65/20.1. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4736 — Adam and Musa Debate on Decree
The Statement of Allāh the Exalted: "And I have chosen you for Myself." (V.20:41) (i.e., for My Revelation and My Message, or created you for Myself or strengthened and taught you as to how to preach My Message to My worshippers)]."
Hadith About Adam and Musa and Divine Decree
Sahih Bukhari : 4736
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4736
حَدَّثَنَا الصَّلْتُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مَهْدِيُّ بْنُ مَيْمُونٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سِيرِينَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " الْتَقَى آدَمُ وَمُوسَى، فَقَالَ مُوسَى لآدَمَ أَنْتَ الَّذِي أَشْقَيْتَ النَّاسَ وَأَخْرَجْتَهُمْ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ قَالَ لَهُ آدَمُ أَنْتَ الَّذِي اصْطَفَاكَ اللَّهُ بِرِسَالَتِهِ، وَاصْطَفَاكَ لِنَفْسِهِ وَأَنْزَلَ عَلَيْكَ التَّوْرَاةَ قَالَ نَعَمْ. قَالَ فَوَجَدْتَهَا كُتِبَ عَلَىَّ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَنِي قَالَ نَعَمْ. فَحَجَّ آدَمُ مُوسَى ". الْيَمُّ الْبَحْرُ.
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Adam and Moses met, and Moses said to Adam "You are the one who made people miserable and turned them out of Paradise." Adam said to him, "You are the one whom Allah selected for His message and whom He selected for Himself and upon whom He revealed the Torah." Moses said, 'Yes.' Adam said, "Did you find that written in my fate before my creation?' Moses said, 'Yes.' So Adam overcame Moses with this argument."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4736In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 258USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 260
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4736
This hadith about Adam and Musa discusses divine decree through a reported argument between two prophets. Musa said that Adam made people miserable and caused them to be removed from Paradise. Adam replied by reminding Musa that Allah chose him for His message, chose him for Himself, and revealed the Torah to him. Then Adam asked whether Musa found that matter written for him before Allah created him. Musa said yes. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم then said that Adam overcame Musa with this argument. The hadith should be read carefully from its own words. It is not a license to excuse every sin. The text focuses on the specific argument about Adam’s matter being written before his creation and Musa recognizing that in the Torah.
What we learn from this hadith
- Allah’s decree is affirmed in the report.
- Adam answered Musa by referring to what was written before his creation.
- Musa’s honor as a messenger and recipient of the Torah is mentioned.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said Adam overcame Musa in this argument.
