descended from Paradise carrying five iron objects—an anvil, tongs, a basin, a hammer, and a needle—it is a lie; no such report is established. Likewise, the hadith that al-Tha‘labī narrated from Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“Allah sent down four blessings from heaven to earth: iron, water, fire, and salt.”

This is a fabricated, falsely attributed hadith. Its chain of transmission includes Sayf ibn Muhammad, the son of Sufyān al-Thawrī’s sister, may Allah have mercy on him, who is among the notorious liars.

Ibn al-Jawzī said:

“He is Sayf ibn Muhammad, the son of Sufyān al-Thawrī’s sister. He narrates from al-Thawrī, ‘Āsim al-Ahwal, and al-A‘mash. Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, said, ‘He is a liar who fabricates hadith.’ On another occasion, he said, ‘He is worthless as a narrator.’ Yahyā said, ‘He was a vile liar,’ and on another occasion, ‘He is not reliable.’ Abū Dāwūd said, ‘A liar.’ Zakariyyā al-Sājī said, ‘He fabricates hadith.’ Al-Nasā’ī said, ‘He is neither reliable nor trustworthy.’ Al-Dāraqutnī said, ‘He is weak, and his narrations are abandoned.’”

People can plainly see that these tools are made from iron extracted from mineral deposits.

If it is said that Adam, peace be upon him, descended with all these tools, this is a denial of what is plainly observable. If, instead, it is said that he descended with a single tool, and that this tool is unknown, then what benefit does this offer the rest of humanity? Moreover, what use could he make of these tools if there was no iron available to be hammered with them? Once Allah creates iron, these tools can be made from it, even though