Abstract

This commentary explores Qur’an 29:19–20 through multiple lenses – scientific, historical, philosophical, and theological – to show a harmonious dialogue between the Quranic perspective on creation and the Darwinian theory of evolution. We begin by examining the Quranic verses, which invite believers to “travel through the land and observe how [Allah] began creation” (29:20), highlighting a consonance between Islamic teachings and the pursuit of scientific knowledge ijaazah.com. Historically, we recount how Charles Darwin’s five-year voyage on the HMS Beagle (1831–1836) – especially his observations of species like the Galápagos finches – exemplified this spirit of inquiry and yielded crucial insights for the theory of evolution education.nationalgeographic.org education.nationalgeographic.org. Philosophically and theologically, we emphasize “guided evolution,” a view advocated by contemporary Muslim scholars (notably Zia H. Shah MD) which reconciles Darwinian evolution with Quranic creation by positing that natural selection and other processes are instruments of divine will rather than blind chance thequran.love thequran.love. In Islamic thought, God is understood as both transcendent and immanent – Al-Ẓāhir (Evident) and Al-Bāṭin (Hidden) – meaning that while Allah can create miraculously, He often operates through natural laws that He ordained thequran.love. Thus, evolution can be seen as Allah’s method of creation, a gradual unfolding “stage by stage” under divine guidance, consistent with Quranic verses and classical Islamic insights thequran.love thequran.love. By examining the Quranic text, Darwin’s findings, and modern Islamic scholarship, this commentary illustrates a profound harmony between faith and science – arguing that understanding evolution can deepen one’s appreciation of Quranic wisdom, and vice versa. We conclude with a thematic epilogue reflecting on how this integrated perspective enriches both religious belief and scientific curiosity.

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