وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّى خَـٰلِقٌۢ بَشَرًا مِّن صَلْصَـٰلٍ مِّنْ حَمَإٍ مَّسْنُونٍ 28
Translations
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "I will create a human being out of clay from an altered black mud.
Transliteration
Wa-idh qala rabbuka lil-mala'ikati inni khaliqun basharan min salsal min hama'in masnun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Allah's announcement to the angels of His intention to create mankind from clay—specifically from sounding clay (salsal) made from mud that has been altered (masnun). Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note that 'salsal' refers to clay that produces a sound when struck, and 'hama'' is dark, putrid mud. This description emphasizes the humble, unpretentious origins of humanity, contrasting with the spiritual nature of the angels and establishing the foundation for understanding humanity's unique role as vicegerents (khalifah) on earth despite their material origins.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within Surah Al-Hijr, a Meccan surah addressing the polytheists' rejection of the Prophet Muhammad and the message of tawhid. The broader context (15:28-44) describes the creation of Adam and the angels' prostration to him, except for Iblis. This passage appears during a period when the Quraysh questioned the nature of human existence and the resurrection, making this explanation of human creation particularly relevant to establishing monotheistic understanding.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Muslim narrated by Abu Hurairah states that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Allah created Adam from dust (turab), then He said to him, "Go and greet those angels..."' This directly relates to the creation narrative. Additionally, in Sahih Bukhari, the hadith about creation states: 'The Prophet said, "Allah created Adam in His image, sixty cubits in height."'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that despite humanity's humble material origins from clay, we possess inherent dignity and purpose in Allah's plan—a profound reminder that our value lies not in our physical composition but in our spiritual potential and role as stewards of creation. It also invites humility and gratitude, recognizing that all humans share this common, modest beginning, which should cultivate equality and compassion among people.