Table Of ContentIslamic
Theory
Evolution
of
The Missing Link between Darwin
and the Origin of Species
T.O. Shanavas
B R A I N B O W P R E S S
Copyright © 2005, 2010 by T.O. Shanavas
All rights to the title reserved. Except in the case of brief quotations in reviews and
critical articles, no part of this book may be used, transmitted, or reproduced in any
form or by any means whatsoever without the written permission of the author.
Library of Congress Number: 2004098291
ISBN: 978-0-9825867-0-9
Cover Design: Uğur Şahin
Grpahics by C.A.D. Graphics, Inc.
Text design and composition by John Reinhardt Book Design
The views expressed in this book solely belong to the author and do not necessarily
reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility
for them.
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3
CO NTE NTS
acknowledments vii
foreword: The Missing Link before Darwin,
by Edip Yuksel ix
introduction 1
one: InshaAllah (Allah so Willing) the Islamic
Metaphysics of the Future 9
two: The Concept of Time: New Physics and the Quran 19
three: Creation and the Fate of the Universe 39
four: The Age of the Universe: Uniformitarianism,
Fossils, and Muslims 61
five: A Brief Review of the Theory of Evolution 83
six: Pre-Darwinian Muslims and the Theory
of Evolution 107
seven: The Quran and the Origin of Man 129
eight: Adam and Eve: The Spiritual, Not Biological,
Parents of Human Species 153
nine: The Location of the Garden of the Forbidden
Tree 161
iii
iv THE ISLAMIC THEORY OF EVOLUTION
ten: God and Chance Events 169
eleven: The Structure of the Universe: A Master Design 175
twelve: Self and Subjectivity of the Animate and Inanimate
World 181
summary: Unlike Muslim Scientists, Gods Speaks Same
Truth in and out of Mosques 191
endnotes 203
bibliography 215
glossary 221
THE QUR’AN 29:20
“Say [O Muhammad]: ‘Travel in the earth,
then see, how Allah originated creation;
and then He produces a later creation.’
Allah is omnipotent”
What you read in this book is what I heard from
the people who “traveled in the earth to see how
Allah originated creation, and then He produces a
later creation.”
v
ACKN OWLED GMENTS
I
AM GRATEFUL TO MY WIFE, Faizi, and my children,
Zaifi and Reema, for their understanding, and encour-
agement despite the fact that work on this book took
considerable family time away from them. I have borrowed ideas,
words, and phrases from many sources and if I have missed to ac-
knowledge of any source, it is not intentional. I am thankful to
Professor Samuel Abraham of Siena Heights University in Adrian,
Michigan, who provided me with some of the bibliographic ma-
terials for the book. I am greatly obliged to the late Imam A. M.
Khattab of the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo for his review and
critique of the manuscript. Sincere appreciation goes to the Islamic
Research Foundation and its president, Professor Ibrahim Syed of
the University of Louisville, who played a major part in encourag-
ing me to pursue this work. Without him, this book would never
have been completed. Finally, I am grateful to Laurie Rosin and Nada
Najjar for their superior editorial services. I greatly appreciate John
Reinhardt Book Design for the outstanding service.
vii
FOREWORD
T
HIS WORK should be used as a textbook in every
college, especially in countries with predominantly
Muslim populations. It should be translated into
all major languages. It provides irresistible evidence and ingenious
arguments in educating the reader on historical, philosophical and
scientific misconceptions and distortions. If you think that the evo-
lution of the species is mere atheistic theory, this book will challenge
and ultimately refute every aspect of your argument. You will be sur-
prised to learn that it is just the opposite: evolution is the divine law
in the creation of all living beings.
Dr. Shanavas’ book was previously published under the title
Evolution and/or Creation: an Islamic Perspective. We decided to pub-
lish the revised version under a new title, Islamic Theory of Evolution:
The Missing Link between Darwin and the Origin of Species. The cover
picture realistically reflects the common attitude among the propo-
nents of the theory of evolution since they ignore the important con-
tribution of Muslim scientists and abuse the theory by associating
it with unwarranted philosophical conclusions such as atheism. Dr.
Shanavas respects Charles Darwin as one of the greatest scientists.
In this landmark book, Dr. Shanavas defends the theory of evo-
lution both scientifically and theologically and provides historical
background that has been eradicated from public memory. Though
a great majority of people, regardless of their religion, consider
ix
x THE ISLAMIC THEORY OF EVOLUTION
Charles Darwin as the originator of the idea of evolution, Shanavas
reminds us that Darwin (1809-1882) and his grandfather Erasmus
Darwin were influenced by the work of Muslim scientists who lived
centuries before them.
Dr. Shanavas addresses a major philosophical issue, the perceived
conflict between random events and divine intervention and aptly
resolves the problem. Shanavas explains that God limits His omni-
science as well as His omnipotence to provide a degree of free will
for His creatures. At the same time, God maintains His omniscience
by making time relative, and without interfering with the immutable
laws of nature, He allows us to enjoy the gift of freedom.
Dr. Shanavas’ book is recognized by experts within the field. For
example, Professor Allene Phy-Olsen, in a recent book, Evolution,
Creationism, and Intelligent Design, recommends Shanavas’ book as
“basic to any discussion of the Abrahamic religions and modern
science.”
Edip Yuksel
