Were there creatures on Earth before the creation of Adam, peace be upon him? And what is the interpretation of the angels' saying, "Will You place therein one who will spread corruption therein and shed blood?" Was this based on their prior knowledge of the corruption of Adam's offspring?

The exegetes (scholars of Quranic exegesis) mentioned that the jinn inhabited the earth before Adam, and they caused corruption and shed blood. So, Allah sent Iblis against them, and he fought them. When Allah said to the angels, "Indeed, I am going to place on the earth a successor (khalifa)," they responded, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood?" This was based on the corruption of the jinn. The verse indicates the honor bestowed upon humankind, and the angels' statement was not an objection but rather an expression of wonder and an inquiry into what was hidden from them. The angels knew that Adam's progeny would cause corruption on earth, either through information from Allah or through their understanding of the meaning of "khalifa," which implies reform, or by analogy with the jinn's corruption. Scholars have derived from this verse the obligation to appoint an Imam and a Caliph for Muslims.