Question:
A hadith says that “Adam (AS) and Musa (AS) argued, and Adam (AS) defeated Musa (AS) in argument by citing divine decree (Qadr).”
He asks: According to this hadith, can every person use Qadr as an excuse for their sins and escape accountability in the Hereafter?
Answer:
First, let’s understand the event mentioned.
This is in Bukhari (3409). Adam (AS) and Musa (AS) argued. Musa (AS) said to Adam (AS): “You are the one who caused us to be expelled from Paradise by your sin. If you hadn’t sinned, we wouldn’t have been sent down.” Adam (AS) replied: “Are you blaming me for something Allahﷻ had decreed for me before He created me?” And thus Adam (AS) got the better of Musa (AS) in the argument.
In some narrations, Adam (AS) asks: “Was the Torah revealed to you?” Musa (AS) says yes. Adam (AS) asks: “Was it written before I was created?” Musa (AS) says yes. Adam (AS) says: “Then you are blaming me for something already written?” So, based on this, if someone commits a sin, can they say it was decreed?
The question arises: If someone doesn’t pray, can they say, “It was decreed”? If someone cheats, can they say, “It was decreed”? Would Allahﷻ accept that excuse? The hadith seems to indicate Adam (AS)’s argument was correct, and the Prophetﷺ said Adam (AS) defeated Musa (AS).
But this hadith directly contradicts the Quran. If you believe this hadith, you would be rejecting many Quranic verses.
Therefore, even though this hadith is in Bukhari, it is not authentic in meaning because it contradicts the Quran. How does the Quran describe Adam (AS)’s sin? Allahﷻ says in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:36): “Then Satan caused them to slip from it and removed them from that which they were in.” Adam (AS) admitted his sin. In verse 2:37, Allahﷻ taught Adam (AS) words of repentance, and Adam (AS) repented.
Adam (AS) acknowledged his mistake. He did not blame Qadr. In Surah Al-A’raf (7:23), they said: “Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves. If You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.“
Adam (AS) admitted he was the wrongdoer. He did not say it was written. In Surah Ta-Ha (20:115), it says: “And We had already taken a covenant from Adam (AS) before, but he forgot; and We found not in him determination.“
And in 20:122, it says: “Then his Lord chose him and turned to him in forgiveness and guided him.” The Quran clearly states Adam (AS) sinned, repented, and was forgiven. He never argued using Qadr.
How could such a person, who wept and repented, later argue with Musa (AS) and say he didn’t commit a sin? His stance was that he made a mistake and sought forgiveness. So, the hadith presents an argument that is a sophistry (vindandavaatham).
Would the Prophetﷺ endorse such sophistry? No.
- The Quran clearly states that Adam (AS) admitted his mistake and repented.
- He did not use Qadr as an excuse.
- Using Qadr to justify sin contradicts the Quran.
Conclusion:
- Humans are responsible for their actions
- Qadr cannot be used to escape accountability
Therefore, this hadith is problematic and contradicts the clear Quranic text.