The most perplexing theory that has always stood as a barrier between faith and science is the evolution theory. Ever since its early placement by Charles Darwin back in 1859, those who are religious have always rejected it. On the other hand, many evolutionists developed an atheistic ideology based on the theory, and fought against the idea of God’s existence. In order to place a judgment regarding this issue, we shall first need to understand what the theory basically says, ask the logical questions that erupt and the theory does not cover, then compare it with what the Qur’anic verses say about the beginning of life in a made easy manner.

In short and for simplicity, Evolutionists suggest that: About 3.7 billion years ago, somewhere on the earth of that time, chemicals randomly organized themselves into a self-replicating amino-acid chain (The building blocks of life). This process produced a distinct bacteria cell that divided and multiplied in an aqueous (watery) environment. This very first cell was the seed of every living organism we see today on earth.

During the cells’ division, genetic or chromosomal mutations occurred. The theory goes on to suggest that the DNA of an organism changes over time randomly, this process is called “Random Mutation”. This change in the DNA of an organism affects its offspring positively or negatively. In the case of negative effect, the offspring will most probably perish and seize to exist. While in the case of positive effect, the offspring will do better than its predecessor, it will reproduce more and through reproduction, the positive change that had occurred is preserved and spreads. The process of preserving the better and more beneficent changes is what Darwin called “Natural Preservation” (i.e. initially named “Natural Selection”, both names are used interchangeably). Over long periods of time (i.e. millions of years) these mutations caused new species to form. The theory suggests that all of the species known to us were formed in millions of years starting from the very first living organism which was a simple form of bacteria, passing by extinct species like the dinosaurs, and reaching our own species as humans.

Now, one may ask: “How did the molecules of an inorganic matter randomly organize itself to form organic matter?! What is life and how did it suddenly appear in non-living matter to produce the first living cell?! Could these Random mutations in the DNA of living organisms result in more advanced, more intelligent and more complicated organisms than their predecessors without the need for any interference?!”.

Darwin himself answered these questions in his Autobiography saying: “Reason tells me of the extreme difficulty or rather impossibility of conceiving this immense and wonderful universe, including man with his capability of looking far into futurity, as the result of blind chance or necessity. When thus reflecting I feel compelled to look to a First Cause having an intelligent mind in some degree analogous to that of man, and I deserve to be called a Theist” (The Autobiography of Charles Darwin 1809-1882 ed. Nora Barlow (London: Collins, 1958)).

Back to evolution; the problem that has always faced Evolutionists is not in submitting scientific evidence supporting the fact that evolution did occur, but it is in proving that it occurred randomly without the need for an intelligent creator managing its various phases. Those who deny the need for the intelligent maker say that time is capable of accomplishing everything. They always say that evolution didn’t take place in thousands of years, but in hundred millions of years. Dr. Amr Sherif, an Egyptian physician, he is the head of the surgery department in Ain-Shams university in Egypt responded to that saying: 

“Pleading time as an excuse proves the ignorance of those who use it, of the second law of thermodynamics, which states that: The entropy (i.e. Lack of order or predictability, gradual decline into disorder) of an isolated system (i.e. a system that receives no energy or organization from outside) never decreases, because isolated systems spontaneously evolve towards thermodynamic equilibrium, the state of maximum entropy. (i.e. In other words, the arrow of entropy has the same direction as the arrow of time). Increases in entropy correspond to irreversible changes in a system, because some energy is expended as waste heat, limiting the amount of work a system can do and pushing it towards slow death. This consequently means that “Time” alone is a destructive factor, not a constructive one. So if you leave a random system on its own, it shall decay and fall apart, its situation will never get any better. If you want to preserve it and push it towards progress you shall have to guide it through some kind of special precautions.”
He further adds : “If only the evolution of horses needed 50 million years according to what Darwinists say, and it’s an evolution within the same species, not from one species to another, then is the age of life on earth enough for million species and kinds of living creatures to have evolved from a single living cell?! Numbers and mathematical calculations totally expose the weakness of the random evolution theory without any doubt or excuse, how far it is from reality and how much it contradicts science.” [“How did the creation start?” By Dr. Amr Sherif, 2011].

The reader here should know that about 580 million years ago, most organisms were simple, composed of individual cells. Then the “Cambrian explosion” occurred round 540 million years ago. This term designates a sudden geological appearance of multi-cellular animals in the fossil record. The Cambrian explosion lasted for a period of  5-10 million years in which 34 phyla of animals appeared (i.e. A phylum is the highest level for classifying organisms, it can be thought of as grouping organisms based on general body plan). Different animals appeared in this period fully designed and carrying new DNA without any need for modification until now. This referential timeline makes it impossible for all this huge diversity of animals to have appeared based merely on “Random mutation” and “Natural selection”. To say the least, hundreds if not thousands of knowledgeable scientists and philosophers have criticized “Natural selection”, “Random evolution” and “Neo-Darwinism”.

Under the spotlight of the previous, let’s ponder over the following verses from the Qur’an:

1. “Did they (i.e. the disbelievers) not see how Allah originates creation, then reproduces it? That surely is easy for Allah. Tell them, ‘Roam the earth and see how the creation was originated. Then Allah will create the subsequent creation. Surely Allah is powerful to do everything.” [The Qur’an (29:19-20)]

As clearly stated in the above verses, Allah is ordering those who disbelieve in the hereafter and resurrection to roam about in the earth and try to find out how did the creation start. The first man on earth who ever followed this order without knowing it or ever learning about the Qur’an was “Charles Darwin”. This great scientist went out on a journey for 5 years, roaming the earth, studying all sorts of living organisms and gathering fossils in order to learn how the creation was originated. So the Qur’an does not hinder us as humans from searching into matters like the start of creation, on the contrary, it orders us literally to do so. This means that what we find through our research cannot contradict the Qur’an, or else this would be a very strange order. But here, we must be careful not to negate the Qur’an with unestablished or incomplete theories that are not 100% proven to be correct.

2. “And indeed We created man from descendants (created) from clay (i.e. water and earth). Later on We made him a nutfah (i.e. literal translation is sperm-drop) in a safe lodging, later on we turned this nutfah into an alaqah (i.e. literal translation is leech or blood clot) then we made the alaqah into a mudghah (i.e. literal translation is chewed morsel), then We made out of that mudghah bones, then we clothed the bones with flesh, and later on We developed it into another creation, so Glorious is Allah, the Best of the creators.” [The Qur’an (23:12-14)]

These few words give clear reference that humans were originally created from a former progeny that was initially created from clay (water mixed with earth). Remember that the first living cell was created in an aquatic environment. Then, after a long period, referred to by the words “later on” (i.e. Arabic “Thumma”: that is used to indicate the occurrence of two consecutive events with a long period of time in between), the creation of humans was made from creatures that reproduce through sperm production. Though the first known scientific notion given about sperm was in 1677 CE by a scientist called “Antonie van Leeuwenhoek” (The father of microbiology), but actually this verse from the Qur’an—alongside other verses—form a much earlier reference back before 640 CE. And amazingly sperm is described in the verses to be “in a safe lodging”. Science explains that sperm dies within a maximum period of few days after exiting the male’s body (i.e. unless special preservation precautions like freezing were considered). Also sperm is sensitive to heat and cannot endure high temperatures. In mammals, the male’s genitalia is designed with a compensating mechanism that preserves the sperm and recycles it throughout the life span of its host. During mating, fertilization occurs. If the male’s sperm succeeds in reaching and penetrating the female’s egg (i.e. ovum) producing a zygote (i.e. fertilized egg), then it is kept safe inside the female’s womb. So literally speaking, the male’s body is a safe lodging for the sperm before fertilization. Later on, the female’s womb becomes the new safe lodgment in which the sperm continues to live but in its new form.

After fertilization takes place, the embryo is formed inside the female’s womb. The embryo clings to the womb’s inside-wall feeding on the blood of the mother, exactly like a leech. During the early stage of the embryo formation (i.e. first 3 weeks) the heart is not yet built. Therefore the embryo is filled with blood that is not circulating, it is literally a blood clot. Hence, the two literal meanings of the Arabic word “Alaqah” are giving a perfect description of the embryo at its early stage.

Human Embryo: This is a photo of the human embryo at different stages of its formation. Notice how the vertebra looks like teeth marks on a chewed morsel and how the general shape of the embryo gives you the same impression that this is a chewed morsel or what is called in Arabic Mudghah. After the start of blood circulation, the embryo develops into a lump of flesh in which the heart, brain, head and the tissue that later develops into the vertebra are in the period of formation. The backbone is formed first, followed by the rest of the bones that are later wrapped by the muscles and then the flesh. After 6 weeks the facial features begin to form. Amazingly this was literally stated by Prophet Muhammad 14 centuries ago when he said: “When 42 nights have passed from the time of the nutfah (i.e. time of fertilization), Allah sends an angel to it, who shapes it and makes its ears, eyes, skin, muscles and bones…” [Recorded by Muslim] Dividing 42 by 7, you get a 6 weeks period exactly as science has proven. After 8 weeks the fetus stage starts and the new creature continues developing. This data was only discovered by scientists after the establishment of embryology in the 19^th century.

After the verses describes the reproduction process in most mammalian vertebrates, it continued to say that later on, after another long period of time, Allah developed it into another creation. According to evolution: human species descend from mammalian vertebrates. Hence, absolutely, among the ways through which one can understand these few verses is the concept of guided evolution.

3. “Such (i.e. Allah) is the Knower of the unseen and the seen, the All-Powerful, the Most-Merciful, who perfected everything He created, and He originated the creation of man from clay. Later on He made his progeny from an extract of a despised liquid (i.e. Male’s semen). Later on He straightened him and breathed into him from His [Created] Spirit (i.e. Gabriel), and He gave you hearing, sight, and hearts. How seldom you are grateful!” [The Qur’an (32:6-9)]

Again, in these verses a new confirmation is made to the fact that the creation of man was originated from water and earth. Remember that the first living cell was formed or rather created in an aquatic environment. Later on, after a long period, man’s progeny was extracted from a phylum that reproduces through the introduction of the male’s semen into the female’s reproduction system. Later on, after another long period, Allah straightened the progeny of this creature, then He ordered the archangel Gabriel—referred to as the spirit—to breathe into the new creature, granting him a new merit. I believe that this is a considerable allusion to the creation of the “homo sapiens sapiens,” who were preferred by The Creator above other creatures with “Intellect,” or “Human-Mind.” This breath ordered by the intelligent creator resulted in the main peculiarity of our kind, and made us the chosen vicegerents on earth. This breath was the most significant part of our preparation to receive our Creator’s messages, understand them, learn their content and live through their guidance. Actually this is what Allah refers to in the Qur’an, chapter 95, where He says: “Verily We have created man in the best modification.” (95:4). Of course, this modification requires previous stages. When you look at the other creatures, you will see that man is not the strongest or fastest among them, but surely he is the smartest and most capable. Though a horse is much faster than man, but it is the man who rides the horse not the opposite. It is man who studies the horse’s anatomy and treats its pains and illnesses. It is man who builds barns in which he takes care of horses, not the opposite. Consequently man is the most intelligent design, or to be more precise, the most intelligent creature created by the Almighty on this earth, and he must fulfill his duty towards all other creatures to succeed in his mission.

The expression “My spirit” must not be understood in the sense that Allah is a spirit, it means the spirit that I have created. This is a reference to Gabriel, the archangel who bears the responsibility of conveying Allah’s messages and orders to His chosen servants. Allah calls him in different places in the Qur’an “My spirit.”

4. “Was there not a period of time when man was nothing worth mentioning? Verily, We created man from a mixed sperm-drop so that We might try him, We gave him hearing and sight, We showed him the way, whether he be grateful or ungrateful (rests on his will).” [The Qur’an (76:1-4)]

The Qur’an is actually confirming that there has been a period of time when man, as a creature was nothing worth mentioning. If we ponder over these verses, one way to understand the 1^st verse is that it is referring to the period of time when humans were still nothing but a single celled organism from which our Creator developed all living creatures. The verses then continue to confirm that man, as a creature was created from a mixed sperm-drop, referring to the male’s sperm mixed with the female’s ovum. Consequently, this means that man was not created separately, but he was developed from previously created ancestors, which comes in line with the previous verses and the contemplation given about them.

5. “O People, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, so that you may learn devoutness” [The Qur’an (2:21)]

This verse is clearly stating that there were other creatures before us as humans. Some people may say that this verse is referring to the angels, but the context implies that those creatures whom the verse is referring to were earth inhabitants.

6. “Remember when your Lord said to the angels, ‘I am going to instate a vicegerent on earth,’ they said, ‘Will You instate therein someone who will cause corruption and shed blood, while we glorify You with Your praise and extol Your holiness?’ (Allah) replied, ‘Surely, I know that which you know not.’ And He taught Adam all the names, then He set them before the angels and said, ‘Tell Me the names of these, if what you say be true.’ They said, ‘Glory be to You, we have no knowledge except whatever You have taught us, You are the All Knowing, the All Wise.’ Then He said, ‘O Adam, tell them their names.’ When Adam had told them the names, (Allah) said to the angels, ‘Did I not tell you: I know the secrets of the heavens and of the earth, and I know what you reveal and what you conceal?’ And remember when We said to the angels, ‘Prostrate yourselves before ‘Adam!’ So, they prostrated, all but Satan, he refused, and became one of the disbelievers (in Allah’s wisdom).” [The Qur’an (2:30-33)].

These verses are describing the preparation of Allah’s first chosen prophet “Adam”—the newly introduced intelligent creature—to be God’s vicegerent on earth after teaching him what was referred to as “all the names.” If you take a look at any little child in the phase of learning speech, you will see his parents teaching him the names of all surroundings, this is how any child learns how to speak. Without the ability to speak, no prophet could have conveyed God’s messages to his people, no learning of any kind would have been possible and there wouldn’t have been any civilizations on earth today. Another notable point here is the response of the angels—Allah’s loyal obedient servants—when Allah informed them that He was going to instate a vicegerent on earth, they said: “Will You instate therein someone who will cause corruption and shed blood?” They didn’t say for instance: “O God, praise be to You, You are The Omniscient Creator”, or “Create whatever You will, You are The Omnipotent Creator”, nothing of that sort. On the contrary, their response implies that they were shocked that Allah the Most Merciful will instate a vicegerent on earth from among the creatures He created therein. According to the angels’ response, those creatures were shedding blood and causing corruption in the earth. But Allah told them that He knows about that still non-existing creature —the awaited vicegerent— what they knew not.

Scientists have discovered that before the existence of today’s humans, there existed a primeval human whom they named: “Homo sapiens Neanderthals.” He was less skilled and less intelligent than the contemporary human. He inhabited the earth for approximately 150,000 years before extinction nearly 35,000 years ago. Scientists say that Neanderthals were skilled hunters who lived in caves. They lived on meat and used arrows and spears in hunting. Neanderthals coexisted with today’s humans for 10,000-15,000 years. They must have been a source of disturbance for the humans of that day with their stern appearance, they must have attacked them and both parties fought against one another. The rivalry ended with the extinction of the Neanderthals. Then humans continued securing themselves and building communities that later on formed civilizations.

Today we can see many humans taking care of all sorts of other creatures at their homes (i.e. like pets), or in their farms, stables, pens, barns, yards, zoos, etc… Humans have developed even medical departments for animals in their medicine schools and we see veterinarians in each and every village in the world. Humans even guard and protect rare species in natural preserves. If you ponder over all creatures existing on earth, you will see that humans are the only species who have the ability to study other creatures thoroughly, take care of them, and if they will, truly become God’s vicegerents on earth. This is their trust and tribulation. Those who are successful in fulfilling this task shall prosper forever and those who betray their trust and spread corruption and bloodshed shall be doomed forever.

After the creation of the awaited vicegerent, preparing him by granting him the ability to learn and deduce new information by bestowing upon him the bliss of the Human-Mind. And after teaching him speech—which was not among the abilities of the previous creatures on earth—it was time for honoring Allah’s most intelligent creature, the first chosen prophet and vicegerent on earth. In obedience to Allah’s order, the angels prostrated themselves to Adam, but Satan—who was a Jinn—refused out of arrogance. This was the start of enmity between the two creatures, the one whose creation started from clay, and the one whose creation started from fire. And according to the Qur’an this was the original sin that was ever committed since the start of creation, it was done by Satan, not Adam, it was racism.

7. “Verily, Allah has chosen Adam and Nuh (Noah) and the House of Ibrahim (Abraham) and the House of Imran above all his creatures.” [The Qur’an (3:33)].

This verse confirms that Allah chose Adam from among all those created during his time. Choosing requires choices, so how come that Adam was the only human created when Allah chose him to be a prophet and the father of a great kind of intelligent humans capable of receiving their creator’s messages, understand them, follow their guidance and light, and fulfill their duty in being Allah’s vicegerents on earth! Unlike what many people think, the Qur’an gives no mentioning whatsoever that Eve was created from Adam’s rib; hence, Eve could simply be one of the females existing during his time, and Allah guided Adam to meet and take as a wife.

8. “Your Lord is the self-sufficient One, the merciful. If He wills, He can take you away and instate as vicegerents whomever He pleases, just as He created you from the offspring of other people.” [The Qur’an (6:133)]

This verse is again clearly stating that all humans were created from a previous progeny of other people. Who are those other people? According to this account of contemplation, I can’t but say that this is a very clear reference for the occurrence of some kind of guided or controlled evolution, not random mutation or natural selection. Scientists say that modern humans (i.e. Homo sapiens sapiens) were created from the offspring of a previous mammalian species whom they called “Homo erectus.”

9. “He (Allah) brings forth the living from the dead and the dead from the living. He gives life to earth after its death, and you shall be raised to life in the same manner.” [The Qur’an (30:19)]

This verse states clearly that Allah, The Omnipotent Creator, is The One who gives life to what’s dead, and is the one who takes it back whenever He wills. Scientists tell us: Water + Organic Carbon Compounds + Energy = Life. Hence, according to this, the first living cell did not come to exist on its own, but through the organization of an Omniscient Creator and by His power. He has been sending us messages to teach us about ourselves and His supreme being eversince our existence started.

What you have read so far was a trial to understand some of the Qur’anic verses discussing the start of creation within their linguistic frame, placing them as evidence one over the other, and meanwhile, ponder over them under the spotlight of the scientific findings. I have used literal translations for all verses without even the slightest change except when necessary explanation is required, and you will find it placed between brackets. This contemplation does not mean that the Qur’an is confirming the evolution theory that we have at hand, but it simply shows that our Creator could have used evolution as a mechanism or a method in creation.

I hope that the previous contemplation opens a new window to understanding the Qur’an among both, Muslims and non-Muslims alike. This should not be thought of as a trial to confirm evolution, nothing of that sort. This was just a trial to see whether the Qur’an refuses the concept of evolution or it simply doesn’t negate it, that’s it. Among the scholars who did not see that evolution contradicts the Qur’an and that it could be the method which Allah adopted in creation are the following renowned scholars:

1. Sheikh Hussein Muhammad Al-Jesr (1845-1909 A.D.): he was a Lebanese Azhary scholar and a coeval of Darwin. In his book “The Benignant Message,” he stated that he finds no contradiction between having faith in the creator, and considering evolution the method which He adopted in creation.
2. Sheikh Muhammad Abdou (1849-1905 A.D.): he was an Egyptian Azhary scholar who became the grand jurist (Mufti) of Egypt in 1899.
3. Sheikh Tantawy Juhary (1870-1940 A.D.): he was an Egyptian Azhary scholar and a pioneer in writing about the scientific statements in the Qur’an.
4. Sheikh ‘Abdullah Al-Jesr (1897-1980 A.D.): the son of Sheikh Hussein Al-Jesr and the grand jurist (Mufti) of Lebanon. In his book “The Story of Faith,” he stated a similar opinion to that of his late father.
5. Sheikh Abd El-Sabour Shaheen (1929-2010 A.D.): he was an Azhary scholar who wrote a book named “My father Adam,” in which he compared the evolution theory to the Qur’an, and concluded that it could be the method adopted by Allah in creation. He also stated that the linguistic meanings of the verses speaking about creation do not contradict that concept.

May Allah guide us all to the truth, or grant us the honor of dying while seeking after it sincerely, Amen.

IMME, ISBN:9789779027395

Written By: Ehab Shawky

References:

1. “How did the creation start?” by Dr. Amr Sherif
2. “My father Adam,” by Dr. Abd El-Sabour Shaheen.
3. “The Benignant Message,” by Sheikh Hussein Al-Jesr.
4. “The Story of Faith,” by Sheikh ‘Abdullah Al-Jesr, Mufti of Lebanon and Tripoli.