The meaning and authenticity of the Hadith that says: 'Allah created Adam in his complete shape and form...'
Q 1: It is reported on the authority of
Abu Hurayrah
(may Allah be pleased with him)
that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
Allah created Adam in His shape, sixty cubits (about 30 meters) in length.
Is this Hadith Sahih (a Hadith that has been transmitted by people known for their uprightness and exactitude; free from eccentricity and blemish)?
A 1:
The text of the Hadith is:
Allah created Adam in His image of sixty cubits in length, then He told him, 'Go and greet this group - they were a group of angels sitting - and listen to their salutation, for it will be the salutation of you and your offspring. He then went (to them) and said: "Peace be upon you!" They (the angels) said: "Peace and Mercy of Allah be upon you." So they added: "Mercy of Allah." Thus, whoever enters Jannah (Paradise), will be in the shape of Adam, being sixty cubits tall, yet people continued to diminish (in size) up to this day.
[Narrated by Imam
Ahmad,
Al-Bukhari, and
Muslim].
This Hadith is Sahih, and there is no eccentricity in its Matn (text of a Hadith), as it has two meanings; (Part No. 3; Page No. 506)
First:
Allah did not create
Adam small or short like the children amongst his offspring. Adam did not grow in size and height till he became sixty cubits, but from the beginning Allah created Adam in his final shape, i.e. Sixty cubits tall.
Second:
the pronoun "His" in
in His image
refers to Allah, according to another authentic narration, saying:
in the image of Al-Rahman [the Most Gracious].
This is the verbal meaning, but this does not entail Tashbih (comparison), for Allah has called Himself names and attributes with which His creatures are named and described, but this does not require resemblance. This goes for "image" - Adam being created in Allah's Image does not require alikeness to Him. Using the same name for two things does not entail alikeness of the Characteristics of Allah and His creatures. Allah (Exalted be He) says:
There is nothing like Him; and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.