Al-Baqarah 2:30

<h2>Adam and His Children inhabited the Earth, Generation after Generation</h2><p>Allah reiterated His favor on the Children of Adam when He stated that He mentioned them in the highest of heights before He created them. Allah said,</p><p>وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَـئِكَةِ</p><p>(And (remember) when your Lord said to the angels.)</p><p>This Ayah means, "O Muhammad ! Mention to your people what Allah said to the angels,</p><p>إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِى الأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً</p><p>(Verily, I am going to place a Khalifah on earth).</p><p>Meaning people reproducing generation after generation, century after century, just as Allah said,</p><p>وَهُوَ الَّذِى جَعَلَكُمْ خَلَـئِفَ الاٌّرْضِ</p><p>(And it is He Who has made you (Khala'if) generations coming after generations, replacing each other on the earth) (6:165),</p><p>وَيَجْعَلُكُمْ حُلَفَآءَ الاٌّرْضِ</p><p>(And makes you (Khulafa') inheritors of the earth) (27:62),</p><p>وَلَوْ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلْنَا مِنكُمْ مَّلَـئِكَةً فِى الاٌّرْضِ يَخْلُفُونَ</p><p>(And if it were Our will, We would have (destroyed you (mankind all, and) made angels to replace you (Yakhlufun) on the earth.) (43: 60) and,</p><p>فَخَلَفَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ</p><p>(Then after them succeeded an (evil) generation (Khalf)) (7:169). It appears that Allah was not refering to Adam specifically as Khalifah, otherwise he would not have allowed the angels' statement,</p><p>أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّمَآءَ</p><p>(Will You place therein those who will make mischief therein and …

And when thy Lord said unto the angels: Lo! I am about to place a viceroy in the earth, they said: Wilt thou place therein one who will do harm therein and will shed blood, while we, we hymn Thy praise and sanctify Thee? He said: Surely I know that which ye know not.

Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent on earth." They said: "Wilt Thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood?- whilst we do celebrate Thy praises and glorify Thy holy (name)?" He said: "I know what ye know not."

And (remember) when your Lord said to the angels: "Verily, I am going to place (mankind) generations after generations on earth." They said: "Will You place therein those who will make mischief therein and shed blood, - while we glorify You with praises and thanks (Exalted be You above all that they associate with You as partners) and sanctify You." He (Allah) said: "I know that which you do not know."

When your Lord said to the angels, “I am placing a successor on earth.” They said, “Will You place in it someone who will cause corruption in it and shed blood, while we declare Your praises and sanctify You?” He said, “I know what you do not know.”