—He created Adam with His hand, and He planted the Garden of Firdaws with His hand… (1); then he mentioned the third (2). Had “hand” meant nothing more than “power,” these acts would carry no special distinction, nor would Adam enjoy any superiority over other beings that were brought into existence by mere power.

The Prophet ﷺ also informed us: “The people gathered at the Place of Standing will come to Adam on the Day of Resurrection and say, ‘O Adam, you are the father of humankind; Allah created you with His hand, breathed into you of His spirit, made His angels prostrate to you, and taught you the names of all things. So intercede for us with your Lord.’” (3) They enumerate four favors, each of them a unique honor.

Likewise, Adam said to Moses during their disputation: “Allah chose you by His speech and inscribed the Tablets for you with His hand” (4); in another wording: “He wrote the Torah for you with His hand.” (5) This is among the most authentic of hadiths.