Islam And Science
On The Origin of The Universe
Man always tried to solve the mystery of the origin of life. As far back as the history of human thought can be traced, there is evidence of this problem.
Even the greater problem of the origin of the universe can be traced back, and according to the cosmogonies developed by primitive societies, the birth of the universe was a problem of generation on a gigantic scale, resulting from a monstrous principal egg! Strangely enough, this is also the modern accepted theory!
However, there is a verse in the Qur’an says:
“Do not the infidels see that the heavens and the Earth were joined together as one unit before We split them apart and that We made of water every living thing?” (Surah Al-Anbiya’: 30)
The main difficulty in such studies arises from the fact that the connection between theory and observation is so slight that it is always liable to break down. Bold statements and imaginary theories are always ready to fill in the gaps of our present ignorance.
Another main difficulty arises from the fact that science ignores entirely the relations between the Creator and the creation, and has nothing to do with things beyond the scoped matter and radiation, such as spirits or the hereafter.
As regards the first difficulty, the Qur’an says:
“I made them not to witness the creation of the heavens and the Earth nor their own creation, nor choose I wicked leaders who do not carry out My orders”. (Surah Al-Kahf: 51)
About the second difficulty, the Qur’an says:
“Say: Their knowledge is restricted only to things which are apparent to them — either directly or indirectly — during their lives on Earth, but surely they care not to think of the Hereafter”. (Surah Ar-Rum: 7)
About the same drawback in human senses and knowledge, the Qur’an also says:
“Verily, We proposed to the Heavens and to the Earth and to the mountains to bear the responsibility of knowl- edge, but they refused the burden, and they feared to re- ceive it. Man undertook to bear it, but has proved to be un- just and senseless!” (Surah Al-Ahzab: 72)
However, we, Muslims, know that Allah is the Creator. He is not subjected to our physical laws, as well as He is above the detection of our senses, but yet He made Himself quite clear to us in two Distinct Eternal Books:
1. The Universe in which we exist. This is the Visual Book.
2. The Qur’an (the words of Allah). This book can be read (readable). It was then natural that when Allah spoke to us by the Qur’an, a great number of Qur’anic verses drew our attention to Allah’s signs in the universe in an amazing scientific manner.
In the light of this brief introduction, we no longer forget that our knowledge can be received from two sources:
The first source is the Glorious Qur’an, and the second source is the established scientific studies or facts. In Islam, there is no contradiction in any information gained from the two sources.
The proper scientific way leading to a proper understanding of the origin of things on Earth is to collect fossils.
“Say: go and travel through the Earth and see how Allah did originate creation.” (Surah Al-‘Ankabut: 20)
We can explain this verse scientifically by saying: “go and travel through the Earth” in order to study its crust, and to collect fossils from here and there, and remains of organisms that lived throughout the ages.
By adopting this scheme, I can say that as far as the present types of the living organisms or species can be traced back throughout the ages, it has been found that no vital change occurred in them. In other words, man remained as man and was created as man.
There is no evolution from one species to another, but mere development due to acclimatization, such as change in colour, or adaptation due to environment. The study of these things leads to an understanding of the origin of life.
In other words, evidence of things throughout the ages is recorded on the rocks of these ages in the form of fossils, or barried things that can be carefully studied and traced back.