The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allah created Adam in His picture, sixty cubits (about 30 meters) in height. When He created him, He said (to him), "Go and greet that group of angels sitting there, and listen what they will say in reply to you, for that will be your greeting and the greeting of your offspring." Adam (went and) said, 'As-Salamu alaikum (Peace be upon you).' They replied, 'AsSalamu-'Alaika wa Rahmatullah (Peace and Allah's Mercy be on you) So they increased 'Wa Rahmatullah' The Prophet (ﷺ) added 'So whoever will enter Paradise, will be of the shape and picture of Adam Since then the creation of Adam's (offspring) (i.e. stature of human beings is being diminished continuously) to the present time."
Hadith Commentary: The Creation of Adam
This profound narration from Sahih al-Bukhari 6227 reveals essential theological truths about human nature and our primordial state.
The Divine Form
When Allah states He created Adam "in His picture," scholars clarify this refers to attributes Allah bestowed upon Adam - not physical resemblance. Adam was granted knowledge, will, speech, hearing, and sight - qualities that reflect Allah's attributes in a created manner.
The sixty cubits height represents the perfect human form as originally intended by the Creator, before the gradual diminishment mentioned at the hadith's conclusion.
The First Greeting
The exchange of salam establishes the foundation of Islamic greetings. Adam's simple "As-Salamu alaikum" was enriched by the angels with "wa Rahmatullah," demonstrating how Allah increases blessings upon His servants.
This incident also confirms the honor Allah bestowed upon Adam by commanding angels to respond to his greeting, establishing human dignity above other creation.
Paradisiacal Restoration
The Prophet's statement that inhabitants of Paradise will resemble Adam's original form indicates the restoration of human perfection in the afterlife. This serves as both a reminder of our noble origins and a promise of our ultimate return to perfected state.
The gradual decrease in human stature serves as a tangible sign of the worldly decline from our original perfection, encouraging reflection on the transient nature of this world versus the eternal perfection of the Hereafter.