Is it possible to say, "I believe in both evolution and creation"? Can the physical difference of the people living in the era of Hz. Adam be evidence for evolution?

- I do not believe in the theory of evolution but some people say, " I believe in both evolution and Allah." They say, "Allah created evolution too." Can it be true?
- Were the physical structures of people in the era of Hz. Adam different from those of today?
- Could the people of that age not have had sharper teeth, larger muscles, and arms bent forward (the first man as evolutionists say)?
- Were there not any differences (both mentally and in terms of their body structures) between the people of that period and people living today?

Dear Brother / Sister,

Answer 1:

First, it is necessary to understand very well what is meant by evolution because evolution is used in many different senses.

The word evolution is used in place of many words and phrases that are different from each other like metamorphosis, differentiation, gradual development and change and progress. 

Some of the words and phrases used in place of evolution are as follows: takamul (perfection), istihala (differentiation), tatawwur (moving from one state to another), tahawwul (changing from one state to another), tabdil (changing the shape of something), tabaddul (exchange), taghyir (transformation), taghayyur (metamorphosis), taraqqi (improvement), sudur (occurrence), zuhur (appearing), tajdid (renewal), ontogeny, phylogeny and evolvement. Each of those terms has a different meaning from others. We will only explain the meaning of takamul (perfection) and tahawwul (changing from one state to another) here.

Takamul

Takamul is used in the sense of reaching maturity and becoming perfect.

If what is meant by the term “evolution” is “takamul”, that is, the gradual change of the individual from embryo to adulthood, evolution in that sense is a law, not a theory. 

For instance, an apple seed becoming a sprout, then a sapling and finally a tree with fruit is an example of a gradual change.

Similarly, the development of human embryo beginning from zygote, followed by multicellular embryo, baby, youth and adult is another example of gradual development. 

In this sense, all living beings are subject to the laws of change, metamorphosis and differentiation all the time.

Tahawwul (Change of State)

Tahawwul is used in the sense of changing state, changing from one state to another.

If what is meant by evolution is tahawwul, that is, change of state, it is a law, not a theory. The change of state in elements is expressed as the transformation of particles.

To put it briefly, the existence of atoms and molecules in the bodies of living beings by changing from one state to another occurs within the framework of a number of laws of biology and physics. Therefore, the elements’ changing of state like that is a law, not a theory. For example, hydrogen is flammable and oxygen causes burning. When they merge, water forms and these elements have now changed. 

Man is made up of about one hundred trillion cells. Three thousand different reactions take place in each cell per second. After a second, a person is not the same as that person a second before. Many elements have undergone change and transformation in his body.

All living beings are constantly changing. These changes and metamorphoses and similar ones are expressed as "evolution". All the changes and metamorphoses in this sense are laws, not theories.

All these changes occur with the infinite knowledge, will and power of Allah. It is not possible to explain this in any other way in terms of reason and logic.

The main thing that causes a dispute here is the use of evolution in the sense of evolvement.

In the evolution used in the sense of evolvement, the creator is excluded and it is claimed that all living beings are formed in a sequence from one another and by chance. Such a claim has no scientific value and is the product of a positivist philosophy entirely dependent on atheist ideology.

Nothing is fixed the universe. Everything changes any moment. All these changes, differentiations and metamorphoses are the work of Allah.

The value judgments put forward by science or philosophy regarding the creation of both human beings and other living beings change over time depending on research and interpretations. We call all these value judgments information.

Some or all of this information may or may not correspond exactly to what the Quran states about creation. We obtain information about the value judgments of science. That is, we know to some extent of the information that interests us based on our own means and capacity. However, we believe in what Allah informs us.

Knowing an issue of creation in the way that theories or scientific studies explain makes man only acquainted, that is, informed. Believing is a completely different subject.

When you know the Christian religion, you do not become a Christian; similarly, when you know some philosophical thoughts and opinions about evolution, it does not make you exit the religion. However, if you believe that that information is correct, it should not conflict with what the Quran states.

Answer 2:

It is understood that the people who lived in the past had bigger and more vigorous muscles and bodies and that their lives were longer than those living today. However, it does not exclude them from being humans. The first man, Hz. Adam, is also the first prophet, and he resembles today's people in all aspects. His genetic structure has all the colors and racial characters that are present today; the genetic structure of every individual living now consists of a combination of his genetic structure.

This has nothing to do with the evolutionary view of evolutionists who advocate the philosophical view that human beings came from lower level living beings by chance.

However, evolution in the sense of change and differentiation that is seen constantly in man with the infinite knowledge, will and power of Allah is a law, not a theory.

There is no need to go back to Hz. Adam for such a change. According to the calculation that three thousand different reactions occur in each cell of a person in one second, if the existence of the average a hundred trillion cells in man is taken into consideration, the magnitude of the change that takes place in one second in man will be understood. If you call this change evolution, it is not a theory but a law that is formed based on Allah's infinite knowledge, will and power.

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