IMAM ALI (A.S.) - THE FATHER OF THEORY OF EVOLUTION - 1

In a nut shell, Darwin’s Theory of Evolution was based on the following:

1. Climatic Change
2. Struggle for Existence
3. Survival of the Fittest
4. Connecting Links

Darwin was a Christian and a believer but because he used the word “nature” instead of God, the clergy and the scholars of Islam and Christianity opposed his theory because they believed that his theory opposed God. The only flaw in his theory was the extensive usage of the word “Nature”. The believers in God want God to create living beings at one go, they cannot digest the idea of God making His creations slowly and gradually through selection and climate change.

Darwin’s theory was an attempt to explain the existence of “Connecting Links”. Connecting Links are not only characteristic of life but non-life as well; the sub-atomic electron is the Connecting Link between matter and energy; liquids are Connecting Link between solids and gases.

The Noble Qur’an says: “Verily! Allah selected (astafa) Adam, Nooh and the family of Ibrahim and the family of Imran above the ‘Alamin (mankind).”  (3:33)

“O Children of Israel! Remember My Favor which I bestowed upon you and that I preferred (selected) you to the ‘Alamin (mankind)” (2:47)

The above verses hint towards the theory of natural selection. God indeed has favorites, but His favoritism is based on justice, He only selects those who are fit and worthy of His preference.

Darwin’s all four components as stated above are found in the Noble Qur’an, Prophet’s Traditions and Nahjul Balagha.

Climatic Change:

Malthusian Theory states that with increase in population the natural disasters increase (to put a check on growth). Darwin was motivated by Malthusian Theory. Every living organism has immense potential to over breed. A single bacterium gives 70 generations in 20 minutes. If all the bacteria survive, then in a month’s time, there will be no place on earth to stand.

To check this growth nature (or God) creates Climatic Changes. Only the strong spirited one who can cope with Climatic Changes will survive.

The Noble Qur’an says: “We do not change the circumstances unless you change from within.”

It means Allah will always put you in unfavorable conditions, and wishes that you should change and modify yourself to suite the harsh conditions, and once you get adapted to the harsh conditions, He changes the unfavorable conditions into favorable ones. Thus, Allah loves change. First, He changes the external conditions and then He changes you.

Imam Ali (a.s.) says: “Through the change of circumstances, the metal of men is known.”

The above statements of the Noble Qur’an and Nahjul Balagha agree with Malthusian theory and the concept of Climatic Change.

Struggle for Existence:

Climatic Change leads to struggle for Existence. To face the change of circumstances or climate, species or organism, have to change or develop positive mutations. In today’s scenario of over population and environmental change, only those will survive who have developed a strong spirit which can control the body and make it adapt to the deteriorating Climatic Conditions.

The Noble Qur’an says: “Every soul shall get that for which it struggles.”

Survival of the Fittest:

Only those organisms which are fit to fight the harsh conditions are selected by nature. The Climatic Change, Struggle for Existence and Survival of the Fittest concept is found in the following saying of Imam Ali (a.s.): Saying 84

“The survivor of the sword (battle field) lives longer and has large progeny”

The battle field is a place of struggle where only fit survives. Those who survived the sword live longer because they have developed positive change during their struggle and they have a large progeny because nature (or Allah) wants these positive changes to survive.

The Noble Qur’an says: “When the Mercy of Allah descends, the valleys flow according to their measures and only that stays which is useful to mankind.”

With constant accumulations of these positive changes new organisms come into being or in evolutionary terminology ‘originates’. The new organism multiplies tremendously owing to its new acquired characteristics which match the demand of changing environment. The process continues. The Noble Qur’an says about this scenario: “Did they not see how Allah begins the creation and then turns it back? This is not difficult at all for Allah.” (29:19)

“(Muhammad), say to them, “Travel through the land and see how He has begun the creation and how Allah will invent the next life. Allah has power over all things.” (29:20)

Allah wants us to travel in the earth, like Darwin, and find the puzzle of “Origin of Species”

References:

The Noble Qur’an

Nahjul Balagha

Imam Ali and Darwinism.Blogspot.com