Could you please explain Darwin's theory of evolution in brief and whether or not it can be accepted as fact?
Answer
The theory of evolution states that biological systems change in time and space. A conclusion that man came from monkey is simply a deduction and not part of the theory. In light of that, the theory of evolution is indeed a fact. Namely, that biological systems change in both time and space.
Name
Zahra
- United States
Profession
Question
How does Islam differ in the use of science versus that of Christianity and how is it similar?
Answer
The appropriate question would be how Muslims should use science versus how Christians and non-Muslims are using science. The answer is that science is simply a set of facts, not all the facts, but a part of it that constantly keeps growing. Muslims are guided in using these facts by the principles of being the representatives of God on Earth. Not to destroy earth and not to harm creatures except by the guidance given by God. Non-Believers, regardless of what they are, will use the facts to achieve their own objectives regardless if they are the guidelines set by God.
Science discovered the use of powder, guns, eventually the use of nuclear power. Believers will use this judiciously and carefully according to the principles and methods prescribed by their faith in God. Non-Believers follow their own objectives or their own gods. Both Hitler, Stalin and the United States were racing to perfect a nuclear bomb to use it to win a war and they are all Christians. So the use of science is compulsory for believers, but within the guidelines given by Allah.
Name
Mustafa
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
What is the view of cloning in Islam?
Answer
The answer to this is pretty similar to what was in the previous question in the sense that cloning is absolutely necessary to learn, understand and to perfect. The question is to know when to use it. In principle, cloning means duplicating, or scientifically means replicating a biological entity to as small as a cell and as large as organs. The use of cloning is allowed if the objective is within the broad objectives of Islam, namely the betterment of the human beings and their environment. It is being used today in improving food production and producing medicines that help people from suffering of hunger and disease. In that capacity, it is acceptable.
Name
Lubna
- United States
Profession
Engineer
Question
Can you please give me some examples that Islam and Science coinside with each other?
Answer
Indeed, the rule is that they coincide all the time. The exceptions are the apparent differences, and they are very rare. Cases where examples of this are where Allah said in the Qur'an that the sun and the moon are constantly moving in orbits. None of them can touch the other one. This was known in science even 1,000 years ago. Similarly, as people discover how the biological system works, they come to understand that without water, there would be no life. This is also in the Qur'an.
One should not take the Qur'an as a book of science. It did not come to replace chemistry or physics books. Indeed, these sciences were left for people to discover. However, the Qur'an is so broad and so comprehensive purposely that there will never be a contradiction between it (the Qur'an) and proven scientific fact. An example of this principle is that when most people think of the principle of God, especially before the rapid development of science, many people couldn't grasp examples of God's magnitude. At this time, we are able to see events taking place in one femtosecond (0.000000000000001) and we are also seeing events of stars that died 4 billion light years ago (one light year is like about 1000000000000000 years). Allah says in the Qur'an, "And they will never comprehend Allah." Only with science can we better understand the magnitude of Allah. In this instance, science can only contribute to ones belief in what the Qur'an brought.
Name
Aisha
- United States
Profession
Question
In talking about the issue of the environment, it seems that most people don't really care about being proper and so forth. What advice could you give to us about upkeeping the environment?
Answer
The principles of Islam taken from all the pages of the Qur'an were summarized for people's actions in which it states that our first message here on Earth is to act as trustees on Earth. We use it to survive, but we don't abuse it. Among the worst offenses that God described to all of humanity is the use of excessive wastefulness, "Those who are spending in excess are siblings of Shayateen."
Clearly it tells us that we need to be proper. We have to use what we need, not what only suits our desires. The greatest threat to the environment today is not the result of growth and population, but it is the abuse of resources. Upkeeping the environment is not just a commonsense issue, but it is part of the act of uplifting the human soul as described in the Qur'an, "Those who stand to strengthen in the good in it are those who are rewarded." Part in parcel of that is to fix everything around you. Its a sense of feeling righteous. Umar ibn Al-Khattab (RAA) said, " If I learn that a beast or a horse stumbles on a road, I will be asked about why I didn't remove the harm from it." Abu Bakr (RAA) instructed the Muslim army to never cut or destroy a plant or tree when they entered a land to invade it. We are aware of our adversaries when they were fighting in Central Europe (Bosnia and Kosoova) and Turkey burned millions of millions of acres of forest. This is tantamount to the construction of Islamic principles.
Indeed, from the Muslim state from as early as the time of the Khulafah ar-Rashideen, it was their responsibility to spread greenery from Arabia to Spain. The Taj Mahal (a Muslim structure) is a masterpiece in its landscape and greenery. Therefore, proof in principle and practice, Islam encourages taking care of the environment.
Name
Ahmed
- Canada
Profession
Question
With the new developments in genome research, will scientists be able to answer some of the long-stated theories, like that of man coming from ape?
Answer
The development in genome research simply puts numbers in front of us relating genetic characteristics of individuals in the human race and conceivably, you would be able to do that by looking at the genetic properties of peoples that lived in the past. We are able to do that and compare the properties of humans with other creatures, including the ape. There are similarities and there are differences and the similarities are more common as we arise in the animal kingdom from the amoeba to the ape. The theory that the human being of today came from ape can never be proven simply because you can make evolution within animals to bring them closer to man in biological behavior, but the human race stands apart from all other creatures by having what God called the human spirit. The Qur'an says that God had blown into Adam from His spirit (God's Ruh). That is a unique trait that no other creature has. This is significant in the sense that the human being has the attribute to distinguish between what is right and wrong unlike all others, which act solely on instinct. So the point of creation of humans is a distinct point, not a process of evolution.
It is already known that more that 97% of the human genetic traits of all human beings are similar, yet we know that people differ quite a bit. The differences among people are enormous. The differences are their different colors of hair, eyes, skin; etc. However, the similarity in humans is that we all have the ability to distinguish right from wrong.
Name
Khadijah
- United States
Profession
Question
In Islam, we believe that God did not made a disease except with its cure. For the issue of AIDS and other diseases, scientists keep searching for a cure. Do you think that in this case that the cure is simply abstinence from those things which people can get AIDS, or is there more to it than that?
Answer
1) The statement in the question refers to a Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (SAAWS) in which he said that Allah had not made a disease except with making its cure except for the case of old age.
2) AIDS is a distinct disease that is separate from aging. It is from a virus. If we can control the virus, then we can control the disease. You want to prevent the spread of it and when you find it, you try to kill it or stop it.
3) Preventing the spread of it is what abstinence is about because the disease spreads by many means, some of which are innocent (blood transfusions) and others that are corrupt (such as human misbehavior). Abstinence is done to the extent of morality and care, which stops the chances of getting the disease, but doesn't totally eliminate it.
4) What scientists are doing is trying to find an antidote for that virus to treat it when it does happen.
Name
Mahmood
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
How do you feel about genetic research that is opening the possibility of genetically "creating" people? What will do to our society?
Answer
The answer to this is similar to one that was asked earlier. Namely, understanding how to do things is absolutely essential, but what you do with it is extrapolated from the guidance of Allah. You cannot genetically "create" people. When people get married, they have children that vary (they are not the same). Even identical twins have different behavior. So I don't see the possibility of genetically creating people any more that people getting married and creating children. It is God that creates. But, we should study genetics and genetic properties so that we can move from one generation to another. Indeed, the Prophet (SAAWS) was quoted as saying that when you get married, you choose because your children will depend upon the one that you choose as a spouse. So the change in generations has always depended on genetics. The biggest effect on society is not genetic selection, but the selection of morals, ideas, concepts and faith.
