Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 37

(Ayah 37) ➊ These were the words: «{ رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَاۤ اَنْفُسَنَا وَ اِنْ لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَ تَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُوْنَنَّ مِنَ الْخٰسِرِيْنَ }» [ الأعراف : ۲۳ ] In Mustadrak Hakim (2/672, H: 4228), it is mentioned that Adam (peace be upon him) saw "La ilaha illallah Muhammadur Rasulullah" written on the Throne and supplicated through the means of Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), so his repentance was accepted. However, Dhahabi has declared it fabricated, i.e., invented. Regarding the narrator of this narration, Abdur Rahman bin Zaid bin Aslam, Imam Hakim himself has stated in {’’ المدخل إلي الصحيح ‘‘} that he narrates fabricated narrations from his father, from which it is clear that they are his inventions. This narration too he has narrated from his father. Many supplications have come in the Qur'an and Hadith, and in all of them, it is taught to ask directly from Allah Almighty; no means or intercession of any prophet or saint is mentioned. See also Surah Al-Ma'idah (35) and Bani Isra'il (57).

➋ {فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ:} For sincere repentance, three things are necessary: realization of the harm of one's sin, remorse over it, and determination not to commit the sin again in the future. {”فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ“} shows that the effects of sin are not necessary and natural so that punishment must inevitably result from them; rather, it is in the power of Allah Almighty—if He wills, He punishes for the sin, and if He wills, He forgives. If a person repents, the effect of the sin is erased.

➌ {التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيْمُ:} What greater kindness can there be than that He Himself taught the supplication and then also accepted it?

37. 1. When Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) came to the world immersed in remorse, he engaged in repentance and seeking forgiveness. On this occasion too, Allah Almighty provided guidance and support, and taught him those words of forgiveness which are mentioned in Al-A'raf (رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَآ اَنْفُسَنَا ۫وَاِنْ لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُوْنَنَّ مِنَ الْخٰسِرِيْنَ) 7:23. Some individuals, relying on a fabricated narration here, say that Prophet Adam saw لَا اِلٰہ اِلَا اللّٰہ مَحَمَد رَّسُوْلُ اللّٰہ written on the Divine Throne and prayed by means of Muhammad Rasulullah, so Allah Almighty forgave him. This narration is baseless and also contradicts the Quran. Furthermore, it is against the method taught by Allah Almighty. All the Prophets (peace be upon them) have always prayed directly to Allah, never taking the means or intercession of any Prophet, saint, or elder. Therefore, the way of supplication of the Noble Prophet ﷺ and all the Prophets has always been to pray to Allah without any intermediary or means.

Then Adamؑ learned some words [56] from his Lord and repented, so Allah accepted his repentance. Surely, He is the One who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful.

[56] Those words were these, the verse ﴿قَالَا رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَآ اَنْفُسَنَا وَاِنْ لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرحمٰنا لَنَكُوْنَنَّ مِنَ الْخٰسِرِيْنَ﴾ [23: 7]: Adam and Hawwa both said, "Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy on us, we will surely be among the losers." The mention of these words has been made by Allah Himself in Surah Al-A'raf, verse number 23. Despite this, some preachers, in the explanation of this verse, narrate a fabricated hadith. This hadith is presented as marfu‘, i.e., attributed to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, that:

When Sayyiduna Adam ؑ was sent down from Paradise to the earth, he would always weep and seek forgiveness. Once, he looked towards the sky and said, "O Lord! I seek forgiveness through the means of Sayyiduna Muhammad ﷺ." Revelation came: How do you know about Muhammad ﷺ? He replied: When You created me, I saw written on the Throne «لا اله الا اللّٰه محمد رسول اللّٰه», so I understood that there is no one greater than Muhammad ﷺ, whose name You have written alongside Your own name." Revelation came: He is the Seal of the Prophets. He is from your descendants. Had he not been, you too would not have been created." [رياض السالكين 302]

Now see, the following points in this are worth considering:

Sayyiduna Adam ؑ Taking a Means (Wasilah):

1. Nowhere in this hadith is it mentioned whether Sayyiduna Adam's ؑ repentance was accepted through the means (wasilah) of the Prophet ﷺ or not. On the contrary, Allah Ta'ala, by saying that had he not been, you too would not have been, made Sayyiduna Adam ؑ even more disappointed. If such an answer is given to a supplicant, imagine what would happen to his heart.

The Non-Arabic Construction of the Fabricated Hadith:

2. For this answer of Allah Ta'ala, a fabricated hadith has also been invented in the name of Allah Ta'ala, i.e., this is a hadith qudsi and its text is as follows: From Ibn Abbas: Allah says, "By My honor and majesty, were it not for you, I would not have created the world." Translation: 'Ibn Abbas ؓ says that Allah Ta'ala said, "If it were not for you, I would not have created this world at all."' [رياض السالكين ص 244] The meaning of this fabricated hadith qudsi is found in another narration in these words: «لَولاَكَ لَمَا خَلَقْتُ الاَفْلاَ كَ» Translation: "If it were not for you, I would not have created anything in the universe." [رياض السالكين ص 101] Ibn al-Jawzi has declared these hadiths to be fabricated. [See: Mawdu'at Ibn al-Jawzi, Vol. 1, p. 289] Also, one proof of these hadiths being fabricated is that the construction "lolaak" is not Arabic but non-Arabic. According to Arabic grammar, it should be "law la anta," as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the noble Companions, may Allah be pleased with them all, were humming this verse while carrying the soil during the Battle of the Trench: «اللهُمَّ لَوْ لاَ اَنْتَ مَا اهْتَدَيْتَنَا» [بخاري، كتاب المغازي، باب غزوه خندق] Thus, the very construction "lolaak" is incorrect, which is proof of its being fabricated.

The purpose of these fabrications is not only to express the greatness or precedence of the status of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, but there are also other objectives which are very important to these people, for example:
1. No matter how many years one weeps and seeks forgiveness from Allah, it is not accepted until some means (wasilah) is adopted. (2) This means cannot be one's own good deeds, but must be the means of some pious personality, whether that person has not yet come into existence, is present in this world, or has departed from this world. If only Sayyiduna Adam ؑ had known these things before weeping for so long. When the Shia saw the vast field of fabrications, they went even further than these people. The text of their hadith qudsi is as follows: «لو لا على ماخلقتك» That is, Allah addressed the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: "If it were not for Ali, I would not have created you either."