31. وَعَلَّمَ ءَادَمَ ٱلۡأَسۡمَآءَ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمۡ عَلَى ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنۢبِـُٔونِي بِأَسۡمَآءِ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَ
Wa ‘allama Aadamal asmaaa’a kullahaa summa ‘aradahum ‘alal malaaa’ikati faqaala ambi’oonee bias maaa’i haaa’ulaaa’i in kuntum saadiqeen
And He taught Adam the names – all of them. Then He showed them to the angels and said, “Inform Me of the names of these, if you are truthful.”
32. قَالُواْ سُبۡحَٰنَكَ لَا عِلۡمَ لَنَآ إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمۡتَنَآۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ
Qaaloo subhaanaka laa ‘ilma lanaaa illaa maa ‘allamtanaaa innaka antal’aleemul hakeem
They said, “Exalted are You; we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, it is You who is the Knowing, the Wise.”
33. قَالَ يَـٰٓـَٔادَمُ أَنۢبِئۡهُم بِأَسۡمَآئِهِمۡۖ فَلَمَّآ أَنۢبَأَهُم بِأَسۡمَآئِهِمۡ قَالَ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ إِنِّيٓ أَعۡلَمُ غَيۡبَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَأَعۡلَمُ مَا تُبۡدُونَ وَمَا كُنتُمۡ تَكۡتُمُونَ
Qaala yaaa Aadamu ambi’ hum biasmaaa’ihim falammaa amba ahum bi asmaaa’ihim qaala alam aqul lakum inneee a’lamu ghaibas samaawaati wal ardi wa a’lamu maa tubdoona wa maa kuntum taktumoon
He said, “O Adam, inform them of their names.” And when he had informed them of their names, He said, “Did I not tell you that I know the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and the earth? And I know what you reveal and what you have concealed.”
Allah is the creator of the language
(2) This episode, according to Imam al-Ash’ari (رح) ، shows that language as such has been created by Allah Himself, and not invented by man – its use by different kinds of men has later on produced the many forms of language.
(3) One should note a subtle suggestion here in the use of two words. In asking the angels for the names of things, Allah said, أَنبِئُونِي “Tell Me”; but in commanding Adam (peace be upon him) to do so, He said, أَنبِئْهُم : “Tell them.” The difference in the mode of expression shows that Adam (peace be upon him) was given the rank of a teacher, and the angels that of pupils. It is thus an indication of his superiority over them. Another thing the episode indicates is that an increase or decrease is possible in the degree of knowledge the angels possess, for they were given, through Adam (peace be upon him) ، at least a primary knowledge about a thing which they did not know before.