Q: Salaaamu Alaykum, In the light of the Quran and Sunnah. What is Islams view on evolution. Do species evolve? if yes are they still evolving?

Time: Monday September 26, 2011 at 11:04 am

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It is the Muslim belief that populations have in them the possibility of changing over an extended period of time, depending on their environment. This to us does not mean that over a period of time we would gradually change from one species to another. It does mean that modifications as it relates to adaptability could occur. A true Muslim would never make a claim based on religion that there is a possibility that human would gradually turn to horse from human, or to human from horse, etc.

For example: living in certain parts of the world results in people/populations experiencing particular climates – hot/cold, etc. This climate could well result in a person dressing in a particular manner, eating particular foods, experiencing particular illnesses, producing chemicals that would result in more/less hair formation, etc. Thus, as a result of this climate difference and its impact on that given group of people, we may observe people over a period of time in a given region having possibly lighter/darker skin, etc. As Muslims to this we can say the following: your environment has affected you. This does not mean that they are evolving due to the lighter/darker complexion, dense hair formation, etc, for Allah (SWT) has created in humans the ability to adapt (bring equilibrium) to their given environment so as to attain maximized comfort.

By contrast, if you are referring to the Darwinian theory of evolution, then to Muslims this theory has little validity. To us it is merely a theory. Like all theories, they await to be dis-proven. This after all is the essence of science.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.