A Look at Pre-Human Beings and Their Nature from the Perspective of the Qur’an and Narratives

The creation of human as Ahsan al-Khaliqin raises the question of other beings. In seeking to answer this question and identify these creatures based on verses and narratives, we realize that before Adam a variety of creatures existed, such as angels, Iblees, Jinn and Nasnas. In this descriptive-analytical research, the existence of pre-Adamites is proved by investigating the verses, narratives and interpretive-narrative sources. Accordingly, there is a consensus on the creation of some creatures prior to Adam, and yet a disagreement about some others. Some scholars, relying on narratives, have denied the existence of Nasnas before the creation of Adam. In this article, the existence of Nasnas is confirmed by examining the views of lexicographers and scrutinizing the narratives quoted in commentaries on the issue of Adam’s creation. Moreover, while proving the creation of various elements and creatures before Adam, the existence of several worlds and people before Adam is confirmed referring to narratives. Hence, as the current generation of Adam’s descendants is not the first generation of humans, it will not be the last one either.