Islam and Evolution

format_quote Originally Posted by - Qatada -

Bro scientist, people do takfeer of Usama hassan because they say he believes that man has evolved from a 'common ancestor' to apes.

Muslims believe Adam was created by Allah's hands as He said in the Qur'an. [surah Saad 38:75]

walaikaum assalam.

So was Adam (as) created within the universe or outside the universe? Allah swt is outside the Universe. So did Allah swt put His "hands" into the Universe to create Adam (as) by picking up clay and making a statue out of it? If someone says yes then that is Kufr as Allah swt or His "hands" are not a part of creation.

Even if Usama Hassan is wrong, the behavior of audience was primitive.

format_quote Originally Posted by - Qatada -

Hadith - Abu Dawood. Imam Ahmad has narrated from Abu Musa that the Prophetsaid [meaning]:

"Allah has created Adam from a handful (soil) which He had gathered from all over the earth. That is how the children of Adam came according to the (colour and nature of the) earth. There are white among them, as well as red and black, and cross colours. There are those among them who are of bad nature and good nature, soft as well as harsh and in between".

Sheikh Al-Albani (rahimahullah) declares the hadeeth authentic in Saheeh Al-Jaami' As-Sagheer wa-Ziyadatuhu (No. 1759) as well as in Silsalatul-Ahaadeeth-as-Saheehah (No. 1630).

http://muttaqun.com/adam.html


Us humans [starting from Adam] originated from the origins of this Earth (dust), we live in it, are buried into it at death, and are resurrected out of it on Judgement Day.



Even if Allah did put His hands into the Earth and the Universe - they are His creations. That does not mean that He is part of them. The error of the people of Pantheism (wahdat al wujood) was that they said Allah is everywhere in the Universe, or that the Universe is all 'within' Allah. This is where those beliefs are criticized. Since we all agree that Allah is above His creation.

yes Allah is above His creation, so are His "Hands." If someone is saying that Allah's hands can be in creation, it means Allah's hands are limited? Allah's Hands are infinite, and nothing in creation is infinite. Its a contradiction to say that infinite (Allah's Hands) can be in finite (Universe and Earth).

walaikum assalam.

P.S. That hadith actually seems to support evolution. White people have white skin because of the nature of the Earth/Lands they come from! There is less Sunlight in Northern Hemisphere of Earth so these people lost melanin from their skin and their color changed. I personally do not believe in evolution of man from lower animals but the other side has strong arguments and I am just putting them here.

format_quote Originally Posted by mad_scientist

yes Allah is above His creation, so are His "Hands." If someone is saying that Allah's hands can be in creation, it means Allah's hands are limited? Allah's Hands are infinite, and nothing in creation is infinite. Its a contradiction to say that infinite (Allah's Hands) can be in finite (Universe and Earth).

walaikum assalam.

The beliefs of Ahlus Sunnah [the people of Sunnah] is to accept the Texts [Qur'an and Sunnah] as they are in preference to personal opinions.

So as the Authentic Hadith above shows that Allah did infact pick up a "handful of dust from this Earth", from which He created Adam - we believe in it without questioning the 'howness' of 'HOW' Allah does things. So to question "How Allah's hand fitted into the Universe" is a futile question, since Allah is able to do all things.

The way of Ahlus Sunnah is to never question the Kayfiyyah [Howness] of how Allah does things. Rather, that is the way of the strayed sects such as the Mu'tazila, Ashaa'irah etc.

format_quote Originally Posted by - Qatada -

The beliefs of Ahlus Sunnah [the people of Sunnah] is to accept the Texts [Qur'an and Sunnah] as they are in preference to personal opinions.

So as the Authentic Hadith above shows that Allah did infact pick up a "handful of dust from this Earth", from which He created Adam - we believe in it without questioning the 'howness' of 'HOW' Allah does things. So to question "How Allah's hand fitted into the Universe" is a futile question, since Allah is able to do all things.

The way of Ahlus Sunnah is to never question the Kayfiyyah [Howness] of how Allah does things. Rather, that is the way of the strayed sects such as the Mu'tazila, Ashaa'irah etc.

yes Allhamdulilah we do not question the scripture. But when we say Allah created everything. That is true. But are diseases directly created by Allah swt? No. Allah swt allowed some virus etc to give disease. In the same way when Allah swt says that He created something by His hands, why cant we say that Allah swt means that He facilitated the natural creation to create man?

jazakAllah.

format_quote Originally Posted by mad_scientist

yes Allahmdulilah we do not question the text. But when we say Allah created everything. That is true. But are diseases directly created by Allah swt? No. Allah swt allowed some virus etc to give disease. In the same way when Allah swt says that He created something by His hands, why cant we say that Allah swt means that He facilitated the natural creation to create man?

jazakAllah.

اللَّهُ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَكِيلٌ

Allah is the Creator of Everything. And He is over everything a Wakeel [Disposer of Affairs]. [Zumar 39:62]

Allah created EVERYTHING [KULLI shay']. He even created the virus.

However, when something evil happens - it is the way of the people of Sunnah to not attribute the blame on Allah. Evil is attributed to creation because Allah forbids evil to us, so if we do it (with the choice He has given us) - we are opposing His teachings to abstain from it.


Now in regard to the Virus, we say Allah created it. But did He create it with His hands [YaDay]? Yad = hand.




Allah's methods of Creation;

1 - With His Hands. [i.e. Adam in: Saad 38:75]
2 - the Command of "Kun" [Be!] and it is. [Yasin 36:82]


There may be other methods too, but we are aware of these two based on the Qur'an.




In regard to Allah creating Adam with His Hands, He says to Iblees/Satan;

قَالَ يَا إِبْلِيسُ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَن تَسْجُدَ لِمَا خَلَقْتُ بِيَدَيَّ ۖ أَسْتَكْبَرْتَ أَمْ كُنتَ مِنَ الْعَالِينَ

[ Allah ] said, "O Iblees, what prevented you from prostrating to that which I created with My hands [bi yaday]? Were you arrogant [then], or were you [already] among the haughty?" [Saad 38:75]

If we see the aayaat before this, we see that it is referring to Adam being created by Allah's hands.

This is a special honour for us children of Adam, that Allah specifically created our father specifically by His hands.

Assalaam Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh,


According to Darwin, life originated from simple single-celled organisms that gave rise to multicellular organisms through a process of gradual change, along with random mutations, over millions of years. According to more developed forms of evolutionary theory, all living things came from amino acids within water, and later became single-celled organisms. By interacting with each other and the immediate environment for billions of years, either gradually or suddenly they evolved into complex multicellular animals. Invertebrates gave rise to aquatic vertebrates, which evolved into amphibians, which became reptiles. Later on, some reptiles evolved into birds, while others evolved into mammals and culminated, eventually, in humanity.

The evidence usually consists of several incomplete pieces of fossils. But even the actual fossil record does not support this view. To our knowledge, no other scientific hypothesis is sustained on the basis of so many—and so important—missing links. Consider the following: Despite many varieties, bacteria have not evolved into anything different and higher, though they adapt very quickly. Cockroaches and insects remain unchanged after almost 350 million years. Fruit flies, arthropoda, sponges, sea crabs, snakes, lizards, mice, and many other species did not evolve over hundreds of millions of years. Scientists have found bees and honey from millions of years ago. Those bees produced honey and built honeycombs just as they do today, and use the same geometrical measures. So, for that whole expanse of time neither the bee’s brain and physiological structure nor the way it produces honey have changed. Human beings are exactly the same as they have been since their creation.

Adam AS was created in heaven.Heaven is a part of this universe.The expression used by Qatada " hands of Allah" is a metaphor.Of course it's not a physical hand.

format_quote Originally Posted by mad_scientist

walaikaum assalam.

So was Adam (as) created within the universe or outside the universe? Allah swt is outside the Universe. So did Allah swt put His "hands" into the Universe to create Adam (as) by picking up clay and making a statue out of it? If someone says yes then that is Kufr as Allah swt or His "hands" are not a part of creation.

Even if Usama Hassan is wrong, the behavior of audience was primitive.

Asalaamu Alaikum Brother,

Please read this -

What’s Islam’s position on evolution and creationism?

Monday, April 19th, 2010

I have met Muslims who believe in evolution i want to say its haram (forbidden) but I’m not sure so that’s why I’m asking if believing that we came from monkeys is haram?

It violates what God says in the Quran,
“[God] said, “O Iblees, what prevented you from prostrating to that which I created with My hands? Did you deem [yourself] big, or were you among the haughty?” {38:75}
For all other creatures, other than man, there is nothing in Islam that says they did not come into being by evolution. Evolution is a physical law that God created, thus everything created directly by God (such as man) or indirectly by evolution is in fact created by God because God is the Creator and Maintainer of the law of evolution.

One verse says, “And He is who has brought you into being from a single being,” (6:98)
The thing I don’t understand is: This single being could mean a single human or a fertilized egg – which evolves into a human?

“Brought you into being” is an inaccurate translation. The word أنشأكم means “He initiated you.” Thus, this verse is referring to the creation of mankind from the single human Adam.
To see more examples of the word إنشاء (initiation), examine 56:35-38.

According to creationism, all species present on earth today have remained unchanged since they were created by God.
Darwin’s theory of evolution contradicts this.

And so does the Quran and science. We know, first from the Quran and then later confirmed by science, that the fertilized egg (Nutfa) changes into a clinging blood clot (Alaqa) which develops into a morsel (Mudhgha) which develops into bones which then develop flesh which then develops into what God has described as “another creation” (23:14). So, clearly what God creates He causes to go through changes. All the changes that creatures go through are according to God’s laws. Therefore, evolution is not contrary to Islamic teachings.
The problem with both creationism and evolution theories is that they insist that they cannot be combined: it’s either one or the other. Islam has no problem combining them. Man was created directly by God’s hands, while all other creatures may have evolved from others, thus indirectly created by God.

But how about this, it mentions evolver:
“He is ALLAH, the creator, the evolver. (Yousuf Ali’s translation) (59:24)

Not an accurate translation either. Sorry. The word البارئ (Al-Baari’) means the one who originates from nothing. That is why “innocence” is translated براءة (Baraa’a) in Arabic and the jurisprudential term Al-Baraa’a Al-Asliyya means the original allowance of everything. The word براءة also means absolving. What is common between all these semantics is “original state.”
In Arabic schools, the theory of evolution is called نظرية النشوء والارتقاء (the theory of initiation and refinement). I think that the word الارتقاء (refinement) is an excellent translation of the word evolution. The wrong part of the theory, IMHO, is the نشوء (initiation) part. The theory does not prove it, but there is a ton of evidence to support the refinement part.

So, the origin of life that says the hot dilute soups of the world in its primitive conditions gave rise to simple polymers and that gave rise to prokaryotes, first form of life. So, can this word, Al-Baari, be used to explain that theory? That Allah made conditions of life origination possible, originated life from nothing?

Al-Baari’ means God initiated the first creation. Al-Khaaliq means that He creates from it subsequent creations, either directly, such as creating Adam from mud, or indirectly by evolution or other means not yet discovered.

I read that experiments were carried out, primitive earth conditions were provided and primitive prokayotic type of organism was obtained. So, this couldn’t be possible that man does something Allah has not.

If they couldn’t obtain that primitive organism, could the experiment have continued? That is why initiation is necessary and only God can do it.

But the Quran provides no reference to evolution? How come? I know the Quran is not for explaining science, but I just find it strange. I’m used to hearing that the Quran’s says everything. I need more study.

The Quran does not mention evolution directly, but it does draw attention to the process. For example,
“He said, ‘Our Lord is He who gave each thing its form and then guided [it].’ ” (20:50)
Some of that guidance can be found in the “genetic instructions” found in every chromosome. Just like our bodies know how to heal wounds and how to adapt to extreme living conditions.

Posted in Creation, Evolution, The Quran | No Comments »

Does Islam support evolution, or creation?

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009 Both!
Most people misunderstand, or misrepresent evolution. The evolutionist who totally reject creation are wrong in their unfounded assumption that everything came info being through evolution. The creationist who totally reject evolution are wrong in their blanket assertion that everything came into being through creation, by which they mean bringing something out of nothing.
The fact of the matter, IMHO, is that evolution is simply another one of the natural laws that God created. Some beings have evolved and others were directly created. Whether directly or indirectly a being came into this world, they all were created by God because God is the creator of the laws of evolution and the one who set them in motion!
Evolution does not mean something sprung out of nothing as some opponents of evolution base their opposition. It means that changes occur to an existing being that transform it to another being. We see evidence of that with caterpillars evolving into butterflies in a matter of weeks! But just because we cannot see the guide, we cannot say that these changes occur without guidance. That’s simply absurd because the changes that turn a fertilized egg into a baby are always the same, take place in the same order and take pretty much the same amount of time for millions of babies that are born everyday. Order doesn’t happen without guidance. If the guidance is genetic instructions in each chromosome, who wrote them there?
Creation does not necessarily mean bringing something out of nothing, though it can also mean that. The verb, in both English and Arabic, may be used for bringing something out of something else. One of the creatures that came into being by direct creation is man! In the holy Quran, God asks Satan, “What prevented you to prostrate to what I created with my hands?” (38:75) That sounds a lot like direct creation, doesn’t it? Thus, to say that man evolved from apes is simply not backed by science, which to date has failed to find that “missing link.” Likewise, the many examples in nature that back up evolution cannot be rejected because God is the force behind their evolution. He chose to bring them into being by means of evolution rather than direct creation. He can do both and He can do whatever He wills!
Thus, creation and evolution can co-exist in harmony, LOL.

format_quote Originally Posted by - Qatada -

No, Adam was created by the hands of Allah literally. Since the word "yad" mean's 'hand' in arabic, and Allah said He created Adam with His "yaday" [two hands].

The difference is that Allah never told us how His hands look like, so we just say as Allah says - that He created Adam with His hands, without us knowing how His hands look like.

salaam

No offence but these verses are unclear verses - they cannot be taken literally without a doubt otherwise your coming into the realm of anthromorphism. So what you mean is that we dont take them literal or metaphorical (otherwise we are interpreating these verses). We just state it as it is stated. Allah knows best.

peace

format_quote Originally Posted by Zafran

salaam

No offence but these verses are unclear verses - they cannot be taken literally without a doubt otherwise your coming into the realm of anthromorphism. So what you mean is that we dont take them literal or metaphorical (otherwise we are interpreating these verses). We just state it as it is stated. Allah knows best.

peace

If Allah meant the following saying metaphorically;

قَالَ يَا إِبْلِيسُ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَن تَسْجُدَ لِمَا خَلَقْتُ بِيَدَيَّ ۖ أَسْتَكْبَرْتَ أَمْ كُنتَ مِنَ الْعَالِينَ

[ Allah ] said, "O Iblees, what prevented you from prostrating to that which I created with My hands [bi yaday]? Were you arrogant [then], or were you [already] among the haughty?" [Saad 38:75]

Then what is so special about Adam? If Allah created Adam with a metaphorical hand [or 'power'], then didn't He also create Iblees [satan] with His power also?

The fact that He made Adam with His hands showed the special status of Adam in comparison to the other creatures.



Furthermore, if someone said that this is anthromorphosism - they are wrong. Because we affirm that Allah has hands [as He said], yet we do not say it is like a human Hand. It would only be anthromorphosism if we said Allah's hand is a human hand.

Similarly, if you said that a human has a face, it is not the same face of a bird. Although you call both faces by the same term; Face.




Allah says;

لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ ۖ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ

There is not anything like Him (whatsoever), and He is The Ever-Hearing, The Ever-Seeing.

[as-Shuraa 42:11]

So we affirm what Allah attributed for Himself, without distorting the meanings.