✦ Correct Understanding of the Ḥadīth: “Allah Created Ādam in His Image” ✦
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Vol. 1 – Kitāb al-ʿAqāʾid, p. 176
"خَلَقَ اللَّهُ آدَمَ عَلَى صُورَتِهِ"
Narrated in:
◉ Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Istiʾdhān
◉ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Jannah wa Ṣifat Naʿīmihā (Vol. 2, p. 380 – Qadīmī Kutub Khāna)
In the fuller version from Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (Ḥadīth 2612), the Prophet ﷺ said:
"When one of you fights with his brother, he should avoid striking the face, for Allah created Ādam in his image."
According to Imām Ibn Khuzaymah رحمه الله, the phrase "ʿalā ṣūratihī" (in his image) refers to the image of the person being struck, not to Allah.
(Kitāb al-Tawḥīd, p. 37)
✔ In other words, Ādam عليه السلام was created in the human form—the noble and complete form which was later inherited by his descendants.
✘ This ḥadīth does not imply that Allah has a physical form or appearance like humans.
✔ Islamically, Allah ﷻ is beyond comparison or resemblance to creation.
Qur’anic Principle:
"لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ"
“There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.”
(Surah al-Shūrā: 11)
Thus, deducing a “form” or “shape” for Allah based on this ḥadīth is incorrect and against the fundamentals of Islamic belief.
✔ The context of the ḥadīth addresses prohibition against striking the face, highlighting its honor and dignity.
✔ “Ṣūrah” here refers specifically to the human face and form, created with respect and excellence.
"خَلَقَ اللَّهُ آدَمَ عَلَى صُورَةِ الرَّحْمٰن"
(“Allah created Ādam in the image of al-Raḥmān.”)
This version is weak (ḍaʿīf) due to:
Sources that include this narration:
Even though some Ḥanbalī scholars attempted to authenticate it, they could not prove the narrators’ hearing (samāʿ) nor provide sound supporting chains—thus, the narration remains unacceptable.
✔ The correct meaning of:
"خَلَقَ اللَّهُ آدَمَ عَلَى صُورَتِهِ"
is that Allah created Ādam in the complete and dignified human form, which reflects the honored nature of mankind.
✘ It is incorrect and against Islamic ʿaqīdah to infer from this ḥadīth that Allah possesses a literal “form” or “image”.
✔ The belief in Allah’s uniqueness and incomparability remains fundamental to Islamic theology.
وَصَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَىٰ نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ
ھٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Vol. 1 – Kitāb al-ʿAqāʾid, p. 176
❖ Ḥadīth Text:
"خَلَقَ اللَّهُ آدَمَ عَلَى صُورَتِهِ"
Narrated in:
◉ Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Istiʾdhān
◉ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Jannah wa Ṣifat Naʿīmihā (Vol. 2, p. 380 – Qadīmī Kutub Khāna)
In the fuller version from Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (Ḥadīth 2612), the Prophet ﷺ said:
"When one of you fights with his brother, he should avoid striking the face, for Allah created Ādam in his image."
❖ Authentic Interpretation:
According to Imām Ibn Khuzaymah رحمه الله, the phrase "ʿalā ṣūratihī" (in his image) refers to the image of the person being struck, not to Allah.
(Kitāb al-Tawḥīd, p. 37)✔ In other words, Ādam عليه السلام was created in the human form—the noble and complete form which was later inherited by his descendants.
❖ Important Clarification:
✘ This ḥadīth does not imply that Allah has a physical form or appearance like humans.
✔ Islamically, Allah ﷻ is beyond comparison or resemblance to creation.
Qur’anic Principle:"لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ"
“There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.”
(Surah al-Shūrā: 11)
Thus, deducing a “form” or “shape” for Allah based on this ḥadīth is incorrect and against the fundamentals of Islamic belief.
❖ Contextual Meaning of “Ṣūrah” (Image):
✔ The context of the ḥadīth addresses prohibition against striking the face, highlighting its honor and dignity.
✔ “Ṣūrah” here refers specifically to the human face and form, created with respect and excellence.
❖ Refutation of the Weak Ḥadīth:
"خَلَقَ اللَّهُ آدَمَ عَلَى صُورَةِ الرَّحْمٰن"
(“Allah created Ādam in the image of al-Raḥmān.”)
This version is weak (ḍaʿīf) due to:
- Presence of two mudallis narrators:
◉ al-Aʿmash
◉ Ḥabīb ibn Abī Thābit - Both narrate with ʿanʿanah (using “ʿan”), and without clear proof of direct hearing, making the narration unreliable by the standards of hadith criticism.
Sources that include this narration:- Kitāb al-Tawḥīd by Ibn Khuzaymah (p. 38)
- al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr by al-Ṭabarānī (Vol. 12, p. 430, Ḥadīth 13580)
Even though some Ḥanbalī scholars attempted to authenticate it, they could not prove the narrators’ hearing (samāʿ) nor provide sound supporting chains—thus, the narration remains unacceptable.
❖ Conclusion:
✔ The correct meaning of:
"خَلَقَ اللَّهُ آدَمَ عَلَى صُورَتِهِ"
is that Allah created Ādam in the complete and dignified human form, which reflects the honored nature of mankind.
✘ It is incorrect and against Islamic ʿaqīdah to infer from this ḥadīth that Allah possesses a literal “form” or “image”.
✔ The belief in Allah’s uniqueness and incomparability remains fundamental to Islamic theology.
وَصَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَىٰ نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ
ھٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
