Evolution in Islam

2:54

13 March 2007

Evolution

Hollywood's World Forum

This video blog (vlog) by Hollywood’s World Forum seeks a middle path between evolution and Islamic understandings as presented in the Qurʾān.  Although he mentions (without citing specific verses) that the Qurʾān says God made man from clay, earth and water, the verse that he quotes, 6:133, suggests that God “brought you forth from the descendants of other people”, which he thinks could be understood as prior species.

The speaker does not suggest that any of the Qurʾānic material is proof that the Qurʾān is divine, so this video is not a form of iʿjāz.

He closes on a friendly note, saying that these are his ideas and beliefs, and others may feel differently.

The user’s account on YouTube is inactive; he hasn’t uploaded any videos since 2009.

Evaluation:

The material on Islam is within the bounds of what Muslims have historically understood as acceptable.

The thrust of the scientific material presented here is generally correct, although the dates given are not quite accurate, and the discussion of human speciation isn’t quite accurate.

There is insufficient historical material on which to base an evaluation.