What is the Islamic view on the theory of evolution?

The Qur'an clearly states that God created Adam and Eve in a unique manner as the first human beings. Thus, if the theory of evolution is taken as a whole, including the idea that humans descended from apes in a godless universe, it would be inconsistent with Qur'anic teachings that humans are the crown of God's creation, distinct from other created beings.

However, it can be argued that the concept of living things evolve from each other or that genetic change through mutation and selection may and does occur does not conflict with Islamic teachings. But I believe there is no need to reinterpret Qur'anic verses to accommodate evolution.

Why?

The claim that different species evolved from one another is fraught with many difficulties.

Let's consider some:

1. Evolution fails to provide an explanation for the beginning of life, let alone the universe.
2. It is based on an unreasonable faith in something called “Chance” which is a metaphysical notion.
3. It fails to provide a mechanism of change from one species to another. Natural selection would not bring about new species. Mutations rarely bring about improvements, usually regression, deformity, and disease. To believe that mutations worked randomly to bring about complexity and refinement is mythical.
4. It fails to provide reasonable answers to the lack of intermediaries in the fossil record.
5. It fails to provide a reasonable explanation for the Cambrian explosion, development of many species in a short period of time.
6. It assumes that the “blind” nature has a “purpose” of producing fitter creations for their survival and advancement.
7. It fails to provide a satisfactory explanation for many phenomena, such as altruism and objective morality.

Based on all this, I find no need to reinterpret the apparent implications of the text or the understanding commonly conveyed in the tradition.

The scriptural proofs should not conflict with mental axioms or the findings of empirical senses or conclusive output of empirical sciences. Evolution is none of the above; it is a “theory.” Those parts of it that are considered scientific facts by the consensus of the scientific community are not in conflict with any conclusive indicants of the scriptures.

As for the speculative elements, like macroevolution, I find no need to reinterpret the apparent (even speculative) meanings of the text or the common understanding conveyed by the tradition for them.

Introduction to Darwinism

The person, who originally put forward the theory of evolution, was an English biologist by the name of Charles Robert Darwin. Darwin first published his ideas in a book entitled The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection in 1859. Darwin claimed in his book that all living beings had a common ancestor and that they evolved from one another by means of natural selection. The beings that best adapted to their habitat then passed on these traits to later generations. Thousands of years later as being kept adapting, new species started to form. Thus, the human being was created through evolution and have adapted the best out of all the beings. In short, the origin of one species was another species.

Darwinism and the quran

Adam (pbuh) him was the first person on the face of the earth. This is what the Quran and the Bible tell us. All Muslims and Christians believe that Adam was the first man on the surface of the earth and this verse gives a little description of the creation of Adam.

إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَىٰ عِندَ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ آدَمَ ۖ خَلَقَهُ مِن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ - 3:59

Indeed, the example of Jesus to Allah is like that of Adam. He created Him from dust; then He said to him, "Be," and he was.

Adam's creation is a miracle. Adam was created without parents (mother or father). Allah created him directly and made his spirit with a mere command, Be, and it was. This verse of Quran goes against Darwinism.

What does Darwin say about it?

Darwinism is based on hypothesis and has no proof whatsoever. Darwinism goes against logic, religion and established science. Charles Darwin wrote in a letter to his friend Thomas Thomtan, in 1861 saying

'I do not believe in 'Natural Selection'. I do not believe in 'Theory of Evolution' because I do not have any proof. I only believe in it because it helps me in classification of Embryology, in Morphology, in rudimentary organs.

When Charles Darwin presented the theory of Darwinism in 1859, it had no scientific proof. Darwinism can never explain scientific discoveries in genetics and the immense amount of information stored in DNA. The complex structure of a human cell formed by a mere chance is unscientific. Scientists have tried to prove Darwinism from the fossil evidences, but the truth is that no evidence is in favour of Darwinism. There are so many missing links and no transitional form has been discovered. If the species evolved like Darwinism claims, then there should be more forms of beings.

Why Darwinism still being examined?

When we look closely into what Darwinism propagates, it all looks like an attempt to 'exclude' the hand of God from creation.

Another Example where they are trying to exclude the hand of god would be the big bang. Many scientists have been trying to bring some other theory instead of big bang that could explain the beginning of the earth. The only answer they got as to how the big bang started is that there is a divine hand behind it. Many theories were presented as a substitute for the big bang, but they lost their significance because there are so many solid proofs for big bang.

In the similar fashion, Darwinism is an attempt to deny the 'fact of creation'. Science is what some would call "the religion of logic", meaning everything can be explained without the need of god. Examples would entail:

· How are babies made https://www.babycenter.com/getting-pregnant-sex

· How rain is formed https://www.dkfindout.com/uk/earth/weather/rain/

· Photo synthesis https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/articles/zn4sv9q

In all these articles where the hand of god is strong, you will not see the word god mentioned anywhere. This is the science that wants to support Darwinism.

Conclusion

Islam does not support the theory. There are many versus entailed in the Quran that go against the theory and we know that science still doesn't support it but they cant find another reasonable explanation other than Adam was the first man on earth.

هَا أَنتُمْ هَٰؤُلَاءِ حَاجَجْتُمْ فِيمَا لَكُم بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَلِمَ تُحَاجُّونَ فِيمَا لَيْسَ لَكُم بِهِ عِلْمٌ ۚ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ - 3:66

Here you are - those who have argued about that of which you have [some] knowledge, but why do you argue about that of which you have no knowledge? And Allah knows, while you know not.

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_views_on_evolution

https://quran.com/3/59-69?translations=20

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darwinism