This book, relying upon the luminous verses of the Holy Quran and deep reflection upon its exalted teachings, undertakes a profound and comprehensive examination of the creation of man from the perspective of verse 98 of Surah Al-Anm. With a fresh outlook on the concepts of monotheism and evolution, this treatise endeavours to elucidate the reality of the creation of Adam and Eve, critique illogical narrations, and explore the divine wisdom inherent in the system of creation. Employing a clear and solemn language, this work strives to present the profound Quranic meanings coherently and meaningfully for its readers.
Surah Al-Anm, with eloquent and captivating expression, depicts the teachings of monotheism and creation. This surah, like a radiant light, reveals the truths of creation with unparalleled subtlety and invites humanity to contemplate the signs of God. The verses of this surah, from the creation of the heavens and the earth to guidance by the stars, all testify to the endless order and wisdom of the Lord.
One of the prominent verses of this surah refers to the role of the stars in guiding mankind:
And He it is Who made the stars for you, that you might be guided by them in the darkness of the land and the sea. We have detailed the signs for a people who know.
This verse demonstrates the divine wisdom in the creation of stars, which serve not only for practical guidance (such as navigation on land and sea) but also have a spiritual guiding role. Historically, people used the stars to determine prayer times, such as Iftar and the call to prayer. These signs are manifest and enlightening for a people endowed with knowledge.
The stars, like lamps in the sky, illuminate terrestrial pathways and guide humans toward knowledge and monotheism. This divine wisdom is comprehensible solely to the learned.
Critique of Weakness in Utilizing the Guiding Verses
Despite the clarity of the Quranic verses, some religious scholars are unable to fully utilise these signs. For instance, in a region where a group of people, including petrol station attendants, were incapable of determining the Qibla direction, attention to the guiding versessuch as turning to the starsproved effective. This indicates that understanding and acting upon the verses require knowledge and awareness. Religious science, which ought to serve as a bridge between Quranic knowledge and practice, occasionally falls short due to deficiencies in education.
Verse 98 of Surah Al-Anm refers to one of the deepest concepts of human creation:
And He it is Who created you from a single soul, then made its mate, that He might dwell in security with her. And when He covers you with sleep, He puts you in your resting place. We have made the signs clear for people who understand.
This verse refers to the creation of man from a single soul, namely the Prophet Adam (peace be upon him). This concept demonstrates the unity of human creation and emphasises monotheism in creation. Adam, as the source of the human lineage, is the origin from which all humans have sprung.
The single soul is like a sturdy root from which all human branches grow. This unity signifies divine wisdom in creation, inviting humans to unity and brotherhood.
Critique of Illogical Narrations Regarding the Creation of Eve
One common narration states that Eve was created from Adams rib, which is incompatible with reason and religious law. If Eve was created from Adams rib, then their marriage would equate to self-marriage, which is illogical and contrary to Islamic jurisprudence. Moreover, this narration leads to the implication of incestuous marriage in subsequent generations, which is religiously impermissible.
Instead of this narration, Eve should be regarded as a worthy woman from a community existing at that time. Just as a scholar in a town chooses a suitable spouse for his child from that society, Adam married Eve, a distinguished and worthy woman. This union occurred naturally within an evolutionary social context.
The marriage of Adam and Eve, like the joining of two branches from a mighty tree, took place within a social and natural environment. This union originated not from a rib but from a divine and worthy choice.
The Evolution of Adams Creation
The creation of Adam did not occur suddenly but through a gradual and evolutionary process. The Quran mentions khammarat arban sabhan (fermented for forty mornings), which metaphorically indicates a fermentation lasting forty days and nights. This expression, akin to dough fermentation, implies a gradual process of creation. Adam was created not as an infant but as a mature youth, a sign of divine wisdom in creation.
The world at the time of Adams creation was not devoid of creatures. Nasnas, primitive beings of various ranks, existed before Adam. These beings, sometimes devilish and corrupt, formed the backdrop for Adams creation. Adam, as the vicegerent of God, represented a pivotal point in this evolution.
The creation of Adam, like carefully kneaded dough, was shaped in a gradual and wise process. This fermentation is a sign of divine order and wisdom.
Critique of Paradise as the Place of Creation
The conception of Paradise as an afterlife locale for Adams creation is mistaken. Adams Paradise was an earthly and pure environment where the union with Eve occurred. The presence of Iblis (Satan) in this Paradise indicates that this place was earthly, not an afterlife realm. This perspective is more consistent with divine wisdom in creation.
The sons of Adam, Hbl and Qbl, represent the duality of good and evil within humankind. Hbl embodied goodness and virtue, whereas Qbl, by killing his brother, manifested the nasnas-like traits. Qbls ignorance in burying Hbls body, which he learned from a crow, indicates the primitiveness of humanity and the need for divine guidance.
This ignorance resembles a child yet to learn walking, requiring support. Early humans, despite their noble potential, lacked sufficient knowledge and experience and depended on divine guidance and even instruction from nature (such as the crow).
Hbl and Qbl, like two branches of one tree, represent good and evil inherent in human nature. This duality invites reflection on evolution and divine guidance.
Nas and Nasnas within Human Nature
The current human is a composite of nas (noble humanity) and nasnas (primitive and instinctual traits). Violent behaviours such as murder and destruction originate from the nasnas traits, which must be controlled through upbringing and divine guidance. This duality, like light and shadow within a person, is perpetually in conflict.
For example, a person who succumbs to anger and violence is akin to the awakening of the nasnas within. Yet faith and education, like light, dispel this darkness and guide the individual toward perfection.
Many narrations, such as the creation of Eve from a rib or the claim of 124,000 prophets, lack reliable chains of transmission and are incompatible with logic and Islamic law. For example, the known number of prophets is limited, and the claim of 124,000 is unfounded. Similarly, the narration of Eves creation from Adams rib leads to illogical self-marriage and incest.
Understanding evolution and creation requires a scientific and multidisciplinary approach. Disciplines such as history, psychology, sociology, and scientific laboratories are key to comprehending the truth of creation. Non-scientific interpretations, which merely collect verses without analysis, lead to error.
The Holy Quran, like a profound ocean, requires divers equipped with the tools of science and reason to explore its depths. Non-scientific interpretations, like bubbles on the waters surface, are transient and lack value.
The Creation of Mary and Jesus in Comparison to Adam
The creation of Lady Maryam and Jesus (peace be upon them), without a father, resembles the creation of Adam without parents. The Quran states:
Then he appeared to her as a well-proportioned man.
This verse points to the miraculous nature of Jesus creation. Adam too, without father and mother, was created as a mature youth. However, Eve was a human woman from society, not the product of union with angels or Adams soul.
Verse 98 of Surah Al-Anm, by explaining the creation of man from a single soul, reveals human unity and divine wisdom. The creation of Adam was a divine miracle that occurred through a gradual and evolutionary process. Eve was a worthy woman from a community that included nasnas (primitive beings). The marriage of Adam and Eve was a natural and divine union, not the result of rib creation or self-marriage. Critique of illogical narrations, such as the creation of Eve from a rib or the unsupported number of prophets, underscores the necessity of a scientific approach to the Holy Quran.
Hbl and Qbl symbolize the duality of good and evil in humankind. Early human ignorance, like Qbls inability to bury Hbl, highlights the need for divine guidance. The current human is a mixture of nas and nasnas, guided toward perfection through education and faith. This interpretation, with a deep and scientific perspective, invites readers to contemplate divine wisdom and the evolution of creation.
Supervised by Sadegh Khademi
