Qur'an, Hadith, and Consensus on the Prophethood of Ādam (علیہ السلام)Source: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khālis, Vol. 1, p. 47
❖ Question:
Was Ādam (علیہ السلام) a Prophet? If so, is there any proof for it?
❖ Answer:
All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
There are clear evidences from the Qur'an, the Sunnah, and the consensus of the Ummah (ijmāʿ) affirming that Ādam (علیہ السلام) was a Prophet.
Anyone who denies the Prophethood of Ādam (علیہ السلام) is, in effect, rejecting the foundational beliefs of divinely revealed religions.
✦ Qur'anic Evidences:
① Surah Āl-ʿImrān, Verse 33:
﴿ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ اصطَفىٰ ءادَمَ وَنوحًا وَءالَ إِبرٰهيمَ وَءالَ عِمرٰنَ عَلَى العـٰلَمينَ ﴾
“Indeed, Allah chose Ādam, Nūḥ, the family of Ibrāhīm, and the family of ʿImrān above all peoples.”
(Āl-ʿImrān: 33)
This verse explicitly affirms the Prophethood of Ādam (علیہ السلام), as the word "اصطفاء" (He chose) is specifically used in the Qur'an for Allah's selection of Prophets and Messengers.
② Surah Maryam, Verse 58:
﴿ أُولـٰئِكَ الَّذينَ أَنعَمَ اللَّـهُ عَلَيهِم مِنَ النَّبِيّـۧنَ مِن ذُرِّيَّةِ ءادَمَ وَمِمَّن حَمَلنا مَعَ نوحٍ ﴾
“They are those upon whom Allah bestowed His grace – from among the Prophets of the descendants of Ādam and of those We carried with Nūḥ…”
(Maryam: 58)
This verse clearly includes Ādam (علیہ السلام) among the Prophets, as Allah mentions him within the line of chosen Prophets.
③ Surah al-Baqarah, Verse 30:
﴿ وَإِذ قالَ رَبُّكَ لِلمَلـٰئِكَةِ إِنّى جاعِلٌ فِى الأَرضِ خَليفَةً ﴾
“And when your Lord said to the angels: ‘Indeed, I am placing a khalīfah (vicegerent) on Earth.’”
(al-Baqarah: 30)
This verse clearly designates Ādam (علیہ السلام) as Allah’s khalīfah on Earth, which is an essential characteristic of a Prophet.
✦ Evidence from the Sunnah (Hadith):
Narrated by Abū Dharr al-Ghifārī رضي الله عنه:
I asked: “O Messenger of Allah, who was the first of the Prophets?” He ﷺ replied: “Ādam.”
I asked: “Was he a Prophet?” He ﷺ replied: “Yes, he was a Prophet, and Allah spoke to him.”
Musnad Aḥmad: 5/178, Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ: 2/511, Ibn Kathīr: 1/585, Majmaʿ al-Zawāʾid: 1/159–160, 8/210This hadith explicitly affirms the Prophethood of Ādam (علیہ السلام) and that he was mukallam — i.e., Allah spoke to him directly.
✦ Consensus of the Ummah (Ijmāʿ):
There is unanimous agreement among the Muslims that Ādam (علیہ السلام) was a Prophet and that Allah spoke to him directly.
Neither the early generations (Salaf) nor later scholars ever disputed this.
This consensus is definitive (qatʿī) and serves as a conclusive proof.
To deny it is considered a clear act of disbelief in matters of creed.
Conclusion:
◈ The Prophethood of Ādam (علیہ السلام) is firmly established through the Qur'an, Hadith, and scholarly consensus.
◈ Anyone who denies this is deviating from the core beliefs of Islam.
◈ It is obligatory to affirm that Ādam (علیہ السلام) was the first Prophet, and that Allah spoke directly to him.
ھٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
