The Gift of Knowledge

After creating Adam, Allah taught him the names of all things, an action highlighting the gift of knowledge bestowed upon humans. Knowledge in the Quran is associated with the ability to understand, categorize, and interact with creation in meaningful ways. This ability distinguishes humanity and underscores the responsibility to use knowledge wisely. The Quran also associates this gift with the capacity for communication and expression, as seen in the creation of speech.

وَعَلَّمَ ءَادَمَ ٱلْأَسْمَآءَ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمْ عَلَى ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنۢبِـُٔونِى بِأَسْمَآءِ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰدِقِينَ

And He taught Adam the names, all of them; then he presented them to the angels, and said, “Tell Me the names of these, if you are sincere.”

The Holy Quran · Al-Baqara (The Cow) · 2:31

قَالُوا۟ سُبْحَٰنَكَ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَآ إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ

They said, “Glory be to You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. It is you who are the Knowledgeable, the Wise.”

The Holy Quran · Al-Baqara (The Cow) · 2:32

قَالَ يَٰٓـَٔادَمُ أَنۢبِئْهُم بِأَسْمَآئِهِمْ ۖ فَلَمَّآ أَنۢبَأَهُم بِأَسْمَآئِهِمْ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ إِنِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ غَيْبَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَأَعْلَمُ مَا تُبْدُونَ وَمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ

He said, “O Adam, tell them their names.” And when he told them their names, He said, “Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of the heavens and the earth, and that I know what you reveal and what you conceal?”

The Holy Quran · Al-Baqara (The Cow) · 2:33

عَلَّمَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ

Has taught the Quran.

The Holy Quran · Ar-Rahmaan (The Beneficent) · 55:2

خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ

He created man.

The Holy Quran · Ar-Rahmaan (The Beneficent) · 55:3

عَلَّمَهُ ٱلْبَيَانَ

And taught him clear expression.

The Holy Quran · Ar-Rahmaan (The Beneficent) · 55:4