The pre-Adamite hypothesis or pre-adamism is the theological belief that human (or intelligent yet non-human creatures) existed before the biblical character Adam. Pre-adamism is therefore distinct from the conventional Abrahamic belief that Prophet Adam AS was the first human. Advocates of this hypothesis are known as “pre-Adamites”, along with the humans who they believe existed before Prophet Adam AS.

In early Islam, a common belief held that mankind is actually the successor of other intelligent creatures such as Jinn and Hinn. Medieval Muslim traditions often referred to the Jinn as pre-Adamites, depicted as human-like in various ways. Although the notion of Jinn as pre-adamites was generally accepted, the idea that before the known Adam there lived other humans was a controversial one.

From the mid-ninth century onwards the idea appeared that Allah SWT (God) created several Adams each of whom presides over an era lasting around 50,000 years. Although this concept was regarded as heretical by most Muslims, it was widely accepted by Ismailis and Sufis.