Islam and Evolution

4:16

15 Apr 2014

Evolution

Imran Hussein

In this vlog (video blog) produced for the London Dawah Movement (a proselytization organization), Imran Hussein suggests that Islam encourages “the scientific method”, and seeks to present a middle way between denying evolution and accepting it completely. However, because he holds the Qurʾān to be absolute truth, any conflict between his understanding of the Qurʾānic text and science must be judged in favor of the Qurʾān.

Although it doesn’t seem to have anything to do with the presentation, the video has been shot with only Hussein’s shirt and sweater in color, with the rest scales of grey.

Evaluation:

Hussein speaking for all Muslims is problematic; Muslims hold a variety of views on evolution.  His separation of evolution of non-humans from humans is one common approach for Muslims who want to hang on to literal readings of the Qurʾānic passages about Adam, the first human.  But many Muslims are satisfied with more metaphorical interpretations of the first humans.

Hussein’s suggestion that evolution is true for all creatures except humans is not accepted by evolutionary biologists.  Science focuses on that which can be studied through measurement.

The only historical material here is a quick reference to Ibn al-Haitham (d. 1039 CE), who, while he was indeed a Muslim scientist, attributing to him the whole of “the scientific method” is probably an overstatement.  Scholars continue to discuss the development of scientific methodologies in the medieval Islamic lands.