Running head: INTELLIGENT DESIGN-BETWEEN RELIGION AND EVOLUTION 1

Intelligent Design: Between Religion and Evolution

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 INTELLIGENT DESIGN-BETWEEN RELIGION AND EVOLUTION 2

Abstract

Scientific evidence shows that life began through natural selection and mutation.

According to Darwin's Natural Selection theory, new organisms were created without God's

intervention. They then evolved to adapt to their environment. The evolution of life dates back

several decades, as indicated by Socrates, who believed that God created all life forms.

According to Greek philosophers, the diversity of living creatures only came about through

intelligent design. Various scholars, such as Behe, Beckwith, McDowell, Dembski, and Fuller,

have presented their explanations that support the theory of evolution. Some religions, however,

believe that God created the universe and life forms. Intelligence design, an alternative to

evolution, is commonly practiced in Muslim and Christian communities. This paper aims to

analyze the various perspectives on this topic.

According to the Islamic holy book "Qur'an," Allah created all life forms and the

universe. Some Muslim scholars believe that a supernatural God created the cosmos and its

complex life forms. Among these individuals is Harun Yahya, who believes that God designed

the universe exclusively. Some Muslims, such as Guessoum, believe that the concept of I.D. is

not straightforward due to the complexity of the universe's creation. Others, such as Aristide,

believe that the compatibility of evolution and Islam is possible. According to Aristide, I.D. is

rooted in the complexity and a poor perspective due to the Asharite concept. In 1992, a group of

researchers noted that intelligent design (I.D.) needs to be aligned with the Qur'an's design

discourse. They also argued that it seeks natural gaps to prove God's presence. This has caused

some Muslim scholars to question the validity of the concept.

Key words: Intelligent Design, Evolution, Islam, Quran, Creation

 INTELLIGENT DESIGN-BETWEEN RELIGION AND EVOLUTION 3

Intelligent Design: Between Religion and Evolution

Introduction

Evolution is currently one of the hottest catchphrases among Muslims, both negatively

and positively. Suggestions show that the Muslim population is generally unreceptive and

doubtful of evolution from the standpoint of Islam for several reasons (Guessoum, 2011). This,

however, does not imply that all Muslims reject evolution in one stroke. Because Muslims are

heterogenous, there are different opinions that a researcher can retrieve on the topic. The

evolution theory states that all biological entities, including human beings, have historical

relationships via interrelating lineages. This implies that humans are descendants of an ancient

species and were not instantly created into existence. Considering this, the theory is opposed to

the belief that Adam and Eve were the first parentless humankind couple, as stated in the Quran.

This opposing idea brews tension and is the beginning of the whole discussion of Islam and

Evolution.

Muslim thinkers have responded to the evolution theory differently (Malik, 2021;

Guessoum, 2016). This research reviews different variables that have played a role in the current

dialogue between evolutionists and Muslim creationists. Unlike other religions, Islam does not

have significant debates regarding the separation of religion from science. Teachings in Islam

indicate scientific discoveries, breakthroughs, and indications of the presence of God. When

scientific theories contradict the traditions of the Prophet Mohammad and the Quran, Muslims

are expected to reject them. Apart from the evolution theory by Darwin, modern science and the

Quran are remarkably in consensus. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the claims

regarding the source of the universe from the creation and evolution perspectives in order to
 INTELLIGENT DESIGN-BETWEEN RELIGION AND EVOLUTION 4

determine the side with the most valid claims. The key research objective is to evaluate whether

the universe was created by an intelligent creator or was a product of chance through evolution.

Literature Review

Understanding Intelligent Design

Science is opposed to the idea that an intelligent creator designed the universe, but there

have been major critics of the proof that science provides regarding the source of life (Sober,

2007). The theory of Intelligent Design (ID) suggests that the weight of evidence shows that life

within the universe cannot have originated randomly. Life must have been designed in an

intelligent manner. The present theories of evolution, on the other hand, suggests that the

universe was never designed but was a product of chance that was not directed. As such, ID

theory is opposed to the theory of evolution. The proponents of ID suggest that for life to have

originated by chance, cells, which are life’s building blocks, must be rather simple. However,

after the development of electron microscope and improvements in biochemistry, it has been

proved that cells are actually very complex (Shanks, 2007). The proponents of ID propose that

the level of complexity shows that cells did not develop by chance. Some organization must have

been provided by an intelligent designer (Sober, 2007). The proponents of evolution insist that

the evidence for design is never real but just apparent. It is only either of the two positions that

can be correct.

The Science of Evolution

Evolution theory is a unifying theory of biology, as it is the framework through which

biology undertakes investigations regarding the living world. The core belief is that all the

species in the world originated from a single ancestor and underwent evolution and

diversification (Jenkins, 2019). The difference observed in the species results from the
 INTELLIGENT DESIGN-BETWEEN RELIGION AND EVOLUTION 5

diversification they all underwent due to changes in genetics and the natural environment

surrounding them. Evolution, therefore, provides the direction for estimating the sources and

nature of living things and has been verified using massive scientific experimentation. It is an

alteration in the genes of living organisms over a given period (Bayarri, 2020). The changes in

the genetic composition take thousands of years and result in differences in the reproduction and

survival of organisms.

From a broad view, evolution takes place in a stepwise manner via a successive series of

different stages. A conflicting relationship between environmental factors and genetics results in

the differences among species in different categories that are subsequently developed with time

(Tamborini, 2015). While the species of these categories further progress, adapt to their

environments and consistently diversify, they come up with further genetic differentiation that

finally results in the current natural context. Humans represent a single end of a parallel series of

several varied evolutionary pathways. From this explanation, it is evident that humans do not

originate from apes as commonly assumed. However, humans and apes once had a similar

ancestral node, after which the genetic split between the two species started to sharpen due to the

influence of the natural environment's differences (Stamenković, 2022).

Several explanations act as evidence for evolution. These include genetics, homology,

and the fossil record, among others. There are, however, some solid objections to this evidence.

The fossil record evidence, for instance, is criticized for having significant gaps (Bortz, 2014).

There appear to be gaps within the records for the intermediate and transitional species. This

implies that no evidence links older species to new ones. Though this scientific objection is solid,

scientists could point out several intermediate links.

 INTELLIGENT DESIGN-BETWEEN RELIGION AND EVOLUTION 6

A well-known example is the Tiktaalik (Rogers, 2011). It was a significant discovery

because it connected the sea animals with those on land. It had different properties of land and

sea animals, thus pointing to a transition between the two types of species. Moreover, those who

support evolution acknowledge the incompleteness of the record and state many reasons for the

incompleteness. For instance, scientists state that preserving bones is a significant challenge,

making it difficult to get a complete set of skeletons for a given species or a variety. The

explanation does not mean that the fossil record is inaccurate.

It should be noted that fossil records are often augmented with other autonomous lines of

evidence that only appear to be in support of theories like genetics (Richards, 1992). Several

indictive inferences have massive convergence towards the evolution theory. The inferences

majorly contribute to the points of exchange between the advocates and critics of evolution.

Scientifically, evolution is perceived as the best explanation for the pattern and process of

biodiversity in the historical and present world (Brink et al., 2017).

Metaphysics

There are many implications from evolution and its elements that stimulate major

theological worry. Issues like naturalism, divine action, and evil presence are a few examples. In

the perception of naturalism, for instance, evolution holds that a naturalistic perspective can be

applied in explaining everything, emotional and mental phenomena like free will and morality

inclusive (Malik, 2023). Morality, thoughts, and free will are perceived to be epiphenomenal

results of unseen natural forces whose nature can be discovered. This perception is antithetical to

the worldview of Islam, as the religion requires belief in non-observable and supernatural entities

such as angels, the soul, and God (Polkinghorne, 2000). This makes the narrative of evolution by
 INTELLIGENT DESIGN-BETWEEN RELIGION AND EVOLUTION 7

Darwin a significant concern to Muslims. Moreover, atheists have undertaken a perfect

marketing job through the evolution equation to atheism.

With the concept of the link between evolution and atheism, Muslims usually dismiss the

theory without a second thought. Many nuances, however, appear to be inappropriate in the

discussion. For instance, the critic of evolution should accept that naturalism is a dominant issue

in science, not only in evolution. As such, dwelling on it in the evaluation evolution theory

appears to be selective criticism (Harris, 2012). Moreover, it needs to be appreciated that the

evolution theory is more of a philosophical position than a proven scientific argument. For

instance, the claim that everything is reduceable to matter is not a scientific argument but a

metaphysical claim that is stated using a scientific veneer (Slagle, 2013). From this, a person can

understand the difference between methodological naturalism and philosophical naturalism.

Philosophical naturalism states that everything that exists is because of nature, while

methodological naturalism holds that science can only study the natural world (Recker, 2017).

This implies that methodological naturalism is a proclamation of epistemology and leaves the

issue of ontology to people's individual beliefs. This significant distinction instantly helps in the

possible interpretations of evolution by non-atheists. These include intelligent design, which

holds that chance cannot produce the complexities we experience within the biological world but

only supernatural intelligent beings like God (Plantinga, 2012). It is, however, significant to note

that I.D. is highly criticized by scientists as well as the theistic evolution, which acknowledges

the entire strategy of evolution with the added claim that it is God who guides all the steps within

the process of evolution. Though naturalism appears to be a manageable problem, further

discussions, such as the problem of evil and the issue of chance, still need to be resolved using

the advocacy of evolution (Nagasawa, 2012). Thus, several Philo-theological debates on the
 INTELLIGENT DESIGN-BETWEEN RELIGION AND EVOLUTION 8

topic and a person’s creedal and metaphysical commitments influence his approach to the

evolution theory.

Hermeneutics

There are two major sides to this argument, with claims that are challenging to refute or

accept. On one side are the scientists who are persistent that evolution is the perfect and

substantiated science of the world's bio-historical diversity. On the other side is the narrative

regarding Adam's creation, which occupies a noticeable space within the Islamic scripture (Ruse,

2022). It is generally understood from the Quran that Adam and Eve were spontaneously created

by God, had no parents, and were the first of humanity to exist. This is the renowned narrative

among Muslims (Nadvi, 1998). This results in an emerging conflict of ideas regarding the source

of life and leaves Muslims with the option of choosing the side to believe in, the Muslim

Narrative or the theory of evolution. This has led to contradicting arguments and conclusions

regarding the origin of humankind. Some Muslims will doubt or reject the theory of evolution by

perceiving the creation narrative from the Islamic teachings as the correct source of life. On the

other hand, other Muslims will question the authenticity of Islamic teachings and abide by the

evolution theory, believing that science gives detailed answers. Such doubts have even resulted

in Muslims walking away from the religion (Cottee, 2015).

The question regarding authority also emerges from the debate (Shavit, 2017). Science

has shown much credibility in the advancement of human knowledge. From a superficial

perception, however, the Islamic discourse appears stagnant since it came into existence. The

dynamic and progressive world of science thus starts to overshadow the authority of Islamic

teachings as discoveries and advancements are made in science from time to time. This results in

the conflict of authority in which the theologian is compared to the scientist. Both of them will
 INTELLIGENT DESIGN-BETWEEN RELIGION AND EVOLUTION 9

have their sensitivities on the issues of external appropriation or imposition (Howard, 2011).

Consequently, one gains the ability to comprehend how evolution is received by the Muslims,

primarily theologians, who might be pushed to reevaluate the scripture in a manner that does not

aggressively intrude upon the 1,400-year-old tradition (Winter, 2008).

The main concern of the debate regarding evolution within Islam is the position of human

beings. The Quran states that God created Adam in the perfect mold and made him His official

administrative deputy on earth. This implies that Adam and his offspring were meant to occupy

an elevated status among all other creations. Most believers wonder how such a noble and

honored entity could be a product of imperfect ancestors who underwent a random process (El-

Rouayheb, 2015). The Quran further refers to Adam as the parent of humanity, implying that he

was the first human being who did not have any birth parents. As such, there is the stepwise

pathway of evolution on the one hand and the creation and placement of Adam on earn on the

other (Varisco, 2018). After a brief reading, the two narratives are irreconcilable.

A person can apply several hermeneutic procedures and principles in accepting or

rejecting evolution. For the advocates of evolution, Adam's story is often perceived as a

metaphor, with Adam being reinterpreted as some symbolic figure and claiming that the first

human was not Adam and Eve (Malik, 2019). However, these interpretations need proof of being

the actual truth. From the interpretations of the Quran, it has been argued that no verses suggest

the story of Adam had idioms or metaphorical indications, which could reduce it to non-literal

readings. Some scholars have also rejected the evolution theory using the scripture due to the

noble status of humanity (Elshakry, 2011).

It is significant to note that the argument is that Adam's creation by God makes him

unique. This specific description of Adam indicates that he could not be a product of evolution
 INTELLIGENT DESIGN-BETWEEN RELIGION AND EVOLUTION 10

(Gamini, 2021). However, there is equally a verse in the Quran suggesting that God also created

cattle with His own hands. This weakens the claim that Adam could not be an evolution product

just because he was created by God's hands (Norris, P., & Inglehart, 2012). As such, from the

literature, it is evident that the intense debate regarding the evolution theory and story of creation

results from the unclarity of the presented arguments.

Research Methodology

This study applies qualitative research design in the collection and analysis of data, as

there are no numerical data involved. Reeves, Kuper, and Hodges (2008) state that qualitative

research design is applied in collecting and analyzing non-numerical data that is required to

comprehend concepts, experiences, and opinions. The study involves collecting secondary data

from online databases that carry information linked to the topic under investigation (Youngblood

& Mazzei, 2011). Data is retrieved from known online databases such as EBSCO, LexisNexis

Academic, JSTOR, and ProQuest, among others. The Keywords used in searching the databases

included Intelligent Design, Islam, Evolution, and Religion, and all the peer-reviewed articles on

the topic of the study were selected as the data sources for this research. Content analysis was

then applied in examining the data to retrieve the information for this research. This involved

reading the contents of past studies on the topics, understanding the perceptions of the

researchers, comprehending the conclusions of the past researchers, and comparing and

contrasting the findings of the past studies. Table 1 below gives a summary of the findings in the

secondary research that is applied in this study.

Table 1

Summary of studies used in this research

Stance Scholar Argument

 INTELLIGENT DESIGN-BETWEEN RELIGION AND EVOLUTION 11

The study concludes that

human beings developed
Imam Tabtabae (Shah, 2016)
from a given species that was
not animal or plant.
The study states that
Syed Ala Maududi (Shah,
evolution is only a theory and
2016)
not practically proven.
The study concludes that
links between fossil records
Dr Tahrir al-Qadri (Shah, are missing and there is no
2016) single straightforward
explanation presented by the
Refutation scientists.
The study argues that the
Seyyed Hossein Nasr (Nasr human form is fixed and it is
(2021) not correct to mention that it
underwent transformation.
The author holds that Adam
Nuh Ha Mim Keller (Masud, was genuinely created and
2018) did not undergo through any
transformation.
The author argues that Adam
David Solomon Jalajel was specially created and did
(Jalajel, 2009). not undergo through any
transformation.
From the study, evolution
Nidhal Guessoum partially explains the story of
(Guessoum, 2011) creation and the scientific
data
The study concludes that the
Rana Dajani (Dajani, 2016)
creation story is figurative
Acknowledgement From the study, the creation
Seyyed Ahmed Khan (Shah, story is figurative but
2010)) evolution has some form of
proof
The study concludes that
Muhammed Iqbal (Iqbal, Adam’s story is figurative,
2012) and the name is used to
symbolize something else
From the study findings,
humans are created from a
Muhamed Abduh (Elshakry,
single soul and it doesn’t
2013)
matter if the father is a
monkey or Adam
T. O. Shavanas (Shavanas, The study concludes that the
2010) first humans were not Adam
 INTELLIGENT DESIGN-BETWEEN RELIGION AND EVOLUTION 12

and Eve. They were just

spiritual father of humans.
From the findings, evolution
should be rejected. But if it is
accurate Muslims have to
Ismail Fenni (Ziadat, 1986)
reevaluate their stance, and
science must be taken
seriously.
The author argues that
Accommodative evolution should be rejected.
However, it should be
Hussein Al Jisr (Bilgil, 2015) considered that the scripture
does not explain if Adam was
spontaneously created or
came from evolution.

Theoretical Framework

The theory of evolution, as described by Fiore and Altamura (2022), states that all the

living species descended from ancestral species whose appearances differ from present day

species as a result of cumulative alteration within genetic conformation of a population. As such,

the theory implies that population of living organisms appear and behave differently since their

DNA composition changed with time. Intelligence Design (ID) theory, on the other hand, is a

scientific theory that states that given features of living things and the universe are best

elaborated by an intelligent cause, as they never resulted from an undirected chance-based

procedure like evolution that Darwin proposed (Fuller, 2006).

From the link between the evolutionary theories and religion, there are four primary

positions that have been taken by scholars:

1. Incompatibility between the claims of science and religion

2. Compatibility between religion and science since both belong to spheres of knowledge

that are completely independent.

 INTELLIGENT DESIGN-BETWEEN RELIGION AND EVOLUTION 13

3. Data from current science are not just incompatible with religion, but act as its

reinforcement by offering elements for scientific endorsement of theories proper to

religion.

4. Religion and science move in separate and independent methodological spheres, though

harmony exists between them.

Figure 1

Compatibility between evolution theory and religion

Science and religion are totally incompatible

Evolution
Theory
Explains the Compatible: both belong to independent spheres
source of living
things and the
Science reinforces explanations in religion
universe
Intelligent
Science and religion exist in different spheres but
Design
are in harmony with on another

Intelligent Design: Between Religion and Evolution

The response of Muslims to evolution theory has been mixed, as internal opinions vary

from complete rejection to complete acceptance of the theory, with opinions of many

philosophical thinkers ranging between. Furthermore, though several people are on either side of

the argument, their reasons for accepting or rejecting the theory vary.

Rejection of Evolution

Shah (2010) states that from the viewpoint of Imam Tabtabaei, the scripture shows that

humankind never developed from any other species of animals or plants. There is a detailed

description of the origin and step-by-step progressive stages of intra-uterine life within the

Quran. The Muslims possessed the knowledge within the 7th century and the sayings of the

Prophet Muhammad that authentic narrators told elaborated the entire process regarding the natal
 INTELLIGENT DESIGN-BETWEEN RELIGION AND EVOLUTION 14

and post-natal events. Presentation of the findings to experts within the fields of embryology and

anatomy made them believe that the Prophet possessed divine knowledge. The knowledge could

only be provided to the Prophet by the Creator Himself. Imam Tabtabaei thus believed that

human beings could not originate from other species of plants or animals, as Prophet Mohammad

distinctively explained the development process.

Shah (2010) also explained that another recognized thinker, Syed Ala Maududi, claimed

that evolution is merely a theory with no practical proof. Scientific understanding coherently

needs both theories and facts. Though biologists have pointed out mechanisms that can be

applied in explaining the main patterns of change, such as genetic variation, adaptation, and

divergence, the thinker believes that evolution theory does not include evidence and ideas related

to the origin of life. Most evolutionary biology concentrates on how life has changed since it

originated but rarely explains how life started. As such, the scholar believed it is merely a theory

of how a life transformed but does not explain how life began.

Shah (2010) further explains that Dr. Tahrir al-Qadri believed that the missing links

within the fossil records and the several interpretations of scientists make it incorrect to accept

evolution theory as the origin of life. The theory has a variety of explanations regarding how life

began and progressed, making it challenging to apply it in explaining the source of life. The

missing links are equally hard to justify, making it challenging to rely entirely on the theory.

Nasr (2021) states that the human form is fixed, and the claim of transformation among

species is incorrect. Though scientifically, there are genetic mutations and adaptations that may

make a person unique, and there are no alterations that can change an organism from one species

to the next. This indicates that the human species hardly originated from other organisms.

Moreover, Jelajel (2009) and Masud (2018) referred to Adam as a unique creation that could not
 INTELLIGENT DESIGN-BETWEEN RELIGION AND EVOLUTION 15

be part of the evolution process. As evolution does not precisely explain the source of the first

human, scholars believe that the creation narrative from the Quran places Adam in a special

position, as God Himself took time to create him.

Acceptance of Evolution

According to Guessoum (2011), the information regarding evolution fits both the data

provided and the story of the creation of Adam. In reviewing the works and beliefs of several

scholars, he states that evolution plays a significant role in describing the transformations that are

taking place today and states that God is using evolution to drive the world toward modernity. As

evolution does not explain the origin of human beings, the scholar does not oppose the creation

story but insists that evolutionary issues such as mutations and adaptations are works of God in

driving the world towards modernity.

According to Dajani (2016), Seyyed Ahmed Khan (Shah, 2010), and Iqbal (2012),

however, Adam's story in the Quran is allegorical. The scholars believe that the story needs

profound interpretation and should not be taken literally as written in the Quran. Shah (2010)

states that Seyyed Ahmed Khan believed that the story of evolution has physical proof and can

thus be perceived as a fact, unlike the story of creation that is only read from the holy book. Iqbal

(2012) further stresses that the Quran never uses proper names, implying that Adam should be

perceived more as a concept than an individual.

According to Elshakry (2013), Mohamed Abdul accepted the theory of evolution through

the claim that man is created from a single soul, so it does not matter much if the father of man is

Adam or a monkey. The scholar implies that there is nothing special in man, unlike other

organisms, even if man was God's unique creation. Man perishes like other organisms.

According to Shavanas (2010), on the other hand, Adam and Eve were not the first human being,
 INTELLIGENT DESIGN-BETWEEN RELIGION AND EVOLUTION 16

but Adam is perceived as the spiritual father to humankind. The scholar believes that Adam

should be associated with the spiritual beliefs of humankind and not linked to the actual origin of

humans.

Accommodative to Evolution

Al-Jisr (2012) rejected the theory of evolution. However, he states that there are no

specific messages in the scriptures as to whether Adam came to existence via evolution or

spontaneous creation. In his accommodation to the theory, he urges Muslims to reevaluate their

stance if it is proven that Adam came into existence through evolution. Bilgil (2015) further

states that science needs to be safeguarded as a faltering enterprise in case the exact origin of

humans is proven, and this will prompt Muslims to alter their stance.

Conclusion

An evaluation of the past studies relate to the topic reveals a significant misunderstanding

of the topic. Studies have contradicting conclusions with proper support from both science and

the Quran. The thinkers' differences relate to their management of the tug of war-between

Islamic hermeneutics, metaphorical commitments, and understanding of science. As such, the

question regarding the conflict between Islam and evolution depends on how a person manages

the link between the domains, the levels of comprehension of the literature and their sources, and

the basis of arguments for or against evolution.

Some scholars have taken the position of incompatibility between religion and evolution

theory. This position is majorly influenced by the literalist interpretation of the Quran. It emerges

from the consideration that the Quran contains scientific data regarding the universe and source

of man. The defenders of the position argue that the holy book does not have information related

to the current framework presented by science, thus making the two sides of the argument
 INTELLIGENT DESIGN-BETWEEN RELIGION AND EVOLUTION 17

incompatible. The second group of scholars hold the position that the two positions are

compatible because they are totally independent of one another. This position implies that

science, which plays a major decisive role in the contemporary world, is not linkable to the

knowledge of God. The arguments presented in this position fully separates the story of creation

from that of evolution, an implication that God is placed in the past while the present is left in the

hands of observable natural processes.

The third group of scholars present their argument based on the intelligent design

movement. They believe that recent scientific discoveries in areas like biochemistry give

empirical evidence for the presence of an intelligent design. The proponents of this position

believe that the present intelligence in the source of the universe and living organisms is divine.

The last group of scholars believe that there is harmony between science and creation because

they exist in spheres that are totally different. They do not give support on the side that correctly

explains the origin of the universe, but believes the two sides should exist in concord as they are

totally different.
 INTELLIGENT DESIGN-BETWEEN RELIGION AND EVOLUTION 18

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