Evolution discussions are not very popular in the Muslim world, but that is not due to a lack of controversy or conflict. Rather, it is a result of widespread outright refusal of the theory amongst many communities, especially the layperson on the street.
Resistance to critical thinking or scientific analysis has led to decades of refusal to even discuss evolution. Stock themes that creationists in the West regularly use are employed by evolution deniers in the Muslim world, such as saying evolution is only a hypothesis, an incomplete theory, full of scientific flaws and gaps, or implausible.
Last year, the British Council took a wonderful step to celebrate Darwin’s 200 years anniversary by holding a large conference in Alexandria, Egypt, to discuss evolution. They brought a diverse, international team of wonderful speakers to present their thoughts, research and work. Holding such a conference in this particular place was the first opportunity for many science students in the Arab world to actually hear and learn about evolution in detail – and from a completely different perspective from the one they have heard for all their lives.
While the bulk of students walked out of the three-day conference unconvinced of evolution and still praising Harun Yahya (popular Turkish evolution denier) for standing up against this “atheist theory” (as several called it), the conference was an important start. The debate had come to the Arab world and there was no stopping it now. Now I just hope the pressure can be built on and more discussions, debates and education finds its way to this region of the world.
Discussion of the details of evolution and Islam can take up several posts, highlighting the problems and conflicts, and the various interpretations of the Quran, the Muslim holy book, that can accept or deny evolution.
Meanwhile, Hampshire College, US, has put up a wonderful resource for anyone interested to learn more about Evolution, Darwinism and Islam. The newly launched Evolution and Islam seeks to start a nucleus of reliable information on this topic. Besides having links to evolution and religion lectures and a dedicated blog on the issues, the website also hosts webcasts and videos from an excellent conference held at Hampshire College held in October 2009 titled Darwin & Evolution in the Muslim World.
The website is definitely worth keeping an eye on. The ball has rolled and I feel that evolution discussions in the Muslim world will get more vocal in the coming years.
I tend to find a very opposing view to that of what the editor reports regarding attitudes towards evolution in the Islamic world.
For one, they do not provide stock responses similar to the US in refuting evolutionary theory. Whether the average layperson in the street or students on campus, they believe evolution does occur but within limitations. That the core substance is still created by God. And this view is shockingly variable. Some go as far as stating that life could have evolved on its own, but a grand designer provided the core materials.
Islam is also not stuck on the idea that earth is only 4-6 thousand years old and Muslims believe that it carries the weight of millions. This alone lifts a huge barrier from the thought process. As a result of the millions vs. thousands of years attitude on earths existence I find that it is a lot easier for Muslims to be convinced about scientific evidence regarding evolutionary theory.
I have had deep discussions with both devote Christians and Muslims and it is much easier to expand your discussion with a Muslim. But of course other elements also play a role, including the fact that Middle-easterners are generally not as widely read as Westerners and therefore sit in awe with our refined styles of argumentation that do not incorporate ambiguous Islamic scripture but bases its backbone on pure rationalization.
Islamic countries are fertile ground for an evolutionary revolution. How we go about introducing it as scientists requires a great deal of sensitivities to Islamic culture. Otherwise the door is open, just don’t step on the prayer rugs when you walk in. Walk around them and leave the rest for them to figure out.
Referring to evolution as an “atheist theory” is very much out of sync with the fact that science (and its laws and theories) “comes out of a theological worldview”. See here https://www.nature.com/embor/journal/v11/n8/full/embor2010106.html
Both catholicism (see above link) and buddhism (see this book https://www.amazon.com/Universe-Single-Atom-Convergence-Spirituality/dp/076792066X ) are at peace with science and the theory of evolution. Hopefully similar voices will raise in Islam soon?
Thanks for the insightful post Mohammad Ali.
However, I think we are on almost complete agreement with our opinions.
I agree with you that many of the hurdles to evolution in the West are non-existent in the Islamic World (such as your example of a young Earth vs old Earth).
But from my experiences and interactions with people from all over the science community (ranging from school students to university professors) opposition to evolution is widely prevalent in the Islamic World.
The reason, in my opinion, is, as you stated, related to informed education. Most people do not know much about evolution and disregard it on non-scientific bases.
That is why I found the Darwin Now meeting in Alexandria an exciting endeavour. It was the first chance for many of the students to hear about evolution in a scientific layout.
I also agree with you that the region is poised for an evolutionary revolution, but it has to start at home. This is essential to address the religious intricacies of the region.
I have actually wrote a guide for journalists who want to cover evolution in predominantly religious regions about how to go about tackling the issue without offending people.
You can find that here: https://www.scidev.net/en/practical-guides/how-to-report-on-evolutionary-science.html
The theory of evolution was originated among Muslims. See the newly publliushed book by T.O.Shanavas
https://productsearch.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?ATH=T.O.Shanavas
After reading Dr. Shanavas’ book, Islamic Theory of evolution The Missing Link between Darwin and The Origin of Species, I am convinced that there is no conflict between the theory and Islam.
Shanavas summarize the the relation between creation and evolution very elegantly. If Creation is genotype (the cause), Evolution is the phenotype (the outward appearanc).