the knower. For that reason Allah—exalted is He—made manifest Adam’s superiority over the angels through the knowledge with which He favoured him above them.

Reflect on how the Almighty recorded Adam’s excuse even before his descent to the earth, alerted the angels to his merit and honour, and proclaimed his name prior to bringing him into being with the words: “I am placing upon the earth a vicegerent” (al-Baqarah 2:30).

Observe as well how He branded him with the title of vicegerency—an office bestowed upon him before he existed—and how He established his plea in advance by saying “upon the earth”; for the lover frames an excuse for the beloved even before any offence is committed.

After shaping him, Allah placed him at the gate of Paradise for forty years (1); such is the practice of one who loves: to linger at the threshold of the Beloved. He cast him upon the path of humility expressed in “he was nothing worth mentioning” (al-Insan 76:1) so that he would not grow proud on the day the command “Prostrate yourselves” (al-Baqarah 2:34) was issued.

Iblis would pass by his body, marvel at it and say, “You have certainly been created for some great purpose!” Then he would enter through his mouth and exit from his back, declaring, “If I am granted power over you, I will surely destroy you; and if you are granted power over me, I will certainly disobey you!” He did not realise that his own destruction would come at Adam’s hand. He saw a lump of gathered clay and belittled it; but once that clay was moulded into a form, the disease of envy crept into him, and when the spirit was breathed into it, the envier died. When the carpet of honour was spread before Adam, all creatures were presented to him; the one who had claimed, “while we glorify” (al-Baqarah 2:30), was brought before the Judge who said, “Inform Me” (al-Baqarah 2:31). Yet the agent had kept from him the decisive proof contained in “and He taught,” so the heads of contention were lowered upon the breasts of acknowledgement, and the herald of preference announced in the assemblies of the angels