The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page 90
CH. 2 AL-BAQARAH سبح we glorify is derived from) نسبح i. e. he went or travelled far away. means, he got freedom from the affair, having completed it. Ul ů zuw سبح في الفلك. means, he swam in the water سبح means, the planet, etc. glided in the firmament. means, he prayed. au or a means, he declared God to be free from all defects and weaknesses; he glorified God (Aqrab). The word is used about God and conveys the sense of glorifying Him and declaring Him to be free from all defects- anything that may detract from, and adversely affect, His attributes of Oneness, Knowledge, Power, Purity, etc. (Tāj & Mufradāt). (extol holiness) is derived from i. e. he became pure and blessed. means, God purified and قدس الله فلانا blessed him. means, the man declared God to be holy and free from defects (Aqrab). The word thus has a meaning similar to the preceding word, i. e. nusabbiḥu, but it conveys the further sense of ascribing to God the positive attributes of Holiness, Majesty, etc. (Lisän & Mufradāt). Commentary: This verse is important, and commentators have differed about its meaning. Who was Adam, where was he placed, why did God speak to the angels about his being appointed as khalifah, why did the angels object to this appointment, are some of the questions which arise here at once. But before dealing with them, it is necessary to explain what connection this verse has with the preceding one, and why the Quran refers to Adam, 90 PT. 1 while discussing the ministry of the Holy Prophet of Islam. If the Holy Prophet was a true Messenger of God, was he the first to receive a message from heaven or did similar messages precede his? If he was the first Messenger, did God neglect those of His countless creatures who lived before him? These questions make the subject of Adam's ministry at once relevant. The verse is intended to convey that the Holy Prophet is not the first Prophet; others have gone before him and Adam was the first link of the chain. Thus, by making a reference to the ministry of removes the doubt Adam, God agitating the minds of disbelievers about the mission of the Holy Prophet. It does not matter, if they do not understand his mission; even the angels did not understand the purpose of prophethood at its inception. Adam, who lived about 6,000 years ago, is popularly believed to be the first man created by God upon this earth. This view is, however, not corroborated by a close study of the relevant facts. The truth is that the world has passed through different cycles of creation and civilization, and Adam, the progenitor of the present human race, is only the first link in the present cycle, and not the very first man in God's creation. Nations have risen and fallen, civilizations have appeared and disappeared. Other Adams may have gone before our Adam; other races may have lived and perished, and other cycles of civilization appeared and disappeared. This view has also been held by certain eminent Muslim savants. Muḥy-ud-Din Ibn 'Arabi, the great