Origin of Life
“And, surely, We created man from dry ringing clay, from black mud wrought into shape.” (Ch.15 v.27)
“And the Jinn We had created before from the fire of hot wind.” (Ch.15 v.28)
“He created man from dry ringing clay which is like baked pottery.” (Ch.55 v.15)
“… And We made from water every living thing…”(Ch.21 v.31)
Evolution
“That you shall assuredly pass on from one stage to another.” (Ch.84 v.20)
“What is the matter with you that you expect not wisdom and staidness from Allah? ‘And He has created you in different forms and different conditions.” (Ch.71 v.14-15)
“O man, what has emboldened thee against thy Gracious Lord, Who created thee, then perfected thee, then proportioned thee aright? In whatever form He pleased, He fashioned thee.” (Ch.82 v.7-9)
Embryology
“… We have indeed created you from dust, then from a spermdrop, then from clotted blood, then from a lump of flesh, partly formed and partly unformed, in order that We may make Our power manifest to you. And We cause what We will to remain in the wombs for an appointed term; then We bring you forth as babes; then We rear you that you may attain to your age of full strength …” (Ch.22 v.6)
“… He creates you in the wombs of your mothers, creation after creation, in threefold darkness …” (Ch.39 v.7)
Clay subjected to cycles of wetting and drying can link molecules of the amino acid known as glycine. The cycling transfers energy from the environment to the organic molecule. Direct heat from fire played a vital role in the creation and maintenance of pre-biotic organisms; their decay and fermentation created the primordial soup. The Holy Qur’an clearly states that the material used for the making of pottery-like plates was decayed organic matter-stagnant blackish mud.
The Holy Qur’an speaks of creation only in step by step progressive stages which are well provided for, categorically rejecting the concept of spontaneous generation. Several verses suggest an evolution controlled and directed by the hand of the Creator.
Verses in the Holy Qur’an describe the different stages of fetal development. Various references are made to the different shapes and forms of the fetus, to the fact that not all fertilized embryos complete the full fetal cycle and to the existence of the abdominal wall, uterine wall and the embryonic sacs (the “threefold darkness”).
Signs for the People
“Verily, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and in the alternation of night and day, and in the ships which sail in the sea with that which profits men, and in the water which Allah sends down from the sky and quickens therewith the earth after its death and scatters therein all kinds of beasts, and in the change of the winds, and the clouds pressed into service between the heaven and the earth — are indeed Signs for the people who understand.” (Ch.2 v.165)
Moving Mountains
“And thou seest the mountains which thou thinkest to be firmly fixed, but they shall pass away like the passing of the clouds — the work of Allah Who has made everything perfect. Verily, He knows full well what you do.” (Ch.27 v.89)
The Inspired Bee
“And thy Lord has inspired the bee, saying, ‘Make thou houses in the hills and in the trees and in the trellises which they build. ‘Then eat of every kind of fruit, and follow the ways of thy Lord that have been made easy for thee.’ There comes forth from their bellies a drink of varying hues. Therein is cure for men. Surely, in that is a Sign for a people who reflect.”(Ch.16 v.69-70)
Sky – The Roof
“Who made the earth a bed for you, and the heaven a roof, and caused water to come down from the clouds and therewith brought forth fruits for your sustenance. Set not up, therefore, equals to Allah, while you know.” (Ch.2 v.23)
Those who remember Allah while standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, and ponder over the creation of the heavens and the earth: ‘Our Lord, Thou hast not created this in vain; nay, Holy art Thou; save us, then, from the punishment of the Fire.’ (Ch.3 v.192)
Contrary to the common belief at that time and for the many centuries to come the Holy Qur’an clearly stated that the mountains are not stationary and are rather floating like the clouds, the only logical inference to be drawn from this would be that the earth is also rotating along with them. The Holy Qur’an is thus highlighting the motion of the earth along its orbit around the sun, centuries before it became common knowledge.
The word “wahi” used to indicate “inspiration” is also used for God’s revelation to his prophets. The Honey Bee is the recipient of the divine revelation or inspiration that in this context means the natural instincts with which God has endowed this species.
“And We have made the heaven a roof, well protected; yet they turn away from its Signs.” (Ch.21 v.33)
Cosmology
“Do not the unbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were a closed-up mass, then We opened them out …” (Ch.21 v.31)
“And the heaven We built with Our own powers and indeed We go on expanding it.” (Ch.51 v.48)
“Remember the day when We shall roll up the heavens like the rolling up of written scrolls by a scribe. As We began the first creation, so shall We repeat it – a promise binding upon Us; We shall certainly perform it.” (Ch.21 v.105)
Astronomy
“He it is Who made the sun radiate a brilliant light and the moon reflect a lustre …” (Ch.10 v.6)
“And He it is Who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon, each gliding along in its orbit.” (Ch.21 v.34)
“And the sun is moving on the course prescribed for it. That is the decree of the Almighty, the All- Knowing God. And for the moon We have appointed stages, till it becomes again like an old dry branch of a palm-tree. It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor can the night outstrip the day. All of them float in an orbit.” (Ch.36 v.39-41)
Extraterrestrial Life
“And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and of whatever living creatures He has spread forth in both. And He has the power to gather them together when He pleases.” (Ch.42 v.30)
The Holy Qur’an depicts many aspects of cosmology and astronomy including the beginning of the universe and the big bang, the expanding nature of the universe, the celestial orbits, path of the sun and the moon, the different nature of light coming from the sun and the moon, the collapse and ending of the universe as we know it, the recreation of the universe, the existence of Extraterrestrial Life and our contact with it.
Contrary to the common belief at that time, the Holy Qur’an clearly distinguishes between the light coming from the sun and the moon and uses words that describe sun as a source of light and the moon as a reflector. The Holy Qur’an also clearly states that the sun and the moon move in well defined orbit and that the sun itself is also moving towards a prescribed course, clearly indicating the celestial orbits and the movement of the entire solar system within the milky way.
The word used to depict living creatures in this verse is “Da’bbah”, it covers all animals which creep or move along the surface. It does not apply to animals which fly or swim. It is certainly not applicable to any form of spiritual life. This verse speaks not only of the possibility of extraterrestrial life, but it categorically declares that it does exist. The last part of the verse states that He (Allah) will bring together the life in the heavenly bodies and the life on earth when He so pleases.