man is not 'successor'/ 'viceregent' of Allah

[optimist]

Salam All,

Quran states in 2:30 “I will create a ‘khalifa’ on the earth”. It actually points towards the creation of a successor to the preceding generations that lived on the earth before mankind and not as successor/viceregent of Allah.   In order to clarify the point that man is not successor of Allah, we shall have to clarify the meaning of the word Khalifa.  There are three basic concepts in the meaning of the words with root (a) to succeed (b) to follow and (c) to undergo change. 

The Holy Quran is self-explanatory.  It says: 25:62 “And it is He who made the night and the day to follow each other”. وَهُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ خِلْفَةً

Again it is said : (2:164) “Day and night coming one after the other”.  وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ

B’ can become Khalifa of ‘A’ only in his absence.    ‘B’ cannot take the place as Khalifa in the presence of A.  The following verses of the Quran support it:

Before Moses went up on the mount for communication with Allah, he said to his brother Aaron: (7:142) “You shall succeed me amongst my people (in my absence)”.  وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِأَخِيهِ هَارُونَ اخْلُفْنِي فِي قَوْمِي

And yet another place it is said: (10:14)   “Then We made you successors in land ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ خَلَائِفَ فِي الْأَرْضِ  after them, to see how you would behave”.

Hud said to his people: 11:57   “(if you turn away from the Divine Guidance) my Lord will make another people to succeed you”.  وَيَسْتَخْلِفُ رَبِّي قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ

About the people of ‘Aad it is said: (7:69)   “In that He made you successors after the people of Noah”.   خُلَفَاءَ مِنْ بَعْدِ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ

The Quran has, thus, amply clarified that a Khalifa is a successor in the absence of or on the death of his predecessor.

Regards,
Optimist

[Truth Seeker]

Salaam,


Some things will naturally have to follow each other as in night following day. At other times it is not the case. This is not true when you look at 36.13. Two messengers were sent to a town and were struggling with the people so God strengthened them with a third.

Also God creates at will, introducing new creations and those creations live alongside each other.

Humans exists alongside Jinn, yet our worlds are very different. There is a start to everything (apart from God) and before that nothing can exist.

[Shahmatt]

@ optimist,

Just to clarify: Does the use of "khalifa" give further credence to Adam having non-"human" family living along with him?

[Sardar Miyan]

Yes Bro Humans are supreme in the world every other thing is created for Humans.

[Ismail]

Salaam.

Khaleefa is one who comes after someone in order to replace him.

According to exegetes, God intended to replace Jinns by humans as the responsible dominant creatures upon the earth.

If the Jinns continue to live in this very same earth, it is not against God’s intent, as they are not occupying the place of responsible dominant creatures of the earth.

36:13 is not about any kind of succession.

Regards,
A. Ismail Sait.