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Creationism, natural selection, intelligent design, the
theory of evolution. Thinking about the creation of the world, the universe,
and humankind can be confusing. There are theories, opinions, and beliefs that
state that the creation of the universe was a random act, that humankind
evolved from apes and that living creatures climbed out of the primordial swamp.
In general, science proves some sort of intelligence designed the universe.
Confused? You should be, because that is not all. There
is also neo creationism , old earth creationism, flood geology, the big bang
theory, evolutionary biology, the common descent theory, and macroevolution. What
does it all mean?
For many people it must be a kind of lottery, or a
theory of the year choice. Each group has its evidence, some believe in God,
others do not. Some use science to prove their opinions, others use the book
of Genesis or other creation myths. In Islam, the story of creation is clear.
There are no partly formed theories or strange opinions to add to the confusion.
The creation of the world and all that exists is attributed to God. The most
merciful, most wise, most forgiving.
“God created the heavens and the earth, and all that is
between them, in six days.” (Quran 7:54)
“Then He completed and finished from their
creation seven heavens in two Days and He made in each heaven its affair. And
We adorned the nearest (lowest) heaven with lamps (stars) to be an adornment as
well as to guard (from the devils by using them as missiles against the devils).
Such is the Decree of Him the All-Mighty, the All-Knower.” (Quran 41:12)
“And indeed, We created man from sounding clay of altered
black smooth mud.” (Quran 15:26)
“And (remember) when your Lord
said to the angels: “I am going to create a man (Adam) from sounding clay of
altered black smooth mud.” (Quran 15:28)
God created Adam the father of humankind from mud (clay,
soil, earth, or dust mixed with water) and He created his wife Eve from a rib
bone. The traditions of Prophet Muhammad, may God praise him, relate that God
created Eve while Adam was sleeping, from his shortest left rib and that,
after sometime, she was clothed with flesh. God then endowed Adam and Eve with
the ability to procreate.
“God has created every moving (living) creature from water. Of
them, some creep on their bellies, some that walk on two legs, and some that
walk on four. God creates what He wills. Verily! God is Able to do all
things.” (Quran 24:45)
“And God said: ‘O Mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who
created you from a single person (Adam) and from Him (Adam) He created his wife
(Eve), and from them both He created many men and women.’” (Quran 4:1)
“And indeed We created man (Adam) out of an extract of clay
(water and earth). Thereafter We made him (the offspring of
Adam) as a Nutfah (mixed drops of the male and female sexual discharge)
(and lodged it) in a safe lodging (womb of the woman). Then We
made the Nutfah into a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood), then We
made the clot into a little lump of flesh, then We made out of that little lump
of flesh bones, then We clothed the bones with flesh, and then We brought it
forth as another creation. So blessed be God the Best of creators.” (Quran
23: 12 -14)
In Islam, unlike other religions there are no great
debates involving the separation of science and religion. Islam teaches us
that great scientific discoveries and break throughs are simply evidence of
the existence of God. If scientific theories conflict with the Quran and the
authentic traditions of Prophet Muhammad, may God praise him, Muslims simply
reject them. However apart from the premise in Darwin’s theory of evolution,
that man descended from apes, the Quran, and modern science are remarkably in
accord.
“Indeed, the creation of the heavens and the earth is greater
than the creation of mankind, but most of mankind do not realize it.” (Quran
40:57)
More than 14 centuries ago the Quran mentioned
scientific facts that have only recently been discovered using modern
scientific methods and advanced equipment. The development of scientific
disciplines, such as cosmology and astrophysics have explained some of the
mysteries of God’s creation. Cosmic events that were previously part of the
unseen now make sense according to modern scientific theory.
“Then He rose over towards the heaven when it was smoke, and
said to it and to the earth: ‘Come both of you willingly or unwillingly.’ They
both said: ‘We come, willingly.’” (Quran 41:11)
Modern cosmology indicates that, at one point in time,
the whole universe was nothing but a cloud of ‘smoke’, an opaque highly dense
and hot gaseous composition. It is now possible for scientists to observe new
stars being formed out of the remnants of the ‘smoke’. Dr. Loretta Dunne from Cardiff University says, “Cosmic dust consists of tiny particles of solid material floating
around in the space between the stars. It is not the same as house dust but
more akin to cigarette smoke.”
Astronomers studied supernovae SN 2003gd using the Spitzer space telescope,
and found that it had produced tremendous amounts of dust.
In the creation of humankind we are also now able to
see modern scientific evidence that seems to be in accord with the words of
God in Quran. Many elements present in the earth are also contained in the
human body. The most critical component to land-based life is the top soil;
that thin layer of dark, organically rich soil in which plants spread out their
roots. It is in this thin, vital layer of soil that microorganisms convert raw
resources and make them available to the myriad forms of life around and above
them.
The Quran instructs Muslims to “contemplate the
wonders of creation” (3:191) Imagine the precision and timing that allows
the world and all that is in it to function. Complex systems run
perfectly. The earth is specifically designed for human life and life on earth
is a delicate balance, from the lofty skies to the depths of the ocean.
“The sun and the moon run on their fixed courses (exactly)
calculated with measured out stages for each (for reckoning, etc.)... And the
heaven He has raised high, and He has set up the Balance... And the earth He
has put for the creatures.” (Quran 55:5-10)
God created the universe and He created humankind.
Certain sections of all the theories and opinions that are abound agree with
the words found in Quran and the authentic traditions of Prophet Muhammad, may
God praise him, but really that is of no consequence. Nor is it important when
theories try to disprove the existence of God.
The sun and the moon are fixed in their orbits and life
continues. Muslims know with certainty that the world and all that exists was
created by God. When new discoveries prove this beyond doubt, believers
smile and wait for the other miracles of God to reveal themselves. The
complexity of life is almost to simple to grasp. God is the Creator and
Sustainer of the universe.
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