Quran and Evolution
Evolution in the Quran, as I understand it, is largely aligned with the modern concept, but with a few key modifications.
“Survival of the fittest” is a control mechanism in evolution. However, the primary driver of evolution is the enduring struggle of organisms to fulfill their purposes. Nature (created by Allah Almighty) has rewarded this struggle over time with incremental changes—sometimes as subtle as a slight modification in a single molecule.
The part of evolution that leads to the emergence of new species begins and develops primarily within the cell. This process is triggered by the organism’s persistent struggle, which causes many internal adjustments. Over time, these changes result in inheritable modifications within the cell. Eventually, a portion of the population is born with this new trait.
The genius of the cell lies in its ability to carry out all stages of transformation in form (a kind of molecular language) within its own internal environment—changes we usually expect to occur externally.
Start of Life — The Very Beginning of Life:
(Sūrat al-Sajdah) Verse (32:7): “ٱلَّذِىٓ أَحۡسَنَ كُلَّ شَىۡءٍ خَلَقَهُۖ وَبَدَأَ خَلۡقَ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنِ مِن طِينٍ۬”
Sahih International: “Who perfected everything which He created and began the creation of man from clay.”
Allah mentions that before beginning the creation of man, He “perfected everything which He created.” Here, “everything” doesn’t mean literally all things, but refers to all the essential components necessary for the origin of the first living cell. This suggests that prior to creating life from clay, Allah evolved and perfected (“أَحۡسَنَ”) all ingredients necessary for life. Then came the “beginning” (“وَبَدَأَ”) of life, and later, of man. The process is explained further:
Not ordinary clay, but sticky clay rich in organic material:
(Sūrat al-Ṣāffāt) Verse (37:11): “إِنَّا خَلَقۡنَـٰهُم مِّن طِينٍ۬ لَّازِبِۭ”
Sahih International: “Indeed, We created men from sticky clay.”
Arab caravans used to describe the sticky clay found on seashores—mixed with sea foam—as “طِينٍ۬ لَّازِبِۭ.” This could be similar to what scientists like Alexander Oparin and J.B.S. Haldane called “the primordial soup.”
Clay undergoes long-term processing:
(Sūrat al-Ḥijr) Verse (15:26): “وَلَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ مِن صَلۡصَـٰلٍ۬ مِّنۡ حَمَإٍ۬ مَّسۡنُونٍ۬”
Sahih International: “And We did certainly create man out of clay from an altered black mud.”
This refers to a long-term biochemical transformation—alternating between wet clay and dry heat from the sun—that leads to “مَّسۡنُونٍ۬” (altered), blackened clay (“حَمَإٍ۬”), and eventually dry, noisy clay (“صَلۡصَـٰلٍ۬”) that crackles when walked on.
Clay baked under extreme heat, like pottery:
(Sūrat al-Raḥmān) Verse (55:14): “خَلَقَ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ مِن صَلۡصَـٰلٍ۬ كَٱلۡفَخَّارِ”
Sahih International: “He created man from clay like [that of] pottery.”
This stage likely involved extreme heat or UV exposure, forming hard chemical bonds necessary for future biological functions—bonds that wouldn’t easily form inside living systems later. The difference between “صَلۡصَـٰلٍ۬” and “كَٱلۡفَخَّارِ” is that the latter has been fully baked.
Not the whole clay, but an extract of it:
(Sūrat al-Mu’minūn) Verse (23:12): “وَلَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ مِن سُلَـٰلَةٍ۬ مِّن طِينٍ۬”
Sahih International: “And certainly did We create man from an extract of clay.”
This verse makes it clear that Allah created man not from the bulk of clay, but from its extract (“سُلَـٰلَةٍ۬”)—the vital substances within it necessary for life.
Allah created us from a single entity and created from it its mate
All humans originate from this single cell, which for the first time divided not into two identical cells, but into a male (+) and a female (-) daughter cell. This marks the beginning of sexual differentiation in single-celled organisms.
(sūrat l-nisāa) Verse (4:1): “يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱتَّقُواْ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفۡسٍ۬ وَٲحِدَةٍ۬ وَخَلَقَ مِنۡہَا زَوۡجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنۡہُمَا رِجَالاً۬ كَثِيرً۬ا وَنِسَآءً۬ۚ”
Sahih International: “O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from one soul and created from it its mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women.”
The Quranic “نَّفۡسٍ۬ وَٲحِدَةٍ۬” can be seen as this original haploid cell, which gives rise to two mating types خَلَقَ مِنۡہَا زَوۡجَهَا (“its mate”). These mating types produce many “+” and “–” gametes, “مِنۡہُمَا رِجَالاً۬ كَثِيرً۬ا وَنِسَآءً۬ۚ“, as is common in nature, where organisms generate millions of gametes to maximize reproductive success and genetic variation. The phrase “dispersed from both of them many men and women” reflects the proliferation of these gametes, which later, through fusion of various “+” and “–” pairs, form neutral diploid cells (as later zygotes with two chromosome sets). These diploid cells are neither “+” nor “–” and mark the beginning of new organisms with recombined genetic material.
The term “نَّفۡسٍ۬” can mean self, soul, organism, or individual being. In this context, it refers to an original life-form—likely a single-celled organism—that divided and evolved. Through evolutionary processes like mutation, such cells eventually developed into male and female types for sexual reproduction, a key driver of genetic diversity.
Entire Evolution in three Quranic words:
“نَّفۡسٍ۬ وَٲحِدَةٍ۬ , فَمُسۡتَقَرٌّ۬ , وَمُسۡتَوۡدَعٌ۬ۗ”
(sūrat l-anʿām)Verse (6:98):
“وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَكُم مِّن نَّفۡسٍ۬ وَٲحِدَةٍ۬ فَمُسۡتَقَرٌّ۬ وَمُسۡتَوۡدَعٌ۬ۗ قَدۡ فَصَّلۡنَا ٱلۡأَيَـٰتِ لِقَوۡمٍ۬ يَفۡقَهُونَ “
Sahih International: And it is He who produced you from one soul and [gave you] a place of dwelling and of storage. We have detailed the signs for a people who understand.
The three Quranic terms—“نَّفۡسٍ۬ وَٲحِدَةٍ۬”, “فَمُسۡتَقَرٌّ۬”, “مُسۡتَوۡدَعٌ۬ۗ”—may encompass the entire story of evolution:
- “نَّفۡسٍ۬ وَٲحِدَةٍ۬” – the first single life cell and later zygote (fertilized ovum).
- “فَمُسۡتَقَرٌّ۬” – a temporary dwelling or resting place, where the living body (soma) forms and functions.
- “مُسۡتَوۡدَعٌ۬ۗ” – a repository or storage site, where the precious gametoplasm is preserved for future generations.
Let’s break them down:
“نَّفۡسٍ۬ وَٲحِدَةٍ۬” — One Single Cell
This may be understood as the first living cell or zygote—the fertilized ovum formed from the union of sperm and egg. This is a single-cell entity made of pure gametoplasm contributed by both parents.
“فَمُسۡتَقَرٌّ۬” — A Place of Temporary Rest
Derived from the root “قَرّ”, meaning to become still or stationary, it refers to a resting point after motion. Like water settling in a pond or a racing heart coming to rest.
In the biological context, it can describe how gametoplasm temporarily settles in the form of somatoplasm, which gives rise to the physical body—the soma—that lives out its lifespan on Earth. This soma is not eternal; it is a “مُسْتَقَرّ”, a temporary resting place before the next stage of transmission.
“مُسۡتَوۡدَعٌ۬ۗ” — A Repository or Storage
As defined in Edward William Lane’s Arabic–English Lexicon, this term refers to a place where valuable things are protected and stored.
In this case, it refers to the gametoplasm (reproductive cells), which is preserved in the body as:
- Spermatogonia in males, which develop into spermatozoa
- Oogonia in females, which develop into ova
This genetic material is safeguarded generation after generation, fulfilling the meaning of “مُسۡتَوۡدَعٌ۬ۗ”—a secure and protected deposit.
Active Participation of the Organism
Grammatically, “مُسۡتَوۡدَعٌ۬ۗ” is a nominative, masculine, indefinite (form X) passive participle. Interestingly, this suggests the storage process is not entirely passive.
It implies that the organism itself is participating in the preservation and perhaps even the modification of its genetic information. That is, it’s not merely passing on genetic material as a static copy but also contributing experiences and responses to its environment, which may influence what is preserved and how it’s passed on.
This aligns with emerging ideas in epigenetics—where environmental factors and life experiences can influence gene expression and may even be inherited.
So, through this lens:
The acquired experiences and information of an individual—and by extension, a population—are stored and gradually transmitted to future generations. This slow accumulation of change can eventually become permanent at the DNA level.
Hence, the organism is not just a product of evolution—it is an active participant in it.
Without this dynamic and reciprocal mechanism, evolution as a creative and adaptive process would not be conceivable.
Single-Cell Organisms for About 2,600 Million Years (More Than Half of Earth’s Life) Developing Internal Cell Functions Deep in the Ocean—Building the Cell’s Internal Universe
sūrat l-insān Verse (76:1):
“هَلۡ أَتَىٰ عَلَى ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنِ حِينٌ۬ مِّنَ ٱلدَّهۡرِ لَمۡ يَكُن شَيۡـٴً۬ـا مَّذۡكُورًا”
Sahih International: Has there [not] come upon man a period of time when he was not a thing [even] mentioned?
ٱلدَّهۡرِ is the longest measurement of time.
About 3,500 million years ago, life began in the form of single-celled organisms. For about 2,600 million years, they remained tiny, invisible unicellular beings. Who could have imagined that these tiny creatures, living alone in the darkness of the oceans for 2.6 billion years, would one day lead to a highly developed civilization on Earth?
Allah asks us: Has there not come upon mankind a very long period of time, “ٱلدَّهۡرِ ” (i.e., 2.6 billion years long) when it was not even a thing to be mentioned? Who supported this development during these 2.6 billion dark years? Most of the machinery and tools required for life and evolution were formed during this time, deep inside the cell—and we still know very little about it. the wonder of man creation is actually wonder of these tiny cells in their structure and functions.
The Missing Links
There should be fossilized remains of transitional forms showing characteristics of both ancestral and descendant groups. Hundreds of thousands of such transitions must have taken place, but we don’t have enough fossil evidence to fully prove their existence. Opponents of evolution use this as evidence that evolution never occurred and deny it entirely.
This problem arises when we try to attribute the entire, incredible process of evolution to just one of its tools—mutation. We attempt to explain everything under the umbrella of mutation because we assume it operates automatically (which is too incorrect), and by doing so, we avoid the idea of a Creator. While this may seem convenient, it lacks evidence—namely, the millions of transitional fossils that should be found around the world. But these simply don’t exist in that quantity or clarity.
According to the Holy Quran—as I understand it—the part of evolution that transforms species begins (and to a great extent, completes) within the cell. What we later observe are its external manifestations in physical form. But before any outer change occurs, an inner transformation must take place. This is a divine principle.
The Persistent Struggle of Organisms Has Shaped Evolution
Approximately 2.6 of the 3.5 billion years of evolutionary history were dominated by the existence and development of single-celled organisms. This prolonged phase laid the biochemical and structural foundation upon which multicellular complexity rapidly emerged in subsequent eras. During this extended period, intricate intrazellular systems evolved, including highly regulated molecular pathways—and potentially even quantum-level processes—contributing to increasingly adaptive and self-organizing biological functions.
These early organisms operated within, and possibly interacted with, an omnipresent quantum field. Their continuous struggle may have induced localized wave-function collapses—interpretable as information exchanges or perturbations within the quantum substrate. These perturbations could lead to incremental changes at the molecular or atomic scale within the organism’s own biological structures. Over time, the cumulative effect of such minute yet persistent changes may have resulted in heritable adaptations. In this view, evolution is shaped not only by random mutation and natural selection, but also by sustained biochemical engagement with the environment—where lasting adaptations emerge as emergent outcomes of continuous organismal striving under selective pressure.
This system includes ( in the form of a molecular language, likely translated into human language below):
- A check-and-balance mechanism
- Strategic planning
- Task assignment
- Feasibility analysis
- A command and control system
Millions of molecules work in harmony to maintain this organized system and support life. It is more complex, more systematic, and more perfect than we can describe in these few words.
An Explanation Based on the Quran knowledge:
Let me try to explain what I’ve understood from the Quran. Although this is a hypothesis, it attempts to address both the undeniable reality of evolution and the mystery of the missing links.
Imagine a population of pre-giraffes. To survive, they have a strong, persistent desire to reach the higher leaves. This continuous struggle is registered inside their cells. If this desire and effort continue over generations, a planning system may be activated to solve the problem.
One possible solution: increase the length of the neck and forelegs.
Based on stored knowledge, a feasibility report is prepared:
- How many vertebrae should be added or extended?
- What changes in bone size, strength, and height are possible?
- How will these affect balance, weight distribution, etc.?
These changes don’t happen overnight, but slowly—over generations. The information is anyhow stored and passed on to the next generation. A check-and-balance system verifies it, and the command-and-control center approves the change. every step occurred in years.
All of this occurs within a well-defined molecular system—a kind of molecular language far more advanced than we can imagine.
Before a change is implemented, the organism may even simulate the survival capabilities of the future version within its internal environment, like testing it before real-world application.
Eventually, some individuals are born with heritable physical changes. Their cells have already “tested” these adjustments in their inner environment. This is why we don’t find as many fossilized transitional forms in the number or detail we’d need to conclusively support traditional evolutionary models.
For 2.6 Billion Years, Nature Was Not Dormant
It was working on building an inner cellular life system beyond imagination that make evolution possible. The major work of evolution happened inside the cell—a process that’s conceptually understandable, but currently untraceable with today’s technology. Hopefully, future science will catch up.
Holy Quran:
sūrat l-raʿd Verse (13:11):
“إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوۡمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُواْ مَا بِأَنفُسِہِمۡۗ “
Sahih International: Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.
sūrat l-anfāl Verse (8:53):
“ذَٲلِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَمۡ يَكُ مُغَيِّرً۬ا نِّعۡمَةً أَنۡعَمَهَا عَلَىٰ قَوۡمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُواْ مَا بِأَنفُسِہِمۡۙ”
Sahih International: That is because Allah would not change a favor which He had bestowed upon a people until they change what is within themselves.
“قَوۡمٍ “ means “people,” or a well-established population. It is usually used for human groups. But the underlying principle applies to all life:
Surah An-Najm (53:39): وَأَنْ لَيْسَ لِلْإِنْسَانِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ
“And that there is not for man except that [good] for which he strives.”
First, produce a change in your inner world (the self)—through effort—and then you will be blessed with change in your external world.
For humans, this inner transformation leads to new abilities, not a change in species—because According to Holy Quran the humans have already completed their bodily evolution in the best possible form.
sūrat l-tīn Verse (95:4): “لَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ فِىٓ أَحۡسَنِ تَقۡوِيمٍ۬”
Sahih International: We have certainly created man in the best of stature.
“أَحۡسَنِ تَقۡوِيمٍ۬” means “balanced in completion and perfection at its best.”
The Entire Universe Creates an Environment in Which Evolution Is (or Was) Possible
Surah Al-Jathiyah (45:22): وَخَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَلِتُجۡزَىٰ كُلُّ نَفۡسِۭ بِمَا ڪَسَبَتۡ وَهُمۡ لَا يُظۡلَمُونَ
“And Allah created the heavens and the earth in truth, and so that every soul may be recompensed for what it has earned, and they will not be wronged.”
The phrase “بِٱلۡحَقِّ” means something with purpose, meaning, and a real result—creation was not in vain. It implies that the universe operates meaningfully and with intended outcomes.
According to the Quran, struggle (سَعَىٰ) is the central principle and driving force of evolution. Every creature earns based on its striving.
Surah An-Najm (53:39): وَأَنْ لَيْسَ لِلْإِنْسَانِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ
“And that there is not for man except that [good] for which he strives.”
The verse from Surah Al-Jathiyah guarantees that every living being (“كُلُّ نَفۡسِۭ”) will receive the outcomes of its efforts (“لِتُجۡزَىٰ بِمَا كَسَبَتۡ”), and no injustice (“لَا يُظۡلَمُونَ”) will occur. This implies that evolution is not random, but a result of countless struggles and corresponding rewards that shape organisms over time.
From a single cell, organisms have developed into crocodiles, birds, humans, or dogs through a long history of striving. Each species pursued its own needs, responses, and aspirations, and was rewarded accordingly. This reward system, built into the very fabric of creation, has led to the enormous diversity of life we see today. Different organisms responded differently to the same environmental stimuli, which explains why their evolutionary paths diverged.
Take the snake, for instance. Its current form reflects a long history of reactions and responses—often defensive or toxic—to threats in its environment. The snake’s “choice” (in a Quranic sense, shaped by behavior and struggle) has led it to become what it is today.
This system made by Allah enables every creature to realize what it strives for. The concept of “survival of the fittest” may serve as a control mechanism for which forms endure in the real environment.
So, what we see in each species is the result of what it has chosen, striven for, and done over time. From one cell to today’s complexity, every step reflects a response to challenges and a reward system governed by divine laws.
The Role of Persistent Behavior in Evolution – Beyond Random Mutation
The structure of the heavens and the earth (“ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ”)—with all their possible influences may be cosmic rays, gamma radiation, gravitational forces, particle bombardment, magnetic waves, and numerous other cosmic factors—creates a dynamic environment that acts like a subtle molding mechanism in evolution.
It is not merely random DNA mutations that drive evolution, but the persistent responses or behaviors of organisms to their environment. These responses can lead to temporary or functional changes in specific cells (e.g., increased activity, structural adaptation, expression of certain proteins). If these behavioral patterns continue over long periods—becoming embedded in the organism’s interaction with its environment—they may eventually trigger genetic-level adaptations, including changes in DNA.
In this way, the universe serves as a template of countless natural laws that respond to specific behaviors with specific outcomes. These sequences of cause and effect guide organisms through gradual, meaningful changes that align with their struggles, needs, and choices—acting as divinely designed feedback mechanisms that drive evolution.
According to the Quran, this is not a random process, but a meaningful interaction between the environment and the striving organism. This small “لِ” in word “لِتُجۡزَىٰ” means the creation of the heavens and the earth is for that every soul may be recompensed for what it has earned.
The phrase “لِتُجۡزَىٰ” (to be rewarded) is in the imperfect tense in Arabic, suggesting this process is ongoing—not limited to the past.
The Evolution Tree in the Quran
Surah Nuh (71:17): وَٱللَّهُ أَنۢبَتَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ نَبَاتً۬ا
“And Allah has caused you to grow from the earth a [progressive] growth.”
Just like plants grow from soil, human beings too have emerged progressively from the earth—a powerful image of evolutionary development, akin to a tree of life growing from the earth upward, through stages.
Stage by Stage Evolution
Surah Al-Inshiqaq (84:19): لَتَرۡكَبُنَّ طَبَقًا عَن طَبَقٍ۬
“You will surely experience stage after stage.”
Surah Nuh (71:14): وَقَدۡ خَلَقَكُمۡ أَطۡوَارًا
“While He has created you in stages?”
These verses emphasize that human development—both biologically and spiritually—unfolds gradually in stages, consistent with scientific understanding of life’s progression through evolutionary phases.
Water: The Origin of Life
Surah Al-Anbiya (21:30): وَجَعَلۡنَا مِنَ ٱلۡمَآءِ كُلَّ شَىۡءٍ حَىٍّۖ
“And We made from water every living thing.
This verse confirms what science also tells us: life without water is not possible. Water is the medium for life’s origin and sustenance.
The Quran Will Become Clearer with Scientific Progress
Surah Fussilat (41:53): سَنُرِيهِمْ آيَاتِنَا فِي الْآفَاقِ وَفِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ
“We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth…”
This verse beautifully anticipates future scientific discoveries. As human understanding advances, the deeper meanings of the Quran will become clearer—just as eyes see only what the brain is prepared to comprehend.
continued…