Which is greater in creation, humans or angels, and why did Allah command the angels to prostrate to Adam if the creation of angels was greater?

The angels were created from light, the jinn from smokeless fire, and Adam from clay. The origin of an element does not indicate preference; rather, preference belongs to Allah alone. Iblis became arrogant and refused to prostrate to Adam, claiming he was better than him because he was created from fire while Adam was from clay. The superiority of some creatures over others does not depend solely on what they were created from. Adam and his righteous progeny are superior to the angels. Scholars have differed regarding the preference of angels or human beings. The safest approach is not to assert definitively on this matter except with a report from Allah or His Messenger, or by consensus. The madhhab (definition) of Ahl al-Sunnah (definition) is that the prophets are superior to the angels.