Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
The Belief of Islam in Regard to the Origin of Man – Part two
The fundamental belief of Islam is that mankind originated from one father and one mother, Nabi Aadam (‘alaihis salaam) and Hazrat Hawwaa (‘alaihas salaam). The first person whom Allah Ta‘ala created from mankind was Nabi Aadam (‘alaihis salaam).
When Allah Ta‘ala intended to create Nabi Aadam (‘alaihis salaam), He commanded the Angel of Death to collect the sand from different parts of the earth to form the mould of Nabi Aadam (‘alaihis salaam). After the Angel of Death collected the sand, Allah Ta‘ala fashioned the form of Nabi Aadam (‘alaihis salaam), and after a period of time passed, Allah Ta‘ala then blew the rooh (soul) in him.
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said:
Allah Ta‘ala created Nabi Aadam (‘alaihis salaam) in his (original) form, with his height being sixty ziraa (approximately twenty-seven meters). When Allah Ta‘ala created him, He instructed him saying, “Go and greet that group of angels with salaam, and listen carefully to the reply which they give you, as this will be your greeting and the greeting of your progeny.”
Nabi Aadam (‘alaihis salaam) then went to the angels and said, “Assalaamu alaikum,” to which they replied, “Assalaamu alaika warahmatullah.” They added the words “wa rahmatullah” (in replying to his salaam). Every person who will enter Jannah will enter in the form of Nabi Aadam (‘alaihis salaam) (i.e. with his stature and height).”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) thereafter mentioned, “After Nabi Aadam (‘alaihis salaam), the height of people began to decrease until they have reached the height of people today.” (Saheeh Bukhaari #6227)
From this Hadith, we understand that Nabi Aadam (‘alaihis salaam) did not go through the different phases of growth that a normal human being passes through during his life i.e. birth, infancy, adolescence, etc. In other words, Allah Ta‘ala created Nabi Aadam (‘alaihis salaam) in his original form, as an adult, from the very beginning, even before he came into the world. Hence, this Hadith clearly and unequivocally opposes the belief of evolution.
The Creation of Hazrat Hawwaa (‘alaihas salaam)
After Nabi Aadam (‘alaihis salaam) was created and was staying in Jannah with the angels, he began to feel lonely as he did not have anyone of his own species to give him company.
Allah Ta‘ala then caused him to fall asleep, and while he was asleep, Allah Ta‘ala created Hazrat Hawwaa (‘alaihas salaam) from a part of the rib of Nabi Aadam (‘alaihis salaam).
When Nabi Aadam (‘alaihis salaam) awoke from his sleep, he found Hazrat Hawwaa (‘alaihas salaam) standing at his head side. Nabi Aadam (‘alaihis salaam) asked her, “Who are you?” She replied, “I am a woman.”
Nabi Aadam (‘alaihis salaam) then asked her, “For what purpose have you been created?” She replied, “I have been created so that you be comforted through me.” (Bidaayah wan Nihaayah 1/68)
Hazrat Aadam (‘alaihis salaam) then stretched his hand towards her to touch her, but the angels said to him, “Be patient until the nikaah is performed and you give her the mahr.”
Hazrat Aadam (‘alaihis salaam) then inquired, “What is the mahr?” The angels replied, “The recitation of Durood upon Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).”
According to one narration, Nabi Aadam (‘alaihis salaam) also asked Allah Ta‘ala regarding the mahr of Hazrat Hawwaa (‘alaihas salaam), and Allah Ta‘ala informed him that the mahr for the nikaah of Hazrat Hawwaa (‘alaihas salaam) is that he recite twenty Durood upon Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Thereafter, Allah Ta‘ala Himself performed the nikaah between Nabi Aadam (‘alaihis salaam) and Hazrat Hawwaa (‘alaihas salaam). (Sharhuz Zurqaani 1/101)
From the abovementioned Ahaadith and narrations, we understand that Allah Ta‘ala created Nabi Aadam (‘alaihis salaam) and Hazrat Hawwaa (‘alaihas salaam) in their original forms. Thereafter, their progeny continued after they were sent to the world.
The Qur’aan Majeed Stating that Mankind Descended from One Man and One Woman
In the Qur’aan Majeed, Allah Ta‘ala says:
یٰۤاَیُّہَا النَّاسُ اِنَّا خَلَقۡنٰکُمۡ مِّنۡ ذَکَرٍ وَّ اُنۡثٰی وَ جَعَلۡنٰکُمۡ شُعُوۡبًا وَّ قَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوۡا ؕ اِنَّ اَکۡرَمَکُمۡ عِنۡدَ اللّٰہِ اَتۡقٰکُمۡ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ عَلِیۡمٌ خَبِیۡرٌ ﴿۱۳﴾
O mankind, We have created you from one male and one female, and made you into nations and tribes so that you may recognize one another. Certainly, the most honoured of you, in the sight of Allah, is the one who possesses the most taqwa. Certainly, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware. (Surah Hujuraat v. 13)
This verse of the Qur’aan Majeed clearly and diametrically opposes Darwin’s theory which states that man originated and evolved from monkeys.
Apart from this, when one views this theory, one realizes that it is so absurd, that any person with common sense will understand the absurdity in it, as the common question which arises is:
“If man evolved from monkeys, then why is it that there are still monkeys in the world today, and no human is seen to be evolving from them?”
Furthermore, science itself admits that the theories and research regarding prehistoric eras is based on nothing but conjecture and assumptions, and hence these theories are merely a hypotheses and it is not possible for it to be established – as no one today was present at the time when the earth was created by Allah Ta‘ala to see and witness how it happened. Therefore, there is no way to acquire this knowledge besides believing in divine revelation.
Apart from this, we see scientists changing their theories all the time. Even those who accept the Big Bang and Darwin’s theories continue to modify their theories as more and more flaws and discrepancies are becoming apparent to the minds of people.
As believers, we should understand that our imaan is not upon our sight, hearing and human, limited reasoning, but rather it is upon the word of Allah Ta‘ala that has been revealed to our Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and passed on to us.
