Questioner:
There is a theory which states that the origin of man is from ape and then after that, evolution occurred to him until he became man. So what is the legislative ruling regarding this statement which the call: The Darwin Theory?
Shaykh Muqbil bn Hādī al-Wādiʿī
This theory is considered to be disbelief. Allāh, the Exalted and Most High, says (what means):
“Verily, We created man of the best stature (mould).” [aṭ-Ṭin:4]
“O man! What has made you careless concerning your Lord, the Most Generous? Who created you, fashioned you perfectly, and gave you due proportion; In whatever form He willed, He put you together.” [al-Infiṭār:6-8]
[And there are] ḥadīths reported from the Prophet ﷺ, rather there are even (many) verses of the Qurʾān relating to the creation of Ādam.
And likewise, the ḥadīths –as contained in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim– about when Ādam was made of clay, Iblīs would walk by him and he noticed him to be hollow, so he envied him for that.
And likewise, as contained in the Ṣaḥīḥayn, that Allāh created Ādam, then when he breathed the Rūḥ (spirit) in him, He said to him: Go to those angels and say the salutations of greetings them.
And the Lord of might and power says in His noble book (what means):
“O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife [Hawwa (Eve)], and from them both He created many men and women.” [an-Nisā’:1]
And He, the Exalted and Most High says (what means):
“It is He Who has created you from a single person (Adam), and (then) He has created from him his wife [Hawwa (Eve)], in order that he might enjoy the pleasure of living with her. When he had sexual relation with her, she became pregnant and she carried it about lightly.” [al-A’rāf:189]
So, the intent is that this theory is considered to be disbelief. And Allāh’s aid is sought. And it is highly prohibited to teach it to the children of the Muslims!
