The Theory of Evolution

A question sent to Imam Ahmad Al-Hassan pbuh, and his response.

Question: Is there any truth to the theory of evolution by Charles Darwin? It is very confusing
because there is so much evidence in its support from the genetics all the way up to the
archaeological evidences such as the fossils of creatures of one cell. I ask you to please resolve
this confusing matter.

Answer: In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Intensely Merciful.

And praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and may Allahs prayers and peace be upon
Muhammad and his progeny, the Imams and the Mahdis.

I ask Allah to support all of you and straighten your footsteps.

The matter of evolution, in general, cannot be rejected except by a person ignorant of what it
means, for as long as we have differentiation and selection and heredity, then certainly there must
be evolution; and this is an issue which is almost self-evident, and almost does not need fossils or
comparative anatomy to prove it.

And the genetic differentiation among individuals of one species was and is still existent. And the
nature which surrounds the individuals and suits some individuals of one species, those who
carry the favored genes, more than it suits other individuals [of the same species] is usually
existent. And heredity definitely exists whenever there is reproduction. And if these three, which
the earth was never free of ever since life began, are found then there is evolution.

And what some men of religion do, if not due to ignorance regarding the meaning and details of
evolution, then mere stubbornness because they believe evolution conflicts with the religious text.
And the truth is that they do not even know the meaning of creation and progression, yet you find
them responding falsely or denying with utter shamelessness.

For instance, some of them think that evolution means progression from one species to another,
whereas current biologists do not say, not even Darwin, that evolution occurs directly from one
species to an entirely different species.

Thus there is no one who says that a fish evolved directly into an amphibian. Moreover, even at
the level of fish that walk on the mud with their fins; nobody says that the fish directly transfer
from an aquatic fish to an amphibious fish (mudskipper).

And some of them say there is a problem with evolution because habits do not transfer, and he
does not know the basics of evolution, and that the intended differentiation is a genetic
differentiation and not a differentiation of habits or behavior. So for instance, walking on two
feet ,which distinguishes human beings, did not happen as a result of habit, as habit alone has no
value because it is not inherited. Rather, what happens is a process of natural selection for the
individuals holding the favored genes.

So in general, denying evolution today has become like denying the rotation of the earth
previously.

And the rational evidences that the Quran mentioned do not conflict with the theory of evolution.
So an evidence that something cannot be produced from nothing is the verse, (Or were they
created from nothing, or were they the creators?) Surat At-Tur (Mount Sinai) 52:35. And this
evidence does not conflict with the theory of evolution. And no one can imagine its conflict with it
except an ignorant one. Yes, he can fancy that it conflicts with the Big Bang theory, considering
that along with the Quantum theory and the M-theory it can explain the appearance of the
universe from nothing. And the Big Bang theory is, in general, a cosmic theory larger than the
limits of this earth.

And the other evidence is that the character of the effect indicates the character of the one
effecting. (And from this is the evidence of the laws, and the evidence of the organization, and the
evidence of the aim, and the evidence of the wisdom) And regarding this evidence, perhaps a
misperception occurs that this evidence conflicts with the theory of evolution, but this evidence is
also not in conflict with it because the existence of the law of genes is enough to prove it,
meaning that we need only to prove that the genetic map follows a law and this is an established
issue.

As for the religious Quranic text and the narrations, they do not conflict with evolution; rather, they
support it very clearly. And these are examples from the texts: (While He has created you in
stages? Do you not consider how Allah has created seven skies in layers. And made the moon
therein a light and made the sun a burning lamp? And Allah has caused you to grow as a growth
from the earth.) Surat Nuh (Noah) 71:14-17.

And the apparent [meaning] of the text is clear, He has created you in stages.

And an example of these stages is the seven skies. And the seven skies are gradual in evolution
and complexity.

Then He clarified the matter more clearly, (And Allah has caused you to grow as a growth from
the earth), meaning that you are the result of a seed that Allah has planted in the earth, or let us
call that seed the genetic map of Allah which was planted in the earth. And the aim was to
eventually reach a body qualified to receive the humane soul created from the mud, the mud lifted
to the first sky, and qualified to have the spirit breathed into it.

And Imam Muhammad bin Ali Al-Baqir pbuh said, "Allah (m) created in the earth, since He
created it, seven peoples. They are not from the sons of Adam. Allah created them from the
surface of the earth and He made them live in it one after the other, each with his own people.
Allah (m) then created the father of this mankind and created his descendants from him. [Al-
Khisal by Al-Sadooq page 359]

Anyway, Allah make you successful. If Allah wills I will write a book in response to your question
and I will clarify in it the theory of creation and the theory of progression and the theory of the Big
Bang, and what is true from them and what is not true. And I will clarify in it the misperception of
atheism and the proofs of monotheism from the same theories, which some ignorant ones who do
not know the truth assumed that they conflict with the religion and conflict with the existence of a
god. And if Allah wills, it will be published soon. And I hope that you do not forget me in your dua.

And peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.

Ahmad Al Hassan
Jamadi AlThani 1433 A.H