Re: Theory of Evolution: A Question
I personally am not sure about this theory of origin of man as there are plenty of wild assumptions. However it still remains the most plausible "scientific" theory. However leaving the origins of man out of it, we should not completely rule out evolution.
Darwin's first observation was about some Australian (?) parrot and similarities with the African version. The differences could be explained by the differences in environment. If you notice, all creatures are well designed for the conditions they live in. No two animal groups in different areas / regions are the same (eg Siberian Tiger Vs Bengal Tiger Vs any other Tiger). We call it "Allah ki Qudrat", Darwin calls it nature. We say God made it that way to suit the conditions, Darwin says the conditions dictated that these animals evolve. The fact is - these differences exist and the rest is a chicken & egg type of argument. We have seen living organisms evolve in our lifetime - eg old diseases making comebacks in a form resistent to the known cure (such as smallpox, TB etc). If the germs can evolve over 50 years or so, why can't larger beings do so over thousands of years.
According to Allama Iqbal's theory (stated in "Reconstruction of religious thought in Islam") when man was created by God (Adam & Eve) and when they were banished from heaven and sent to Earth, they were sent in spirit and not in body. He argues that the fall of man (from heaven) was actually gaining conciousness of humans on earth.
So make you own mind up. Nothing in life is ever black & white. So why do we expect religion (with all it's depth and spirituality) to be so black & white? Keep an open mind, gain knowledge and try to match scientific discovery with the Quran- I am sure we will get to the truth.
