Part 1: Caliph on Earth Before and After Prophet Adam

The concept of a caliph on Earth did not begin solely with the creation of humans. Before Prophet Adam a.s., there were already other beings entrusted with the responsibility of being caliphs. However, they failed to fulfil this trust properly, leading to a world filled with oppression and chaos.

When Allah S.W.T. announced the creation of humans as the new caliph, the angels questioned whether humans would also cause destruction, just like the beings before them. Allah’s words in Surah Al-Baqarah 2:30 illustrate this event:

وَإِذۡ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٞ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ خَلِيفَةً ۖ قَالُوٓاْ أَتَجۡعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفۡسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسۡفِكُ ٱلدِّمَآءَ وَنَحۡنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمۡدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّيٓ أَعۡلَمُ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ

"Indeed, I will place upon the earth a caliph." They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?" Allah said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know."

This verse indicates that before humans, there were beings who committed oppression, raising concerns among the angels.

Beings as Caliphs Before Prophet Adam a.s.

Before humans, several beings were given the responsibility of being caliphs:

Beings Before Humans

✅ Created from clay and given the authority to govern the earth.
✅ However, they misused their power, leading to oppression and destruction.

The Jinn and Azazil

✅ Created from fire and also lived on Earth.
✅ The jinn existed before humans and once ruled the earth.
✅ Azazil (later known as Iblis) was among the devout before he defied Allah’s command to prostrate before Adam.
✅ The jinn had free will, which led some of them to commit injustices on Earth.

The angels witnessed how the previous caliphs failed to fulfil their responsibilities, leading to their question about the creation of a new caliph—humans.

Fasad and Safak in Surah Al-Baqarah 2:30

In the conversation between Allah S.W.T. and the angels regarding the creation of humans as caliphs, the angels asked:

"Will You place upon it one who causes fasad on Earth and sheds blood?"

This question reflects the angels' concerns based on their experiences with the previous beings. To understand this concern, we need to examine the meanings of fasad and safak more deeply.

1. Fasad (Corruption on Earth)

Fasad (الفساد) comes from the Arabic root ف-س-د (fa-sa-da), which means "to be corrupted, destroyed, or not function properly." In the context of this verse, fasad refers to all forms of actions that cause destruction, disorder, and confusion, leading to imbalance, insecurity, disharmony, and chaos in various aspects, including self-morality, social systems (ḥablun min an-nās), and the environment.

Forms of Fasad in Life

💠 Fasad within oneself
🔹 Oppression against oneself, such as arrogance, laziness in worship, or rejecting the truth.
🔹 Moral corruption, such as lying, deceit, and spreading falsehoods.
🔹 The dominance of desires and negative traits.

💠 Fasad in society
🔹 Oppression of the weak by those in power.
🔹 Injustice in political, economic, and social systems.
🔹 The spread of false knowledge that misleads people from the truth.

💠 Fasad in the environment
🔹 Pollution, illegal logging, and uncontrolled exploitation of natural resources.
🔹 The unethical use of technology or science that leads to environmental destruction.
🔹 Destroying Allah’s creation under the guise of development but driven by greed.

2. Safak (Shedding of Blood)

Safak (سفك) comes from the verb س-ف-ك (sa-fa-ka), which means "a heinous act of spilling or pouring out something in large quantities," particularly blood. In this verse, safak refers to acts of killing, oppressing, or harming other beings, whether fellow humans or other creatures on Earth.

Forms of Safak in Life

💀 Murder and warfare
🔹 Conflicts that lead to global bloodshed without just cause.
🔹 Wars driven by greed for power, revenge, or resource control.

💀 Oppression against other humans
🔹 Oppression, slavery, or exploitation of the weak.
🔹 Killing innocent people for selfish gain.

💀 Unjust slaughter of other creatures
🔹 Killing animals in inhumane ways.
🔹 Performing rituals or unnecessary slaughter, including acts of associating partners with Allah.

How Fasad and Safak Relate to Previous Caliphs

The angels mentioned fasad and safak because they had witnessed how previous beings abused their authority through violence and bloodshed. This might have taken the form of:
🔸 War among themselves to gain power.
🔸 Oppression of weaker creatures.
🔸 Making violence a way of life without moral values.

Humans, as the new caliph, were given free will. If they chose to act justly, they would succeed. However, if they chose to shed blood unjustly, they would repeat the mistakes of past beings.

Why Were Humans Chosen as Caliphs?

Even though previous beings failed, Allah still chose humans as caliphs (successors) for several key reasons:

1. Intellect and Knowledge (Ability to Think and Evolve)

✅ Humans have the ability to learn, understand, and develop knowledge.
✅ This enables them to manage Earth better than previous beings.

2. Heart and Desires (Freedom of Choice)

✅ Unlike angels who are always obedient, humans have free will to choose between good and evil.
✅ With this freedom, humans can reach higher levels of faith if they choose the truth.

3. Responsibility as Leaders (Trust)

✅ Humans are not just inhabitants of Earth but also leaders responsible for upholding justice and maintaining balance.
✅ This makes them more special than previous beings.

Challenges as Caliphs on Earth

Although humans are given advantages, they also face great challenges in fulfilling this trust:

✅ Upholding justice – Avoiding oppression and tyranny.
✅ Preventing corruption (fasad) – Not destroying civilization and the environment.
✅ Avoiding bloodshed (safak) – Preventing unnecessary wars, oppression, and violence.

The angels feared that humans would repeat the mistakes of past beings. However, Allah knew that humans could learn and correct their mistakes, making them better caliphs if they adhered to His guidance.

Conclusion

Before Prophet Adam a.s., other beings such as pre-human species and the jinn had served as caliphs, but they failed due to oppression and bloodshed. This led the angels to question Allah about the creation of humans as new caliphs.

However, humans are different because they are given intellect, knowledge, and free will. After Prophet Adam, humans were entrusted with governing the Earth justly. Nevertheless, they face the same challenges—avoiding fasad (corruption) and safak (bloodshed).

History has proven that being a caliph is not just a privilege but also a great responsibility. Humans today must learn from the failures of past beings and ensure that they fulfil this trust properly.