The Hajj of Adam, ‘Alayhi al-Salam

“Abu Ibrahim from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, when Adam and his spouse were affected by the tree of wheat, expelled them from paradise and made them to descend to earth. Adam landed on al-Safa’ and Hawwa’ (Eve) landed on al- Marwah. Al-Safa’ is called by this name because it is derived from Adam’s name al-Mustafa’ (the chosen one) as Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has said, “Allah chose Adam and Noah.” (3:33) Al-Marwah is called by this name because it is taken from the word al-Mar’ah (a woman). Adam then said to himself, “Allah has separated her from me is because she is not lawful for me anymore; had she been lawful for me she would descend with me on al-Safa’.” Adam waited away from Hawwa’. He would go to her at al-Marwah during the day and speak to her. At night, for fear that his desires may overcome him, would go back to al-Safa’ and pass the night there. Adam had no one beside Hawwa’ to comfort him and for this reason women are called al-Nisa’ (comforting). Hawwa’ was a source of comfort for Adam. Allah did not speak to him and did not send any messenger to him. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, then accepted his repentance as a favor to him. He dictated to him certain words. Adam then spoke those words and Allah turned to him with the acceptance of his repentance. He then sent Jibril to him, who offered him the greeting of peace and said, “O repenting Adam, who has turned back from his mistakes and exercised patience on facing misfortune. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has sent me to you to teach the good deeds which when you practice will cleanse you.” He then took hold of his hand and moved to the site of the House. Allah sent a piece of cloud and it cast a shadow on the site of the House. The cloud was parallel to the established House in the heaven. Jibril said, “O Adam, draw a mark with your foot around the shadow of this cloud, that has covered the site. A house of diamond will soon emerge for you on this site, which will be a Qiblah for you and your descendants after you.” Adam did as he was told to do and Allah then made a house of diamond emerge for him under the cloud. Allah brought down the Black Stone, which at that time was intensely white, even more than milk and brighter than the sun. It turned black because of the pagans’ touch and because of their filth. Jibril commanded Adam to ask forgiveness from Allah for his sin, near all the reminders (of Allah) and would tell him that Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has forgiven him. He commanded him to pick up pebbles, to throw on al-Jamar, from al-Muzdalifah (name of a place). When he arrived at the place of al-Jamar, Satan countered him and said, “O Adam, where are you going?” Jibril told Adam not to speak to him, pelt him with seven pebbles and say Takhir (Allah is great beyond description) with each throw. Adam did as he was told to do until he completed throwing pebbles on al-Jamar. He then commanded him to offer a sacrifice, the offering, which is done before throwing pebbles. He commanded him to shave his head to express humbleness before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious. Adam did as he was told to do. He (Jibril) then commanded him to visit the House, walk seven times around it and walk seven times between al-Safa’ and al-Marwah, beginning from al-Safa’ to end at al-Marwah. Thereafter walk seven times around the House, which is called Tawaf of women. Without this Tawaf, carnal relation remains unlawful. Adam completed this Tawaf and Jibril said to him, “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has forgiven your sin, accepted your repentance and your returning to Him. He has made your spouse lawful for you.” Adam then left, his sin was forgiven, his return to Allah was accepted and his spouse became lawful for him.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when Adam landed on al-Safa’ and it is called al- Safa’; al-Mustafa (the chosen one) landed there. For this reason it is called (al-Safa’); it is derived from Adam’s name al-Mustafa’ (the chosen one) as Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has said, “Allah chose Adam and Noah, the family of Ibrahim and family of ‘Imran over the worlds.” (3:33) Hawwa’ (Eve) landed on al-Marwah. Al-Marwah is called by this name because it is taken from the word al-Mar’ah (a woman). Al-Safa’ and al-Marwah are two hills on the right side of al-Ka‘bah. Adam then said to himself, ‘Allah separated her from me; she is not lawful for me anymore. Adam waited away from Hawwa’. He would go to her at al-Marwah during the day and speak to her, and at night, for fear that his desires may overcome him, would go back to al-Safa’ and pass the night there. Adam had no one beside Hawwa’ to comfort him and for this reason women are called al-Nisa’ (comforting). Hawwa’ was a source of comfort for Adam. Adam waited in this condition as long as Allah wanted. Allah did not speak to him and did not send any messenger to him. The Lord, to who belongs glory, expressed pride before the angels because of Adam’s exercising patience. When the time came when Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, decided to accept his repentance, He sent Jibril to him who offered him the greeting of peace and said, “O repenting Adam, who has turned back from his mistakes and has exercised patience on facing misfortune. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has sent me to you to teach you the good deeds which when you practice will cleanse you.” He then took hold of his hand and moved to the site of the House. Allah sent a piece of cloud and it cast a shadow on the site of the House. Jibril said, “O Adam, draw a mark with your foot around the shadow of this cloud, that has covered the site. It will be a Qiblah for you and your descendents after you.” Adam did as he was told to do. He (Jibril) then left with him to Mina and showed him the Masjid of Mina. He, Adam, drew a line with his foot. He marked the site of the Sacred Masjid after marking the site of the House. He (Jibril) then left from Mina to ‘Arafat and made him to stay at al- Mu‘arraf. He (Jibril) said, “When it is sunset, confess to your sins seven times and ask forgiveness and repentance from Allah, seven times.” Adam did as he was told to do. For this reason it is called al- Mu‘arraf; Adam confessed there to his sin and made a tradition for his offspring to confess to their sin as Adam had done and that they should repent as Adam had done. Then he (Jibril) commanded him to leave ‘Arafat. He passed by the seven hills and he (Jibril) commanded him to say Takhir (Allah is great beyond description) near each hill four times. Adam did as he was told to do. He then arrived in Jam‘ by which time one third of the night had passed. He said his Maghrib and ‘Isha prayer without interval in between at that night at that place. He (Jibril) then commanded him to rest in Batha’, where Adam did so, until morning. He (Jibril) then commanded him to climb the hill of Jam‘ (al- Muzdalifah) when it is sunrise, confess to his sins seven times and ask Allah for forgiveness and repentance seven times. Adam then did as he (Jibril) had told him to do. He made it two confessions so it becomes a tradition for his offspring. Those of them who cannot attend ‘Arafat but can attend Jam‘ (al-Muzdalifah), their Hajj is good so far. He then left for Mina from Jam‘. At noontime, he arrived in Mina and he (Jibril) commanded him to pray two-Rak‘ats prayer in the Masjid of Mina. Then he (Jibril) commanded him to offer a sacrifice before Allah, so it is accepted from him, and take notice that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has turned to him, and it (offering sacrifice) becomes a tradition for his offspring. Adam offered a sacrifice. Allah accepted it from him and sent a fire from the sky. Adam’s sacrifice was accepted. He (Jibril) said, “O Adam, Allah has done a favor to you by teaching you the good deeds because of which He has turned to you and has accepted your sacrifice. Shave your head to express humbleness before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, for His accepting your sacrifice.” Adam shaved his head to express humbleness before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious. He (Jibril) then held Adam’s hand and left toward the House. On the way, Satan countered him near al-Jamarah. Satan, may he be condemned, asked, “O Adam, where are you going?” He (Jibril) said to Adam, “Pelt him with seven pebbles and say Takhir (Allah is great beyond description) once with each pelting.” Adam did as he was told to do and Satan went away. He (Satan) encountered him again near the second al-Jamarah and asked, “O Adam, where are you going?” He (Jibril) said, “O Adam, pelt him with seven pebbles and say Takhir (Allah is great beyond description) seven times, once with each pelting.” Adam did as he was told to do and Satan went away. Satan then encountered him near the third al-Jamarah and asked, “O Adam, where do you want to go?” He (Jibril) said, “Pelt him with seven pebbles and say Takhir (Allah is great beyond description) seven times, once with each pelting.” Adam did as he was told to do and Satan went away. He (Jibril) said, “From this time on, you will not see him again.” He (Jibril) then left with him for the House and commanded him to do Tawaf (walk) around the House seven times. Adam did as was told to do. He (Jibril) said, to him, “Allah has forgiven your sin, accepted your repentance and has made your spouse lawful for you.”’” NOTE:Muhammad ibn abu ‘ Abd Allah has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn Sinan from ‘Abd al-Karim ibn ‘Amr and Isma‘il ibn Hazim from ‘Abd al-Hamid ibn abu al-Daylam from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), a similar Hadith.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when Adam performed Tawaf around the House and ended by al-Multazam, Jibril said to him, “O Adam, (you must) confess your sins before your Lord at this place.” He (the Imam) has said, ‘Adam stood there and said, “O Lord, every worker has wages. I have worked. What are my wages?” Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, sent wahy (revelation) that said, “I have forgiven your sin.” He then asked, “O Lord, what will happen to my offspring and descendents?” Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, then sent revelation saying, “Whoever of your offspring will come to this place, confess his sins and return as you returned (repented), then ask for forgiveness, I will forgive.”’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when Adam left Mina (for Makkah), the angels met him saying, “Good for you is your Hajj; however, we have performed Hajj around this House two thousand years before your Hajj.’””

“Abu Bilal al-Makkiy narrated to me saying, ‘I saw abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), doing Tawaf around the House then say two Rak‘at salat (prayer) between the door and the Black Stone. I asked him, “I have not seen anyone of you say salat (prayer) at this place.’” He (the Imam) said, “This is the place where Adam received attention and forgiveness.’””

“I once asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), ’How did Adam (a.s.), perform Hajj and with what did he shave his head?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘ Jibril descended with a piece of ruby from paradise, brushed his head with it and his hairs fell off.’”