Sura 15, al-Hijr, late Meccan
The Quranic text and Ali’s version
فَإِذَا
سَوَّيْتُهُ
وَنَفَخْتُ
فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِي
فَقَعُواْ لَهُ
سَاجِدِينَ ﴿٢٩﴾
15:29. "When I have fashioned him (in due proportion) and breathed into him of My spirit, fall ye down in obeisance unto him."
C1968. Among other passages where the creation of Adam is referred to, cf. the following;
Note that here the emphasis is on three points:
1. the breathing from Allah's spirit into man i.e., the faculty of God-like knowledge and will, which, if rightly used, would give man superiority over other creatures:
2. the origin of evil in arrogance and jealousy on the part of Satan, who saw only the lower side of man (his clay) and failed to see the higher side, the faculty brought in from the spirit of Allah;
3. that this evil only touches those who yield to it, and has no power over Allah's sincere servants, purified by His grace (15:40, 42).
Adam is not here mentioned by name, but only Man, whose symbol is Adam
Asad’s version
(15:29) and when I have formed him fully and breathed into him of My spirit, fall down before him in prostration!" 26
Yuksel’s version
15:29 "So when I perfect him, and blow of My Spirit in him, you shall fall prostrate to him."*
********************************
[[Asad’s note - 26 Cf. 2 : 30-34 and the corresponding notes, as well as 7:1 1-18. The allegorical character of all the passages bearing on the creation of man and on God's command to the angels to prostrate themselves before him is brought out clearly in God's saying, "I am about to create mortal man... ; and when I have formed him fully...", etc.: for it is obvious that, in reality, no lapse of time is required for God's completing His creation - since, "when He wills a thing to be, He but says unto it, 'Be'- and it is" (cf. 2:117, 3:47 and 59, 6:73, 16:40, 19: 35, 36:82 and 40: 68). God's "breathing of His spirit" into man is obviously a metaphor for His endowing him with life and consciousness: that is, with a soul. ]]
[[ Yuksel’s comments –
015:029 The word ruh, does not mean soul or spirit, as commonly thought. In the terminology of the Quran ruh means revelation, inspiration, information, or commands. The word nafs is used to mean person or consciousness (39:42). If we try to describe the human genetic makeup and the program etched into the brain in computer language, it is like a piece of hardware that facilitates communication, processing, analysis and synthesis of information through an intelligent system program containing God's knowledge/commands/code/logic (ruh) in its core. Person (nafs) is analogous to an open system program that can be improved through new application programs, addition of new features, and memory (experience) data. This system program (person) can be put in hibernation (sleep), or terminated by the turning off of the switch, or by the destruction of its essential hardware (death) (39:42; 21:35; 29:57; 2:28; 10:56; 32:11; 45:15).
Contradictory and irrational actions that are the products of reflexive choices, gullibility, superstitious ideas, intoxicants, religious dogmas, peer pressure, ignorance, etc, might make the system program vulnerable to the attacks of evil viruses and Trojan horses (6:116; 10:36,42; 17:36; 53:28; 2:170-171; 3:154; 8:22; 10:100; 12:40; 13:19; 28:63; 35:28; 39:9,18; 41:46; 45:15; 79:40; 9:31). If due to prejudice and acquired bad habits, they do not use vigilant virus protection programs called critical thinking or logic, numerous harmful and fatal viruses might infect and corrupt system programs (persons) beyond reform (2:231; 4:110; 7:160; 17:7; 31:13; 65:1; 91:7, and 6:110). Good intentions, thoughts, deeds, habits, good networks, and numerous tests advance the system program (person) to new levels (2:272; 23:60). Then the improved or regressed system program is separated from the hardware (death) and uploaded (recorded in the master record/ummul-kitab) for evaluation (18:49; 6:38; 54:53). Those that kept the system program free from infection and corruption, and improved it through various tests, are beamed to a higher dimension for eternal enjoyment (89:27-30). The system programs (persons) that had progressed (through acknowledgment and good deeds) and passed all major tests (through a humble and appreciative attitude during blessings and tragedies) in its previous hardware (2:155; 3:186; 29:1-3); these few successful system programs will be matched with an indestructible hardware (body) to live in eternal bliss (81:7; 3:30,161,185; 40:17; 45:22; 50:21; 74:38; 89:27-28; 2:123,233,281). Also, see 17:85; 39:42.]]