Question 3

"How old does the Quran say the Earth is? And does the Quran support evolution of species?"

No. The Qur’an does not state the age of the Earth.

And no, the Qur’an does not support the Darwinian ‘evolution of species’.

Neither does it agree totally with the alternative explanations of the ‘Creationists’ (anti-Evolutionist group) of the West.

The Islamic standpoint is that human species were created as humans from the onset – and was not linked to other life-forms as imagined by the evolutionist. Yet we do not dismiss ‘evolution’ totally as a biological process for human formation within its historical development in the various stages.

Just as in embryology, human form (as a new creation) biologically came about after the zygote went through several stages of life forms, evolving finally into human form. This view has been stated in the Qur’an 1400 years ago, even when the Western scientists believed in the ‘Pre-formation Theory’ where they ‘imagined’ human form must have already existed in male spermatozoa when it impregnated the ova. This view was shattered with the discovery of microscope and the study of modern embryology, which upheld the Qur’anic standpoint as described:

“We (Allah) created man from a quintessence (gentle extraction) of clay; We then placed him as a drop (nutfah) in a place of rest firmly fixed; then We made the drop into an “alaqah” (leech-like); and then We change the “alaqah” into “mudghah” (chewed-like substance); then We made out of that “mudghah” bones (‘izam); then We clothed the bones with flesh (‘lahm); then We developed out of it another creation. So blessed be Allah, the best to create.”

(Qur’an :Surah al- Mu’minun : 23:12-15)

And Islam accepts the evolution in terms of mankind’s features (as colour, physiology, etc.) but not that he has evolved from other species nor will he evolve to become another specie.

“And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the variations in your languages and your colours: verily in that are Signs for those who know.” 

(Qur’an: Rum: 30:22)

"O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you." 

(Qur’an: Hujurat: 49:13)

waAllaau a’lam