His statement: "He created man"—meaning Adam—"from clay like the pottery," which is dry earth that makes a clinking sound when moved. Adam was in various states before the soul was breathed into him. He has said in another verse: "from clay," and He also said: "from an altered black mud."
قَوْله: ﴿خلق الْإِنْسَان﴾ يَعْنِي: آدم ﴿مِنْ صَلْصَالٍ كَالْفَخَّارِ﴾ وَهُوَ التُّرَاب الْيَابِس الَّذِي يُسْمَع لَهُ صلصلة إِذا حُرِّك، وَكَانَ آدم فِي حالات قبل أَن ينْفخ فِيهِ الرّوح، وَقد قَالَ فِي آيَة أُخْرَى: ﴿مِنْ طِينٍ﴾ وَقَالَ: ﴿من حمإ مسنون﴾.