Here we will compare the Bible, and the Qur'an
to the popular theory of evolution.
Astronomers today have
powerful telescopes and have studied the formation of our
neighbouring galaxies. From the studies we learned that galaxies
are formed from the condensation of spiralling celestial
"mists."
This is confirmed in the Qur'an 14 centuries before this was
discovered by the " Hubble Space telescope" in 1925.
"Then He settled/equilibrated unto the firmament (sky) when
it was smoke...." ( Qur'an 41:11.
We know from both scientists and the Qur'an that in the
beginning, there was nothing in liquid or solid state, only in
gaseous state yet the Bible is not in agreement on this matter;
Genesis 1:1-2 (Revised Standard Version) "In the beginning
God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without
form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and
the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters."
The next verse in the Bible shows a chronological
inconsistency. The Bible claims that there was light in the
Universe on the first day;
"And God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. And
God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light
from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he
called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one
day."Genesis 1:3-5.
Yet then we see in Genesis 1:14, that the sun was not created
until the 4th day;
Scientists today know that light is a reaction to other stars
in the Universe, and without the sun, (which was not created
until the fourth day according to the Bible) than it is simply
wrong to claim there was light when the sun was not yet created.
Again we see this discrepancy is not in the Qur'an, the
Qur'an confirms what scientists of today agree upon, which is
that the elements in the Universe were created at once, this is
known as the "Big Bang theory":
"Do not the disbelievers see that the heavens and the earth
were fused then We ripped them asunder.."Al-Anbia(21):30.
There are some truths in the Bible, but also some obvious
disagreement with scientifically facts. Another example is the
growth of plant life on earth.
The Bible says that on the third day;
"And God said, "Let the earth put forth vegetation, plants
yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their
seed, each according to its kind, upon the earth." And it was
so." (Genesis 1:11)
The problem is that God created the Sun on the 4th day
(Genesis 1:14) and complex seed formation can not occur without
sunlight.
In contrast to the Old Testament, the Qur'an does not use a
day by day chronological description (i.e. on the first day,
second day, third day ...), instead the Qur'an uses concise
terms which do not prompt objections.
The Qur'an clarifies that the food appeared two eons after
the light was in the Heavens:
"And He made in it mountains above its surface, and He
blessed therein and made therein its foods, in four periods:
alike for the seekers." {Qur'an 41:10}
Verses 41:11 and 12 in the Qur'an, use the adverbs "thummah"
and "fa" which imply series of events. Neither of these two,
however, are used in verse 10 (the only one which mentions four
periods) which instead uses the adverb "wa" implying parallel,
or "overlapping" actions.
Therefore, we see the total time to complete the mountain
formation and food growth is 4 periods. Within 2 of these four
periods, we see light .
"So He ordained them seven heavens in two periods, and
revealed in every heaven its affair; and We adorned the lower
heaven with brilliant stars and (made it) to guard; that is the
decree of the Mighty, the Knowing." (Holy Qur'an 4:12)
The following Verses in the Holy Qur'an also support the
Theory of Evolution:
".....We made from water every living thing. Will they not
then believe?" (21:30)
"What ails you that you hope not towards Allah with dignity
when he created you by stages? ........And Allah has caused you
to grow as a growth from earth." 71:13-14
"See they not how Allah produces creation, then reproduces
it? Lo, for Allah that is easy. Say (O Muhammad): Travel in the
land and see how He originated creation, then Allah brings forth
the later growth. Lo, Allah is able to do all things." 29:19-20
"Thy Lord is the Absolute, the Lord of Mercy. If He will, He
can remove you and can cause what He will to follow after you,
even as He raised you from the seed of other folk. Lo! that
which ye are promised will surely come to pass, and ye cannot
escape. Say ( O, Muhammad): O my people! Work according to your
power. Lo! I too am working. Thus ye will come to know for which
of us will be the happy sequel. Lo! The wrongdoers will not be
successful" 6:134-136
"He produces creation and then reproduces it, that He may
reward those who believe and do good works with equity." 10:4 and 27:64
The following verses in the Bible show some divergence when
compared to other Bible verses regarding evolution;
GE 1:11-12, 26-27 Trees were created before man was created.
GE 2:4-9 Man was created before trees were created.
GE 1:20-21, 26-27 Birds were created before man was created.
GE 2:7, 19 Man was created before birds were created.
GE 1:24-27 Animals were created before man was created.
GE 2:7, 19 Man was created before animals were created.
GE 1:26-27 Man and woman were created at the same time.
GE 2:7, 21-22 Man was created first, woman sometime later.
In conclusion, we see that the Qur'an resurrects the Bible,
bringing back Divine Scripture beyond the level of learned
scientists. Scientists can now look up to the Message of God
rather than look down to it as is done with the Bible.
God gives all humans a reason to believe, and in the case of
the Qur'an, the reason was given over 1,400 years ago, before
the scientists even knew what to believe in.
Peace |