Prophet Adam and the Garden

Before there were any towns, any schools, or any children playing on earth, there was the very first person.

His name was Prophet Adam, Alayhi as-Salam.

This is his story.

Allah Subhana Wattaala told the angels that people would live on earth.

The angels had a question. Would people do bad things and hurt each other? The angels worshipped Allah Subhana Wattaala, but there were things they did not know.

Allah Subhana Wattaala told them that He knew what they did not know.

Then Allah Subhana Wattaala created Prophet Adam, Alayhi as-Salam, and taught him the names of things.

Think about all the names you know. A tree. A bird. The sun. When you learn a name, you can tell someone what you are looking at. Learning helps us understand the world around us.

Allah Subhana Wattaala asked the angels to name the things He showed them.

The angels said that they knew only what He had taught them. Then Adam told them the names.

Allah Subhana Wattaala had given him a wonderful gift: the chance to learn.

Next, Allah Subhana Wattaala told the angels to bow before Adam to show him respect. They were obeying Allah Subhana Wattaala.

The angels obeyed.

But Iblis refused.

He thought he was better than Adam. He was so proud that he would not do what Allah Subhana Wattaala had told him to do.

Now, our story takes us to a beautiful Garden.

Prophet Adam, Alayhi as-Salam, and his wife, Hawwa, lived there. Allah Subhana Wattaala let them eat freely from the good things in the Garden.

There was so much for them to enjoy!

But there was one tree they must not go near. Allah Subhana Wattaala had told them to stay away from it.

They had plenty to eat elsewhere. They did not need anything from that tree.

Then Shaytan began to whisper to them.

He told them that eating from the tree would make them angels, or let them live forever. He even promised that he was trying to help them.

But that was a lie.

His words sounded good, but he was trying to lead them into doing something wrong.

Adam and Hawwa believed him, and they ate from the tree.

They had done the very thing they had been told not to do.

Then they saw that their bodies were not covered. They began using leaves from the Garden to cover themselves.

Allah Subhana Wattaala reminded them of His warning. He had told them to stay away from that tree. He had also warned them that Shaytan was their enemy.

Adam and Hawwa knew they had made a mistake.

What would they do now?

Sometimes we make mistakes too. Maybe we say something unkind. Maybe we take a toy without asking. When we realise what we have done, we can feel very sorry.

Adam and Hawwa turned to Allah Subhana Wattaala and asked Him to forgive them.

They prayed to Him. In simple words, their prayer means:

"Our Lord, we have done wrong. Please forgive us and have mercy on us. Without Your forgiveness and mercy, we will be lost."

They knew they needed His help.

And Allah Subhana Wattaala accepted Adam's prayer for forgiveness.

He is full of mercy.

Adam and Hawwa would leave the Garden and begin their life on earth.

Remember the beginning of our story? Allah Subhana Wattaala had already told the angels that people would live on earth.

Now that part of the story was beginning.

Life on earth would bring new things to learn and choices to make. Some choices would be easy. Others would be hard.

But Allah Subhana Wattaala promised to show people the right way to live. They could follow His guidance and turn to Him for help.

And we can turn to Him too.

When you make a mistake, you can ask Allah Subhana Wattaala to forgive you. Then try to do better.

If you hurt someone, tell them you are sorry. If you took something, give it back. If you need help, ask someone who cares for you.

Prophet Adam, Alayhi as-Salam, made a mistake. Then he asked his Lord to forgive him.

And as his life on earth began, Allah Subhana Wattaala would guide him along the way.