Book 59: Beginning Of Creation
Overview
This extensive section of Sahih al-Bukhari, titled 'Beginning of Creation,' serves as a foundational text for Islamic cosmology, angelology, demonology, and eschatology. It begins by establishing Allah's absolute sovereignty, describing His Throne over the water before the creation of the heavens and the earth. The text heavily emphasizes the physical and literal nature of the spiritual realm. It details the mechanics of the universe, such as the sun prostrating beneath Allah's Throne nightly, and the physical realities of Heaven (Jannah) and Hell (Jahanam), including sensual rewards for the righteous and literal heat from Hell causing earthly fevers. A central narrative is Muhammad's Night Journey (Mi'raj), where he ascends through the seven heavens, meets previous prophets (including Adam, Jesus, Moses, and Abraham), and negotiates the daily prayer requirement down from fifty to five. The text also outlines a strict, fatalistic view of predestination (Qadar), asserting that a person's ultimate eternal destiny is written in the womb at 120 days, which can override a lifetime of righteous or evil deeds. Furthermore, the text provides a highly superstitious and physical framework for spiritual warfare. Satan is depicted as a physical nuisance who ties knots in hair, urinates in ears, sleeps in noses, and circulates in the bloodstream. Angels are portrayed as physical beings who avoid houses containing dogs or pictures. The text concludes with numerous specific mandates regarding the killing of certain animals, hygiene, and ritualistic phrases required to ward off demonic influence, painting a picture of a faith heavily reliant on precise physical actions to navigate a world teeming with unseen spiritual dangers.
Key Figures
- Muhammad: The central prophet and narrator of most events, depicted as the ultimate mediator who negotiates prayer requirements and receives divine revelation.
- Gabriel (Jibril): The chief angel who accompanies Muhammad through the heavens, delivers revelation, and fights alongside Muslims in battle.
- Moses (Musa): A major prophet encountered in the sixth heaven who advises Muhammad to ask Allah to reduce the number of daily prayers.
- Satan (Iblis/Shaitan): The primary adversary, depicted as physically interacting with humans (tying knots, urinating in ears, causing bad dreams, circulating in blood).
- Jesus (Isa): A prophet encountered in the second heaven alongside John the Baptist; notably identified as the only human Satan failed to touch at birth.
- Abraham (Ibrahim): A major prophet encountered in the seventh heaven.
- Malik: The angelic gatekeeper of Hellfire.
- Lubaid bin Al-A'sam: A man who successfully cast a magic spell on Muhammad, causing him to hallucinate.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Fatalistic Predestination (Qadar)
Assertion
A person's deeds, livelihood, death, and eternal destiny (blessed or wretched) are irrevocably written by an angel when they are a 120-day-old fetus. This decree overrides human agency, causing righteous people to suddenly commit evil and go to Hell, and vice versa.
Evidence from Text
Then the soul is breathed into him. So, a man amongst you may do (good deeds till there is only a cubit between him and Paradise and then what has been written for him decides his behavior and he starts doing (evil) deeds characteristic of the people of the (Hell) Fire.
Evangelical Comparison
In this Hadith, Islamic predestination (Qadar) is presented as a strict, fatalistic determinism. The text explicitly states that a person can live a righteous life, coming within a 'cubit' of Paradise, but because they were written as 'wretched' in the womb, an unseen force 'decides his behavior' and compels him to commit evil so he can be sent to Hell. This creates a theological framework where human agency is ultimately an illusion, and God's decrees are arbitrary and disconnected from the individual's lifelong faith or repentance. Evangelical Christianity, while holding to God's absolute sovereignty and predestination (Ephesians 1:11, Romans 8:29-30), maintains a compatibilist view where God's sovereignty does not violate human will or moral responsibility. The Bible teaches that God desires all to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9) and takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 18:23). Furthermore, Evangelicalism teaches the perseverance of the saints—that true believers are kept by God's power (John 10:28) and will not be arbitrarily forced into apostasy at the end of their lives. The Islamic view presented here introduces a terrifying uncertainty, as no amount of present faithfulness guarantees future salvation.
Physical Demonology
Assertion
Satan and demons (Jinns) interact with humans in highly physical, literal ways, such as urinating in ears to cause oversleeping, tying physical knots in hair, sleeping inside the human nose, and circulating in the bloodstream.
Evidence from Text
He is a man in whose ears (or ear) Satan had urinated... Satan knots three knots at the back of the head... Satan has stayed in the upper part of his nose all the night.
Evangelical Comparison
The Hadith presents a highly superstitious and physical view of the demonic realm. Satan is described as performing literal, physical acts on the human body: urinating in the ear of someone who sleeps past sunrise, tying three knots on the back of the head that must be undone by specific rituals, and residing in the upper nasal cavity, requiring the believer to snort and blow water out of their nose three times upon waking. Protection from these entities requires exact physical actions, such as covering utensils with wood or closing doors, because 'Satan does not open a closed door.' Evangelical Christianity understands demons as fallen spiritual beings who primarily operate through deception, temptation, and the promotion of false ideologies (2 Corinthians 11:14, Ephesians 6:11-12). While demonic possession is a biblical reality, the daily spiritual warfare of a Christian is fought with the 'armor of God'—truth, righteousness, faith, and the Word of God (Ephesians 6:13-17)—not through physical rituals like blowing water out of the nose or covering pots. The biblical worldview liberates believers from superstitious fear of physical demonic harassment, resting in the truth that 'he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world' (1 John 4:4).
Sensual Paradise
Assertion
Heaven is a place of extreme physical and sensual pleasure, featuring massive tents of pearls, gold utensils, and multiple wives (houris) whose beauty is so extreme that the marrow of their leg bones is visible through their flesh.
Evidence from Text
everyone of them shall have two wives, each of whom will be so beautiful, pure and transparent that the marrow of the bones of their legs will be seen through the flesh.
Evangelical Comparison
The Islamic Paradise (Jannah) described in these texts is fundamentally carnal and materialistic. The rewards for piety on earth are physical luxuries: gold and silver combs, aloe wood incense, sweat that smells like musk, and specifically, beautiful, transparent-legged wives (houris) for the men. The focus is entirely on the gratification of earthly appetites, elevated to a supernatural degree. The presence of Allah is secondary to the physical rewards provided. In stark contrast, the Evangelical Christian view of Heaven (and the New Earth) is centered on the presence and glory of God (Revelation 21:3). While the Bible uses physical imagery to describe the New Jerusalem (streets of gold, gates of pearl), these are meant to convey the purity, glory, and permanence of God's dwelling place. Furthermore, Jesus explicitly taught that in the resurrection, people 'neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven' (Matthew 22:30). The Christian hope is not the eternal indulgence of carnal desires, but the eradication of sin, the perfection of love, and the beatific vision—seeing God face to face (1 John 3:2, Revelation 22:4).
Antinomian Soteriology via the Shahada
Assertion
A person who professes faith in Allah alone will enter Paradise, even if they live a life characterized by severe, unrepentant sins such as illegal sexual intercourse and theft.
Evidence from Text
Whoever amongst your followers die without having worshipped others besides Allah, will enter Paradise... Even if he has committed illegal sexual intercourse or theft? He replied, 'Even then.'
Evangelical Comparison
This Hadith introduces a form of extreme antinomianism (the belief that moral law is of no use or obligation). It asserts that mere monotheistic belief (worshipping none but Allah) guarantees entrance into Paradise, explicitly regardless of severe moral failures like theft and illegal sexual intercourse. While other Islamic texts mention temporary punishment in Hell for sinful Muslims, this specific text emphasizes that the bare minimum of monotheistic confession overrides a lifestyle of gross immorality. Evangelical Christianity strongly affirms Sola Fide—justification by faith alone, apart from works (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, Evangelicals also hold to the biblical truth that genuine saving faith necessarily results in regeneration and a changed life (James 2:17, 2 Corinthians 5:17). The Apostle Paul explicitly warns that those who make a practice of sexual immorality, theft, and other sins 'will not inherit the kingdom of God' (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). In the Evangelical view, a person who claims faith but lives in unrepentant, habitual sin demonstrates that their faith is dead and they have not been truly born again (1 John 3:6-9).
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text presents a works-based, ritualistic, and fatalistic worldview where salvation is earned through exact physical actions or arbitrarily decreed, contrasting sharply with the Evangelical gospel of grace, where salvation is a free gift secured by Christ's atonement.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The theological gap between this Hadith collection and Evangelical Christianity is vast, primarily centering on Soteriology, Theology Proper, and the nature of the spiritual realm. In this text, salvation is a precarious mix of extreme fatalism and rigid legalism. On one hand, a person's eternal destiny is irrevocably fixed in the womb, meaning a lifetime of righteousness can be overturned by an arbitrary divine decree at the last moment. On the other hand, forgiveness can be earned through highly specific, almost magical rituals—such as saying 'Amin' at the exact moment the angels do, or dipping a fly in a drink. This creates a spiritual environment of profound uncertainty and superstitious fear. Evangelical Christianity operates on a fundamentally different paradigm: the Covenant of Grace. God's sovereignty is perfectly balanced with His justice and love. Salvation is not achieved by navigating a minefield of arbitrary rules (like avoiding pictures or dogs) or hoping one wasn't predestined to Hell despite their faith. Instead, salvation is accomplished entirely by the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross (Sola Christus). Believers are justified by faith alone (Sola Fide), and their assurance rests in the unchanging character of God and the sealing of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14). Furthermore, the Evangelical view of Heaven is God-centered (the beatific vision), whereas the Islamic view presented here is deeply carnal, focusing on sensual pleasures and physical luxuries.
For All Ages
Imagine you are playing a game where the rules keep changing. Sometimes you get points for doing good things, like giving water to a thirsty dog. But other times, you lose points just because a dog is in your house. And the scariest part is, before you were even born, the game maker might have already decided you are going to lose, no matter how hard you try to be good. You also have to do secret handshakes and say exact words to keep invisible monsters away from you. That is what this text teaches. It says you have to do lots of very specific rules to make God happy and keep Satan away. But the Bible teaches something much better. The Bible says we are all broken and can't win the game on our own. So, God sent Jesus to win it for us. If we trust in Jesus, we don't have to be afraid of invisible monsters or worry that God secretly wants us to lose. Jesus already won, and He shares His victory with us as a free gift!
Friction Points
Sola Scriptura
The text introduces extra-biblical cosmology, angelology, and mandates (like killing specific animals) that contradict biblical revelation.
Sola Fide
Forgiveness is tied to works (watering a dog) or ritual exactness (saying Amin), while simultaneously allowing unrepentant sinners into heaven just for reciting the Shahada.
Theology Proper (Character of God)
God is depicted as an arbitrary author of evil who forces righteous people to sin at the end of their lives just to fulfill a decree written in the womb.
Biblical Worldview (Creation/Spiritual Realm)
The text promotes a superstitious worldview where demons live in noses and angels fear dogs, contradicting the biblical understanding of spiritual warfare and the goodness of creation.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Forgiveness / Salvation"
In This Text
A status granted arbitrarily by Allah, sometimes for minor works (watering a dog) or exact ritual timing (saying Amin with angels), but ultimately subject to a fatalistic decree.
In Evangelicalism
The legal declaration of righteousness (justification) granted by God's grace through faith in the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ.
"Angels"
In This Text
Physical beings who record deeds, fight in battles, but are repelled by mundane objects like dogs, bells, or pictures of living creatures.
In Evangelicalism
Holy, spiritual ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation, who are not hindered by physical objects or animals.
"Heaven (Paradise)"
In This Text
A physical realm of extreme sensual pleasure, featuring gold combs, transparent-legged wives (houris), and massive tents.
In Evangelicalism
The dwelling place of God, characterized by perfect holiness, the absence of sin, and eternal communion with the Creator, where earthly marriage ceases.
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: Escaping the physical torments of Hellfire and entering a physical Paradise of sensual and material rewards.
How Attained: Through a confusing mix of absolute fatalism (decreed in the womb), bare monotheistic confession (Shahada), and arbitrary acts of mercy or ritual compliance.
Basis of Assurance: There is virtually no assurance. A person can do good deeds their whole life and still be cast into Hell because of a prior decree. Conversely, one might hope for arbitrary mercy based on a single good deed.
Comparison to Sola Fide: This system is entirely antithetical to Sola Fide. While it claims faith in Allah is necessary, it lacks the concept of substitutionary atonement. Justification is not a legal declaration based on Christ's righteousness, but a balancing of scales or an arbitrary decree. Romans 8:1 declares 'There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,' offering absolute assurance, whereas this text offers fatalistic terror.
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- Rejoice with glad tidings.
- Offer the eclipse prayer when seeing a solar or lunar eclipse.
- Hasten for the prayer during an eclipse.
- Cool fever with water or Zamzam water.
- Prevent someone from passing in front of you while praying; fight them if they insist.
- Recite Ayat al-Kursi (Surah 2:255) before going to bed for protection.
- Seek refuge with Allah and give up thoughts when Satan asks 'Who created your Lord?'.
- Keep children close to you when night falls.
- Close the gates/doors of your house at night and mention Allah's Name.
- Cover your utensils and mention Allah's Name.
- Say 'I seek Refuge with Allah from Satan' when angry.
- Say a specific prayer ('O Allah! Protect us from Satan...') before having sexual relations with a wife.
- Perform two prostrations of Sahu (forgetfulness) if you forget the number of rak'at prayed.
- Check/suppress yawning as much as possible.
- Spit on your left side and seek refuge with Allah after a bad dream.
- Wash the nose by putting water in it and blowing it out thrice upon waking.
- Raise your voice when pronouncing the Adhan in the desert.
- Kill snakes, specifically Dhu-at-Tufyatain and Al-Abtar.
- Do not kill snakes living in houses (Al-Awamir).
- Ask for Allah's Blessings when hearing a rooster crow.
- Seek Refuge with Allah from Satan when hearing a donkey bray.
- Kill salamanders.
- Kill the rat, scorpion, kite, crow, and rabid dog (even in the Sanctuary).
- Tie your water skins at night.
- Put out your lights when going to bed.
- Dip a house fly in your drink if it falls in, then take it out.
- Do not keep a dog unless for agriculture or guarding livestock.
Implicit Obligations
- Revere Gabriel and the angels.
- Avoid having pictures of living creatures in the home.
- Avoid keeping dogs as pets in the home.
- Maintain a constant awareness of physical demonic presence and utilize ritualistic defenses.
- Accept the fatalistic decree of Allah regarding one's eternal destiny without question.
Ritual Requirements
- Perform the 5 daily prayers (reduced from 50).
- Perform Wudu (ablution) to untie Satan's knots after waking.
- Say 'Amin' at the end of Surat-al-Fatiha to coincide with the angels for forgiveness of sins.
- Say 'O Allah! Our Lord! All the praises are for You' when the Imam says 'Allah hears him who praises Him'.
- Recite specific phrases 100 times a day for rewards and protection.
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- How do you find peace knowing that according to Hadith 3075, a person's eternal destiny is fixed in the womb, and a righteous person might be forced to do evil at the end of their life and go to Hell?
- If angels are powerful beings created by God, why would they be afraid to enter a house just because there is a dog or a picture inside?
- If a true prophet is perfectly protected by God to deliver His message, how was it possible for a sorcerer to successfully cast a magic spell on Muhammad that altered his mind?
- When you read about Paradise having gold combs and transparent-legged wives, does that sound like a holy, spiritual dwelling place of God, or does it sound like earthly, human desires?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
Satan touching every child except Jesus
This Islamic tradition inadvertently affirms the unique sinlessness and purity of Jesus Christ above all other humans, including Muhammad. This can be used to bridge to the biblical truth that Jesus was the spotless lamb, uniquely qualified to be the Savior.
The need for a Mediator to reduce the burden
This shows a deep human recognition that God's perfect standard is too heavy for humans to bear, and we need a mediator to stand between us and God. Jesus is the true and better Mediator who didn't just reduce the burden, but fulfilled the law completely on our behalf.
Grace for the unworthy
While the mechanism is works-based, the underlying desire is for a God who shows immense grace to the socially outcast and deeply sinful. This bridges perfectly to the Gospel, where God saves the worst of sinners not for watering a dog, but through the blood of Christ.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
The believer lives under the terrifying shadow of Qadar (predestination). Because their ultimate fate was written in the womb, they can never have true assurance of salvation. They must constantly fear that despite a lifetime of devotion, God might suddenly cause them to sin and cast them into Hell. This breeds deep spiritual anxiety.
The believer is taught that demons are physically lurking everywhere—in their nose while they sleep, in their blood, in their yawns, and outside their doors at dusk. This creates a paranoid worldview where one must constantly perform physical rituals (spitting, snorting water, covering pots) to fend off spiritual attacks.
The text demands exact compliance with arbitrary rules (killing specific snakes, avoiding dogs, saying exact phrases at exact times). Failure to comply results in lost rewards (Qirats) or demonic influence. This places a heavy yoke of performance on the believer, devoid of the freedom found in grace.