The Pre-Genesis Chronology: Understanding God’s Kingdom Before Time

Introduction: Before the Beginning

The Quran reveals a profound truth that most religious texts barely touch upon – what happened before the creation of the physical universe? Through divine verses and the teachings of God’s Messenger of the Covenant, Rashad Khalifa, we can piece together a chronology that explains not just how we came to be, but why. This is the story of existence itself, from the original rebellion in God’s Kingdom to the final Day of Judgment when all souls return to their Creator.

This comprehensive analysis draws from the Quran, its appendices, and particularly from Rashad Khalifa’s illuminating study “Quran Study 12/24/89, Sura 7:12” on Adam & Eve’s body. It reveals a sequence of events that explains the very purpose of our earthly existence and the test we all face.

Part 1: In the Beginning, There Was Only God

The Eternal Kingdom

Before anything existed, there was only God. Then, with His divine word “Be,” He initiated His Kingdom – the heavens and the earth:

[2:117] “The Initiator of the heavens and the earth: to have anything done, He simply says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is.”

In this primordial state, we existed as souls in God’s Kingdom for billions of years. There were no classifications, no categories – just souls living in the presence of the Almighty. We were neither angels, nor humans, nor jinns. We simply were, existing in a state of pure consciousness in God’s divine presence.

Part 2: The Great Rebellion – The Original Sin

When Doubt Entered Paradise

The perfect harmony of God’s Kingdom was disrupted by an event of cosmic significance – the rebellion:

[38:69] “I had no knowledge previously, about the feud in the High Society.”

This “feud in the High Society” refers to the moment when Iblees (Satan) developed his supercilious ideas, harboring the arrogant thought that he could be a god besides God. This was the birth of polytheism, the original sin that would echo throughout creation.

This rebellion created the first division among souls:

The Vast Majority: These souls never doubted God’s absolute authority for even an instant
The Small Minority: These souls experienced doubt and entertained differing opinions about God’s absolute authority

Part 3: The First Chance – An Opportunity for Redemption

God’s Mercy Before Classification

In His infinite mercy, God gave the doubting souls their first chance to repent. This opportunity was extended to all who had wavered, regardless of the degree of their doubt. The response to this divine mercy created further distinctions:

Those Who Immediately Repented: These souls recognized their error and sought forgiveness. God redeemed them by assigning them to serve as props for the test to come – they would become animals, trees, stars, and other elements of creation.
Those Who Sided with Satan: These souls chose to align themselves with Iblees’s rebellion, fully embracing the illusion that they could be independent of God.
The Indecisive: These souls remained uncertain, neither fully rejecting God nor fully submitting to Him. Among these was Adam’s soul.

The Quran captures Adam’s indecisive nature:

[20:115] “We tested Adam in the past, but he forgot, and we found him indecisive.”

Part 4: The Creation of Physical Forms

Bodies for the Test

God then began creating physical forms to house the different categories of souls. The sequence is crucial:

1. Satan’s Body – The First Jinn

[15:27] “As for the jinns, we created them, before that, from blazing fire.”

Satan was given a body made from blazing fire, becoming the first jinn. This preceded the creation of the human body, establishing Satan’s role in the coming test.

2. Adam’s Body – The First Human

[15:26] “We created the human being from aged mud, like the potter’s clay.”

God created Adam’s body from clay, but crucially, Adam’s soul was not yet placed into this body. This empty vessel would serve as the prototype for all human bodies to come.

Part 5: The Defining Moment – Prostration and Classification

When Categories Were Established

With Adam’s body created but not yet animated, God issued a command that would finalize the classification of all souls:

[7:11] “We created you, then we shaped you, then we said to the angels, ‘Fall prostrate before Adam.’ They fell prostrate, except Iblees (Satan); he was not with the prostrators.”

This command to prostrate was allegorical – it represented a command to serve humans during the earthly test. The response to this command created the final classifications:

Angels: Those who prostrated without hesitation – the souls who never doubted God’s authority
Satan/Jinns: Those who refused to prostrate, led by Iblees
Humans: The souls destined to inhabit human bodies and undergo the test
Support Creation: The repentant souls who would serve as animals, plants, and natural elements

Satan’s refusal exposed his ego, which was part of God’s plan from the beginning. God then cast Satan out of His Kingdom:

[18:50] “We said to the angels, ‘Fall prostrate before Adam.’ They fell prostrate, except Satan. He became a jinn, for he disobeyed the order of His Lord…”

Part 6: The Covenant with Humanity

When We All Bore Witness

Before beginning the earthly test, God summoned all human souls – every person destined to be born throughout history – and had them bear witness:

[7:172] “Recall that your Lord summoned all the descendants of Adam, and had them bear witness for themselves: ‘Am I not your Lord?’ They all said, ‘Yes. We bear witness.’ Thus, you cannot say on the Day of Resurrection, ‘We were not aware of this.’”

This primordial covenant gave every human soul instinctive knowledge of God. It’s why even in the most isolated cultures, humans have always sensed the divine. We all said “Yes” to God being our Lord – this memory lies deep within every soul.

Part 7: The Death and Repository

Preparation for the Test

After the covenant, God put all these souls to death and placed them in a repository, awaiting their turn to be born into the physical world:

[67:2] “The One who created death and life for the purpose of distinguishing those among you who would do better. He is the Almighty, the Forgiving.”

This “death” before life explains why God says He created death and life – we experienced a form of death before our earthly existence began. Our souls wait in this repository until their appointed time to enter the world through birth.

Part 8: The Second Chance – Paradise Test

Adam and Eve as Humanity’s Representatives

God gave humanity a second chance by placing Adam and Eve in Paradise (Al-Janna). This wasn’t just about two individuals – they represented all human souls:

[7:19] “As for you, Adam, dwell with your wife in Paradise, and eat therefrom as you please, but do not approach this one tree, lest you fall in sin.”

The Quran reveals that we all came from one soul:

[4:1] “O people, observe your Lord; the One who created you from one being, and created from it its mate, then spread from the two many men and women…”

We were collectively inside Adam and Eve because we all originated from that one being. When Satan caused them to transgress:

[2:36] “But the devil duped them, and caused their eviction therefrom. We said, ‘Go down as enemies of one another. On Earth shall be your habitation and provision for awhile.’”

However, Adam’s story didn’t end with the fall:

[2:37] “Then, Adam received from his Lord words, whereby He redeemed him. He is the Redeemer, Most Merciful.”

Adam repented and was redeemed, setting the pattern for all humanity – we can fall, but through sincere repentance, we can be redeemed.

Part 9: The Earthly Procession

Souls Entering the Test in Succession

Now humanity comes to Earth in succession through procreation:

[32:7-9] “He is the One who perfected everything He created, and started the creation of the human from clay. Then He continued his reproduction through a certain lowly liquid. He shaped him and blew into him from His spirit. And He gave you the hearing, the eyesight, and the brains; rarely are you thankful.”

Every time a human body is created through reproduction, God assigns it:

A Human Soul: The real person from the repository
A Jinn Companion: Satan’s representative, assigned to every human
God’s Spirit: The breath of life that animates the body

The pairing follows divine justice:

[6:129] “We thus match the wicked to be companions of each other, as a punishment for their transgressions.”

Wicked human souls are paired with wicked jinn souls (devils), while those inclined toward righteousness receive less aggressive jinn companions.

Part 10: The Ongoing Test

Every Soul Must Be Exposed

This earthly existence serves one primary purpose – to expose every soul’s true nature:

[72:17] “We will test them all. As for those who turn away from the message of their Lord, He will direct them to ever increasing retribution.”

The test continues until every human and jinn soul has been exposed as either righteous or wicked. Each person faces the same fundamental choice that was presented in God’s Kingdom – will you submit to God alone, or will you follow Satan’s path of rebellion?

Part 11: The Mechanisms of the Test

How Free Will Operates

The earthly test operates through several divine mechanisms:

1. The Jinn Companion

Every human has a jinn companion constantly suggesting evil:

[50:27] “His companion said, ‘Our Lord, I did not mislead him; he was far astray.’”

2. The Innate Nature (Fitrah)

The covenant we made before birth gives us instinctive knowledge of God:

[30:30] “Therefore, you shall devote yourself to the religion of strict monotheism. Such is the natural instinct placed into the people by God. Such creation of God will never change. This is the perfect religion, but most people do not know.”

3. Divine Guidance

God sends messengers, scriptures, and signs to guide those who seek truth:

[2:38] “We said, ‘Go down therefrom, all of you. When guidance comes to you from Me, those who follow My guidance will have no fear, nor will they grieve.’”

4. The Freedom to Choose

Despite all influences, the final choice remains with each individual:

[18:29] “Proclaim: ‘This is the truth from your Lord.’ Whoever wills let him believe, and whoever wills let him disbelieve…”

Part 12: Understanding Our Current State

Why We Don’t Remember

A common question arises: If all this happened, why don’t we remember? The answer lies in the nature of the test itself. If we retained full memory of God’s Kingdom and our rebellion, it wouldn’t be a true test of faith. The amnesia is essential:

[32:11] “Say, ‘You will be put to death by the angel in whose charge you are placed, then to your Lord you will be returned.’”

However, traces remain:

Our instinctive recognition of God
Our moral compass (knowing right from wrong)
Our yearning for something beyond material existence
Our fear of death (remembering the repository)
Our sense that this world is temporary

Part 13: The Classification Continues

Humans, Jinns, and the Final Sorting

Throughout history, souls continue to be classified based on their choices:

Those Who Pass the Test:

Submit to God alone
Overcome their jinn companion’s whispers
Fulfill their covenant from before birth
Achieve redemption through repentance when they fall

Those Who Fail the Test:

Follow Satan’s path of arrogance
Reject divine guidance
Break their primordial covenant
Refuse to repent and reform

The Quran describes the final outcome:

[11:119] “Only those blessed with mercy from your Lord (will not dispute the truth). This is why He created them. The judgment of your Lord has already been issued: ‘I will fill Hell with jinns and humans, all together.’”

Part 14: The Day of Judgment – Full Circle

When All Souls Return

The chronology comes full circle on the Day of Judgment. All souls – human and jinn – return to face the consequences of their earthly test:

[78:38] “The day will come when the Spirit and the angels will stand in a row. None will speak except those permitted by the Most Gracious, and they will utter only what is right.”

On this day:

The test ends permanently
All souls are classified forever
The righteous return to God’s Kingdom
The wicked join Satan in Hell
Perfect justice is established

Those who remained loyal despite the test will hear:

[89:27-30] “As for you, O content soul. Return to your Lord, pleased and pleasing. Welcome into My servants. Welcome into My Paradise.”

Part 15: The Wisdom Behind the Chronology

Why This Complex Process?

Understanding this pre-genesis chronology answers fundamental questions:

1. Why Does Evil Exist?

Evil exists because some souls chose to rebel against God. The test allows these souls to fully expose their nature.

2. Why Must We Suffer?

Suffering is part of the test that demonstrates our true convictions. Will we maintain faith despite hardship?

3. Why Doesn’t God Just Forgive Everyone?

He offered forgiveness multiple times – before classification, in Paradise, and continuously throughout our lives. Some souls consistently reject it.

4. What Is Our Purpose?

To prove we deserve redemption by choosing God despite having the freedom to reject Him.

5. Why Can’t We Remember Our Past?

Memory would invalidate the test. Faith requires choosing without complete knowledge.

Part 16: Practical Implications

Living with This Knowledge

Understanding the pre-genesis chronology should transform how we approach life:

1. Every Human Is on the Same Journey

We all started in the same place and face the same test. This should inspire compassion and humility.

2. The Stakes Are Eternal

This isn’t just about a few decades on Earth – it’s about our eternal classification.

3. Repentance Is Always Available

Like Adam, we can always turn back to God when we fall.

4. We Have Divine Support

Despite our jinn companions, we have:

Innate knowledge of God
Divine guidance through scripture
The ability to choose righteousness
Angels recording our good deeds

5. The Test Is Fair

God matches souls appropriately and never burdens anyone beyond their capacity:

[2:286] “God never burdens a soul beyond its means: to its credit is what it earns, and against it is what it commits…”

Part 17: The Unique Position of Believers

Those Who Remember Their Purpose

True believers are those who, despite the amnesia of birth, reconnect with their primordial covenant:

[2:152] “You shall remember Me, that I may remember you, and be thankful to Me; do not be unappreciative.”

They recognize that:

This world is temporary
The real life is the eternal one
Every soul will taste death
Return to God is inevitable
The test determines our eternal fate

For such souls, life becomes clear:

[6:162] “Say, ‘My Contact Prayers (Salat), my worship practices, my life and my death, are all devoted absolutely to God alone, the Lord of the universe.’”

Part 18: The Final Victory

When the Circle Closes

The pre-genesis chronology reveals that history has a purpose and direction. It began with rebellion and will end with perfect justice. Those who remained faithful through the test will achieve the ultimate victory:

[39:74] “They will say, ‘Praise be to God, who fulfilled His promise to us, and made us inherit the earth, enjoying Paradise as we please.’ What a beautiful recompense for the workers!”

The journey that began in God’s Kingdom, passed through the earthly test, and returns to eternity represents the complete cycle of existence. Understanding this chronology gives meaning to every moment of our lives.

Conclusion: The Greatest Story Ever Told

The pre-genesis chronology revealed in the Quran is the most comprehensive explanation of existence ever provided to humanity. It answers the deepest questions: Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where are we going?

We learn that:

We existed before birth as souls in God’s Kingdom
A rebellion led to our classification and earthly test
We made a covenant with God before entering this world
Every soul must be exposed as righteous or wicked
The test will end with perfect justice on Judgment Day

This knowledge transforms life from a random occurrence to a purposeful test, from meaningless suffering to meaningful striving, from temporal concerns to eternal awareness. We are not merely evolved animals struggling for survival – we are eternal souls proving our worthiness to return to God’s Kingdom.

The chronology that began before time will conclude after time, but our choices during time determine our eternal fate. Armed with this understanding, every believer can navigate life’s tests with clarity, purpose, and hope.

The greatest story ever told is not fiction – it’s the true account of every soul’s journey from God, through the test of Earth, and back to eternity. May we all be among those who pass the test and hear the ultimate words of success: