There was argument between Adam and Moses. Moses said to Adam: You are our father. You did us harm and caused us to get out of Paradise. Adam said to him: You are Moses. Allah selected you (for direct conversation with you) and wrote with His own Hand the Book (Torah) for you. Despite this you blame me for an act which Allah had ordained for me forty years before He created me. Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) said:. This is how Adam came the better of Moses and Adam came the better of Moses.
The Book of Destiny - Sahih Muslim 2652a
This narration from Sahih Muslim presents a profound dialogue between two great prophets, Adam and Moses, concerning divine decree (al-Qadr). Moses, representing the perspective of human responsibility, questions Adam about his role in humanity's expulsion from Paradise. Adam responds by invoking the divine preordination that existed forty years before his creation.
Scholarly Commentary on the Dialogue
The classical scholars explain that this hadith establishes the fundamental Islamic doctrine of divine decree. Adam's response demonstrates that while human actions are real and have consequences, they occur within the framework of Allah's eternal knowledge and will.
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani comments that the "forty years" mentioned represents the period when Allah decreed the destiny of all creation before bringing them into existence. This emphasizes that nothing occurs outside Allah's knowledge and permission.
Al-Nawawi explains that Adam's superior argument lies in his recognition that divine decree encompasses all events, while human responsibility remains intact. The prophets' debate serves to educate the Muslim community about balancing these two aspects of faith.
Theological Significance
This narration resolves the apparent tension between divine predestination and human accountability. It teaches that believers must accept both realities without contradiction - affirming Allah's complete knowledge and control over affairs while recognizing human choice and responsibility.
The hadith also illustrates the proper etiquette of scholarly discourse, where even prophets engage in debate to reach truth, with the superior argument prevailing through divine wisdom rather than personal superiority.