Al-Baqarah 2:30

The issue

This verse recounts Allah telling the angels that he was planning to create a human being, yet they replied with an implied objection, saying, “‘Wilt Thou place therein one who will do evil therein and shed blood?...’” (Q 2.30). The Qur’ānic commentaries confirm the implied objection of the angels. Al-Tabarī states, “[T]his report was from Allah, may His name be exalted, telling us that His angels, who said, ‘Wilt Thou place therein one who will do evil therein and shed blood?’ were shocked to know that Allah, great is His praise, would make creatures that will disobey him, and were surprised to be told that this matter would take place.” It is important to note that al-Tabarī also adds, “He [Allah] consulted with the angels regarding the creation of Adam.” This statement also appears in Ibn Kathīr’s commentary, where he reports al-Suddī as saying, “He [Allah] consulted the angels concerning the creation of Adam.”18

Therefore, this verse provides us with an image of Allah consulting with the angels, yet they are objecting. Al-Zamakhsharī, though a Mu‘tazilite, declares that “‘Wilt Thou place therein…?’” is a statement of surprise that the creation of obedience is going to be replaced by the creation of disobedience, “but He [Allah] is the all-wise, who does righteousness and wants nothing but righteousness.”

Question: How can Allah, the omniscient and the omnipotent, be glorified by consulting with angels? Is it reasonable that angels should advise or even rebuke what Allah does?

Note: Most commentators explain that the angels’ objection to Allah was due to their knowledge regarding what the humans were going to do—namely, disobey Allah— even though the angels are not omniscient. Hence, the commentators invented many interpretations of this verse to avoid any criticism.