The Process of Creation
A Qur'anic Perspective
by
Dr Israr Ahmad
7. Dr. Rafi-Ud-Din’s Characterization of Evolution
Essentially,
following ideas presented by Rumi in his poetical lines, Dr.
Rafi-ud-Din has pointed out three stages of the long process of evolutionary
developments viz., firstly physico-chemical evolution, secondly biological
evolution and thirdly ideational or ideological evolution. This, in effect,
means that the second stage of the descent of creation coincides with the first
stage of evolutionary process. That is to say, as a result of the “Big Bang”,
tiny particles appeared which synthesized together to constitute “atoms” which
in turn collectively constituted “molecules”. Combination and recombination of
these molecules in due course of time led first to the formation of inorganic
compounds and then ultimately to the formation of organic compounds which
represents the completion of the first stage of evolution. It must be noted
here that we have characterized this stage also as the climax and completion of
the third stage of the process of descent which has been expressed eloquently
by Mirza Abdul Qadir Baydil in the words “two realms (of “khalq” and “amr”)
consumed …” But since this third stage of the descent of creative impulse was
also the first stage of evolution, biological evolutionary process started from
this very phase.
As a
matter of fact, the natural scientists have so far not been able to explain as
to how the chemical compounds pertaining to the inorganic level acquired the
altogether different and higher element/characteristic of “life”. This, in
fact, is a perennially irresolvable issue because it necessarily relates to the working of Divine agency
of “amr” which is beyond and outside the jurisdiction of the so-called
scientific enquiry and method. Indeed, it is only on account of a word “kun”
of Allah (swt) that dead and inert matter acquired the current and throb of life and
was thus elevated to an ontologically different and distinct sphere.
Post-Darwin researchers have conclusively proved that changes occur in the
genes or DNA of a species and these cannot be explained at all on the premises
of Darwin’s theory.
In the miraculous birth of Hazrat 'Isa (pbuh), the role
of the sperm coming from the father’s side was substituted by the word “kun”
of Allah (swt). Similarly, the word “kun” was used by the Almighty Allah for
bringing about change in the genes of all species of animal kingdom, thus
creating a new variety of living beings. And this process of evolutionary
change (under Divine creativity) continued till the appearance of beings known as
“homo sapiens” in the terminology of modern Biology. We will come back to Dr.
Rafi-ud-Din’s characterization of evolution in the form of three levels of
evolutionary process --- particularly the human, intellectual and social
evolution --- in the last subsection of this treatise.
to be continued . . . .
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