Said ibn Jubayr and al-Suddi said: When the spirit entered Adam’s head and eyes, he looked at the fruits of Paradise. When it entered his body, he desired food, so he sprang toward the fruits of Paradise in haste before the spirit had reached his legs, and fell. Thus it was said, “Man was created hasty.” What is meant by “man” here is Adam, and his children inherited hastiness from him. The Arabs say of one in whom something is abundant, “You were created from it.” Thus they say, “You were created for play,” and, “You were created from anger,” intending thereby to emphasize that quality in him. This is supported by His saying, exalted is He: “Man has always been hasty.”

Others said: It means that man—namely Adam—was created through Allah’s hastening of his creation, for he was created after (1) all things, at the end of the day on Friday. Thus He hastened his creation before the sun had set.

Mujahid said: When the spirit brought his head to life, he said, “My Lord, hasten my creation before the sun sets.” It was also said: he was created swiftly and hastily, unlike the ordered stages by which the rest of mankind are created from a drop of fluid, a clinging clot, a morsel of flesh, and so forth (2).

Others said that “from haste” means “from clay.” The poet said:

The nabʿ tree grows from solid rock,\nand the palm grows between water and clay. (3)

“I will show you My signs, so do not seek to hasten Me.” This was revealed concerning the idolaters (4), who sought to hasten the punishment and would say, “Rain down upon us stones from the sky.” It was also said that it was revealed concerning al-Nadr ibn al-Harith (5). Thus He, exalted is He, said: “I will show you My signs,” meaning, My promised punishment; so do not seek to hasten it—that is, do not demand the punishment before its appointed time. He showed it to them on the Day of Badr. It was also said that they sought to hasten the Resurrection.

“And they say, ‘When is this promise, if you should be truthful?’ (38) If only those who disbelieve knew the time when they will not be able to ward off the Fire from their faces or from their backs, nor will they be helped. (39)”

“And they say, ‘When is this promise, if you should be truthful?’” Then He, exalted is He, said: “If only those who disbelieve knew the time when they will not be able to ward off”—that is, repel—“the Fire from their faces or from their backs.” It was said: nor can they ward whips from their backs,