Verse 31-33

And He taught Adam the names of all things; then He presented them to the angels and said: 'Declare unto Me the names of these [things], if what you say is true.' * They replied: 'Limitless You are in Your glory! No knowledge have we save that which You have taught us. Verily, You alone are all-knowing, truly wise.' * Said He: 'O Adam, convey unto them the names of these [things],' And as soon as [Adam] had conveyed unto them their names, [Allah] said: 'Did I not say unto you: Verily, I alone know the hidden reality of the heavens and the earth, and know all that you bring into the open and all that you would conceal?' (Wa 'allama Adam al-asmâ kullahâ thumma 'aradahum 'ala al-malâ'ika fa-qâla anbi'unî bi-asmâ'i hâ'ulâ'i in kuntum sâdiqîn. * Qâlü subhânaka lâ 'ilma la-nâ illâ mâ 'allamtanâ innaka anta al-'alîm al-hakîm. * Qâla yâ Adam anbi'hum bi-asmâ'ihim fa-lammâ anba'ahum bi-asmâ'ihim qâla a lam aqul la-kum inni a'lamu ghayb al-samâwât wa'l-ard wa a'lamu mâ tubdûna wa mâ kuntum tak-tumûn?)

An Introduction

Consider this: this miracle of Adam [the teaching of the names] challenged the angels [and their doubts]; indeed, it was a miracle of mankind related to the question of the vicegerency. There are many lessons to be learnt from the story.

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