Question 671 - The Enlightening Answer Across the Ether, Vol 7

Ahmed al-Hasan Response:

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, the Imams and the Mahdis, and grant them peace. I ask Allah to grant you success and direct your steps aright. Evolution in general can now be denied only by someone ignorant of what it means. If we have variation, selection, and heredity, then evolution inevitably occurs. This matter is nearly self-evident and scarcely even requires fossils and comparative anatomy to prove it. Genetic variation among individuals of a single species has existed and continues to exist. The surrounding nature that suits some individuals of the species-those bearing favored genes-more than others generally exists. Heredity inevitably exists so long as there is reproduction. When these three things exist-and the earth has never been devoid of them since life began-evolution occurs. What some religious men do, if it is not from ignorance of the meaning and details of evolution, is merely obstinacy because they imagine evolution conflicts with religious text. The truth is that they do not even know the meaning of origination and evolution, yet you find them responding incorrectly or lying with complete brazenness. For example, some of them believe that evolution means advancement from one species to another, whereas neither present-day biologists nor even Darwin say that evolution occurs directly from one species into a completely different species. No one says that fish evolved directly into an amphibious animal. Even at the level of fish that walk upon mud using their fins, no one says that a fish changed directly from an aquatic fish into an amphibious mudskipper. Some object to evolution by saying that habits are not transmitted, while they do not know the rudiments of evolution: the intended variation is genetic variation, not variation in habits or behavior. Walking on two feet, which distinguishes human beings, for example, did not arise as a result of habit-habit alone has no value-because it is not inherited. What occurs is a process of natural selection of individuals bearing the favored genes. In general, denying evolution today has become like denying the earth’s rotation in the past. The rational proofs presented by the Quran do not conflict with the theory of evolution. The proof that nothingness is unproductive-‘Were they created from nothing, or are they the creators?’ [al-Tur 52:35]-does not conflict with the theory of evolution, and none but an ignorant person imagines a conflict between them. Yes, one might imagine that it conflicts with the Big Bang theory, considering that it, quantum theory, and M-theory might explain the appearance of the universe from nothing. In general, this is a cosmological theory broader than the bounds of this earth. The other proof is that the attribute of an effect indicates the attribute of its cause-including the argument from law, the argument from order, the argument from purpose, the argument from wisdom, and so forth. One may imagine that this proof conflicts with the theory of evolution, but in truth it likewise does not conflict with it, because the existence of the law of genes is sufficient to establish it. This means that we need only establish that the genetic map is governed by law, and this is established. As for Quranic and narrated religious text, it does not conflict with evolution; rather, it clearly supports it. These are examples from the texts: His words, the Exalted: ‘He created you in stages. Have you not seen how Allah created seven heavens in layers, placed the moon in them as a light, and placed the sun as a lamp? Allah caused you to grow from the earth like a plant’ [Nuh 71:14–17]. The apparent meaning of the text is clear: ‘He created you in stages.’ He gave the seven heavens as an example of these stages, and the seven heavens progress gradually in evolution and complexity. Then He explained the matter even more clearly: ‘Allah caused you to grow from the earth like a plant.’ This means that you are the product of a seed Allah planted in the earth-‘Allah caused you to grow’-or let us call it Allah’s genetic map, which was planted in the earth. The goal was ultimately to reach a body qualified to receive the human soul that was created from the clay raised to the First Heaven and into which the spirit was breathed. From Muhammad ibn Ali al-Baqir-Allah’s prayers be upon him: ‘Since He created the earth, Allah, Mighty and Majestic, created upon it seven worlds who were not from the children of Adam. He created them from the surface of the earth and settled them upon it, one after another, each with his world. Then Allah, Mighty and Majestic, created the father of this humanity and created his progeny from him’ (^[33]). In general, may Allah grant you success. Allah willing, I will write a book in answer to this question of yours. In it I will explain the theory of origination, the theory of evolution, and the Big Bang theory; what is correct in them and what is not; and I will explain through these same theories the illusion of atheism and the signs of divine unity, which some who are ignorant of the truth imagine conflict with religion and the existence of a god. Allah willing, it will be published soon. I hope you will not forget me in your supplication. Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you.