The Hadith “I Was a Prophet While Adam Was Between Spirit and Body” — Resolving the Objection

Question

[The following hadith is cited]: [ar]كُنْتُ نَبِيًّا وَآدَمُ بَيْنَ الرُّوحِ وَالْجَسَدِ[/ar] “I was a Prophet while Adam was [still] between spirit and body” (etc.) — is this sound? Please explain in detail the meaning of this noble hadith. If you were a Prophet from eternity, why then did you sit in the cave of Hira for some forty (40) days in search of the Truth? And for what reason was it said: [ar]وَوَجَدَكَ ضَآلًّا[/ar] “…and He found you astray…” (Surah al-Duha, 93:7)?

Answer

This narration is sound. Its explanation is as follows: [ar]قَدْ جَاءَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى خَلَقَ الْأَرْوَاحَ قَبْلَ الْأَجْسَادِ، فَقَدْ تَكُونُ الْإِشَارَةُ بِقَوْلِهِ «كُنْتُ نَبِيًّا» إِلَى رُوحِهِ الشَّرِيفَةِ وَإِلَى حَقِيقَتِهِ، وَالْحَقَائِقُ تَقْصُرُ عُقُولُنَا عَنْ مَعْرِفَتِهَا، وَإِنَّمَا يَعْلَمُهَا خَالِقُهَا وَمَنْ أَمَدَّهُ بِنُورٍ إِلَٰهِيٍّ.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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