importance. In this narrative, it is described in the 4th, 5th and 6th ayat of the narrative (29-31), each of which is given a separate section in the ring composition. This creation-of-Adam narrative is the longest in the Quran (in terms of ayat numbers), and is also quite comprehensive in scope, as we shall see.  But here Satan/Iblees is surrounded in the middle.

Adam/Eve in the Middle: 2nd Creation of Adam Story in Surah 7

In this surah, Adam’s first test, Allah’s command not to “approach” a specific tree, is presented in the center, placing Adam in the central focus of this narrative, ”surrounded” in the ring composition, by Satan’s rebellion and expulsion from paradise in the upper section, and his successful deception of Adam/Eve leading to their awareness of shame/ nakedness and their private parts, and expulsion from Paradise in the lower section. But Satan failed in his ultimate goal, to make Adam/Eve ungrateful,” associated with kufr or denial, thus they repented and were forgiven whereas Satan was not.

The Creation of Adam Story in the Quran Explained – Ring Composition

Ring Analysis of First Creation-of-Adam Narrative

Above is a ring composition analysis of the first creation-of-Adam narrative in the Quran, which is in Surat Al-Baqara as shown. It is the first of seven such narratives, which I insha’Allah shall analyze one by one in a series of posts, comparing them to each other and showing the significance and value of multiple narratives of the same event; and how the arrangement of each of them contributes to our understanding of the meaning. This is after all a truly foundational event, answering the most basic questions of why are we here? What is the purpose of life? Why is there evil in the world? Why is there paradise and hell, and why must we die in the first place?