Adam takes a prominent role in Islamic traditions concerning the fall of Satan. In these, when God announces his intention of creating Adam, some of the angels express dismay, asking why God would create a being that would do evil. God teaches Adam the names reassures the angels as to Adam's abilities.. dispute which particular names were involved; various theories say they were the names of all things animate and inanimate, the names of the angels, the names of his own descendants, or the names of God. Others[who?] believe he was given the gift of speech to separate himself from all other animals.

In the Muslim tradition, Satan, is regarded as a djinn made out of fire, rather than an angel made out of light. This supports the Islamic notion of angels being creations that would not be accountable since they lack free will. When God commands the angels to bow to Adam, Satan is also present and refuses due to his pride, and is summarily banished from the heavens. Liberal movements within Islam have viewed God's commanding the angels to bow before Adam as an exaltation of humanity, and as a means of supporting human rights.

Al-Qummi records the opinion that Eden was not on earth but in heaven. After disobeying God, God sends Adam and Eve to earth, arriving first at mountain peaks outside Mecca; Adam on Safa, and Eve on Marwa. In this account, Adam remained weeping for 40 days, until he repented, at which point God rewarded him by sending down the Kaaba [The original Kaaba was made by Prophet Aadam, then remade by Prophet Ibrahim], and teaching him the hajj. The Quran does not mention Adam's weeping but it does mention the forgiveness he was granted.

The Qur'an also describes the two sons of Adam (named Qabil and Habil in Islamic tradition, but not mentioned by name in the Qur'an) that correspond to Cain and Abel.