Meaning of the hadeeth which says that Allaah created Adam in His Image

 

I am asking about the correct understanding of the hadeeth, “Adam was created in the Image of the Most Merciful”?.

Praise be to Allaah.
 

 

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah created Adam in His Image…” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6227; Muslim, 2841. 

With regard to the hadeeth, “Do not (insult
one another) and say ‘May Allaah make your face ugly’, because Adam was created in the Image of the Most Merciful,” this was classed as da’eef
(weak) by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Da’eefah, no. 1176. 

Perhaps the questioner is confused by this
hadeeth because of the verse in which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“There is nothing like Him”

[al-Shoora 42:11] 

The scholars answered this problem in two
ways: a brief answer and a detailed answer. 

The brief answer is that it is impossible for
this hadeeth to contradict the words of Allaah (interpretation of the meaning): 

“There is nothing like Him”

[al-Shoora 42:11] 

If we find a way to reconcile between them,
all well and good, otherwise we should say, 

“ ‘We believe in it; the whole of it
(clear and unclear Verses) are from our Lord.’ And none receive admonition except men of understanding”

[Aal ‘Imraan 3:7 – interpretation of the
meaning] 

We believe that there is nothing like unto Allaah and thus we will be on the safe side before
Allaah. These are the words of Allaah, and these are the words of His Messenger; both are true and it is impossible for one of them to belie the
other. So we say that the verse shows that His creation cannot resemble Allaah, and the hadeeth affirms that Allaah has an Image. Both are true
and we believe in them; we say that both are from our Lord, and remain silent thereafter. This is all that we can do. 

See Sharh al-Waasitiyyah by Ibn
‘Uthaymeen. 

With regard to the detailed answer: 

This hadeeth proves that Allaah has an Image,
and that Allaah created Adam in His Image. 

But there is nothing in this hadeeth to
indicate that the image of Adam (peace be upon him) resembles the Image of Allaah, rather this meaning is absolutely false and was not meant by
the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“There is nothing like Him”

[al-Shoora 42:11] 

The fact that one thing is likened to another
does not mean that it is identical to it in all aspects, rather they are likened to one another because they share some attributes, but that does
not means that every attribute is identical. 

This is indicated by the words of the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “The first group to be admitted to Paradise will be in the image of the moon on the night when
it is full.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3327; Muslim, 2834. 

This hadeeth does not mean that they will
enter Paradise in a form that is exactly like the moon in all regards, otherwise that would mean that they will enter Paradise with no eyes or
mouths, or as rocks.  

Rather what the hadeeth means is that they
will be like the moon in beauty and brightness, with shining faces, and so on. 

So if you say: what is the Image that belongs
to Allaah and in which Adam was created? We say that Allaah has a Face and Eyes and Hands and Feet, but that does not mean that because of these
things He resembles man. There may be some similarity but that does not mean that these things are identical, just as the first group of the
people of Paradise to enter Paradise are likened to the moon, but that does not mean that they resemble the moon. This confirms the belief of Ahl
al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah, that none of the attributes of Allaah can be likened to the attributes of created beings, and they do not misinterpret
the Divine attributes or deny them, and they do not liken them to the attributes of human beings. 

See Sharh al-‘Aqeedah al-Waasitiyyah
by Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen, part 1, p. 107-110.