Then He divided them into shadows, then phantoms, then paths, then persons. Then He appeared to them [as] their likeness and called them to Himself, and they answered Him.

And the evidence for that is His saying: {And [mention] when your Lord took from the children of Adam - from their loins - their descendants and made them testify of themselves, [saying to them], "Am I not your Lord?" They said, "Yes"}¹.

And the Zuhur [Appearance/Loins] here is: The descent to this earth.

Then He changed the appearance for them, and repeated as He did with those preceding them, and He said to them: "My servants! I have permitted you to descend to the earth."

So they said—and weakness of certainty had entered them: "Come, let us gather to our Lord to ask Him not to send us down to the earth, and to leave us in His heaven worshipping Him." Therefore, the transfer became difficult.

So He said to them: 'You have disobeyed Me by your returning My saying against Me. For if you had said: "Our God, Yours is the Will and the Power; You do with us what You will," I would have appreciated that act of yours.'"