بِسْمِ
اللّهِ
الرَّحْمـَنِ
الرَّحِيمِ
Does the Qur'an agree or disagree with
Evolution.
In what
follows I plan to initially make absolutely clear from the
Qur’an what Allah says about his creation and design in the
Universe and all
that is in it.
It is He Who
hath created for you all things that are on the earth; Moreover His
design
comprehended the heavens, for He gave order and perfection to the seven
firmaments; and of all things He hath perfect knowledge.
(
Your Guardian-Lord is Allah, Who
created the heavens and the earth in six periods, and is firmly
established on
the throne (of authority): He draws the night as a veil over the day,
each
seeking the other in rapid succession: He created the sun, the moon,
and the
stars, (all) governed by laws under His command. Is it not His to
create and to
govern? Blessed be Allah, the Cherisher and
Sustainer of the worlds!
(
Surely your Lord is Allah, Who
created the heavens and the earth in six periods, and He is firm in
power,
regulating and directing all affairs, there is no intercessor except
after His
permission; this is Allah, your Lord, therefore serve Him; will you not
then
mind?
(10:3)
Do ye not see that Allah has
subjected/made of benefit to you all things in the heavens and on
earth, and
has made his bounties flow to you in exceeding measure, (both) seen and
unseen?
Yet there are among men those who dispute about Allah, without
knowledge and
without guidance, and without a Book to enlighten them!
(31:20)
He has created you from a single
being, then made its mate of the same
(kind), and He
has created/sent down for you eight of the livestock in pairs. He
creates you
in the wombs of your mothers-- a creation after a creation-- in triple
darkness; that is Allah your Lord, His is the kingdom; there is no
Allah but
He; whence are you then turned away?
(39:6)
The Originator of the heavens and
the earth! How can He have a child, when there is for Him no consort,
when He
created all things and is Aware of all things?
(6:101)
Have they not then observed the sky
above them, how We have constructed it and
beautified
it, and how there are no rifts therein?
And the earth- We have spread it
out, and set thereon mountains standing firm, and produced therein
every kind
of beautiful growth (in pairs)-
To be observed and commemorated by
every devotee turning (to Allah).
And We send
down from the sky rain charted with blessing, and We produce therewith
gardens
and Grain for harvests;
And tall (and stately) palm-trees,
with shoots of fruit-stalks, piled one over another;-
A sustenance for the servants, and We give life
thereby to a dead land; thus is the rising.
(50:6-11)
He created the heavens without pillars,
you see that, and put mountains upon the earth lest it might shake with
you,
and He spread in it animals of every kind; and We sent down water from
the
cloud, then caused to grow therein (vegetation) of every noble kind.
(31:10)
Allah
is He Who created the heavens and the earth and sent down water from
the sky,
then brought forth with it fruits as a sustenance for you, and He has
made the
ships subject/of use to you, that they might run their course in the
sea by His
command, and He has made the rivers subject/of use to you.
And
He has made subject/of use to you the sun and the moon pursuing their
courses,
and He has made subject/of use to you the night and the day.
And
He gives you of all that you ask Him; and if you count Allah's favors, you will not be able to number them;
most surely
man is very unjust, very ungrateful.
(14:32-34)
Glorify the name of your Lord, the
Most High,
Who hath created, and further, given
order and proportion;
Who hath ordained laws.
And guides them;
And Who
brings out the pasture,
Then makes it dried up, dust-colored.
(87:1-5)
Who perfected all He created, and He
began the creation of man from clay;
(32:7)
And Allah has created every animal
from water: of them there are some that creep on their bellies; some
that walk
on two legs; and some that walk on four. Allah creates what He wills
for verily
Allah has power over all things.
(24:45)
By the Night as it conceals (the
light);
And the day when it shines in
brightness,
And the creating of the male and the
female,
(92:1-3)
Do they not look at the earth,-
how many noble things of all kinds We have produced
therein? Most surely there is a sign in that, but most of them will not
believe.
(26:7-8)
Who created you, formed/arranged you,
then made you balanced
Into whatever form He pleased He
constituted/assembled you.
(82:7-8)
See they not that it is We
Who have created for them - among the things which Our
hands have fashioned - livestock, which are under their dominion?-
And We have
subjected them to them, so some of them they have to ride upon, and
some of
them they eat. And therein they have advantages and drinks; will they
not then
be grateful?
(36:71-73)
Summary
Allah created the universe and everything in it and has subjected them to our use and benefit.
Most surely there is a party amongst
those who distort the Book with their tongue that you may
consider it to
be (a part) of the Book, and they say, It is from Allah, while it
is not
from Allah, and they tell a lie against Allah whilst they know.
(3:78)
It is nothing new that people Muslims or not would try to distort the words of Allah and make them mean something which is not at all from Allah. In modern times, one of the ways this has expressed itself is in the fact that a number of Muslims have swallowed the theory of evolution and have then seen fit to try and say that Evolution is indicated in the Qur’an and make other Muslims believe also… They triply mess up here as they: -
1. Commit a form of shirk by ascribing to Allah’s creation powers only Allah has
2. They willingly distort the word of Allah
3. They lead others into shirk and distortion of Allah’s word
1st
Verse
And when thy Lord said unto the
angels: Lo! I am about to place a viceroy in the earth, they said: Wilt
thou
place therein one who will do harm therein and will shed blood,
while we, we hymn Thy praise and sanctify Thee? He said: Surely I know
that
which ye know not.
(
The argument
here is how did the angels know
that humans would be like that unless perhaps there were already some
proto-humans or savage humans already that they could witness. The answer to this is two-fold:-
First: -
They said: Glory be
to Thee! we have no
knowledge but
that which Thou hast taught us; surely Thou art the Knowing,
the Wise.
(
All knowledge that the angels have is from Allah, and so Allah would have given this information to them.
Second: -
The Jinn, who, like the Humans to be created, have free will, obviously also sinned and killed etc… And so the angels could have figured by analogy to free will that humans would do the same.
2nd Verse
What is the matter with you that you
fear not the greatness of Allah?
"'Seeing that it is He that has
created you in stages?(1)
Do you not see how Allah has created
the seven heavens ,~ one above another,
And made the moon therein a light,
and made the sun a lamp?
And Allah has caused you to grow out
of the earth (as) a growth(2)
Then He returns you to it, then
will He bring you forth a (new) bringing forth
(71:13-18)
(1)
O Mankind! If you are in doubt about
the raising, then surely We created you from dust, then from a
drop of
fluid, then from a clinging thing, then from a lump of flesh, formed
and
unformed, that We may make clear to you;
and We cause what We
please to stay in the
wombs till an appointed time, then We bring you forth as babies, then
that you
may attain your maturity; and of you is he who is caused to die, and of
you is
he who is brought back to the worst part of life, so that after having
knowledge he does not know anything; and you see the earth sterile
land, but
when We send down on it the water, it stirs and swells and brings forth
of
every kind a beautiful herbage.
(22:5 (40:67 also))
The stages
referred in (71:14) are the
embryonic stages mentioned in the verse above.
This is blatantly obvious…
Also, to
clarify, Adam was created from the ground//clay
and his progeny from a drop of mingled fluids, this is clarified below.
Who mastered/perfected everything
that He has created, and He began the creation of man from dust. Then He made his progeny of an extract, of
water held in light estimation. Then He proportioned him and
breathed
into him of His spirit, and made for you the ears and the eyes and the
hearts;
little is it that you give thanks.
(32:7-9)
(2)
This refers to the fact that we get all our nourishment from the earth (even through animals and plants that get theirs from the earth) and grow from babies to kids to adults, and sustain ourselves by it, in a manner like plants and all other creatures do.
Note also 32:7-9 here...
3rd Verse
Has there not been over Man a long period
of Time, when he was nothing (worthy of being) mentioned?
(76:1)
This verse has been inaccurately translated with the quotes above, and so evolutionist ‘Muslims’ , interpreted that ‘not worth mentioning’ meant that there were some primitive proto-humans so pathetic as to not even be worth a mention.
In reality, the term in the brackets and anything like it have no basis in the Arabic. All this verse is correctly stating is that there was a time in the heavens and the earth, the universe, when man did not exist, and so was not mentioned.
4th
Verse
Do not the Unbelievers see that the
heavens and the earth were joined together (as one unit of creation),
before we
clove them asunder? We made from water every living thing.
Will
they not then believe?
(
Here evolutionists interpret this verse to mean that all living creatures share the same evolutionary origin, the waters of the seas and oceans. The correct interpretation is that Allah is telling the common material from which the living creatures of the world were created as the next verse clarifies.
And Allah has created from water
every living creature: some of them move on their bellies, and some of
them
walk upon two feet, and some of them walk upon four; Allah creates what
He
pleases; surely Allah has power over all things.
(24:45)
To Drive the Point Home on Human Creation!
O mankind! What has beguiled you
from your Lord, the Gracious one, Who
created you,
proportioned you, then made you balanced?
Into whatever form He pleased He constituted/assembled you.
(82:6-8)
The Qur’an is full of verses that encourage us to explore the universe and all that is in it in order to appreciate his signs. I will go through a number of examples of such verses and end up explaining why Qur’anic science is not only perfectly good, but in fact better than materialistic science.
Soon will We
show them our Signs in the horizons and in themselves, until it becomes
manifest to them that this is the Truth. Is it not enough that your
Lord
witnesses all things?
(41:53)
This is the
promise of Allah that He will show
us his signs everywhere, from the horizons as far as we can see to our
very
selves… In the 7th
century,
we could marvel at what we saw, but As Allah knows, the time will come
when we
will be able to probe all things, from the vastness of the universe to
the
minuteness of what makes our bodies and Allah’s majesty will be
manifest.
Behold! in the creation of the
heavens and the earth; in the alternation of the night and the day; in
the
sailing of the ships through the ocean for the profit of mankind; in
the rain
which Allah Sends down from the skies, and the life which He gives
therewith to
an earth that is dead; in the beasts of all kinds that He scatters
through the
earth; in the change of the winds, and the clouds which they Trail like
their
slaves between the sky and the earth;- (Here) indeed are Signs for
a people
that think
(2:164)
Here we have the following sciences pointed to: -
And the driving motive for Muslim scientific endeavour is also highlighted, namely, the appreciation of Allah’s signs… So that as we grow in knowledge, we truly appreciate the next verse: -
Most surely in the creation of the
heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day
there are
signs for those with understanding.
Those who remember Allah standing
and sitting and lying on their sides and reflect on the creation of the
heavens
and the earth: Our Lord! You have not created this in vain! Glory be to You; save us then from the chastisement of
the fire:
(3:190-191)
Have they not then observed the sky
above them, how We have constructed it
and
beautified it, and how there are no rifts therein?
And the earth- We have spread it
out, and set thereon mountains standing firm, and produced therein
every
kind of beautiful growth (in pairs)-
be observed and commemorated by every
devotee turning (to Allah).
And We send
down from the sky rain charted with blessing, and We produce
therewith gardens and Grain for harvests;
And tall (and stately) palm-trees,
with shoots of fruit-stalks, piled one over another;-
A sustenance for the servants, and We give life
thereby to a dead land; thus is the rising.
(50:6-11)
Most surely in the variation of the
night and the day, and what Allah has created in the heavens and the
earth,
there are signs for a people who guard (against evil).
Surely those who do not hope in Our
meeting and are pleased with this world's life and are content with it,
and it
is those who are heedless of Our signs:
(10:6-7)
Do they not consider that We
have made the night that they may rest therein, and the
day to give light? Most surely there are signs in this for a people who
believe.
(27:86)
Allah is He Who raised the heavens
without any pillars as you see, and He is firm in power and He made the
sun and
the moon of service (to you); each one pursues its course to an
appointed time;
He regulates the affair, making clear the signs that you may be certain
of
meeting your Lord.
And He it is Who
spread the earth and made in it firm mountains and rivers, and of all
fruits He
has made in it two kinds; He makes the night cover the day; most surely
there
are signs in this for a people who reflect.
And in the earth there are tracts
side by side and gardens of grapes and corn and palm trees having one
root and
(others) having distinct roots-- they are watered with one water, and
We make
some of them excel others in fruit; most surely there are signs in this
for a
people who understand.
(13:2-4)
Do ye not see that Allah has
subjected/made of benefit to you all things in the heavens and on
earth, and
has made his bounties flow to you in exceeding measure, (both) seen and
unseen?
Yet there are among men those who dispute about Allah, without
knowledge and
without guidance, and without a Book to enlighten them!
(31:20)
And He it is Who has made the sea
subservient/of use to you that you may eat fresh flesh from it and
bring forth
from it ornaments which you wear, and you see the ships cleaving
through it,
and that you might seek of His bounty and that you may give thanks.
And He has set up on the earth,
mountains standing firm, lest it should shake with you; and rivers and
roads;
that ye may guide yourselves;
And landmarks; and by the stars they
find the right way.
Is He then Who
creates like him who does not create? Do you not then reflect?
(16:14-17)
Do they not see the birds,
controlled in the atmosphere of the sky? None withholds them but Allah; most surely
there are signs in this for a people who believe.
(16:79)
And among His Signs is the creation
of the heavens and the earth, and the variations in your languages and
your colours:
verily in that are Signs for those who know.
And among His Signs is the sleep
that ye take by night and by day, and your seeking of His bounty:
verily in
that are signs for those who hearken.
And among His Signs, He shows you
the lightning, by way both of fear and of hope, and He sends down rain
from the
sky and with it gives life to the earth after it is dead: verily in
that are
Signs for those who reason.
(30:21-24)
And thy Lord taught the Bee to build
its cells in hills, on trees, and in (men's) habitations;
Then eat of all the fruits and walk in the
ways of your Lord submissively. There comes forth from within it a
beverage of
many colours, in which there is healing for men; most surely there is a
sign in
this for a people who reflect.
(16:68-69)
Have you not seen those who practice
hypocrisy? They say to those of their brethren who disbelieve from
among the
followers of the Book: If you are driven forth, we shall certainly go
forth
with you, and we will never obey any one concerning you, and if you are
fought
against, we will certainly help you, and Allah bears witness that they
are most
surely liars.
Certainly if these are driven forth,
they will not go forth with them, and if they are fought against, they
will not
help them, and even if they help-them, they will certainly turn (their)
backs,
then they shall not be helped.
You are certainly greater in being
feared in their hearts than Allah; that is because they are a people
who do not
understand
They will not fight against you in a
body save in fortified towns or from behind walls; their fighting
between them
is severe, you may think them as one body, and their hearts are
disunited; that
is because they are a people who do not reason.
(59:11)
· Psychology (analysis of hypocrite thinking patterns)
Do
they not travel
through the earth, and see what was the End of those before them,- though they were superior to them in strength?
Nor is
Allah to be frustrated by anything whatever in the heavens or on earth:
for He
is All-Knowing. All-Powerful.
(35:44)
· Archaeology and History (study of previous generation in the evidence left on the earth)
And
there is no animal that walks upon the earth nor a bird that flies with
its two
wings but (they are) communities like yourselves; We
have not neglected anything in the Book, then to their Lord shall they
be
gathered
(
l
Ecology. The
study of animal communities.
Do
they not consider how Allah originates
the creation, then reproduces it? Surely
that is easy
to Allah.
Say:
Travel in the earth and see how He makes the first creation, then Allah
creates
the latter creation; surely Allah has power over all things.
(29:19-20)
l
Paleontology and Paleobiology
The
chiefs of the Unbelievers among his people said: "He is no more than a
man
like yourselves: his wish is to assert his superiority over you: if
Allah had
wished (to send messengers), He could have sent down angels; never did
we hear
such a thing (as he says), among our ancestors of old."
(
And We never sent
a warner to a town/city except that the
affluent/wealthy in it said: We are surely disbelievers in what you are
sent
with.
And
they say: We have more wealth and children, and we shall not be
punished.
Say:
"Verily my Lord enlarges and restricts the Provision to whom He
pleases,
but most men understand not."
(34:34-36)
l Sociology. Study of social order and its effects on the masses.
Why do I say that all these verse and more point to scientific endeavour? Simple: -
1 Allah tells us that in the universe and everything in it are signs of his power and creation.
2 We are pointed to many things and told to consider and that those with knowledge and understanding will see it best.
If Allah tells us that these are signs of his work and creation, and if Allah asks us to investigate and consider them, then this means very simply that we should!
How do we investigate animal communities?
How do we investigate the solar system and the universe as a whole?
How do we investigate the way plants grow?
How do we investigate mountain formation?
How do we investigate the water cycle?
Etc etc...
To do all these we would need the tools and theory to analyse and grasp the data, in short, Science uninhibited with materialistic philosophy.
A common argument launched by materialists who are confronted with the logical flaws of their ideological dictatorship is to frantically assert that if we allow for non material causes, namely acts of Allah, then we might as well just throw up our hands and give up on science and go back to the dark ages where everybody just blindly believed in miracles and were too scared to understand anything lest it should incur the wrath of their vengeful Allah.
To this I would respond by making the following points: -
1 That the world and the universe around us function in an orderly manner is obvious for all to see.
2 To appreciate that structures are created does not cause them to stop functioning in an orderly manner.
3 Realising that something is created does not stop us from understanding how it functions in exquisite detail.
4 The conclusion that something is created is one that is very possible to reach even without the guidance of the Qur'an.
5 The Qur'anic model of science which fully accepts the creation of Allah: -
5.1 Does not labour under demonstrably false assumptions (materialism) .
5.2 Does not hinder scientific insight and investigations by artificially limiting the possible answers to materialist ones.
5.2.1 Consider, evolutionists have to assume without question that animals can evolve by random mutation/genomic change and natural selection. They are not allowed to accept and pursue findings which disprove this belief, only models of how this belief may work.
5.2.1.1
That is why
5.3 The Qur'anic model of science makes the work of science both an exciting investigation and journey to understand the creation of the All Mighty, but also brings with it the other benefits of science, comfort, protection and knowledge.
As Muslims we fear nothing in understanding the universe, that which is in it and how it works; to do so is merely to fulfils an Islamic duty. We do not see understanding the universe as taking away from the greatness of Allah, we see it as helping us to appreciate ever more the power and wisdom of Allah.