Question

Was our father 'Aadam (Adam), may Allah exalt his mention, a prophet or a messenger? Answer in details.

Fatwa

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger.

'Aadam, may Allah exalt his mention, was a prophet whom Allah The Almighty spoke to more than once. There are many verses that support this fact.

Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {He said, "O 'Aadam (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."} [Quran 2:33]

It is a characteristic of the prophets, may Allah exalt their mention, that Allah The Almighty informs them of certain things and communicates with them.

Remember the story of 'the sons of ’Aadam, may Allah exalt his mention, in which Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And recite to them the story of Aadam's (Adam) two sons, in truth, when they both offered a sacrifice [to Allah], and it was accepted from one of them but was not accepted from the other. Said [the latter], "I will surely kill you." Said [the former], "Indeed, Allah only accepts from the righteous [who fear Him].} [Quran 5:27]

The verse indicates that 'Aadam, may Allah exalt his mention, conveyed a law from Allah The Almighty to his sons. That was why the believer, Haabeel (Abel), replied, according to the Quran, (what means): {If you should raise your hand against me to kill me -- I shall not raise my hand against you to kill you. Indeed, I fear Allah, Lord of the worlds.} [Quran 5:28]

In a Hadeeth (narration) on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, the Prophet said that Allah The Almighty sent Jibreel (Gabriel) to 'Aadam and Hawwaa' (Eve), may Allah exalt their mention, and said to them, "Build a house for the sake of Allah The Almighty." Jibreel, may Allah exalt his mention, outlined its location, and 'Aadam, may Allah exalt his mention, dug while Hawwaa' removed the dug out earth until water appeared in the hole.

 'Aadam, may Allah exalt his mention, was called from beneath him to stop, and when he had completed the building, Allah The Almighty ordered him to circumambulate it. It was said to him that he was the first of mankind and the building was the first house. Centuries passed, and Nooh (Noah), may Allah exalt his mention, came to perform pilgrimage in it, and after many centuries, 'Ibraaheem (Abraham), may Allah exalt his mention, raised the foundations of the House. [Al-Bayhaqi in Ad-Dalaa'il] Excerpted from Kanz Al-‘Ummaal and Ibn Hajar compiled part of it that affirms the prophethood of 'Aadam, may Allah exalt his mention. 

And Allah knows best.