Al-Matalib al-'Aliyah 3447 — The creation of Adam

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, created Adam (peace be upon him) from dust, then made it into clay, then left it (in that state) until, when it became "altered black mud" [Surah al-Hijr: 26] (dark, altered, foul-smelling clay), He created him and gave him form. Then He left him until, when he became like "sounding clay like pottery" [Surah al-Rahman: 14] (clay that rings like earthenware), Iblis would pass by him and say (in wonder): 'You have surely been created for a great matter!' Then Allah Almighty breathed into him of His spirit, and the first places into which the spirit flowed were his eyes and his nostrils. He sneezed, and Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, prompted him to praise his Lord. Then the Lord, the Mighty and Majestic, said: 'Yarhamukallahu rabbuk' (May your Lord have mercy on you). Then Allah Almighty said: 'O Adam, go to that group of beings (the angels) and greet them, then see what reply they give you.' So he came and greeted them, and they replied: 'Wa 'alaykas-salamu wa rahmatullah' (And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah). Then he returned to his Lord, the Mighty and Majestic, and Allah, Majestic and Exalted, asked: 'What reply did they give you?', though He knew their reply well. Adam (peace be upon him) said: 'O my Lord, I greeted them and they replied: Wa 'alaykas-salamu wa rahmatullah (And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah).' Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, said: 'O Adam, this is the greeting of you and of your offspring among yourselves.' Adam (peace be upon him) said: 'O my Lord, and what is my offspring?' Allah, Majestic and Exalted, said: 'O Adam, choose one of My two Hands.' He said: 'I have chosen the Right Hand of my Lord, and both Hands of my Lord are right (blessed and perfect).' Then Allah Almighty spread out His palm, and behold, everything that was to be among his offspring (that is, all human beings to be born until the Day of Resurrection) was there in the palm of the Most Merciful, the Blessed and Exalted."
Abu Ya'la recorded this hadith in his Musnad. Its chain contains Isma'il bin Rafi', who is da'if (weak), but on the basis of its supporting witnesses its essential meaning is established in other authentic hadith.