Islam and science

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sm412
  • Start date Start date
  • Replies Replies 16
  • Views Views 4K
S

Sm412

Active member
Messages
34
Reaction score
2
Gender
Male
Religion
Islam
So i read in some literature when I first converted that Islam views science as the study of Allah's work and does not try to contradict it.

I've never been one to stick my fingers in my ears and yell "lalalalalalalala" every time science contradicts religious teachings. I hadn't given it a second thought until I heard a brother deny evolution in favor of Adam and Eve's creation.

Here's the problem: The human genome is too complex to have originated with two people who existed a few thousand years ago, according to geneticists.

I in no way believe this refutes the Quran, only the way we interpret it. The story of Adam could be allegory, as I am to understand that portions of the Quran are.

Here's where I'm really getting confused: "It is He who has sent down to you, [O Muhammad], the Book. In it are verses that are precise-they are the foundation of the Book-and others unspecific. As for those in whose hearts is deviation from truth, they will follow that of it which is unspecific, seeking discord and seeking an interpretation which is suitable to them. And no one knows its true interpretation except Allah. But those firm in knowledge say 'We believe in it. All of it is from our Lord' And no one will be reminded except those of understanding" 3:7

So am I right in that Adam could be unspecific, or allegory? Or are geneticists, biologists, and the rest of modern science wrong, and I'm just seeking an interpretation suitable to me?

I am incredibly confused. I'm trying to reconcile Islam and modern science, and not go to hell doing it.
 
What do you mean with allegory? They were real, just like the Quran described them.

''The human genome is too complex to have originated with two people who existed a few thousand years ago, according to geneticists.''

For Allah nothing is too complex :) And don't they also say that humans originated from monkeys, fishes and so on? Wouldn't be that more complex? It's true that you Evolution contradicts Islam, you can't inteprete it another way. But not only Islam, it also contradicts Christianity and Judaism. People who believe in Evolution are called ''Dahriyyoon (دهريون) in Islam.

I read half of a book about evolution and it was enough for me. There is many criticism about the book, but I still didn't understand why they criticise it. You can find it in the internet, it is called The Collapse of The Theory of Evolution.
 
Yes it is too complex, that just furthers my belief in Allah, tbh. Cause the more complex - the more compelling it is to believe in a Creator. Nothing is too complex for Allah.

It is just that it is too complex for us humans.​ To be honest, it just shows the Power of Allah, to me at least. Alhamdulillah.

And the PROOF that it is ALLAH that created us, with the enormous complexity, is our very existence, that is the proof. The very fact that this enormous complexity came to existence, is the proof that Allah created us / it.

Because A:

1. We could not have made ourselves.
2. It is too complex to have been formed by chance, and since it had a beginning, it is impossible. For everything that has a beginning must have a cause.

Thus the One who created everything, and made it soo complex is none other than Allah. Proof? Our very existence.
 
Last edited:
I don't worry about things like this....


God created nature, evolution, and how it works....
 
Assalamu Aliakum,
I'm quite doubtful about about evolution.There a few things which proves evolution theory is wrong,but also a few things that proves it right.
I have read that one of the greatest scientist who advocated evolution theory said:"Evolution was never proved scientifically.It wont be proved.But still we believe in it,bcs otherwise we will have to believe that God created us"
Science is growing and making new discoveries and correcting itself.Evolution may be true,May not be true.
Any way,We are created by Allah Almighty.If evolution is true,it means we were created by Allah through evolution.If evolution is wrong,it means Allah created us specifically.
 
SHO said:
Assalamu Aliakum,
I'm quite doubtful about about evolution.There a few things which proves evolution theory is wrong,but also a few things that proves it right.
I have read that one of the greatest scientist who advocated evolution theory said:"Evolution was never proved scientifically.It wont be proved.But still we believe in it,bcs otherwise we will have to believe that God created us"
Science is growing and making new discoveries and correcting itself.Evolution may be true,May not be true.
Any way,We are created by Allah Almighty.If evolution is true,it means we were created by Allah through evolution.If evolution is wrong,it means Allah created us specifically.
Click to expand...

Wa Alaykum salaam

Regardless of whether evolution is true or not, I don't think that it negates Allah's Word.

If it is true, then Allah's means of creation is an evolutionary process. That we can agree on.

It doesn't invalidate the story of Adam, either, if such a story was intended to teach us something rather than be a literal historic event.
 
YahyaIbnSelam said:
What do you mean with allegory? They were real, just like the Quran described them.

''The human genome is too complex to have originated with two people who existed a few thousand years ago, according to geneticists.''

For Allah nothing is too complex :) And don't they also say that humans originated from monkeys, fishes and so on? Wouldn't be that more complex? It's true that you Evolution contradicts Islam, you can't inteprete it another way. But not only Islam, it also contradicts Christianity and Judaism. People who believe in Evolution are called ''Dahriyyoon (دهريون) in Islam.

I read half of a book about evolution and it was enough for me. There is many criticism about the book, but I still didn't understand why they criticise it. You can find it in the internet, it is called The Collapse of The Theory of Evolution.
Click to expand...

"Dahriyoon" means that the world maintains itself. I believe that Allah's guiding hand is involved in everything. If the world did maintain itself, it would only do so by permission of Allah. To Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and earth.

What I mean by Allegory, is a non-literal story intended to mean something. I think that the story of Adam does an excellent job laying down the foundation of Islam and describing man and his destiny.

Yes evolution goes against a literal interpretation of the Quran. But IMO, the two are not reconcilable. Take the bible for example. Genesis. We know by modern science that that isn't how the earth was formed. This doesn't necessarily negate Genesis, it just means that something else was intended by those revelations. And you can see the underlying themes. One such theme in Genesis is the unlimited power of God and His hand in creation, even if the earth wasn't LITERALLY formed in 6 days 6000 years ago.
 
Sm412 said:
"Dahriyoon" means that the world maintains itself. I believe that Allah's guiding hand is involved in everything. If the world did maintain itself, it would only do so by permission of Allah. To Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and earth.

What I mean by Allegory, is a non-literal story intended to mean something. I think that the story of Adam does an excellent job laying down the foundation of Islam and describing man and his destiny.

Yes evolution goes against a literal interpretation of the Quran. But IMO, the two are not unreconcilable. Take the bible for example. Genesis. We know by modern science that that isn't how the earth was formed. This doesn't necessarily negate Genesis, it just means that something else was intended by those revelations. And you can see the underlying themes. One such theme in Genesis is the unlimited power of God and His hand in creation, even if the earth wasn't LITERALLY formed in 6 days 6000 years ago.
Click to expand...

Edited. "Reconcilable" to "unreconcilable"
 
So here's the conclusion I've come to:

I'm massively overthinking this. The Quran is the word of Allah revealed to Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. I trust in Allah, and I trust that He has a reason for everything that was revealed. I will trust in Allah and know that He will not lead me astray.

I have OCD, thus a tendency to obsess and overthink, for which I apologize. Thank you to everyone who participated in this conversation.
 
Sm412 said:
Wa Alaykum salaam

Regardless of whether evolution is true or not, I don't think that it negates Allah's Word.

If it is true, then Allah's means of creation is an evolutionary process. That we can agree on.

It doesn't invalidate the story of Adam, either, if such a story was intended to teach us something rather than be a literal historic event.
Click to expand...
Yes this is exactly what I meant,Brother/Sister!It may be true,may not be true.Whether it is true or not,Islam and Qur'an is always correct.
 
Exactly, we should not rely our Imaan on science.

In the past people thought the sky was supported by mountains or so. Perhaps majority of mankind believed that.. Similarily today, many may take science as 'truth'. But that 'truth' may be false tomorrow.

As for the Quran, it is timeless, and is always correct. Science is but a tool. Science doesn't show everything, it can not. It is like saying

"With these glasses I will know everything" What I am saying is - no matter what science shows - know that it is an observation / study of the universe by humans. As humans we may make mistakes, or there are things that are too complex to which we may miss the point completely.

Perhaps how things are described today by science, may be wrong tomorrow. So don't believe in science blindly. Just as you don't believe this PC you are using can detect everything - it can not, and will never.

Some people put too much faith in creation, it goes over to shirk. Relax, know Islam is truth. Whatever goes against Islam, is wrong, whatever goes with it is right.
 
Last edited:
:/

Ya got me.. Although my exam days are over. Went from pharmacist to dispenser to counter assistant to out the door...

:/

Knowledge is no substitute for poor life choices.. Or predestination..

Whichever way you look at it.
 
Last edited:
What about... hmmmm..... consider this...

First man was made from mixed clay earth. We grow as we eat produce of the earth and shall return there. from a part of the first man Allah produced the first woman. Nabi Adam (pbuh) noticed there was a pair for everything, but he was alone. So, from earth came man and from a part of a man came a woman and from the two came the rest.

Peculiar thing I learnt recently added an enigma to the equation, deliciously garnished, about Noah's flood. How he had 3 sons. And guess what? We have 3 blood types. A, B and O.

Just to complete the combination of putting humans on earth, Allah created Eesa (pbuh), a man from a woman. Human race has been fueled by its own innate reproductive nature.

Nabi Adam, Hawa and Eesa, the combinations of human creation touched by Allah, and for the rest of us, by design. It all didn't happen but as a sign for us to .... to.... to ponder? Reflect? Consider ? Dismiss?

:peace:
 
Sm412 said:
I'm trying to reconcile Islam and modern science, and not go to hell doing it.
Click to expand...
Science is about experimentally testing falsifiable statements in order to look for counterexamples. So, you boil water in order to try to make it NOT boil at 100 degrees. Religion is about the list of impermissible behaviours that are forbidden onto you ("morality"), and about the origin of this list (the One God). So, now the question arises: Do you intend to experimentally test misbehaviour in order to discover something? Is it that you would want to discover the reason why exactly that particular kind of misbehaviour is forbidden? Seriously, it is not clear to me why someone would want to experimentally test misbehaviour ...
 

Similar Threads

Back
Top