CREATION OF MAN IN THE QUR’AN AND BIBLE A

COMPARATIVE STUDY

BY
ZAINUL ABID C

DARUNNAJATH ARABIC COLLEGE KOONANCHERY.

KERELA. INDIA

NOVEMBER 2024

I
 CREATION OF MAN IN THE QUR’AN AND THE BIBLE A
COMPARATIVE STUDY

BY
ZAINUL ABID C

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements

for the degree of Master in Islamic and Human Sciences
(Dept.:Qur’an and Related Science)

Ad no: 678
Register no: 210112

DARUNNAJATH ARABIC COLLEGE KOONANCHERY,

KERALA, INDIA

NOVEMBER 2024

II
“He the creator which he created everything in the correct structure and model, there is no
doubt for anyone in it. So, thing about the god Allah and thing about the creator”
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

III
 DEDICATION

The individuals who have played a significant role in my journey towards success
deserve recognition and gratitude. Firstly, I express my heartfelt appreciation to
my esteemed father and the founder of Darunnajath Arabic College Koonanchery,
K K M Koya Musliyar. His guidance and support have been invaluable in shaping
my path. Additionally, I am indebted to my beloved teachers who have selflessly
imparted wisdom and knowledge, enabling me to become the person I am today.
I would also like to extend my gratitude to my dear parents, Abdussalam and
Asmabi, for their unwavering love and support. Furthermore, I am grateful to my
brothers and sisters, as well as all my friends, who have always been a source of
encouragement and joy. Their presence and positivity have been instrumental in
my achievements. It is important to acknowledge that without the inspiration and
support of these individuals, my success would not have been possible.

IV
 ABSTRACT

This article presents a comparative study on the creation of man as mentioned in the Qur’an

and Bible, focusing on similarities, differences, and theological interpretations within Islamic

and Christian traditions. Both scriptures share the concept of a purposeful creation of humanity,

placing humans in a special relationship with God. In the Bible, the creation of man is mainly

mentioned in Genesis, the first chapter of the Bible, where man is formed from dust, and

women from man’s rib, highlighting humanity’s dependence on God and the concept of

original sin. In the Qur’anic account, the story of creation spread across various verses,

describes man as created from clay, with a direct breath of spirit from God, emphasizing human

dignity and moral responsibility without an inherent sin. This study's key aspects include the

creation processes and the roles of Adam and Eve. This comparative approach provides

insights into both religious perspectives.

V
 ‫خالصة البحث‬

‫يتناول هذا البحث دراسة مقارنة حول خلق اإلنسان بين القرآن الكريم واإلنجيل مع التركيز على أوجه التشابه واالختالف‬

‫والتفسيرات ضمن التقاليد اإلسالمية والمسيحية‪ .‬يشترك الكالمان المقدسان في مفهوم خلق اإلنسانية بشكل هادف مما يضع‬

‫البشر في عالقة خاصة مع هللا‪ .‬تُسرد اإلنجيل قصة الخلق بشكل أساسي في سفر التكوين من حيث ي َّ‬
‫ُصور خلق اإلنسان من‬

‫التراب والمرأة من ضلع الرجل ويؤكد على اعتماد البشرية على هللا ومفهوم الخطيئة األصلية‪ .‬ينتشر القرآن قصة الخلق‬

‫عبر عدة آيات وأطوار خلق اإلنسان من طين والرحم ونفخة هللا من روحه فيه مما يركز على كرامة اإلنسان ومسؤوليته‬

‫األخالقية دون خطيئة متأصلة‪ .‬تشمل الجوانب الرئيسية لهذه الدراسة عمليات الخلق وأدوار آدم وحواء وفكرة الخطيئة‬

‫األصلية مقابل ضعف اإلنسان‪ .‬كما يتناول التحليل تصوير صفات هللا وغاية الحياة اإلنسانية في كال النصين مع تحديد اآلثار‬

‫الالهوتية في العقائد اإلسالمية والمسيحية المتعلقة باإلرادة الحرة والهداية اإللهية وعالقة اإلنسان باهلل وخلقه‪ .‬تقدم هذه‬

‫المقاربة المقارنة حول كال المنظورين الدينيين موضحةً كيفية معالجتهما لقضايا الوجود والغاية واألخالق‪.‬‬

‫‪VI‬‬
 സംക്ഷിപ്തം

മനുഷ്യനന ദൈവം എങ്ങനന സൃഷ്ടിച്ചു എന്നതിന് ഖുറാനിലും

ദൈൈിളിലും ഉള്ള കഥകളിൽ പല സാമയങ്ങളും വയതയാസങ്ങളും
കാണാം. ദൈൈിളിൽ ദൈവം മനുഷ്യനന "തന്നറ രൂപത്തിൽ"
സൃഷ്ടിച്ചു എന്നാണ് പറയുന്നത്, ഇത് ദൈവത്തിന്നറ ഗുണങ്ങനള
അനുസ്മരിപ്പിക്കുന്നു, ഖുറാനിൽ ദൈവം മനുഷ്യനന ഭൂമിയിനല
പ്പതിനിധിയായി ("ഖലീഫ" എന്നാണ് വിളിക്കുന്നത്) സൃഷ്ടിച്ചു എന്ന്
പറയുന്നു. ഇരു പ്ഗന്ഥങ്ങളിലും ആൈം മണ്ണിൽ നിന്നാണ്
സൃഷ്ടിക്കനപ്പട്ടനതന്നും ദൈവത്തിന്നറ ശ്വാസമാണ് മനുഷ്യൻ
ജീവിക്കുന്നത് എന്നുമാണ് പറയുന്നത്. ഇതിനനാപ്പം, പാപവും
ക്ഷമയും പറ്റിയുള്ള കഥകളും ഇരുവിഭാഗത്തിലും വയതയസ്ത
രീതിയിലാണ് വിവരിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത്. ദൈൈിളിൽ ആൈാമിന്നറയും
എനവയുനെയും പാപം മനുഷ്യരിൽ പാപ്പത്തിൻ്നറ
തുെക്കമാനണന്നാണ് കാണിക്കുന്നത്. അതത സമയം, ഖുറാനിൽ ദൈവം
ആൈത്തിനും അവന്നറ ഭാരയയ്കക്കും പാപത്തിന് തശ്ഷ്ം ക്ഷമിക്കുന്നു.
ഒരു മഹത്തരമായ ഉതേശ്യം ദകവരിക്കാൻ ദൈവം മനുഷ്യനന
സൃഷ്ടിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു എന്ന ആധികാരിക സതേശ്ം ഇരു
പ്ഗന്ഥങ്ങളിലുമുണ്ട്.

VII
 APPROVAL CERTIFICATE

I certify that I have supervised and read this study and that in my opinion, it conforms to

acceptable standards of scholarly presentation and is fully adequate, in scope and quality,

as a dissertation for the Degree of bachelor in Islamic and Human Sciences

(Dept. of Qur’ān and Related Sciences).

………………………….
Anees hudawi
(supervisor)

I certify that this dissertation was submitted to the department of the Department of Qur’ān and

Related Science and is accepted as a fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of bachelor

in Islamic and Human Sciences. (Department of Qur’ān and Related Science)

…….…………………… ………………………
Niyas Hudawi Anwar Swadiq
Wafy
(Head of department) (Principle)

VIII
 DECLARATION

I do hereby declare that this dissertation is the result of my own research, except where

otherwise stated. I also declare that it has not been previously or concurrently submitted

as a whole for any other degrees at DHIU or other institution.

NAME OF THE STUDENT : ZAINUL ABID C

AD NO : 678

ADDRESS : CHOKLI HOUSE MOONNIYUR

PARAKKAVU, CHEMMAD

MALAPPURAM, KERALA

MOBILE NUMBER : 7902903150

GMAIL : bni678678@[Link]

Date…………………………

Signature……………………

IX
 DARUL HUDA ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY KERALA, INDIA

DECLARATION OF COPYRIGHT AND AFFIRMATION OF

FAIR USE OF UNPUBLISHED RESEARCH
Copyright © 2024 by ZAINUL ABID C
All rights reserved.

CREATION OF MAN IN QUR’AN AND BIBLE: A COMPARATIVE

STUDY

No part of this unpublished research may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or

transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise without prior written permission of the copyright holder except as provided below:
1. Any material contained in or derived from this unpublished research may only
be used by others in their writing with due acknowledgment.
2. DHIU or its library will have the right to make transmit copies (print of
electronic) for institutional and academic purposes.
3. The DHIU library will have the right to make, store in a retrieval system and
supply copies of this unpublished research if requested by other universities and research
libraries.

Affirmed by ZAINUL ABID C

Signature …………………………….. Date…………………………..

X
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

In the name of Allah, full of compassion ever compassion

All praises be to Allah, the lord of universe. Let his regard and solution be upon the

beloved prophet Muhammed, his family and his companions

For the completion of this thesis, I would like to thank my respected and beloved guides,

Ustad anees hudavi being the one who stood with much precious guidance for my research

efforts.

My acknowledgment would be incomplete if I did not extend the token of appreciation

to all my teachers, well-wishers, friends and colleagues in Darunnajath Arabic College,

who cherished me for the completion of this work.

May Allah, the almighty blesses and bestow his rewards upon them all

Finally, I hereby declare that I am the only reason for the faults and errors left for this

thesis. May Allah accept and make it fruitful for this life and hereafter; Aamin

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 TABLE OF CONTENT
ABSTRACT IN ENGLISH ................................................................................................................. V
ABSTRACT IN ARABIC...................................................................................................................VI
ABSTRACT IN MALAYALAM ..................................................................................................... VII
INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER ............................................................................................................ 14
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY ........................................................................................... 14
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM .......................................................................................... 14
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS......................................................................................................... 15
1.4 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES ....................................................................................................... 15
1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY ........................................................................................................... 15
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY ............................................................................................ 16
1.7LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................................ 16
1.8 METHEDOLOGY ...................................................................................................................... 17
CREATION OF MAN IN QUR’AN.................................................................................................. 19
2.1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 19
2.2 THE QUR’AN’S VIEW ON CREATION ................................................................................. 19
2.3 MIRACLE OF CREATION ....................................................................................................... 22
2.4 STEPS OF HUMAN CREATION IN THE QUR’AN ............................................................... 22
2.5 ELEMENTS IN THE CREATION OF THE FIRST HUMAN .................................................. 23
2.5.1 Water .................................................................................................................................... 23
2.5.2 Soil ....................................................................................................................................... 23
2.6 STAGES OF THE FIRST HUMAN CREATION ..................................................................... 24
2.6.1 Clay ...................................................................................................................................... 24
2.6.2 The Black Mud .................................................................................................................... 24
2.6.3 The Stage of Being Salsal .................................................................................................... 25
2.6.4 Breathing the Spirit .............................................................................................................. 25
2.7 STAGES OF HUMAN CREATION IN HIS MOTHER'S WOMB: ...................................... 25
2.7.1 The Sperm ............................................................................................................................ 26
2.7.2 The Leech............................................................................................................................. 26
2.7.3 Lumps of Flesh .................................................................................................................... 27
2.7.4 Bones.................................................................................................................................... 27
2.7.5 The End of Creation ............................................................................................................. 28
2.8 SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................ 28
CREATION OF MEN IN BIBLE...................................................................................................... 29
3.1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 29
3.2 SIX DAYS OF CREATION ....................................................................................................... 29

XII
 3.2.1 Day 2 and 3 .......................................................................................................................... 30
3.2.2 4th day ................................................................................................................................... 31
3.2.3 6th day ................................................................................................................................... 31
3.4 MAN, THE IMAGE OF GOD .................................................................................................... 32
3.5 MAN, AN ANIMAL .................................................................................................................. 32
3.6 GOD’S ATTRIBUTES SHARED WITH A MAN .................................................................... 33
3.7 THE ORIGIN OF SPEECH ........................................................................................................ 34
3.8 STORY OF ADAM AND EVE .................................................................................................. 34
3.9 SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................ 36
CREATION OF MEN IN QUR’AN AND BIBLE ........................................................................... 37
4.1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 37
4.2 DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES ..................................................................................... 37
4.2.1 Creation Of Man .................................................................................................................. 37
4.2.2 Before Birth ......................................................................................................................... 38
4.2.3 Man’s Matter ........................................................................................................................ 39
4.2.4 Angel’s Weakness ................................................................................................................ 40
4.2.5 Satan’s Denial ...................................................................................................................... 40
4.2.6 Creation Of Eve ................................................................................................................... 41
4.2.7 The Tree ............................................................................................................................... 42
4.2.8 Adam’s Mistake ................................................................................................................... 43
4.2.9 Regret And Exit ................................................................................................................... 44
4.2.10 Death .................................................................................................................................. 45
4.3 SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................ 46
CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................................... 47
MAJOR FINDINGS ........................................................................................................................... 48
BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................................... 50

XIII
 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The holy Qur'an explains everything in a society. It describes human life and its problems in

this world. The Qur'an also described its solutions. The divine book advises what should be

selected and avoided in a human life. It reveals about creatures of God. Allah is the creator of

everything and he doesn't need anything. The first thing Allah created was water. Then Allah

created the grand "Arsh'' for him. After Allah creates the heavens, the angels, the earth,

and the jinn. the trees, the birds, and the animals. Finally, God created our master Adam from

soil, according to the Bible it was on the final day of creation. God created all things in various

forms and molds, but Adam was created by his best form and quality in creation. The Lord

announces: surely, we created humans in the best stature [Ayah 95:4

The researcher aims to study various scholars' comments about the creation of man.

He focuses on comparative study between the creation of man in the Qur’an and the Bible.

The creation stories in the Qur’an and the Bible share remarkable similarities between them

and there are common themes in both religious texts. It also shares significant differences

between them. In the Bible, man is created on earth, specifically in the Garden of Eden.

Conversely, the Qur’an presents man’s creation in heaven or “Jannah” emphasizing a

heavenly beginning for mankind.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Many abstracts say about the creation of man in the Qur’an and many abstracts say about the

creation of man in the Bible but there are no more comparative studies discussing the creation

of man in the Qur’an and the Bible. In the Bible, man is created on the earth in a garden named

“Aden”. But in the case of the Qur’an, man’s creation was in heaven or “Jannah”

14
 The researcher focuses on understanding the similarities and differences between

the Qur’an and the Bible in the case of human creation.

1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1- How did the Qur’an mention the creation of man?

2- How did the Bible mention the creation of man?

3- What are the differences and similarities between the Qur’an and the Bible in the case of

human creation?

1.4 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

1. To explain the mentions of the Qur’an about the creation of man

2. To describe the mentions of the Bible about the creation of man

3. To explain the differences and similarities between the Qur’an and the Bible in the case

of human creation

1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This research has many purposes. The general purpose is the comparative study between

the creation of man in the Qur’an and the Bible. This study mainly focuses on how the man

was created. There are many differences and similarities between the Qur’an and the Bible,

in their themes, stories, etc.

Here the researcher focuses only on the differences and similarities between

the Qur’an and the Bible in the case of human creation. For many reasons: The Qur’an and

Bible mention human embryology even before science another reason is we can understand

the inimitability of the Qur’an through human embryology

This study will find how God created man in the best mound different from other

creations of Allah. The research will give an elegant description of the origin. development

and step-by-step developmental stages of human structure on earth and the eternal lives of

15
 human beings in the holy Qur’an and Bible.

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The importance of the study is to attempt a comparison of the Qur’an and the Bible in the case

of the creation of man. This study promotes understanding between Islamic and Christian

communities by highlighting similarities and differences in their religious texts. This study is

necessary to lead a doubt-free life about human embryology in the Qur’an and the Bible. The

research will give the best awareness and realization to students about creatures of human,

Commonly, this research is a comparative analysis on various traditions of human society in

Islamic different periods and generations

1.7LITERATURE REVIEW
There are several articles on the creation of man in the Qur’an and Bible and they also give a

clear knowledge about the process of creation

“CREATION OF MAN IN THE BIBLE AND THE HOLY QUR’AN” an article by

Haleema sadia, Syed Naeem, Karim dad, Janas Khan, Nasrullah, and saqib Shahzad. This study

presents or gives a crystal-clear explanation of how the holy Qur’an differs from the Bible in

the case of the creation of man and it also explains the similarities between them. The author

goes through the valuable areas of creation like the creation of Adam and Eve, the story of the

forbidden tree, Satan’s role, and repentance. Overall, the paper highlights both similarities and

differences in these creation stories, showing how they reflect the beliefs of their religions.

“THE WISDOM OF CREATION AS PAIRS IN THE QUR’AN” an article by Rahmah

hashim, Salmijah Surif, and adem kilicman discusses the idea that everything in the universe

is created in pairs and he mentions Qur’anic verses as evidence for his explanation. The authors

say that this concept of pairs gives a divine order and purpose in creation and they also connect

the Qur’anic teachings to scientific discoveries, they say that the Qur’an continues to offer

valuable insights day by day.

16
 “THE QUR’AN AND THE CREATION/EVOLUTION OF HUMAN” an article by

[Link] goes through the relationship between the Qur’an and the concepts of creation

and evolution. He suggests that the Qur’an presents a view of human creation in a vast way.

He also brings the knowledge about the historical context of the creation and he suggests some

verses that give the clear aspects of human creation. His request to the readers is to study nature

and deepen their faith and he also brings some verses from the Qur’an to prove his explanation

“ADAM’S STORY IN THE QUR’AN” an article by mlada mikulicova is a narrative of

Adam, the first human being, is a significant theme in both Islamic and Judeo-Christian

traditions. In this article he goes through categorizing the narrative into five thematic chapters:

the creation of man, the adoration by angels, Satan’s disobedience, the fall of Adam, and

Adam’s genealogy. This structure allows for a comprehensive understanding of the Qur’anic

portrayal of Adam

“THE PROCESS OF HUMAN CREATION IN THE QUR’AN” an article by Juwaini

examines how humans are created according to the Qur'an and the views of Islamic

philosophers like Ibn Sina, Al-Farabi, and Al-Gazali. It outlines the stages of human creation,

from the creation to the last day of judgment. The article discusses three possibilities for the

resurrection: reviving bodies, the continuation of souls after death, and the reunion of souls

with new or original bodies.

1.8 METHEDOLOGY
The researchers employ various methodologies in their study. Such as descriptive and

exploratory, analytical, correlational, comprehensive, and comparative study. This research is

a comparative study between the creation of man in the Qur’an and the creation of man in the

Bible. The comparative study is more suitable here than other kinds of studies because, this

topic is a debatable topic that Muslims and Christians use to debate in the case of their religious

texts, through comparative study will be helpful for those who are trying to understand or to

17
study the topic

The research includes three chapters. The first chapter discusses the creation of man in

the Qur’an through the verses of the Qur’an that describe the creation of man and the second

chapter explains about the creation of man in the Bible through the creational stories that

describe the creation. The third chapter is a comparative study between the creation of man in

the Qur’an and the creation of man in the Bible and the writings will go through the differences

and similarities between the verses of the Qur’an and the verses of the Bible. This study mainly

depended on various articles and theories about human creation.

18
 CHAPTER 2

CREATION OF MAN IN QUR’AN

2.1 INTRODUCTION
The Qur’an, the holy book of Islam, provides a powerful story of how humans were created.

According to the Qur’an, God made the first human, Adam from clay or soil. This showing

that people came from simple subjects and materials but through breathing to his first creature

Adam God gave him some priorities and something extraordinary like mind and soul which

are capable of thinking, feeling, and understanding. God teaches Adam names of all things to

prove his capability and skills of understanding through this God wants to prove the uniqueness

of human beings from other kinds of animals.

The Qur’an describes how God asked angels to bow before Adam and this bowing gave

a high place for humans as caretakers of the earth. The Qur’an’s teachings about creation

remind us of the value of each person, the responsibility that humans have, and the special

connection between God and people. It’s a reminder that humans are not alone but are guided

by God’s wisdom. By looking at these stories, we see a message of purpose, respect for life,

and the importance of being mindful of our role in the world.

2.2 THE QUR’AN’S VIEW ON CREATION

The Qur’an, unlike the Bible, doesn’t have a specific chapter dedicated to the creation of

humans and the universe. In Christianity and Judaism, God creates humans in his image, and

Eve is created by Adam’s rib. Today many Muslims also believe that Eve came from Adam’s

rib, but there is no Qur’anic verses that support this statement directly.

In Qur’an, verses are called “ayats”, and it’s a word that also refers to the signs of God

in nature. For example, everything in the universe, including the human body, is seen as a

message from God that we should try to understand. The universe is described as a “written

19
scroll” in the Qur’an, as in verse 21:1041, which says, “on the day when we shall roll up heaven

as a scroll is rolled for the writings” this shows that the Qur’an is not just a book of guidance

but also encourages believers to explore and understand the natural world.

The Qur’an says, “Truly in the creation of heavens and the earth, and in the alternations

of the night and day are verses for those who have understanding. Who remembers God

standing, sitting, laying down, and reflecting on the creation of the heavens and the earth, ‘our

lord, you have not created thin in vain. Glory to you: guard us from the punishment of the fire”

(Qur’an 3:190-1912), the Qur’an also says, “On the earth are signs for those who have sure

faith, and also in your selves: will you not observe?” (Qur’an 51:20-213), these verses show

that just as the Qur’an offers guidance, so does the natural world. The Qur’an is a message in

human language, while nature is a message in the form of creation. So, we can achieve our

strait path through thinking about the beauty of nature.

Through reading the Qur’an, we will get only some clues about how modern humans4

were created, and we have to think about it by reading the Qur’an again and again, we have to

think deeply in every verse. In Qur’an, God has left some dots about the creation of modern

humans (Homo sapiens sapiens) and we have to connect that dot for getting very little idea

about the creation of modern men. Reading verses individually will feel like contradicting each

other, but when all verses are read together every contradiction will disappear. For Muslims.

The Qur’an’s internal consistency is proof of its divinity, and the Qur’an says:” Do they not

consider the Qur’an with care? Had it been from anyone other than God, they would have found

many contradictions” (Qur’an 4:825).

The Qur’an teaches that God created everything according to his grand design. God is

1
Surah Al-anbiya
2
Surah Ali ‘Imran
3
Surah Adh-Dhariyat
4
Homo sapiens sapiens
5
Surah An-Nisa

20
reflected in His creations. And His attributes help humans understand Him better. The God has

99 names that are mentioned in the Qur’an but four are closely related to His creative power:

al Khaliq6, al-bari7,al-musawwir8, and Rabb9 in Qur’an 59:2410, God is described as “al-Khaliq,

al-bari, and al-musawwir” showing his roles in creating, evolving, and giving form to all things.

The term al-Khaliq, commonly translated as “creator”, comes from the Arabic rot

khalaqa. This root appears in many verses about the creation of humans and the universe.

Translating khalaqa simply as “to create” doesn’t fully capture its deep meaning. Edward

William Lane11 studied Arabic for 25 years to explain these original meanings, His work

remains important for those who want to understand the Qur’an from non-Arabs. Lane studied

the work of earlier Arabic scholars like al-Khaleel12 and al-baydawee13 who had a deep

knowledge of the complex classical Arabic language used during the time of the prophet

Muhammad. Lane’s dictionary goes back to the original meanings of Arabic words, providing

detailed explanations that help readers better understand the language of the Qur’an.

According to Lane, the verb khalaqa means “shaping one thing into another” and

“bringing something into existence with a specific design or measure” It also means “to create

something new that did not exist before”. So, this word has three main parts for its meaning,

first one, transforming an original substance into something new. The second one, giving the

new creation unique characteristics so it can be identified as separate from its source. The final

one, bringing it into existence from nothing. So, in the context of the Qur’an, khalaka means

to make something new according to a certain measure rather than “create”. In the Qur’an, God

commonly used this word to introduce his creation.

6
One of the 99 names of Allah that means “the creator”
7
One of the 99 names of Allah that means” the Evolver”
8
One of the 99 names of Allah that means “the Bestower of forms”
9
One of the 99 names of Allah that means “the sustainer”
10
Surah Al-Hashr
11
A British scholar who created a well-known Arabic-English dictionary in 1883
12
An Arab philologist who compiled the first Arabic dictionary
13
A Persian jurist, theologian, and Qur’an commentator

21
2.3 MIRACLE OF CREATION
According to Islam, the concept of man has a wonderful story. It’s not a “biped homo erectus14”.

According to the verses of the Qur’an, it’s not simple to understand. The Qur’an describes

humans in both very positive and very negative ways. It praises humans very highly, saying

they are greater than the heavens, the earth, and even angels. But it also says that humans can

fall lower than the devil or animals.

The Qur’an believes that humans have the power to control the world and even make

angels work for them. However, it also warns that humans can sink to the lowest levels without

being careful.

Islam is a complete and perfected religion that guides every part of human life. It covers

not only how people should connect with Allah but also how they interact with each other and

the world around them. Humans are made by Allah, created from the earth. As Allah’s servants,

humans have the responsibility to worship him throughout their lives,

The Qur’an doesn’t tell the full story of Adam and Eve as in the Bible, parts of their

story appear in twelve of the Qur’an’s 114 chapters, resembling some parts of Genesis 2:7-3:23

or related texts. The story of human creation in the Qur’an has no clear beginning or ending,

often they repeat in various chapters. The purpose of mentioning Adam in these verses is to

highlight key points of faith. Eight of the twelve chapters appeared in the Meccan chapter15 and

four in Medinan chapters16

2.4 STEPS OF HUMAN CREATION IN THE QUR’AN

The Holy Qur’an brought facts about the creation of mankind that humanity had not yet known.

One of the most important of these facts is that creation was not all at once but rather passed

through various stages in which the fetes progressed from the sperm to the leech to the embryo

14
Two legged being who abled to walk long distances
15
610-622 from Hijri Calander
16
622-632 from Hijri Calander

22
to the formation of bones, then the bones were covered with flesh, then completion. Creation

and the clarification of these divine truths as their reference and origin return first to God. Its

source also includes the discoveries of the electronic microscope, advanced photographic

machines, etc. All of these things were factors that allowed scientists to conduct experiments

that only years ago seemed like imaginary dreams. An accurate understanding and description

of the stages of embryogenesis have been achieved. Modern embryology has revealed the

stages in which man is created, and modern science has not found anything more appropriate

or more eloquent than the words of the Holy Qur’an to express these stages and phases.

So, we are going to discuss in this chapter the steps of human creation and phases of

his life through Qur'anic verses and their interpretations. We can understand through this study

the power of God and his ability to rule all over the world.

2.5 ELEMENTS IN THE CREATION OF THE FIRST HUMAN

2.5.1 Water
Water is the first element from which God created every living thing except the angels and jinn

because the angels were created from light and the jinn were created from fire. Allah said on

Ayat (21:3017) that he created all things on earth from water, and human beings are included in

this statement. He also said in Ayat (25:5418) that humans were created from water.

2.5.2 Soil
Soil is the second element of the creation of Adam, who is the father of mankind. Soil and dust

are essential elements of the formation of all mankind after Adam. The plants were created

from soil; our foods are provided by plants; blood is increasing from food; sperm is provided

by blood; and the fetus is provided by sperm. We can see more verses in the holy Qur’an

describing human creation from the soil.

There is another investigation by scholars about God creating people from dust, which

17
Surah Al-Anbiya
18
Surah Al-Furqan

23
is that he created their father Adam from it, then He created his wife from him, and then he

created them from it through reproduction. Since their first origin was from dust, he called

them that he created them from dust. Because the branches follow the origin, modern science

has concluded that all the elements that make up a human being are the elements of the earth.

2.6 STAGES OF THE FIRST HUMAN CREATION

2.6.1 Clay
This clay results from the mixing of the elements water and soil, which are explained under the

previous title. Therefore, clay is a compound from the creation of the human body. God says

in Surah Al-Sajdah about human creation from clay and other stages of creation. The

interpreters describe this clay as being sticky and cohesive.

It is worth mentioning that the reason for human differences in their characteristics,

shapes, and morals is due to the material from which God created Adam, and he collected them

from all the earth. The prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said in his hadith that Allah created Adam

from a fist that was taken from all the earth, so the children of Adam are coming according to

the size of the earth. The people come among them, white, red, and black. People are reaching

for the plain and sad and also for the weak and good19.

2.6.2 The Black Mud20

God Almighty left this clay after he mixed its two elements until it became aged sludge. Allah

narrated in Ayat (15:26)21 that he created man from clay, which was aged sled. Many

commentators are saying sludge is the black and discoloured layer. The word "masnoon"22 has

different interpretations among commentators. Some argue it refers to a smooth and

unblemished face, while others suggest it signifies a disgusting or stinking appearance. The

19
Surah Al-Imran: 59, Surah Al-Fatir:11, Surah Al-Ghafir:67
20
A man formed in lagoons, sounds, or bays
21
Surah Al-Hijr
22
It’s from hamah-ul-maznoon which is Qur’anic word denoting black mud

24
text includes quotes from historical figures like Ibn Abbas and Hamza bin Abdul Muttalib23,

reflecting differing opinions on the meaning of the term. Additionally, there is mention of moulded

and hollowed-out toothpicks, symbolizing the emptying of the image of man, akin to how essence

is removed from examples in images.

2.6.3 The Stage of Being Salsal24

The clay became like pottery after it became hardened sludge in the form of Adam. Allah

described that he created man from clay-like pottery. The one who wears it then will make a

sound if something hits him. If the fire touches him, he will then potter, and this is the opinion

of most professional interpreters in the meaning of salsal25.

Therefore, when most people mixed the elements of earth and water, it became clay.

When the clay stank, it became hardened, sludge formed in its shape, and when it dried, it

became clay, until this stage, Adam had not begun to live. Until this stage god doesn’t breathed

Adam’s spirit to him.

2.6.4 Breathing the Spirit

This is the best gift of God to Adam, a human being, and other beings. He created and shaped the

human body, then added the spirit to himself to make it clear that no one owns this spirit except

Him. We can see many verses in the Qur’an in the spirit of human beings. When God Almighty

breathed the spirit into Adam, Allah advised the angels to prostrate to him.

2.7 STAGES OF HUMAN CREATION IN HIS MOTHER'S WOMB:

We are discussing various sources in the creation of the first human Adam in the world. The Qur'an

narrates verses on this research and knowledge. The Qur'an and Sunnah also describe the stages

and phases of human life in his mother's womb. The Qur'anic verses (22:5)26 and (23:12–1427)

23
He is foster brother, paternal uncle, maternal second-cousin, and companion of the Islamic prophet
Muhammad
24
Its sounding and ringing clay
25
Surah Al-hijr:26
26
Surah Al-Hajj
27
Surah Al-mu’min

25
describe a complete and accurate form of human creation. We are going to describe the stages of

human creation.

2.7.1 The Sperm

The word sperm is mentioned in the holy Qur’an twelve times. This stage came after the

completion of the creation of the first male and first female human beings, and the sperm was

mixed from the man’s semen and the woman’s semen. After intercourse, the man’s water mixes

with the woman’s water, and the two waters become sperm.

One of the wonders of God’s ability is that the number of sperm secreted by the testicles

reaches between two hundred and three hundred sperm in one batch, while the female pushes

a single egg with a radiant crown on it. There are huge quantities of sperm, but only one sperm

reaches the egg.

The sperm is fused with the egg, and the fertilized egg begins to divide into two, four,

or eight cells without the total size of these cells increasing beyond the size of the fertilized

egg. This division process is completed while the egg is on its way to the uterus, and then

comes the second stage.

2.7.2 The Leech

The word leech is mentioned in the Holy Qur’an’s five verses. The word alaqah in the holy

book means that it is a piece of leech, which is solid blood. The fertilized egg reaches and

divides in the uterus, then becomes a mass of small cells like fruit called thymus. It attaches to

the wall of the uterus and continues this attachment for twenty-four hours.

The leech is distinguished by two layers: an outer layer (eating and nourishing), and an

inner layer, and God creates the fetes from these layers. God would remind us of those moments

when man was a mass of blood stuck to the wall of the uterus, deriving from its warmth,

nourishment, and housing. Through these five verses, Qur’an explains the leech and its role in

the creation of men.

26
2.7.3 Lumps of Flesh
The Qur'an used the word “muz’a” for lumps of flesh, and it was mentioned in the Holy Qur’an

three times: twice in Surah Al-Mu’minun and once in Surah Al-Hajj. The meaning of muz’a is

a small piece of meat that is as large as it can be chewed. After the implantation process, the

embryonic stage begins in the third week, and this stage goes through two stages:

[Link] Uncreated:
The uncreated form of lumps does not show any image of human beings. This stage lasts from

the third week until the fourth week, and there is no differentiation of any organ or system.

[Link] The created embryo28:

After the end of the fourth week, pregnancy goes through a number of subtle and amazing

changes, during which cells grow and develop so that the person is in the best shape, this stage

ends approximately at the end of the third month. That is the start of the creation of man in the

belly of his mother. Later it will transform to the real man who does works for his creator and

he will love the activities of his creator through that he can achieve the heaven and will get it

in the day of judgement

2.7.4 Bones
In this stage, Allah turns meat into a skeleton, and he said that he created the embryo as bones.

God also describes in Ayat 23:1429 that he created the lump of flesh as bones and covered the

bones with flesh. When we are going to interpret this verse, we can indicate that the bones are

formed first, then the flesh and muscles wrap around them as if they were a covering for them,

and this precise depiction indicates the greatness and accuracy of the Qur'an. The Qur’an

describes these steps of creation in some verses and through those verses we can understand

the steps of creation very clearly.

28
It means lumps of flesh
29
Surah Al-Mu’minun

27
2.7.5 The End of Creation
God gave human beings, lastly, the breathing soul and this breath takes place about four months

after the "alaqah" stage.

After the stage of breathing, Allah gave the stage of the formation of hearing and sight

to humankind. He says that he brought humans out of the wombs of your mothers, knowing

nothing, and gave you hearing, sight, and hearts that you might understand. Hearing was

formed before sight, and it has been scientifically proven that hearing is formed before sight.

After that, the human being continues to grow in his mother’s womb day after day until his

growth is complete and he becomes a child.

2.8 SUMMARY
The human being has to know miracles and wonders in his creation and ability to do

everything. God described only human creation and its circle in many Qur'anic verses from

other creations of God, because humans were created in the best manner and form. He said in

ayat (71;14) that he created human beings in different stages and phases.

Allah reminds man again and again of his lowly and inferior origins, of his first and

subsequent creation, in order to cull his arrogance and reinforce his belief in Allah’s absolute

power of creation and resurrection. As long as we keep reminding ourselves of how we were

created, how we were born, and how we came into existence from nothing, to ultimately grow

bigger and take the shape of a functioning human being from the merger of two tiny cells, we

will perhaps be able to stop doubting how Allah will put us back together in the Akhirah when

the Hour is established.

28
 CHAPTER 3

CREATION OF MEN IN BIBLE

3.1 INTRODUCTION
The creation story in the Bible and Genesis is a well-known tale about how God created the

world and humans. It starts with God’s creation of heaven and earth in the area of emptiness

and darkness and it took six days to complete the creation of the entire world. by separating

light from darkness, and soil from water later God filled it with plants, animals, and Everything

else. In the first part of the story, we can see that God speaks something simply then that speech

converts to being. The main point is God created humans in his image to show the connection

between God and his humans. This moment sets up a special bond between humans and their

creator.

In the second part, the story focuses on how God created humans in a more personal

way. He forms the first man from dust and breathes life into him, turning him into a human

being. This act of creation shows God’s special care for people and hints that humans have a

different purpose. The creation story tells about the creation of the world and our place in that

world. Through that world, we can understand God’s love for his entire creature.

3.2 SIX DAYS OF CREATION

The first chapter of the Bible 30says that God created Everything in six normal days, with six

mornings and Evenings. For example, in Bible, we can see that, on the fourth day, God

commanded that there should be lights in the sky to separate day and night and he made the sun,

moon, and stars to divide light from the darkness31. But the problem is in another verse32, it

says God already separated the light from the darkness on the first day, and the terms “Evening

30
Genesis 1
31
Genesis 1
32
Genesis 1, verse 4

29
and morning” say that night and day were already happening there. Then what was exactly

created on the fourth day of creation? This is a relatable question among the religious scholars.

As an answer, Christian Scholars say that the Hebrew word for “made” actually means “had

made”, meaning that God may have created the sun, moon, and stars billions of years earlier,

but made them visible on the fourth day of creation. Since half of the earth is dark while the

other half is in daylight, the term “Evening and morning” might be the two specific locations

on the earth.

However, when we understand the Bible this way, we are not interpreting it literally. Perhaps

the creation story was not meant to be interpreted literally.

Genesis 1 doesn’t explain how God created things. It doesn’t tell us the exact process

of how he separated light from darkness or land from sea. It also doesn’t specify whether God

created water and land insects on the same day, or if the stars existed before verse 16 and just

became visible later. God began creation by calling for light, then the light might have appeared

instantly from somewhere. Through this, we can understand that the creation started in the

morning.

3.2.1 Day 2 and 3

In the Bible33, on the second day, God separated the waters, creating space between them. From

this story, we can’t understand, where this water came from, or when it was made but the only

clue for the existence of water is the second verse, in Genesis34, “earth” means dry land, and in

verse 8, the space between the waters is called “heaven”. But the texts don’t say when the water

was created, or how much water is there above heaven. We can understand that verse 2 only

shows the existence of water and it doesn’t give any other further information and then it is not

a complete story.

33
Genesis 1:6
34
Verse 10

30
 On day 3 God separated the land from water35 the picture of creation in our mind might

be some continents rising from the water but if we think about it, we can understand that if

some continent rises instantly the water will fly from that continent to another and it will make

damage to other continents but God mad it miraculously. Also, on the third day, that land

produced plants with seeds and fruits. God created fully-grown trees.

3.2.2 4th day

On the fourth day, God brought the sun and moon to separate day and night Even though the

sun and moon were already in place he also commanded them to “give light on the earth” which

was also done on the first day. This is the confusing part of the fourth day of creation. Another

debate on this “day” was how long were they is it twenty-four hours or more than twenty-four

hours. Some scholars believe that the days of creation were twenty-four hours. Some believe

that the story is figurative that Every day will be lengthened as per the sequence of the Events

in that day. Some took the “middle” view, they believed the sequence of Events was correct,

but that the days were much longer than 24 hours. Other scholars like Karl Barth, believe that

the days of Genesis 1 are twenty-four-hour days.

3.2.3 6th day

On day 6 of creation as we can see in Genesis 1, God created animals and then humans, both

male and female36. But in Genesis 2 we got a more detailed story of creation. It says “When

the lord God made the earth and the heavens and no shrub had yet appeared on the earth, God

formed the man from the dust of the ground” (Genesis 2:4-7). This raises a question: Did God

create Adam before there were plants? Either this order doesn’t match Genesis 1 or maybe

neither story is meant to be in exact order.

After creating all the animals and Adam, God “planted a garden in Eden” 37and “made

35
Genesis verse 9
36
Verse 26-27
37
Genesis 2:8

31
all kinds of trees grow from the ground”38. The word “planted” suggests time, as does “grow”.

Then God gave instructions to Adam on what he had to do what he had to avoid and what he

could eat39. After that, he thought of Adam's name of “all the beasts of the field and all the birds

of the air”40.

3.4 MAN, THE IMAGE OF GOD

According to the Bible, Adam, the first man, was created perfect, in God’s image41. In fact, the

Bible Even calls Adam the “son of God”42. The verses describe Adam’s face as one anyone

would recognize, and it was clear that he was an image, a creation, not God, it’s like comparing

a sculpture to a real person. It’s not the real thing but rather a reflection. Adam was God’s

masterpiece, crafted with great care and resembling God’s spirit, but still only a reflection of

him.

What does mean by “made in God’s image”? it doesn’t mean that humans look like

Gods since God is spirit, not physical like us. However, humans still reflect God’s image in

important ways. When Jesus, the son of God, became human, He honored the human body by

taking on flesh43, and as per some scholar's opinion, Adam might have reflected God’s image

so perfectly. So, he can achieve some unique specialties that nobody has, and that is why God

gave him the role to rule the world.

3.5 MAN, AN ANIMAL

Humans can be believed as the being between God and the animals, sharing positives from

both. We are animals in terms of our bodies and biology, and we even have some of the same

genes. The scholars of evolution call us human primates.

The book of Genesis shows the similarities between humans and animals, it says, “God

38
Verse 9
39
Verses 15-17
40
Verse 19
41
Genesis 1:26
42
Luke 3:38
43
John 1:14, Hebrews 2:14

32
formed man from the dust of the ground”44 and also states, “God formed all the animals from

the ground”45both humans and animals are called “living beings”, the same Hebrew word,

“nephesh,” means “breath” and applies to both.

After the flood, the Bible mentions that “Everything on dry land that had the breath of

life died”46. This indicates that both humans and animals were affected in the same way. God

sees humans differently from animals. The Bible mainly talks about the relationship between

God and people. Humans were created in God’s image for his joy, and we exist because of him.

The earth and animals have their role. The world was mainly designed as a home for humans

3.6 GOD’S ATTRIBUTES SHARED WITH A MAN

Being a man in God’s image has a main effect that God and humans share some special

attributes between them. It makes us different from animals. As per the verses of the Bible, the

qualities that had been shared between God and humans are language, creativity, love, holiness,

immortality, and freedom. We can say that humans have intelligence and minds like a God.

Arthur Koestler47 notes that the language is the biggest difference between humans and animals.

No animal has developed true language the way humans do and only humans have advanced

language with spoken and written forms. Humans have had this quality from the beginning of

mankind.

Very famous quat of Dennis Fry48 in his book Homo loquens, notes that learning

a language is the greatest achievement of humans. A little child has so many struggles to utter

a word and has to do some movements with his mouth and tongue and those movements will

be very tiny. When they grow, they will study vocabulary, grammar, and intonation49, which

are needed to make language much better. Through this verses of Bible we can understand that

44
Genesis 2-7
45
Genesis 2:19
46
Genesis 7:22-23
47
Hungarian author and journalist
48
British linguist and professor of experimental phonetics at university college London
49
The way voice pitches changes meaning

33
while creating his creations god gave his attributes to Adam only.

3.7 THE ORIGIN OF SPEECH

In Genesis 2,3 and 4, we can see that the first humans (Adam, Eve, and Cain) can speak and

words were clear and developed. From this, we can understand that God taught them how to

talk and there is no other option. Nowadays, experts agree that humans are born with a special

ability to learn language. A child will automatically learn his mother tongue unless he becomes

deaf or is born deaf or has some emotional problems. Even the deaf have their language to

communicate with others. There are many child who knows two languages and communicates

with it separately. They know where they have to use this language.

The Christian and Jewish view is that God is a communicator. Christians believed in

one God who exists as three persons50 (father, son, and holy spirit). This idea of the trinity

involves communication with God himself. For example, in Genesis 1, God says “Let us make

man in our image”, and it shows God communicating within himself. It makes sense that

humans created in God’s image, have the natural gift of speech. for Christians, a baby learning

to talk is showing a special gift given by God to humans. Christians also believe that Jesus also

called logos, or “the word” and the Bible says “in the beginning was the word, and the word

was with God, and the word was God”51. So, the Bible is known as the “word of God”.

3.8 STORY OF ADAM AND EVE

God created the world, including the first humans, Adam and Eve. According to the Bible

Adam was made from earth, crafted by God carefully, and he got his spirit by a simple breath

of God. God made Adam differently from the other animals and his name represents the entire

mankind. The word Adam is connected to the Hebrew word for “red” soil because he was made

from the ground. God gave Adam a powerful role to care for and rule over the entire creation.

50
Father, Son, and Holy spirit
51
John 1:1

34
 After creating Adam, God decided to make a partner for him and he needs it. So, he

made Eve from the rib of Adam. Eve was created to be a companion and partner for Adam and

Eve was equal to Adam. Eve has to share the role of caring for the world with Adam. God

placed them in the beautiful garden of Eden. A perfect place for them to get peace and joy. In

the garden, they could eat whatever they wanted, including the trees of life, which give

Everlasting life. The only restriction for them was not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of

Good and Evil. God warned them that if they ate from that tree, they would experience death.

For Adam and Eve, that garden was a very peaceful space where they could enjoy their

lives. That was a very harmonious life with nature and God. Who would even walk with them

in the garden? They had a great relationship with God. There they were very innocent and

unaware of Evil.

One day Satan came to them in the form of a snake, and he entered the garden and

approached Eve with a question. He asked Eve if it was true that God had told them not to eat

any tree in the garden. Eve responded that they were allowed to eat from any of the trees except

the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because God had warned them. Then Satan told

them she wouldn’t die if she ate the fruit, and she would understand good and Evil like God.

Then Eve began to look at that tree and Eve seemed it like good to eat, and the idea of

gaining wisdom began to spread in her mind. Eve ate some bite and gave some to Adam and

he also ate it. Suddenly they become naked and shy and they cover their body with leaves.

Later God came to them and asked where were they. They both came forward. Then God asked

did they ate from that forbidden tree. Adam looked at Eve saying “The woman you gave me,

she gave me the fruit” As a consequence Eve would experience pain in childbirth and Adam

would struggle to grow food from the land, and their life became harder. Eventually, they will

die and return to the soil that became made from.

35
3.9 SUMMARY
The Bible’s story of human creation highlights the special bond between God and people who

were created in God’s image. Humans are very different from animals and plants because they

can think, create, love, and make choices and this “image” means humans have special

purposes for their creation. Adam and Eve were asked to care for the earth and their duty was

to protect mankind and live in harmony with each other and with God.

But disobeying God brings separation from God and they were away from God but

merciful God promises hope, forgiveness, and a plan to heal this kind of wrong. The creation

story isn’t just about how life began but it’s about the purposes and our relationship with God.

It presents a hopeful future that we can achieve through God’s love

36
 CHAPTER 4

CREATION OF MEN IN QUR’AN AND BIBLE

4.1 INTRODUCTION
The Qur’an and the Bible are the most influential texts in the world’s major monotheistic

religions. They both contain valuable information about humanity's origins, the process of

human creation, and the spiritual, moral, and philosophical foundations laid out in these texts.

Both the Qur’an and the Bible present Adam as the first human, created from materials like

“clay” or” dust”, symbolizing a connection to the earth. However, the two texts differ in their

interpretations of human nature, and the idea of sin. The Qur’an emphasizes humanity’s role

as caretakers of the earth and duty to follow God’s will, while the Bible emphasizes free will

and the concept of original sin, impacting how Christians and Muslims understand human

responsibility and redemption.

By comparing these perspectives, Islam and Christianity guide their followers in

understanding life’s purpose and moral obligations. Ultimately, this comparative analysis

encourages readers to appreciate both the similarities and distinctions that shape Muslim and

Christian views on human creation and the divine plan.

4.2 DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES

4.2.1 Creation Of Man
Jewish, Christian, and Islamic scriptures all confirm that Adam was the first man created by

God in Heaven. He was made from clay and water, and Eve was created from his rib52 to ease

his loneliness. Adam and Eve lived happily in paradise until Satan deceived them. As a result,

they were sent to Earth, and all human beings are considered as their descendants53

52
(Khamis, 2000) pp 132
53
(Siuharwi, 2000) vol.1, pp 25

37
 In each tradition, Adam and Eve’s story highlights the beginning of humanity and

emphasizes the importance of human choices and responsibility. By being created from simple

materials like clay and water, Adam is shown to be connected to the earth, symbolizing

humility and dependence on God. Eve’s creation from Adam’s rib signifies companionship and

unity.

[Link] Differences And Similarities

In both the Bible54 and the Qur’an55, the universe was created in six days

In the Bible, Adam, after creation was placed in the Garden of Eden56 in the earth while in the

Qur’an he was placed in paradise.57

4.2.2 Before Birth

In Jewish, Christian, and Islamic teachings, God revealed to the angels His plan to create

humans from dust, intending them to be His representatives or vicegerents on earth 58. He

explained that each generation would follow the next59, and humans would be given the unique

gift of free will the power to make decisions and choose their path.

The angels were both amazed and curious. However, despite their questions, the angels

honored God’s decision and praised Him, trusting in His infinite wisdom and purpose60. Unlike

angels, who follow God without question, humans would be given the freedom to make choices

and learn from them, shaping their own lives and their impact on the world. The story also

reflects the importance of responsibility and faith, as humans are entrusted with the care of the

earth and with the power to make decisions that align with divine guidance.

[Link] Differences And Similarities

The Qur’an explains, in the creation of Adam, when God said to the angels, “verily I am going

54
Bible Genesis, 1:31
55
Qur’an, 41:9-12
56
Bible, Genesis 3:23
57
Qur’an, 20:118
58
Qur’an 2:30
59
Qur’an 2:30, 6:165
60
(siuharwi, 2000), vol. 1 pp 20

38
to place (mankind) generations after generation on earth”61this means prophet Adam was made

to be sent to earth not to live in heaven forever. While in the Bible man was fallen on earth as

a punishment after eating the forbidden fruit.62

4.2.3 Man’s Matter

According to Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions, Almighty God created the first man,

Adam, from dust. This dust was mixed with clay, which was soft and adaptable, allowing God

to shape it perfectly. Once the clay body was ready, it began to make sounds63, like an empty

vessel. Then, God breathed His spirit into the form64, bringing it to life

As soon as the soul entered, Adam gained awareness, intelligence, and a unique sense

of purpose. He could think, feel, and understand in a way no other creation could. God gave

Adam a special status, placing him above all other beings in creation65, with the power to learn,

grow, and act with intention. By breathing life to Adam, God endowed humanity with the

potential to grow in wisdom and moral awareness, setting humans with a special responsibility

and honor to take care of the world that is what Adam has to do here, and that is the difference

between human and other kind of beings. Anybody of them haven’t the role of taking care the

world. That’s why human is so connected to God.

[Link] Differences And Similarities

In the Qur’an, Adam was created by God out of dust. He then breathed into him the spirit66,

specified for him67. In hadith, it is stated that almighty God created Adam and then breathed

spirit into him68. In the Bible, Adam was created by God in His image69 and He breathed into

his nostrils “the breath of life”70

61
(Al-Khalil, 2003), pp 20
62
Bible Genesis 3:22-24
63
Qur’an, 7:12
64
(Shafi, 2005), vol 1
65
Qur’an 70:1
66
Qur’an 15:29
67
Kathir Stories of the Prophets, 2003
68
Al-Bukhari Hadith 236, Al-Nisaburi Hadith 193
69
Bible Genesis 1:27
70
Bible Genesis 2:7

39
4.2.4 Angel’s Weakness
In the religious teachings of all three, God’s appointment of humans as His representatives on

Earth is deeply tied to the gift of knowledge71. God gave Adam the ability to understand and

name all things, teaching him the properties and qualities of everything that exists, whether

living or non-living. This knowledge symbolized the wisdom and awareness that would allow

humanity to act with understanding and insight.

To demonstrate Adam’s special role, God presented him to the angels and instructed

him to share what he had learned. Some commentators suggest that Adam might not have

recited specific names but instead demonstrated his ability to distinguish and categorize things,

showing humanity’s capacity to discern, especially between right and wrong.

After witnessing Adam’s understanding, God commanded the angels to bow in respect

to Adam, acknowledging his unique place in creation. The angels obeyed this command

without hesitation, recognizing Adam’s God-given knowledge and potential as qualities that

set humanity apart. This act symbolizes humanity’s honored role and responsibility to use

knowledge.

[Link] Differences And Similarities

In the Bible72, God brought the birds and the beasts of the field to Adam to see what would he

call them?. In the Qur’an 73God taught Adam the names “of everything” and he repeated

[Link] the Qur’an, God commanded the Angels to go prostrate before him75. While the Bible

remained silent in this regard. Through this incident, Adam got a special ability to think and

speech which nobody has.

4.2.5 Satan’s Denial

In the teachings of three religions, Satan was commanded along with the angels to bow before

71
Siuharwi 2000
72
Bible, Genesis 2:19
73
Qur’an 2:19, 20
74
Qur’an 2:32-34, 20:116-120
75
Qur’an 2:34

40
Adam as a sign of respect for humanity’s unique role and knowledge. However, Satan refused.

Because of pride, jealousy and he argued that he was created from fire, and was superior to

Adam, who was created from earth. Satan failed to understand that true worth in God’s eyes is

based on the qualities and responsibilities given by the creator, not on the materials of creation.

Because of his refusal, Satan was forever removed from God’s mercy. Satan instead

requested a prolonged life until the world ends, for using that time to mislead Adam and his

successors. Who became a reason for his downfall. God accepted this request and he also

warned Adam about this misleading. From that moment, Satan began to mislead humanity,

hoping to lead them to the way of hell. He almost won that decision and he gave many of them

the tastes of hell so, Satan is the main reason for sending Adam to earth, and he is the reason

for getting hell for the Muslims. Whenever a Muslim tries to do some positive the Satan will

be there to divert him to the negative.

[Link] Differences And Similarities

In the Qur’an, God ordered the angels to prostrate before Prophet Adam (as a sign of respect),

but Satan refused76, while in the Bible it is not mentioned. In the Qur’an77, Satan was among

the jinn, while in the Bible, it is not mentioned

4.2.6 Creation Of Eve

Eve, known as Hawaa in Arabic, derives her name from a Hebrew word meaning “life”. She

was created as a companion for Adam for his loneliness, and together they lived in paradise.

God instructed Adam and Eve to reside in paradise and enjoy all its blessings freely. Marking

the beginning of their life together. This companionship highlights the value of human

relationships and the shared experience of life, symbolizing unity and support between

partners.

76
Qur’an 2:34
77
Qur’an 7:12

41
[Link] Differences And Similarities
In the Bible, Eve78 is mentioned by name, while in the Qur’an, Eve is not mentioned by name,

but rather with the name of her husband79, although Islamic tradition gives her name “Hawaa”80

In the Bible, Eve was called “woman”, because she was taken out of man81. In another

verse, God calls her “Eve” because she is the mother of all human beings82. Islamic and Hebrew

“Hawaa” also means “Mother of all living”. In the Bible, Eve was created from the rib of Adam,

while he was sleeping83, which is the same as the Qur’an where women are created from man84.

4.2.7 The Tree

In paradise, God designed one specific tree as forbidden to Adam and Eve, warning them not

to eat from it or even go near it. The Qur’an and Hadith do not specify the type of tree, some

interpretations suggest it might have been a wheat plant, a fig tree, or a grapevine. In the Bible,

Adam and Eve were granted dominion over all of earth’s creations, except for the “tree of the

knowledge of good and evil”

This prohibition emphasizes the limits of human freedom, reminding Adam and Eve of

their dependence on God’s guidance. The forbidden tree represents the boundary God set for

them, serving as a test of their trust to follow his command.

[Link] Differences And Similarities

In the Bible, God warned Adam and Eve from a tree to prevent them from dying85, but in

another verse, the Bible says, that they broke the law by sinning86. In the Qur’an, God warned

Prophet Adam and Eve from the tree for preventing them from becoming sinners87.

In the Bible, the forbidden tree is the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and the fruit

78
Genesis 3:20
79
Qur’an 2:35
80
Kitab hadith al Ambiya, vol 6
81
Genesis 2:23
82
Genesis 3:20
83
Genesis 2:21
84
Qur’an 4:1, 7:189
85
Genesis 3:2,3
86
Bible, 1TI, 2:14
87
Qur’an 2:35

42
is more likely to be an apple88. In the Qur’an, Satan told Prophet Adam that he would lead him

to the tree of eternity and to a kingdom that would never waste away89.

In the Bible, God banned a tree of life as well as the tree of knowledge of good and bad90and

god diverted them with a sword and they diverted from the tree of life , while the Qur’an does

not mention the second tree.

4.2.8 Adam’s Mistake

Satan mistakes Adam and Eve by whispering to them that the forbidden tree was the “tree of

eternity,” and that its fruit would grant them eternal life and closeness to God. To convince

them, he even swore he was a friend, not an enemy.

Adam’s first human weakness, forgetfulness, came into play here. He forgot God’s

command and ate from the tree. As soon as they ate, Adam and Eve became aware of their

nakedness and felt a new sense of modesty. They quickly began covering themselves with

leaves from the garden. This moment marked the beginning of human self-awareness and the

earliest steps toward civilization.

[Link] Differences And Similarities

In the Qur’an, the mistake maker is Iblis (Satan)91, while in the Bible the mistake maker is a

serpent92 whom Christians identify as Satan93

88
Genesis 2:9
89
Qur’an 20:22,120
90
Genesis 2:9
91
Qur’an 2:34
92
Genesis 3:1-4
93
Revelation 12:9, revelation 20:2

43
In the Bible94 as soon as they ate the fruit of the forbidden tree their private parts became

uncovered and they began to cover themselves with fig leaves, while in the Qur’an they covered

themselves with the leaves of the garden of the paradise.95

In the Bible, Prophet Adam and Eve hid themselves, when they heard God walking in

the Garden. When God called out to them, “Where are you”? they said we are hidden because

we are naked. Then God knew that they had eaten the fruit96, while in the Qur’an God knew

exactly at the time when they ate the fruit97.

In the Bible, it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner, not the man98. While

in the Qur’an both of them were deceived99.

4.2.9 Regret And Exit

When God questioned Adam about his disobedience, Adam didn’t argue or blame others like

Satan had. Instead, he felt deep regret, admitted his mistake, and prayed for forgiveness. God,

seeing his sincerity, taught him words of repentance and accepted his apology. God then sent

Adam to Earth to fulfil his role there, with a limited time to live.

Satan’s anger toward Adam, Eve, and their descendants would exist on Earth until the

last day of the world. God explained that humanity would live among both good and evil

influences. Those who remained sincere and faithful to God would ultimately reach Paradise,

while those led astray by sin would face punishment. In the Bible, God sent Adam and Eve out

94
Genesis 3:7
95
Qur’an 7:22
96
Genesis 3:8-11
97
Qur’an 7:22
98
Bible 1TI 2:14
99
Qur’an 2:36

44
of Paradise, knowing they had eaten from the Tree of Knowledge. If they stayed, they might

also eat from the tree of life and live forever, so God ensured their departure.

[Link] Differences And Similarities

In the Bible, after Adam and Eve ate from the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil," God

sent them out of Paradise. To prevent them from eating from the "Tree of life" and living

forever100, God placed a flaming sword to guard its way. The Qur’an, however, does not

mention this second tree.

When God asked Adam in the Bible why he ate the forbidden fruit, Adam blamed Eve, and

Eve blamed the serpent101. In the Qur’an, this blame does not occur; Adam and Eve take

responsibility together.

In the Bible, God cursed Adam, Eve, and the serpent because of their actions. The curse

meant that men would have to work hard to survive and would eventually die102, women would

experience pain in childbirth103 and be ruled by men, and the serpent would crawl on its belly

and eat dust, creating enmity between snakes and people104. In the Qur’an, however, Adam

confessed his mistake and asked for God’s mercy, which God accepted, forgiving him instead

of cursing him105

4.2.10 Death

According to tradition, Prophet Adam was buried on Mount Abu Qubais. Another account

suggests he was buried on Mount Baudh, the place where he first arrived on Earth. Some

100
Genesis 3:22-24
101
Genesis 3:12-13
102
Genesis 3:17-19
103
Genesis 3:16
104
Genesis 3:15
105
Qur’an 2:37

45
narratives say that after the Great Flood, Prophet Noah reburied Adam in Jerusalem.

[Link] Differences And Similarities

According to the Bible, Adam lived to be 930 years old106. However, it does not mention how

old Eve was when she died.

4.3 SUMMARY

In the Bible, particularly in the book of Genesis, the creation narrative includes Adam being

formed from the dust of the earth and given life by God's breath. Eve is later created from

Adam’s rib to be his companion. This account emphasizes the concept of original sin, as Adam

and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden introduces sin and mortality to humankind.

The Quran also describes the creation of Adam from clay or dust, emphasizing God's command

and life-giving spirit. While the Quran mentions Adam and his wife, it does not specify that

Eve was made from Adam's rib, and it frames the story differently, focusing less on original

sin and more on human accountability. According to Islamic tradition, both Adam and his wife

repent for their disobedience, and God forgives them, allowing for a more direct path to

redemption.

106
Genesis 5:5

46
 CONCLUSION

The comparative study of the creation of men in the Qur’an and the Bible reveals that, while

both texts share foundational themes of divine origin, purpose, and accountability, they reflect

distinct theological perspectives. Both the Qur’an and the Bible describe human beings as

created by God from earthly materials, with life instilled through a divine breath or spirit,

signifying a unique relationship with the Creator. However, the Bible emphasizes humans as

made "in the image of God," highlighting a likeness to divine attributes, while the Qur’an

focuses on humans as Allah's appointed "vicegerents" on Earth, responsible for stewardship

and worship. Furthermore, while both scriptures narrate the story of temptation, their

approaches differ: the Bible’s version centers on the "Fall" as the origin of sin, while the Qur’an

emphasizes forgiveness and accountability, stressing human fallibility yet divine mercy. In

essence, the narratives converge in portraying humankind’s connection to God and moral

responsibility, yet diverge in theological interpretations that shape their respective

understandings of human nature and purpose.

47
 MAJOR FINDINGS

A comparative study of the creation of man in the Qur’an and the Bible reveals both similarities

and differences. Here are some major findings of my thesis:

• The Act of creation:

Bible: The Book of Genesis describes the creation of humans on the sixth day, stating that God

created man in His own image: "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of

God he created them; male and female he created them" (Genesis 1:27, NIV).

Qur’an: The Qur’an also describes the creation of humankind by Allah, but it does not mention

humans being made in God's image in the same way. Instead, Allah is said to have created man

from clay or dust: "He created him from dust, then He said to him, 'Be,' and he was" (Qur’an

3:59).

• Material Used for creation

Bible: In Genesis, the formation of Adam (the first man) is from "the dust of the ground"

(Genesis 2:7). God breathes life into Adam, which gives him a living soul.

Qur’an: Several verses describe Allah creating humans from clay, dust, or "sounding clay like

pottery" (e.g., Qur’an 15:26). There’s an emphasis on creation from earthly elements, reflecting

a humble origin.

• Breath of life

Bible: God "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life," and Adam became a living being

(Genesis 2:7).

Qur’an: The Qur’an also mentions Allah breathing His spirit into Adam, making him come to

life (Qur’an 15:29). The emphasis is on Allah’s spirit being the source of life, with a similar,

though less detailed, mention of the breath of life.

48
 • Creation of woman

Bible: Eve is created from Adam’s rib as his companion (Genesis 2:21-22). This suggests

companionship and partnership.

Qur’an: The Qur’an does not specify that the first woman was created from Adam’s rib, though

some interpretations suggest this through Hadith. The focus is more on mutual companionship

and support between men and women (Qur’an 4:1).

• Temptation and the fall

Bible: The story includes the serpent, who tempts Eve to eat from the forbidden tree. Adam

also eats, leading to the “Fall” and resulting in humanity's loss of Eden (Genesis 3).

Qur’an: Satan (Iblis) tempts both Adam and his wife, leading to their eating from the forbidden

tree (Qur’an 7:20-22). The Qur’an emphasizes that both were responsible, and both sought

forgiveness, which Allah granted.

• Afterlife and Accountability

Bible: There is less immediate emphasis in Genesis on the afterlife; instead, the focus is on

earthly consequences (expulsion from Eden).

Qur’an: While also describing earthly consequences, the Qur’an links creation closely to

human purpose and accountability on the Day of Judgment, underlining a continual

responsibility to God (Qur’an 2:21).

49
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Burrell, David B. “Creation and 'Actualism' in Christian and Islamic Doctrine.” Faith and

Philosophy.

• Kassis, Hanna E. “Creation Theology in the Quran.” Islamic Studies.

• Nasr, Seyyed Hossein. “The Quranic Account of Human Creation and Its Implications.”

Journal of Islamic Studies.

• Neuwirth, Angelika. “The Creation of Man in the Qur'an: A Comparative View.” Journal of

Qur'anic Studies.

• The Holy Bible: New International Version (NIV). Zondervan, 2011.

• Haleema sadia creation of man in the bible and the holy Qur’an

• Rahmah hashim the wisdom of creation as pairs in the qur’an

• T.O Shanavas the qur’an and the creation/evolution of human

• Mlada Mikulicova adam’s story in the qur’an”

• Juwaini the process of human creation in the qur’an”

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