This excerpt is taken from the book by Fazilat-ul-Sheikh Abdul Salam Rustami From Denial of Hadith to Denial of Quran.
Hadith 7: The Height of Adam and Its Decrease Generation After Generation
The height of Adam (peace be upon him) was sixty cubits, and since then this height has been decreasing.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Prophets’ Hadiths, Chapter on the Creation of Adam and His Offspring, Hadith: 3326
Answer:
The word "Zira" mentioned in the hadith does not mean a yard or a meter, but it means a hand, which is approximately one and a half feet. The deniers of hadith have deceived in the book "Maqam Hadith" by claiming that Zira means a yard. Despite this, it is not surprising. It is established from the Holy Quran that Prophet Nuh (Noah) عليه السلام preached to his people for nine hundred and fifty years, and his total age was one thousand years. After him, this age gradually decreased until the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "The average age of my Ummah will be between sixty and seventy years. Rarely will there be examples of longer life than this."
Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Zuhd, Chapter on the passing away of ages, Hadith: 2331
The age of this Ummah is one-fifteenth of a thousand years. Similarly, the average height of people now is approximately close to six feet, and in some regions even less, and it is gradually decreasing over time.
This objection is also invalid because the Quran mentions the later people of 'Aad. When the punishment came upon them, they were like the trunks of palm trees, meaning their height was like the trunks of palm trees, although they came after Adam عليه السلام and their height was so tall. So, assuming the height of Adam عليه السلام as sixty hands does not cause any religious error. Regarding the people of 'Aad, Allah Almighty says:
كَأَنَّهُمْ أَعْجَازُ نَخْلٍ خَاوِيَةٍ
"Like the trunks of palm trees."
Reference: (69-Al-Haqqah:7)
