Adam, peace be upon him: a Quran story for kids

Before there was a single person on earth, Allah said to the angels:

﴿إِنِّى جَاعِلٌۭ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةًۭ﴾

Al-Baqarah 2:30

It means: I will place people on the earth to live in it and build it, one generation after another.

Allah made Adam from clay, then breathed the soul into him, and he became a living person. Allah says:

﴿إِنِّى خَـٰلِقٌۢ بَشَرًۭا مِّن طِينٍۢ﴾

Sad 38:71

It means: I am going to create a human being from clay.

Adam was the first human being, and the father of all people.

Allah honoured Adam with knowledge:

﴿وَعَلَّمَ ءَادَمَ ٱلْأَسْمَآءَ كُلَّهَا﴾

Al-Baqarah 2:31

It means: And Allah taught Adam the names of all things.

Think: What things around you can you name right now?

Allah told the angels to bow to Adam as a greeting and an honour. They all obeyed, except Iblis:

﴿فَسَجَدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ وَٱسْتَكْبَرَ﴾

Al-Baqarah 2:34

It means: They all bowed, except Iblis. He refused and was arrogant.

Iblis said: I am better than him! So Allah sent him away, because he was arrogant and disobeyed.

Adam and his wife Hawwa lived in Paradise, with everything they loved, and Allah said to them:

﴿وَكُلَا مِنْهَا رَغَدًا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمَا وَلَا تَقْرَبَا هَـٰذِهِ ٱلشَّجَرَةَ﴾

Al-Baqarah 2:35

It means: Eat freely from Paradise wherever you like, but do not go near this one tree.

But Shaytan whispered to them until they ate from the tree. They were very sorry, and prayed to Allah:

﴿رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَآ أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ﴾

Al-A'raf 7:23

It means: Our Lord, we have done wrong. If You do not forgive us and have mercy on us, we will be among the losers.

Think: What do you say to Allah when you make a mistake?

Allah accepted their repentance and forgave them:

﴿فَتَلَقَّىٰٓ ءَادَمُ مِن رَّبِّهِۦ كَلِمَـٰتٍ فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ﴾

Al-Baqarah 2:37

It means: Adam received words from his Lord to pray with, and Allah forgave him. He is the One who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful.

Allah loves those who turn back to Him, and forgives those who repent.

Then Allah sent Adam and Hawwa down to live on earth, and promised them:

﴿فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّى هُدًۭى فَمَن تَبِعَ هُدَاىَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ﴾

Al-Baqarah 2:38

It means: Guidance will come to you from Me. Whoever follows My guidance will have no fear and will not be sad.

We are all children of Adam. We follow Allah’s guidance to go back to Paradise, in sha Allah.

Think: How do we follow Allah’s guidance every day?