Presented by Zia H Shah MD, the Chief Editor of the Muslim Times

Javed Ahmed Ghamidi is one of the most respected and effective Muslim scholar from Pakistan back ground. Given the large population of Pakistan now exceeding two hundred and twenty million that makes him a very powerful voice for Islam and the Quran.

So, I could not ignore the above presentation by him on evolution and very respectfully want to share my views and my evidence with him and others.

Ghamidi’s tolerant and universal views, where he describes himself as a student of the Quran among others, gives me courage to write this in service of Islam.

I believe that when we present the Quran sometimes against established science it leads to some of the younger generations in the West move towards agnosticism and atheism.

Our understanding and commentary of the Quran keeps evolving with our overall explanation of the universe we inhabit. The 21st century commentaries of the Quran in that respect are very different from the early centuries, even though in many respects all commentators inspire to build congruence with the time of the holy Prophet Muhammad, may peace be on him. In earlier centuries the Muslims believed our hearts to be the seat of our thoughts and emotions, as the Quran repeatedly uses the term Sadoor. But, the modern readers almost always understand the expression to be metaphorical as scientific developments have unequivocally established that our brains are the seat of our mind, our thoughts and our emotions.

Evidence for the common ancestry of all live forms, almost 9 million of them, on planet earth is now a very established fact. Humans have indeed come from apes and chimpanzees. I do not deny influence of God in orchestrating the process and also not the gift of language and revelation that God honored humanity with, however He did it. But denying that we are related to monkeys and apes and ultimately even unicellular organisms, also mentioned in the Quran, is like saying that gravity does not exist and an apple will not fall to the ground, rather may end up on moon.

Ghamidi talks about fossil record in the above video. But, may I respectfully say, the best evidence for evolution does not come from fossils rather from molecular biology. Each and every gene of our body and each and every protein is actually an exhibit for the truth of the statement that our bodies have evolved from ape like animals. We have some thirty thousand genes and the human body contains between 80,000 and 400,000 proteins, but the exact number is difficult to determine. No wonder today biologists cannot make sense of biology without the evolutionary connection between all life forms.

Molecular biology provides compelling evidence for evolution by revealing the genetic and biochemical similarities among diverse species, indicating common ancestry and the mechanisms driving evolutionary change. Here are specific examples illustrating this evidence:

1. Universality of the Genetic Code

All known organisms utilize DNA as their genetic material, and the genetic code—how nucleotide sequences are translated into proteins—is nearly universal. This universality suggests a common origin for all life forms. For instance, the codon sequences that specify amino acids are remarkably consistent across species, from bacteria to humans, highlighting shared evolutionary roots. LibreTexts Bio

2. Homologous Genes and Proteins

Many genes and proteins are conserved across species, reflecting descent from a common ancestor. For example, the protein cytochrome c, essential for cellular respiration, exhibits similar amino acid sequences in both humans and chimpanzees, indicating a close evolutionary relationship. Even in more distantly related organisms, like humans and yeast, cytochrome c retains significant sequence similarity, underscoring the deep evolutionary connections among diverse life forms. LibreTexts Bio

3. Pseudogenes as Evolutionary Markers

Pseudogenes are non-functional remnants of once-active genes. Their presence and sequence similarities across different species serve as molecular evidence of shared ancestry. For instance, humans and other primates possess similar pseudogenes, such as the GULO gene involved in vitamin C synthesis, which is inactive in these species but functional in others like rodents. This shared genetic “fossil” points to a common ancestor in which the gene became inactive.

4. Molecular Clocks and Evolutionary Timelines

By comparing DNA sequences, scientists can estimate the time since two species diverged from a common ancestor. This method, known as the molecular clock, relies on the relatively constant rate of genetic mutations over time. For example, molecular clock analyses have been used to estimate the divergence time between humans and chimpanzees, providing insights into human evolutionary history.

5. Gene Duplication and Functional Diversification

Gene duplication events allow one copy of a gene to acquire mutations and potentially develop new functions, while the other copy maintains the original function. This process contributes to evolutionary innovation. For instance, the globin gene family, responsible for oxygen transport in blood, arose through multiple gene duplications, leading to hemoglobin and myoglobin with distinct yet related functions. Open Oregon

These molecular findings, among others, provide robust evidence for the theory of evolution, demonstrating how genetic material changes over time and leads to the diversity of life observed today.

I believe over time this case could be supported by thirty thousand homologous genes and up to 400,000 homologous proteins. A time could come when all readers of the Quran will read it with evolution as a given rather than against it, like we take our brains to be the seat of our mind. Now, I will merely share some demographic information about the Muslims.

Traditionally, majority of the Muslims have believed in special creation of Adam. But, in recent decades more and more of them are moving towards guided evolution:

According to a Pew Research Center poll, among the Muslims in Southern and Eastern Europe, a majority of Muslims in Albania (62%) and Russia (58%) believe in evolution. In Tajikistan and Turkey, the predominant view is that humans have remained in their present form since the beginning of time, 55% and 49%, respectively.

At least six-in-ten Muslims in Lebanon (78%), the Palestinian territories (67%) and Morocco (63%) think humans and other living things have evolved over time, but Jordanian and Tunisian Muslims are more divided on the issue. About half in Jordan (52%) believe in evolution, while 47% say humans have always existed in their present form. And in Tunisia, 45% say humans have evolved, 36% say they have always existed in their present form, and 19% are unsure. Iraq is the only country surveyed in the Middle East-North Africa region where a majority rejects the theory of evolution (67%).

Now, the discourse among Muslims regarding human origins is diverse:

• Literalists: Adhere strictly to scriptural accounts, rejecting evolutionary theory as incompatible with the Quranic narrative.
• Reconciliatory Approaches: Seek harmony between scientific findings and religious texts, interpreting Quranic verses in ways that accommodate evolutionary concepts.
• Allegorical Interpretations: View the story of Adam as symbolic, representing deeper truths about human nature and morality rather than a literal historical account.

This diversity reflects the broader Islamic engagement with science and theology, aiming to understand the natural world while upholding faith principles.

I conclude with a quote from Encyclopedia Britannica:

Ikhtilāf, in Islam, differences of opinion on religious matters. Such diversity is permissible as long as the basic principles of Islam are not affected. Ikhtilāf is thus the opposite of ijmāʿ (consensus). The existence of ikhtilāf on a given issue permits Muslims to choose the interpretation of religious teachings that best suits their own circumstances and causes the least harm. Two famous sayings from Hadith in favour of ikhtilāf were attributed to the Prophet Muhammad: ‘Difference of opinion in the Muslim community is a sign of divine favour’; and ‘It is a mercy of God that the theologians differ in opinion.’

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