ISLAM

PLACE: Mecca

DATE: 613

NAME: The Holy Quran, Surah Al-Infitar, Verses 6–8

NEWS: O man, what has deceived you concerning your Lord, the Most Generous? He created you, shaped you in due proportion, and balanced you. He formed you in whatever form He willed.

SCIENCE ABOUT GENETICS IN ISLAM

PLACE: Czech Republic

DATE: 1865

NAME: Johann Gregor Mendel

NEWS : The knowledge of the transfer of a species’ characteristics to subsequent generations through inheritance[213]. Explore the profound intersection of Genetics in Islam and Science, where ancient revelation meets modern discovery.

Charles Darwin, the originator of the theory of evolution, taught that in the struggle for existence among living species in nature and society, the strongest, those best adapted to their environment, prevail; while those that are weak and unable to adapt to their environment disappear.

This is called Natural Selection. This theory also raised the question of how living species pass on their characteristics to subsequent generations. Mendel, considered the father of genetics, laid the foundation for the answer to this question in 1865 with his work “Experiments on Plant Hybrids.” In 1958, Joshua Lederberg[215], who won the Nobel Prize in physiology and medicine for establishing the principle of “gene transfer,” discovered that bacteria carry the genes of the first generation.

The materialist mindset, devoid of the Islamic religion, appropriated this discovery and believed it to be proof that there is no creator of the universe. However, in order to sincerely claim this, shouldn’t they present evidence that there is a command or news to the contrary in the Islamic religion? If only they had known…

In order to resolve all questions and clearly reveal who serves what, we deemed it appropriate to convey the subject in light of verses and hadiths, along with the interpretations of scholars.

When interpreting the verse, “He formed you in whatever shape He willed,” Imam Tabari[216] states the following: “Allah Almighty creates man from a drop of water, beautiful or ugly, and shapes him as He wills. In this regard, Abu Rabah narrates that the Messenger of Allah spoke to him as follows: (The Messenger of Allah asked him)

—What was born?

—O Messenger of Allah, what could be born? Either my son or my daughter.

—Who does it resemble?

—O Messenger of Allah, who could it resemble? Either its father or its mother.

—(Upon this, the Messenger of Allah) Stop right there. Do not say that. For when the semen settles in the womb, Allah establishes all the lineage between it and Adam. (He likens it to one of them) Have you not read the verse in Allah’s book: “He composes man as He wills”?[217]

The 20th-century Islamic scholar Shaykh Sayyid Qutb, in his exegesis Fizilâl-il Qur’an, explains the verse “When your Lord brought forth from the loins of the children of Adam their descendants and made them testify against themselves, saying, ‘Am I not your Lord?’ they said, ‘Yes, we testify’” [218] He explains the verse as follows: “The Noble Qur’an beautifully presents this terrifying and vast truth, embedded in the depths of the universe and the depths of human nature, in this complete, brilliant, unique, and mind-boggling scene. Moreover, it presents this on this stage approximately fourteen centuries ago. However, during those times, no one knew anything about human creation, nature, and the related truths except for some vague notions! Centuries after the Qur’an expressed this truth, people are now only beginning to understand a fraction of these truths and this nature! Now, “science” states that even when humans are just cells in the womb, the code cells, or genes, which contain all the characteristics of individuals and encompass human life, yes, these very genes are the separate records of three billion people and contain the characteristics of all humans. However, these genes do not exceed one cubic centimeter in volume. They can only fill the hole made by a sewing needle. This is such a ruling that if it had been given at the time described in the Qur’an, those who said it that day would have been accused of losing their minds and of insanity!”[219]

It is narrated from Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said, “O Messenger of Allah, I have a son with black skin.” He asked, “Do you have camels?” The man replied, “Yes.” The Prophet (saw) asked, “What are their colors?” He replied, “Red.” The Prophet (saw) asked, “Are any of them gray?” He replied, “Yes.” The Prophet (pbuh) asked, “Why is that?” The man replied, “It must be a genetic trait.” The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Your son must have inherited this trait.”[220]

Our Master (s.a.v), using the colors of camels as an example, stated that a person’s offspring can resemble their ancestors, clearly expressing both the accusation of adultery and the existence of heredity centuries ago. The striking alignment between 7th-century revelation and modern discovery proves that Genetics in Islam and Science are not in conflict.

You can read more articles on different subjects Islam, please click here. You can also study more about the genetics in Islam by clicking here.

[213] Heredity, inheritance

[214] The branch of biology that studies the similarities and differences between parents and offspring across one or more generations

[215] Biologist. (b. 1925 – d. 2008)

[216] Authority in the sciences of fiqh, hadith, history, language, tafsir, and qiraat, Islamic scholar (b. 838 – d. 923)

[217] Abu Ja’far Muhammad b. Jarir al-Tabari, Tabari tafsir, Hisar Publishing House: 9/29

[218] Surah Al-A’raf, Verse 172

[219] Sayyid Qutb, Fizilâl-il Qur’an, Vol. 6, p. 307, Hikmet Publications

[220] Summary of Sahih al-Bukhari, Tecrid-i sarih, no: 1878, Abdullah Feyzi Kocaer, Hüner Yay. p. 546