Adam: The Quran, Creation and Evolution ? Science vs Scripture
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Introduction
On the face of vast scientific evidence available on evolution, of all living things, including the human, the main problem for the Creationists is reconciling, the arrival of Adam and Eve, on Earth; the time and the form. The placement of Adam and Eve as created beings on earth has been the thorn, ever since science contradicted the Scripture and this contention has been sufficient for the Creationists to reject, without any inquiry whatsoever, even at the most obvious scientific physical evidence, towards evolution. For the first time a study of the Scripture and new scientific evidence has paved the way for reconciliation between Creationism and Evolution.
Creation - Bible and the Quran
Generally, followers of the three Abrahamic faiths believe that Adam was the first man on earth and that he was created, right after, the creation of the earth and the heavens in one week; on the 6th day of that important week according to the Genesis and on the Friday of that same week as per the Hadith. Accordingly, that will put Adam?s creation about 4.5 billion years ago, considering the scientific dating on the age of the earth. But a very significant fact here would be to state, that the Quran does not place the creation of Adam, along with the creation of the earth and the heavens. Nor does it place this immediately after.
The Bible and the Quran agrees on the creation of Adam from clay (or mud), thereafter the creation of his female partner (Lets call her Eve, to avoid the long description) and that through them the rest of the humans, therefore the couple earning the title ?parents to mankind?. While the Quran mentions about Adam?s creation a few times, in 359 it compares the creation of Adam to the creation of Jesus.
Verily, the likeness of Jesus with Allah is as the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust, and then He said unto him Be! and he is. (Al Qur?an 359).
The similarity in the creation of Adam and Jesus is, while the rest of the humans originate from sexual reproduction between a man and a woman, both Adam and Jesus originated without such contact at the command of God to ?Be?. ( Al Quran 347 and 1935, on creation of Jesus) Since, generally all humans originate through sexual reproduction, the creation from clay automatically leads to the implication that Adam was the first man on the face of the earth and religious teachings scorch this position into the hearts of the faithful. And when we are religiously coached from day one to believe a certain story or a take a position, that holds even though it is just a pigment of our imagination, and not supported by the Quran.
But its significant that the Quran does not specifically mention, Adam to be the first man on earth, nor does it make, being created to life from clay, exclusive to Adam. As above, even creation of Jesus, according to the Quran, is through such communication from God, without the male and female contact, and the Bible goes a step away and implies the breathing of the spirit to Mary. According to Al Quran 5109, Jesus creates a bird out of clay and breathes it to life. Just as the creation from clay does not necessitate this bird to be the first bird on earth, creation from clay does not necessitate Adam to be the first man on the earth either. Since, on the face of it, this line of argument seems to be in clear contradiction with the Quran or the Bible, I will try to explain, that there is no contradiction in this position and the Quran, but the apparent contradiction arose all this time from the definition of one important word, ?MAN? or to be more specific, ?HUMAN?.
Human ? Anatomy and Behavior
Even if we rest, the evolution theories, mainly theories on man?s primate beginning, for the moment, so some of the audience would do not become too uncomfortable with the subject matter we are dealing with, we know for a fact, through convincing evidence, including fossil and skeletal remains, that for some 400,000 years (or more) different branches of human species such as Homo Neanderthals and Homo Sapiens who lay claim to being our ancient ancestors lived on earth. Although most of them did not look, think or behave like us, a branch of the Homo Sapiens who lived on earth around 100,000 years ago, sure looked quite similar to the modern human, in body structure and brain size, and was therefore termed as Anatomically Modern Humans (AMH) by scientists. Although these AMH were physically similar to a modern human they were certainly not comparable in behavior, according to all available evidence. In an attempt to compare the human who lived 100,000 years ago with the modern human, for behavioral modernity and cognitive competencies, it is necessary to identify the time period in which the ancients acquired cognitive abilities in the likes of, but not limited to, perception, awareness, reasoning, memory, symbolic thought, insight, judgment and decision making.
( Although there are tons of research studies available on these subjects, freely, even on the web, for ease of reference and simplicity I have taken extracts from wikipedia and similar web sites)
There is considerable debate regarding whether the earliest anatomically modern humans behaved similarly to recent or existing humans. Modern human behaviors characteristic of recent humans include fully modern language, the capacity for abstract thought and the use of symbolism to express cultural creativity. There are two opposing hypotheses regarding the origins of modern behavior. Some scholars argue that humans achieved anatomical modernity first, around 200tya, and only later did they adopt modern behaviors around 50tya. This hypothesis is based on the limited record of fossils from periods before 50tya and the abundance of human artifacts found after 50tya. Proponents of this view distinguish "anatomically modern humans" from "behaviorally modern humans?
http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatomically_modern_humans
So when did the ancient human achieve behavioral modernity and develop cognitive abilities similar to that of the modern human?
According to archaeological evidence the humans towards the end of the last Ice Age/Last Glacial Maximum (about 12,000 ? 15,000 years ago) were physically and probably cognitively indistinguishable from us. This period marks the origin of agriculture and indicates major cultural changes, in which the early humans emerged into farming communities (from the earlier foraging lifestyle) like the Natufians in the Levant, probably the cradle of civilization; precursors to the Neolithic Revolution.
But with regard to the periods preceding that, there is no agreement among experts, about the time frame during which, mankind acquired cognitive abilities comparable to that of the modern humans. While estimates differ, according to some experts, that there is a marked increase in evidences of cognitive competencies shown by humans for the last 40,000 years (give or take few thousand years) than the period preceding that. But this does not mean these evidences offer, convincing proof of high levels of human cognition as equivalent to that of the recent human. Although archeology can shed light into the physical evolution of man, unfortunately, it cannot expound much about our humanness.
http//ahotcupofjoe.net/2010/05/about-cognitive-archaeology/
Hence the question arises that if we were to compare, Homo sapiens who lived say 100,000, 60, 000 or 40,000 years ago with the humans of today (or for that matter with people who lived say 10,000 years ago) are we comparing two similar humans? Allow me to explain, that this is not definitely going to be an apple to apple comparison.
The broad definition of a human will possibly include anything with a human shape (of course, being opposed to an animal or an alien) which would probably comprise all the Homo sapiens and some of his predecessors and proxies, who lived on earth for some half a million years or so. Certainly, dictionaries will include human qualities such as kindness to describe humans, but surprisingly, these human traits have not been considered, in evolutionary classifications or other definitions of ?mankind?. But what becomes clearly obvious is, if we define humans, based on their cognitive competencies along with the anatomical similarities, certainly the more accurate way of classifying, we would be able to identify two distinct categories; Cognitively Competent Human (the Modern Human or Recent Human) and the Cognitively Incompetent Human (Ancient Human or even, subhuman).
If we base this classification to define humans, then by all probability Adam should have been a Cognitively Competent Human, since a person would require basic cognitive abilities, to understand God, to be aware of His signs, to abide by the rules, to communicate and pass the message of God to the next generation and therefore to possess a language. The Quran uses the words Basher, Insan and Nas to describe Human, Person, People/ Mankind, respectively, but it does not define the word ?human?. But it can be reasonably assumed, a human should be considered ?mentally fit? to think, understand, believe, submit, be righteous and very importantly to be tested in this world and to be judged in the hereafter. On the other hand, if we go by anatomical similarities only, Adam should have come to the earth about 200,000 years ago, and started the r
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(I just noticed that significant part of this article which I posted, had been deleted from its full post due to some error, probably it got deleted while I tried to edit subsequently. Now I am posting from the point where the article has got cut off. )
...and started the race of Anatomically Modern Humans, but in all probability, lacked human cognition; hybrid between a human and a primate.
Great leap forward
?There are two main theories regarding when modern human behavior emerged. One theory holds that behavioral modernity occurred as a sudden event some 50 kya (50,000 years ago), possibly as a result of a major genetic mutation or as a result of a biological reorganization of the brain that led to the emergence of modern human natural languages. Proponents of this theory refer to this event as the Great Leap Forward?
Advocates of this hypothesis argue that the great leap forward occurred sometime between 50-40 kya in Africa or Europe. They argue that humans who lived before 50 kya were behaviorally primitive and indistinguishable from other extinct hominids such as the Neanderthals or Homo erectus. Proponents of this view base their evidence on the abundance of complex artifacts, such as artwork and bone tools of the Upper Paleolithic, that appear in the fossil record after 50 kya. They argue that such artifacts are absent from the fossil record from before 50 kya, indicating that earlier hominids lacked the cognitive skills required to produce such artifacts.Jared Diamond states that humans of the Acheulean and Mousterian cultures lived in an apparent stasis, experiencing little cultural change. This was followed by a sudden flowering of fine tool making, sophisticated weaponry, sculpture, cave painting, body ornaments, and long-distance trade. Humans also expanded into hitherto uninhabited environments, such as Australia and Northern Eurasia.
According to this model, the emergence of anatomically modern humans predates the emergence of behaviorally modern humans by over 100 kya.
http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavioral_modernity
Development of human cognition and the Scriptures
While the debate continues on whether mankind achieved cognition gradually or ?all of a sudden?, it would be significant to mention, that the Quran in 231-33 mentions, God teaching names to Adam and Adam repeating them, made very important in the Quran, while the Malaika looked more like a programmed entity, like a computer. This may indicate development of language or even development of ?ontological categories?.
(Ontological Categories The way the human mind routinely employs symbolism, is through the use of ontological categories, which are special mental concepts that allow the human mind to store and categorize vast amounts of information without having to know the details of every single member of a category.
http//ahotcupofjoe.net/2010/05/application-of-cognitive-archaeology/)
Also the Quran mentions Adam and Eve after having eaten from the tree become aware of their nakedness and cover themselves with leaves (out of shame). This is interesting, since scientists researching evolution of morality, cannot tell us with certainty, why and how, the ancients became conscious of their nakedness and also when such awareness took place. Although various types of clothing had been used by ancient humans for tens of thousands of years, the evidence suggests clothing was mainly to protect them from the elements, especially from the cold and/or as an ornament and attraction. Adam and Eve suddenly acquiring this kind of awareness imply sudden development of some kind of human cognition. Also the distinction between right and wrong, which Adam and Eve learnt from their experience in the garden, an important aspect of human cognition, an experience they would have brought with them to the earth, a basic human trait which probably did not exist among the Homo sapiens living at that time on earth. All this may support the theory of sudden emergence of cognition among ancient man. (It is important to mention here, that there is not much variation in the Bible narrative of the above from the Quranic version)
Based on our above position, we can presume that Adam appeared on earth, after his expulsion from the garden, within the last 40,000 ? 12,500 years as a cognitive human being ( and going by the same theory it can be understood that he wasn?t here within the last 10,000 years either). Since the Quran does not mention the timing of Adams creation or his appearance on earth, this does not contradict the Quran; to assume that Adam was created and then appeared on earth while other human species (Cognitively Incompetent Humans) were living on earth, from which he ?succeeded? the earth. Also since we understand now, that creation from clay does not mean Adam had to pre-date all human species on earth, this theory is very much a possibility.
Adding more credibility to this theory is the verse 2 30 in which, God says ?placing a Khalifa on earth? meaning a ?successor? on earth. This is the root meaning of this word in the Quran and every other meaning is derived from that including ?inheritor?. For Adam to be a Successor there should have been a predecessor on earth and as explained above, Adam succeeded the ancient humans, who were living on earth at that time.
All this seems fine on Scripture. But is it even remotely possible, to reconcile this theory with Science or rather Evolution, which claims our most recent common ancestor was a monkey ?
Scientific discovery of Adam and Eve
So far we discussed the creation of Adam, the timing of his creation and also the definition and the beginning of the modern human race without contradicting the Quran. Based on this position, we can assert, because through Adam and his offspring began the race of Cognitively Competent Humans, he qualifies to become the father of all modern or recent humans. But it?s important to examine if this position contradicts science, that a man of such recent times, in his claim, to be the ancestor of all humans and also taking the position, contradict the Quran, in its claim of Adam being the father of mankind and Adam and Eve being our parents?
In the quest to find the parents of mankind, fortunately for us, scientists in recent times have come up with some simple and fascinating new research, in search of our common ancestors. Most of us may think, attempting to find someone who is a common ancestor of every human alive today means going all the way back to the beginning of the human race; to a single cell, a chimpanzee or to Adam , depending on where you draw your beliefs from. But scientists using DNA and complex mathematical models are claiming that in fact, we share common ancestors (individuals from which all present day humans descend) who lived during recent times (say 5000 ? 15,000 thousand years ago).
Genealogists have developed two concepts known as the Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA) and Common Ancestral Point (CAP) or Identical Ancestral Point (IAP) which offers interesting results to this intriguing research. These two concepts as explained below makes it possible for Adam and Eve to have lived during the above time frame and still claim the title of, Parents to Mankind.
On the Common Ancestors of All Living Humans
Douglas L. T. Rohde -Massachusetts Institute of Technology
http//tedlab.mit.edu/~dr/Papers/Rohde-MRCA-two.pdf
(Page 1)
Questions concerning the common ancestors of all present-day humans have received considerable attention of late in both the scientist and lay communities. Principally, this attention has focused on
Mitochondrial Eve,' defined to be the woman who lies at the confluence of our maternal ancestry lines, and who is believed to have lived 100,000- 200,000 years ago. More recent attention has been given to our common paternal ancestor,Y Chromosome Adam,' who may have lived 35,000- 89,000 years ago. However, if we consider not just our all-female and all-male lines, but our ancestors along all parental lines, it turns out that everyone on earth may share a common ancestor who is remarkably recent.This study introduces a large-scale, detailed computer model of recent human history which suggests that the common ancestor of everyone alive today very likely lived between 2,000 and 5,000 years ago. Furthermore, the model indicates that nearly everyone living a few thousand years prior to that time is either the ancestor of no one or of all living humans.
Introduction
Advances in genetics have sparked interest in our common ancestors, the individuals from which all present-day humans descend. Initial interest focused on the topic of 'Mitochondrial Eve', who is defined to be the most recent female ancestor from whom all individuals descend along strictly maternal lines (Cann, Stoneking, & Wilson,1987; Vigilant, Stoneking, Harpending, Hawkes, & Wilson,1991). An approximate date for Mitochondrial Eve of 100,000 to 200,000 years ago has been estimated based on the successive mutations in mitochondrial DNA, which are passed down from mother to child. A similar analysis can be performed on the strictly paternal lines of succession, using the Y chromosome, which is passed down from father to son, to determine the approximate date of `Y Chromosome Adam.' This date was originally estimated very loosely to fall between 27,000 and 270,000 years ago (Dorit, Akashi, & Gilbert, 1995), a range that was more recently narrowed to 35,000- 89,000 years ago (Ke et al., 2001).
(Page 27)
This paper has sought to investigate an intriguing aspect of the human species, our common ancestry. Based on the results of a series of computer models, it seems likely that our most recent common ancestor may have lived between 2,000 and 5,000 years ago. This is, perhaps, one tenth to one one-hundredth the length of time to our most recent common ancestors along solely male or solely female lines, which have been the target of considerable recent interest. The point beyond which everyone alive today shares the same set of ancestors is somewhat harder to predict, but it most likely falls between 5,000 and 15,000 years ago, with a significantly more recent date for the point at which we share nearly the same set.
http//tedlab.mit.edu/~dr/Papers/Rohde-MRCA-two.pdf
Conclusion
It is important to mention here, on the face of it, the concepts of Mitochondrial Eve and Y Chromosome Adam may seem, contradictory to the theory above since Mitochondrial Eve is estimated to have lived at least 100,000 years ago. An explanation would be, interbreeding between offspring of Adam and existing Cognitively Incompetent Humans. This assumption clearly puts an end to the age-old debate of incest by Adams offspring. Meanwhile Y Chromosome Adam falls within the above time frame.
After the appearance of Adam on earth, it is quite probable, the offspring of Adam, stood a better chance of survival because of their higher cognitive levels, compared to that of the ancient humans who were already present, whose population already diminished due to the expanding ice ages. The newly adopted cognitive capabilities would have led to many changes in these particular humans, individually and collectively. (For instance, the development of agriculture based societies which had a better a chance at survival from hunger, cold and disease than the hunter gatherers in the wild). It could be highly likely due to these developments of cognitive competencies, which led to improvement in their thinking and behavior, the offspring of Adam survived in the long run, while the remaining Ancient Humans went extinct over the years.
This study should be an eye opener for Muslims, to examine, the available scientific data on evolution, and to realize that the Quran does not contradict established scientific facts. Also it should be taken into account that the early Muslim scientists pioneered the studies on evolution much before Darwin. All life on earth, humans, animals and plants seem to have evolved to achieve a pre determined goal set by the intelligent designer, God.
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On the face of vast scientific evidence available on evolution, of all living things, including the human, the main problem for the Creationists is reconciling, the arrival of Adam and Eve, on Earth; the time and the form. The placement of Adam and Eve as created beings on earth has been the thorn, ever since science contradicted the Scripture and this contention has been sufficient for the Creationists to reject, without any inquiry whatsoever, even at the most obvious scientific physical evidence, towards evolution. For the first time a study of the Scripture and new scientific evidence has paved the way for reconciliation between Creationism and Evolution.
Nicely put together.
Do you know a Prof Ibrahim Syed from Louisville, Kentucky? He is putting a conference together next year to revive the Islamic Renaissance which will also cover topics like yours.
Do you then see the description of Adam And Eve as an allegorical description? Why would the Abrahamic religions have Adam created first, when biologically it is the female as default, only then the male?
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Peace StopS
Regret my late reply.
I haven't heard of Prof Ibrahim Syed till you mentioned. I checked his website, got thousands of articles, some on evolution as well. Didn't get the time to read. The deadline to submit papers to the next conference is already over. Probably get in before the next deadline, God willing.
Both issues you raised are dealt within the article, please do read, if time permits.
Allegory, is a very broad definition. I am writing an article on allegory. Maybe we can discuss on that subject when I post.
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Peace StopS
Regret my late reply.
I haven't heard of Prof Ibrahim Syed till you mentioned. I checked his website, got thousands of articles, some on evolution as well. Didn't get the time to read. The deadline to submit papers to the next conference is already over. Probably get in before the next deadline, God willing.
Both issues you raised are dealt within the article, please do read, if time permits.
Allegory, is a very broad definition. I am writing an article on allegory. Maybe we can discuss on that subject when I post.
I would like to draw consideration to how the Adam and Eve narrative is more than just an allegory. It actually pertains to an explicit and tangible reality, but one that requires some careful distinctions be made so that the view opens up to your understanding.
This is an old thread so I wonder if it would be preferable to start a new thread?
Incidentally, I should add, that this article is very much on the right track! I found it completely delightful to read.
I agree with its conclusions entirely that what Adam refers to is a new evolutionary jump in the behavioral and cognitive development of some humans into the race of "man". The collective "salvation" of humans into a "paradise" is incumbent upon our eternal soul being received into the spiritual family of Adam so that our time on earth will be to live among others who function in accordance with these higher cognitive capabilities. This is the spiritual birth that scripture mentions that is a prerequisite to enter into this new race of "man".
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There's another 'hint' provided by Genesis and Quran which might able to serve as a 'clue' to indicate which 'species' (or remains) is under AMH / Adam progeny or not (or hasn't yet).
That is if they WEAR CLOTHES to (at least) cover their genital.
Homo Neanderthal does wear clothes (made from animal skin) as thus, according to Genesis and Quran, they're among "Adam" progeny.
HOMO NEANDERTHAL
http//img.timeinc.net/time/daily/2010/1005/360_neanderthal_genome_0505.jpgPAPUAN HOMO SAPIENS
http//www.drokpa.com/PotD/Jiwika-2.jpgZULU HOMO SAPIENS
http//www.ezakwantu.com/Penis%20Cover%2002.jpg15,000 KM of distance between Sub-Saharan Africa and Papua, yet you can see the similarities of 'clothing' and features among it's inhabitants which still can be seen up until today.
There's no such thing as 'ancient human', all 'walking primates' who already wear clothes or cover of their genitals are Adam's progeny.