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3. First Differences Between Christ and Adam
The similarity between Christ and Adam, which is highlighted by Muslim scholars in their interpretations of Sura Al 'Imran 3:59 is one-sided. Because if you look at other passages of the Koran about Christ and Adam, then you will discover that there are fundamental differences between the two, which are occulted by focusing on Sura Al 'Imran 3:59. Let us begin by highlighting four such differences. For the first and third difference I first state the difference, which I discovered, and then present the Koranic evidence for this difference.
DIFFERENCE 1 : Christ was born of a human mother, whose name was Maryam (Mary), while Adam was not born of a human mother. In this they are different.
It is true that Christ came into being without a human father, just like Adam came into being without a human father. In this they are similar. However, Christ was born of the virgin Maryam (Mary), while Adam was not born from a woman. In this they are totally different.
The Koran is clear about the fact that Christ was born from his mother Maryam (Mary). This is why he carries the honorific title “Son of Mary” (Ibn Maryam) which appears in the following 21 passages of the Koran: Suras al-Baqara 2:87.253; -- Al 'Imran 3:45 -- al-Nisa' 4:157.171 -- al-Ma'ida 5:17(2x).46.75.78.110. 112.114.116 -- al-Tawba 9:31 -- Maryam 19:34 -- al-Mu'minun 23:50 -- al-Ahzab 33:7 -- al-Zukhruf 43:57 -- al-Saff 61:6.14. From these references I only quote the verse, in which this title of honor is revealed to Mary by Allah himself:
(It was) when the angels said: “O Mary! Truly Allah evangelizes you with a Word from Him, whose name is Christ, 'Isa (Jesus) the Son of Mary , honored in the world and in the hereafter and One of those, who are brought near (to Allah).” (Sura Al 'Imran 3:45)
إِذ قَالَت الْمَلاَئِكَة يَا مَرْيَم إِن اللَّه يُبَشِّرُك بِكَلِمَة مِنْه اسْمُه الْمَسِيح عِيسَى ابْن مَرْيَم وَجِيها فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَة وَمِن الْمُقَرَّبِين (سُورَة آل عِمْرَان ٣ : ٤٥)
Adam, however, was not born of a mother and therefore he does not carry a title of honor mentioning the name of his mother. Rather the first woman was created from Adam to be his wife, as we learn from the following passages of the Koran, even though they do not explicitly mention the name of the first human being:
Oh you people! Take refuge with your Lord, who has created you from one (single) soul (i.e. Adam); and he has created from it (i.e. this soul) its spouse . ... (Sura al-Nisa' 4:1a)
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ مِنْ نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَق مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا ... (سُورَة النِّسَاء ٤ : ١)
It is he, who has created you from one (single) soul (i.e. Adam) and he has set from it (i.e. this soul) its spouse to cohabit unto her. ... (Sura al-A'raf 7:189a)
هُو الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِن نَفْس وَاحِدَة وَجَعَل مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا لِيَسْكُن إِلَيْهَا ... (سُورَة الأَعْرَاف ٧ : ١٨٩)
He has created you from one (single) soul (i.e. Adam). Then he has set from it (i.e. from this soul) its spouse. ... (Sura al-Zumar 39:6a)
خَلَقَكُم مِن نَفْس وَاحِدَة ثُم جَعَل مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا ... (سُورَة الزُّمَر ٣٩ : ٦)
These findings led me to note the following contrast between Christ and Adam:
DIFFERENCE 2 : Christ was taken out of the woman (Mary), while the woman (Eve) was taken out of Adam. In this Christ and Adam are not only different, but the opposite of each other.
By the way, Eve, the wife of Adam, is similar to Adam in that both came into being without a mother. However, they are also different from each other in that Adam came into being without an earthly father, while Mary came from Adam, and therefore, in a sense, Adam was her “father”.
But with respect to Christ, Eve is totally different from the son of Mary as far as her origin is concerned: Christ was born from a mother, while Mary was not born from a mother. And Christ came into being without an earthly father, while Eve was taken from Adam, and therefore Adam in a certain sense is her “father”.
DIFFERENCE 3 : Christ was not created from non-living material of the earth, while Adam was created from non-living material of the earth. In this they are different.
Nowhere in the Koran was I able to find any mention of Christ having been formed out of non-living material of the earth, because he was born to his mother Mary.
However, the Koran repeatedly teaches that Adam was created from non-living material of the earth. However, the relevant Koran verses are equivocal about what non-living material Adam was created from:
Adam was created from EARTH (al-ard -- Sura 11:61), or from CLAY (salsaal or tyn -- Suras 15:28, 23:12 and 32:7), or he was created out of DUST (turaab -- Suras 3:59, 18:37, 22:5, 35:11 and 40:67) or even from WATER (maa' - Sura 25:54). Here you can read the content of these verses:
(From EARTH) And to (the people of) Thamud (Allah sent) their brother Salih. He said: “O my people! Worship Allah! No god have you aside from him. He originated you from the earth ( al-ard ) and made you settle in it ...” (Sura Hud 11:61)
وَإِلَى ثَمُود أَخَاهُم صَالِحا قَال يَا قَوْم اعْبُدُوا اللَّه مَا لَكُم مِن إِلَه غَيْرُه هُو أَنْشَأَكُم مِن الأَرْض وَاسْتَعْمَرَكُم فِيهَا ... (سُورَة هُود ١١ : ٦١)
(From CLAY) (It was) when your Lord said to the angels, “Truly, I am creating a human being from clay ( salsaal ), from fashioned mud.” (Sura al-Hijr 15:28)
وَإِذ قَال رَبُّك لِلْمَلاَئِكَة إِنِّي خَالِق بَشَرا مِن صَلْصَال مِن حَمَأ مَسْنُون (سُورَة الْحِجْر ١٥ : ٢٨)
(From CLAY) And truly, we have created man from a (detached) piece of clay ( tiyn ). (Sura al-Mu'minun 23:12)
وَلَقَد خَلَقْنَا الإِنْسَان مِن سُلاَلَة مِن طِين (سُورَة الْمُؤْمِنُون ٢٣ : ١٢)
(From CLAY) (He is the one,) who made good every thing, which he created. And he began the creation of man from clay ( tiyn ). (Sura al-Sajda 32:7)
الَّذِي أَحْسَن كُل شَيْء خَلَقَه وَبَدَأ خَلْق الإِنْسَان مِن طِين (سُورَة السَّجْدَة ٣٢ : ٧)
(From CLAY) 71 (It was) when your Lord said to the angels, “Truly, I am creating a human being from clay ( tiyn ). 72 So, when I have fashioned him and have blown into him of my Spirit, then fall down before him prostrating.” (Sura Sad 38:71-72)
٧١ إِذ قَال رَبُّك لِلْمَلاَئِكَة إِنِّي خَالِق بَشَرا مِن طِين ٧٢ فَإِذَا سَوَّيْتُه وَنَفَخْت فِيه مِن رُوحِي فَقَعُوا لَه سَاجِدِين (سُورَة ص ٣٨ : ٧١ و ٧٢)
(From DUST) Truly, the likeness of 'Isa, with Allah, is as the likeness of Adam. He (Allah) created him (Adam) from dust ( turaab ). Then he said to him, “Be!” And he was. (Sura Al 'Imran 3:59)
إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَى عِنْدَ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ آدَمَ خَلَقَه مِن تُرَاب ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ (سُورَة آل عِمْرَان ٣ : ٥٩)'''
(From DUST) (Then) his companion said to him, while he was discussing with him, “Did you disbelieve him, who created you (as a human being in the beginning) from dust ( turaab ), (and) thereafter from a drop (of sperm), and then he fashioned you (to become) a man?” (Sura al-Kahf 18:37)
قَال لَه صَاحِبُه وَهُو يُحَاوِرُه أَكَفَرْت بِالَّذِي خَلَقَك مِن تُرَاب ثُم مِن نُطْفَة ثُم سَوَّاك رَجُلا (سُورَة الْكَهْف ١٨ : ٣٧)
(From DUST) Oh you people! If you are in doubt about the dispatchment (out of the grave at the resurrection), then (remember), “ Truly, we have created you (in the beginning) from dust ( turaab ), then from a drop (of sperm), then from an (embryonic) appendage, then from an embryo, designed and not designed, to make clear unto you (Allah's abilities to resurrect you from the grave). And we keep in the wombs, what(ever) we want, up to a specific appointed time. Then we let you come out (from the womb of your mothers) (as) a baby. ...” (Sura al-Hajj 22:5)
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاس إِن كُنْتُم فِي رَيْب مِن الْبَعْث فَإِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِن تُرَاب ثُم مِن نُطْفَة ثُم مِن عَلَقَة ثُم مِن مُضْغَة مُخَلَّقَة وَغَيْر مُخَلَّقَة لِنُبَيِّن لَكُم وَنُقِر فِي الأَرْحَام مَا نَشَاء إِلَى أَجَل مُسَمّى ثُم نُخْرِجُكُم طِفْلا ... (سُورَة الْحَج ٢٢ : ٥)
(From DUST) And Allah has created you from dust ( turaab ), then (Allah has created you) from a drop (of sperm), then he set you (to be) spouses ... (Sura Fatir 35:11a)
وَاللَّه خَلَقَكُم مِن تُرَاب ثُم مِن نُطْفَة ثُم جَعَلَكُم أَزْوَاجا ... (سُورَة فَاطِر ٣٥ : ١١)
(From DUST) It is he, who has created you from dust ( turaab ), then from a drop (of sperm), then from an (embryonic) appendage, then he causes you to come out (of the wombs of your mothers) (as) a baby ... (Sura Ghafir 40:67)
هُو الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِن تُرَاب ثُم مِن نُطْفَة ثُم مِن عَلَقَة ثُم يُخْرِجُكُم طِفْلا ... (سُورَة غَافِر ٤٠ : ٦٧)
(From WATER) And it is he, who has created from water ( maa ) a human being . Then he did such that (this human being was able to have) relatives and persons related by marriage. And your Lord was mighty. (Sura al-Furqan 25:54)'
وَهُو الَّذِي خَلَق مِن الْمَاء بَشَرا فَجَعَلَه نَسَبا وَصِهْرا وَكَان رَبُّك قَدِيراً (سُورَة الْفُرْقَان ٢٥ : ٥٤)
From these verses it became clear to me that Adam was created from non-living material of the earth. In this respect Adam is different from Christ, who was not created from non-living material of the earth.
If you study additional verses of the Koran about Christ, you can discover the following contrast between Christ and Adam:
DIFFERENCE 4 : Christ was first Spirit and then body, while Adam was first body and then Spirit. In this Christ and Adam are more than different: they are the opposite of each other.
Here are the verses of the Koran, which teach how Spirit from Allah was involved in the origination of Christ:
And (another example is) Mary, the daughter of 'Imran, who kept chaste her (sexual) opening. So we (Allah) blew into it from our Spirit . And she (i.e. Mary) confirmed as true the words of her Lord, as well as his (revealed) books. And she was one of the (devoutly) submissive ones. (Sura al-Tahrim 66:12)
وَمَرْيَم ابْنَة عِمْرَان الَّتِي أَحْصَنَت فَرْجَهَا فَنَفَخْنَا فِيه مِن رُوحِنَا وَصَدَّقَت بِكَلِمَات رَبِّهَا وَكُتُبِه وَكَانَت مِن الْقَانِتِين (سُورَة التَّحْرِيم ٦٦ : ١٢)
And (it was she, i.e. Mary), who kept chaste her (sexual) opening. So we (Allah) blew into her of our Spirit and we set her and her son (as) (miraculous) signs for the worlds. (Sura al-Anbiya' 21:91)
وَالَّتِي أَحْصَنَت فَرْجَهَا فَنَفَخْنَا فِيهَا مِن رُوحِنَا وَجَعَلْنَاهَا وَابْنَهَا آيَة لِلْعَالَمِينَ (سُورَة الأَنْبِيَاء ٢١ : ٩١)
O People of the Book, do not exaggerate in your religion and do not say about Allah (anything) except the truth. Truly, Christ 'Isa, the Son of Mary is the messenger of Allah, and his Word, which he delivered unto Mary, and (he is) Spirit from him (Allah ) ... (Sura al-Nisa' 4:171)
يَا أَهْل الْكِتَاب لا تَغْلُوا فِي دِينِكُم وَلا تَقُولُوا عَلَى اللَّه إِلا الْحَق إِنَّمَا الْمَسِيح عِيسَى ابْن مَرْيَم رَسُول اللَّه وَكَلِمَتُه أَلْقَاهَا إِلَى مَرْيَم وَرُوح مِنْه ... (سُورَة النِّسَاء ٤ : ١٧١)
So what does the Koran teach about the origination of Christ? Allah blew into the private parts of Mary from his Spirit and for this reason, Christ is declared to be Spirit from Allah. The important thing here is that the Spirit from Allah came first out of Allah into Mary and only then was Christ originated as a body: First Spirit and then Body!
And how is the Spirit of Allah involved in the creation of Adam? In addition to Sura Sad 38:72 mentioned above (p. 12), I found the following answer to this question in the Koran:
28 And (it was) when your Lord said to the angels, “Truly, I am creating a human being from clay, from fashioned mud. 29 So, when I have formed him and blown into him of my Spirit , then fall down (in worshipping) prostration unto him.” (Sura al-Hijr 15:28-29)
٢٨ وَإِذ قَال رَبُّك لِلْمَلاَئِكَة إِنِّي خَالِق بَشَرا مِن صَلْصَال مِن حَمَأ مَسْنُون ٢٩ فَإِذَا سَوَّيْتُه وَنَفَخْت فِيه مِن رُوحِي فَقَعُوا لَه سَاجِدِين (سُورَة الْحِجْر ١٥ : ٢٨ و ٢٩)
From this and other Koran verses it is clear that Adam also had Spirit from Allah in him, like Christ. However, with Adam the material formation of his body came first, and only then did Allah blow into this formed body from his Spirit, whereas for Christ it was the exact opposite: Allah first blew into Mary of his Spirit and then Christ came into being in her as a baby with a body. This is why Christ alone is revealed as being Spirit from Allah, and Adam is not presented anywhere in the Koran as being Spirit from Allah.
SUMMARY: Muslim scholars highlight that Allah created Christ like Adam, without a father. However, they do not disclose four hidden differences between Christ and Adam: Christ WAS born from a mother, while Adam was NOT born from a mother; and Christ was NOT created from earth, while Adam WAS created from earth. Also, Christ was taken out of the woman (Mary), while the woman (Eve) was taken out of Adam, and Christ was first Spirit and then body, while Adam was first body and then Spirit.
When I discovered these hidden differences between Christ and Adam in the Koran, I concluded that the normal interpretation of Sura 3:59 must be wrong. Christ is not totally like Adam, but more importantly different from him in fundamental ways. This disparity can be expanded by comparing other statements of the Koran about Christ and Adam. They led me to deeply question the equality in nature between Christ and Adam, which my Muslim teachers taught me.