46/2. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2652c — Forty Years Before Creation
The Debate Between Adam And Musa (Peace And Blessings Of Allah Be Upon Them)
Adam and Moses Hadith on Qadar and the Written Decree
Sahih Muslim : 2652c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2652c
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مُوسَى بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مُوسَى بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ الأَنْصَارِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَنَسُ بْنُ عِيَاضٍ، حَدَّثَنِي الْحَارِثُ بْنُ أَبِي ذُبَابٍ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ هُرْمُزَ - وَعَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الأَعْرَجِ قَالاَ سَمِعْنَا أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " احْتَجَّ آدَمُ وَمُوسَى عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلاَمُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمَا فَحَجَّ آدَمُ مُوسَى قَالَ مُوسَى أَنْتَ آدَمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكَ اللَّهُ بِيَدِهِ وَنَفَخَ فِيكَ مِنْ رُوحِهِ وَأَسْجَدَ لَكَ مَلاَئِكَتَهُ وَأَسْكَنَكَ فِي جَنَّتِهِ ثُمَّ أَهْبَطْتَ النَّاسَ بِخَطِيئَتِكَ إِلَى الأَرْضِ فَقَالَ آدَمُ أَنْتَ مُوسَى الَّذِي اصْطَفَاكَ اللَّهُ بِرِسَالَتِهِ وَبِكَلاَمِهِ وَأَعْطَاكَ الأَلْوَاحَ فِيهَا تِبْيَانُ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَقَرَّبَكَ نَجِيًّا فَبِكَمْ وَجَدْتَ اللَّهَ كَتَبَ التَّوْرَاةَ قَبْلَ أَنْ أُخْلَقَ قَالَ مُوسَى بِأَرْبَعِينَ عَامًا . قَالَ آدَمُ فَهَلْ وَجَدْتَ فِيهَا { وَعَصَى آدَمُ رَبَّهُ فَغَوَى} قَالَ نَعَمْ . قَالَ أَفَتَلُومُنِي عَلَى أَنْ عَمِلْتُ عَمَلاً كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَىَّ أَنْ أَعْمَلَهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَنِي بِأَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " فَحَجَّ آدَمُ مُوسَى " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: There was an argument between Adam and Moses (peace be upon both of them) in the presence of their Lord. Adam came the better of Moses. Moses said: Are you that Adam whom Allah created with His Hand and breathed into him His spirit, and commanded angels to fall in prostration before him and He made you live in Paradise with comfort and ease. Then you caused the people to get down to the earth because of your lapse.Adam said: Are you that Moses whom Allah selected for His Messengership and for His conversation with him and conferred upon you the tablets, in which everything was clearly explained and granted you the audience in order to have confidential talk with you. What is your opinion, how long Torah would have been written before I was created? Moses said: Forty years before.Adam said: Did you not see these words: Adam committed an error and he was enticed to (do so). He (Moses) said: Yes. Whereupon, he (Adam) said: Do you then blame me for an act which Allah had ordained for me forty years before He created me? Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: This is how Adam came the better of Moses.
[1] Ta-Hâ 20:121.Reference : Sahih Muslim 2652cIn-book reference : Book 46, Hadith 22USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 33, Hadith 6411
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2652c
This Hadith gives a fuller report of the argument between Adam and Moses. Moses mentions the honor given to Adam: Allah created him, breathed into him, commanded the angels to prostrate before him, and placed him in Paradise. Moses then says Adam's lapse caused people to come down to earth. Adam replies by mentioning the honor given to Moses: messengership, direct conversation, tablets, and nearness for private talk. Adam then asks how long the Torah had been written before he was created. Moses answers: forty years. Adam points to the written mention of his error and asks why he is blamed for what Allah had ordained before creating him.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Hadith mentions honors granted to both Adam and Moses.
- Adam refers to the Torah being written before his creation.
- The report connects Adam's lapse with Allah's prior decree.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم says Adam came the better of Moses in this argument.
