Sens
How did the angels know that human beings would cause corruption?
Réponse
Imām Ibn al-Jawzī (d. 597/1201) summarized the scholars' opinions in his book "Zād al-Masīr" as follows:
- They were informed by Allah the Exalted. Al-Suddī narrated from his teachers that the angels said: "Our Lord, what will be this successor?" He said: "He will have descendants who will cause corruption on earth, envy each other, and kill each other." So they said: "Will You place therein one who will cause corruption therein?" [Ibn Masʿūd, Ibn ʿAbbās, al-Ḥasan, Mujāhid, Qatādah, Ibn Zayd, Ibn Qutaybah, al-Suddī]
- They deduced it from the conditions of those who came before Adam. [Ibn ʿAbbās, Abū al-ʿĀliyah, Muqātil]

