A　scheme　is　proposed　for　the　generation　of　entangled　states　for　multiple　atoms　trapped　in　an　optical　cavity　via　adiabatic　passage.　In　the　scheme,　both　the　atomic　system　and　the　cavity　have　no　probability　of　being　excited.　Thus　both　the　atomic　spontaneous　emission　and　the　cavity　decay　are　suppressed,　which　makes　our　scheme　very　robust　against　decoherence.　Taking　advantage　of　the　adiabatic　process,　the　scheme　does　not　require　accurate　adjustment　of　the　interaction　time.　Furthermore,　the　scheme　is　scalable　in　principle.　The　idea　can　also　be　used　for　realizing　phase-covariant　cloning.　©　IOP　Publishing　Ltd.