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Fatwa CenterAuthenticity of story about creation of Aadam
Question
Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu. My question is regarding the book "Stories of the Prophets" by Ibn Katheer -- translated by Muhammad Mustapha Geme’ah, Al-Azhar, specifically regarding the story of Prophet Adam, may Allaah exalt his mention.
Ibn Mas‘ood and other Companions of the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said that Allaah Almighty sent Gabriel onto the earth to get Him clay therefrom. The earth said, “I seek refuge in Allaah from your decreasing my quantity or disfiguring me.” So Gabriel returned and did not take anything. He said, “My Lord, the land sought refuge in You and it was granted.” So Allaah sent Michael for the same purpose, and the land sought refuge with Allaah, and it was granted. So he went back and said to Allaah what Gabriel had said before him. Then Allaah sent the Angel of Death, and the land sought refuge in Allaah; the angel said, “I also seek refuge with Allaah from returning without carrying out His command.” So he took clay from the face of the earth and mixed it. He did not take from one particular place; rather, he took white, red, and black clay from different places...
Regarding this part of the story, is it authentic? I do not think Ibn Katheer would state, “Ibn Mas‘ood and other Companions...” without having a valid source, however, I have not read of such a hadith. Can you please look into this and provide evidence of your findings? May Allaah reward you.
Answer
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.
The story that you mentioned is not attributed to the Prophet but it is a saying of a Companion.
Ibn Katheer 
mentioned it at length, longer than that which you mentioned, and then he himself ruled on it, saying, “There are other ahaadeeth that strengthen this story although many of it is derived from the Israa’eeliyyaat (stories from Jewish sources)… ”
The part of the story which you mentioned, that Allah created Aadam (Adam) from the clay of the earth that is of different color, has an authentic origin.
Abu Moosa Al-Ash‘ari, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet said, "Indeed Allah, The Almighty, created Aadam from a handful that He took from the whole of the earth. So the children of Aadam are in accordance with the earth: some of them are red, some are white, some are black, some are yellow, and some are a mixture (between these different colors); some are smooth; some are rough, some are bad and some are good.” [Ahmed, Abu Dawood, at-Tirmithi and Ibn Hibbaan. This is the wording of Ibn Hibbaan]
This authentic origin is mentioned by Ibn Katheer directly before mentioning that story. It seems that you did not notice that, otherwise you would not have asked this question.
However, we did not come across any narration that indicates that at first Allah sent Jibreel (Gabriel), then Meekaa'eel (Michael), and then the Angel of Death.
Allah knows best.
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