The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Adam and Moses argued with each other. Moses said to Adam. 'O Adam! You are our father who disappointed us and turned us out of Paradise.' Then Adam said to him, 'O Moses! Allah favored you with His talk (talked to you directly) and He wrote (the Torah) for you with His Own Hand. Do you blame me for action which Allah had written in my fate forty years before my creation?' So Adam confuted Moses, Adam confuted Moses," the Prophet (ﷺ) added, repeating the Statement three times.
Divine Will (Al-Qadar)
Sahih al-Bukhari 6614
Theological Context
This profound hadith addresses the delicate balance between divine decree (qadar) and human responsibility. The argument between Adam and Moses represents two perspectives: Moses emphasizes human accountability for actions, while Adam highlights Allah's eternal knowledge and preordained decree.
Allah's knowledge encompasses all matters before their occurrence, as stated in the Qur'an: "And with Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except Him" (6:59). Adam's defense rests on this fundamental principle of divine foreknowledge.
Scholarly Interpretation
Imam al-Nawawi explains that Adam's victory in this debate demonstrates that Allah's eternal decree does not negate human responsibility, yet it remains a reality that must be acknowledged. The repetition of "Adam confuted Moses" three times emphasizes the strength of Adam's argument based on divine predestination.
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani notes that this hadith reconciles two essential Islamic beliefs: belief in divine decree and belief in the consequences of one's actions. Both truths coexist in Islamic theology without contradiction.
Practical Implications
This teaching encourages believers to maintain balance - striving to do good while trusting in Allah's wisdom. We are accountable for our choices, yet we recognize that everything occurs by Allah's will and knowledge.
The hadith teaches humility, reminding us that even prophets debated complex theological matters, and ultimate knowledge belongs to Allah alone.