Science, Scripture, And The Qur’an On The Origins Of Life And Humanity

By Dr. Afzal M. Dogar, New Age Islam 1 September 2025 Introduction Few questions ignite as much curiosity and debate as the origins of life and humanity. Science, the Qur’an, and the Bible all address this issue, though often in seemingly different languages. Science speaks of cosmic evolution, molecular biology, and genetic ancestry; the Qur’an speaks of Khalq (creation) and Amr (direction); the Bible presents Adam as the genealogical father of humanity. Rather than contradictions, a closer examination reveals a layered picture: life unfolds in stages across deep time, while humanity undergoes not only biological emergence but also a cognitive–spiritual awakening. The Scientific Story of Life’s Development Modern cosmology and biology have provided a timeline for the emergence of the universe and life: ● Origin of Universe (~13.8–14 billion years ago): Evidence from cosmic microwave background radiation and redshift (Planck Collaboration, 2016). ● Formation of Earth (~4.5 billion years ago): Radiometric dating confirms Earth’s age (Dalrymple, 2001). ● First life (~3.5 billion years ago): Fossilized microbial mats testify to single-celled organisms (Schopf, 1993). ● Multicellular life (~600 million years ago): Cambrian explosion (Knoll & Carroll, 1999). ● Anatomically modern humans (~200,000–300,000 years ago): Fossil and DNA evidence in Africa (White et al., 2003). ● Symbolic language and culture (50–70,000 years ago): “Great Leap Forward” in symbolic thought, ritual, and culture (Mellars, 2006). Genomics strengthens this story. Humans and chimpanzees share ~98.8% of their DNA (Chimpanzee Sequencing Consortium, 2005). Fundamental biological mechanisms—DNA replication, RNA transcription, protein synthesis—are conserved from bacteria to humans (Alberts et al., 2014). This points strongly to a common origin of all life. The Qur’anic Perspective on Creation The Qur’an consistently calls believers to study creation: ● Clay as the First Substance: “We created humankind from an extract of clay” (23:12). ● Life from Water: “We created from water every living thing” (21:30). ● Creation from a Single Origin: “He created you from a single soul” (Nafs Wāḥidah, 4:1, 7:189). ● From Earth, Gradual Emergence: “And He created you in stages” (71:14); “And Allah has caused you to grow from the earth a [progressive] growth” (71:17). The expression in 71:17 is striking: the verb Anbata (to cause to sprout/grow), usually applied to plants, is here used for humans. This suggests that humanity’s emergence is not portrayed as instantaneous but as an organic, progressive unfolding from the earth itself — a Qur’anic resonance with the scientific story of gradual development. The noun al-Khāliq used in the Qur’an is usually rendered as creator in English translations. Al-Khāliq derives from Khalaqa. According to Edward Lane’s Arabic-English Lexicon, the verb Khalaqa means “to proportion a thing into another thing,” “to bring a thing into existence according to a certain measure,” and “to bring into existence from a state of nonexistence.” Hence, there are three components to its meaning: (a) shaping an original substance or entity into another object; (b) the newly formed object must have distinct characteristics, not simply as offspring but as a new prototype (like ape to human); and (c) the newly formed entity was non-existent before its creation (T.O. Shanavas, New Age Islam, 2024). Thus, the Qur’an distinguishes between Khalq (the act of shaping/creating) and Amr (the divine command or direction) (7:54). Together, these terms suggest that life unfolds through divine direction embedded in natural processes, which modern science describes as evolution. Adam in the Qur’an and the Bible The Biblical account (Genesis 5; Luke 3) presents Adam as the first man and forefather of all humanity, placed within genealogical history. Literalist readings equate this with biological origins (~6,000–10,000 years ago). The Qur’an, however, gives Adam a distinct role: ● Adam is appointed as Khalifah (vicegerent) on Earth (2:30). ● He is uniquely taught the Names (2:31), symbolizing language, knowledge, and recognition. ● His story suggests not biological primacy but cognitive–spiritual uniqueness. The Qur’an describes Adam as Khalīfah (successor/vicegerent) on earth. The Khalifa means “one who comes after another who perishes”. Biologically, modern humans indeed “succeeded” earlier hominids. Thus, Khalifah applies not only spiritually (as God’s deputy) but biologically (as a species that followed and replaced others). The Qur’an also acknowledges continuity with earlier beings: “O mankind! Worship your Lord, who created you and those before you.” (2:21). Most exegetes see “those before you” as historical peoples, but mystics like Ibn ʿArabī also understood them as “animal men”— precursors to modern humanity. This interpretation resonates with palaeoanthropology, which identifies predecessors such as Homo erectus and Neanderthals. Similarly, Qur’an 6:133 states: “If He wills, He can remove you and leave after you whom He pleases, as He produced you (Nasha’a) from the seed of another people.” Lane defines Nasha’a as “to bring into existence for the first time” . Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī comments that humanity was created “from a sperm that did not contain his form in any way” (Tafsīr al-Kabīr, Vol. 7, p. 212). Modern readers might see this as reflecting genotype and gradual emergence. Thus, the Qur’an and Rāzī both leave room for an evolutionary reading (T.O. Shanavas, New Age Islam, 2024). Furthermore, Qur’an 76:1 hints at a “span of time when man was not a thing remembered,” implying the existence of pre-Adamic humans who lacked prophetic consciousness. Adam, then, represents the first fully symbolic, morally responsible human — the beginning of revealed religion and covenant. This portrays evolution not as random, but as divinely guided — each stage fulfilling its role in the grand design. Language as the Real Turning Point The Qur’an emphasizes Adam’s distinction as being taught “all the Names” (2:31). This represents the uniquely human capacities of naming (ism), recognizing signs (Āyah), and knowledge (Ilm). It signifies the leap to symbolic language and abstract thought — the foundation of law, culture, and revelation. In light of 71:17, Adam can be seen as the culmination of a long growth-process: humanity “sprouting from the earth” biologically and cognitively, until one branch reached the threshold of full symbolic awareness. At that turning point, God endowed Adam with the knowledge of Names, inaugurating the era of revelation and covenant. As evolutionary anthropologist Pascal Gagneux notes: “Some two hundred thousand years ago, somewhere in Africa an upright ape developed full symbolic capacity, started using language — and the rest is history.” (Gagneux, 2011). No other species, despite genetic closeness, possesses this fully integrated system. This capacity enabled law, art, religion, and science — and made humans capable of receiving revelation. Anthropological evidence supports this. While symbolic behaviour existed earlier, the decisive leap — the so-called “Great Leap Forward” — occurred 50–70,000 years ago (Mellars, 2006). By ~10,000 years ago, humans had developed structured language, agriculture, and civilization (Bellwood, 2005). This echoes the Qur’anic portrayal of Adam: not the first animal human, but the first to embody language-bearing humanity, capable of law, culture, and revelation. Bridging Science and Revelation When viewed together, science and scripture outline a unified narrative: ● Biological Preparation: Life unfolds from inorganic matter into complex organisms (21:30; 23:12–14). ● Emergence of Homo sapiens: Anatomical humans appear ~200,000 years ago (White et al., 2003). ● Gradual Growth from Earth: Humanity develops progressively from earthly origins (71:17). ● Cognitive Leap: Symbolic behaviour and language emerge (Mellars, 2006). ● Adamic Appointment (~10,000 years ago): Adam embodies the leap to moral responsibility, language, and divine guidance — consistent with both Qur’anic and Biblical portrayals. ● Civilization: Agriculture and urbanization spread (~10,000 years ago), along with prophetic traditions (Bellwood, 2005). Conclusion The Qur’an and modern science converge on the idea that life developed gradually from a single origin, with humanity sharing deep biological kinship with other life forms. Yet the Qur’an adds a spiritual dimension: Adam as the first khalīfah, the first to bear the divine gift of language, responsibility, and covenant. Science explains the “how” of life’s unfolding; scripture reveals its “why.” Together, they provide a coherent framework: life is unified in origin, purposeful in direction, and endowed with meaning through humanity’s unique role as witness and steward of creation. References ● Alberts, B. et al. (2014). Molecular Biology of the Cell. ● Bellwood, P. (2005). First Farmers: The Origins of Agricultural Societies. ● Cann, R., Stoneking, M., & Wilson, A. (1987). Mitochondrial DNA analysis. Nature. ● Carroll, S. (2010). From Eternity to Here. ● Chimpanzee Sequencing Consortium (2005). Nature. ● Dalrymple, G.B. (2001). The Age of the Earth. ● Draper, J.W. (1874). History of the Conflict Between Religion and Science. ● Gagneux, P. (2011). Human Evolutionary Genomics. ● Henshilwood, C. et al. (2002). Blombos Cave engravings. Science. ● Jobling, M. et al. (2014). Human Evolutionary Genetics. ● Knoll, A.H. & Carroll, S.B. (1999). Science. ● McBrearty, S. & Brooks, A. (2000). Journal of Human Evolution. ● Mellars, P. (2006). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. ● Planck Collaboration (2016). Astronomy & Astrophysics. ● Schopf, J.W. (1993). Science. ● White, T. et al. (2003). Nature. ----- Dr. Afzal M. Dogar is an independent scientific writer based in Zurich, Switzerland. He is a former Associate Professor at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) with a background in molecular biology, RNA therapeutics, and biotechnology. He has conducted research in gene regulation, cancer biology, and RNAi/miRNA-based therapeutics, and has trained graduate students in advanced molecular techniques. Currently based in Switzerland, he writes on the intersections of science, society, and interfaith dialogue, with a focus on reconciling scientific inquiry with ethical and spiritual perspectives. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-science/science-scripture-quran-origins-life-humanity/d/136666 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism