Tafsir of Ar-Rahman 55:14

This is a prelude to the rebuke regarding their failure to fulfill the obligations of gratitude for the blessings pertaining to the essence of each of the two beings (mankind and jinn). Regarding "the human," the majority hold that it refers to Adam (peace be upon him), while others argue it refers to the species, which is permissible because their forefather was created from what is mentioned.

Salsal is dry clay that produces a ringing sound (salsala). Its origin, as Al-Raghib stated, is the vibration of sound from a dry object, from which comes the "ringing of a nail." It has also been said that it means foul-smelling clay, derived from the saying "the meat became rancid" (salla al-lahm), as if the origin were sallal, and one of the lams was changed into a sad. However, this is rendered unlikely by His gloried saying: {like pottery}, which is khazaf—meaning clay that has been fired until it becomes stone-like. It is named as such due to the sound it makes when tapped, as if it took on the form of one who boasts excessively (tafakhur).

Allah the Exalted created Adam (peace be upon him) from dust, which He turned into clay, then into altered black mud, then into salsal. Thus, there is no contradiction between the verse that mentions one stage and those that mention others.