Question
It is stated in Qur’an that when Allah Ta`ala created Adam he was in Jannat1. Now Jannat is a different place than this planet earth (as in these days every place is known to man and there is no place which is like Jannat). Now after the incidence when Adam and Hawwa erred in following Satan, and after being forgiven, Adam was orderd to get down from Jannat to this earth. Adam a physical being, he could not travel to earth as such as in the space there are hundreds of particles which attack the human body and it is not safe to travel in space without ‘space suits’. Further, it is not posible for a physical thing to travel at a speed greater than that of light (according to the theory of relativity).
The question is, how Adam was transported to earth?
Answer
The Arabic word “Jannah” has generally been used in the Qur’an as a reference to the Gardens of Paradise. On the other hand, the Qur’an has also used the word “Jannah” in its literal meaning, i.e., any garden. In my opinion, there is no reason to believe that Adam and Eve were kept in the Paradise before their mistake. It was actually some place on this earth where they were placed. This is quite apparent from the verse 30 of Surah Al-Baqarah. The Almighty declares to the Angels:
I am going to create a khalifah on the earth. (2: 30)
In my opinion, therefore, the question that you have asked does not arise.
19th April 1998
- ‘Jannat‘ or ‘Jannah‘ Arabic word, literally meaning ‘Garden’, also used for ‘Paradise’. [↩]