The Origin of Life According to the Quran

Question: Allah, in some parts of the Quran states that the origin of Man is water and in another
part of the Quran that its clay? It seems like a contradiction? Please clarify the confusion on
the issue.

Verily all praises is for Allah, we praise Him and seek His aid and ask for His forgiveness, and
we seek refuge with Allah from the evils of ourselves and our evil actions. Whom Allah chooses
to guide, none that can mislead him and whom He chooses mislead, none that can guide him. I
bear witness that none has the right to be worship except Allah Alone, having no partners, and I
bear witness that Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘ alayhi ‘wa sallam (peace and blessings upon him)
(saw)) is His slave and His Messenger.

Sura 4 - An-Nisa [Women] Verse 1-1:

1. ٍ‫ﻱَﺍ ﺃَﻱُّﻩَﺍ اﻠﻦَّاﺲُ اﺖَّﻕُوﺎ ﺭَﺏَّﻙُﻡُ اﻞَّﺫِﻱ ﺥَﻝَﻕَﻙُﻡْ ﻡِﻥْ ﻥَﻑْﺱ‬
‫ﻭَاﺢِﺩَﺓٍ ﻭَﺥَﻝَﻕَ ﻡِﻥْﻩَﺍ ﺯَﻭْﺝَﻩَﺍ ﻭَﺏَﺙَّ ﻡِﻥْﻩُﻡَﺍ ﺭِﺝَاﻠﺎ ﻙَﺙِﻳﺮًﺍ‬
َّ‫ﻭَﻥِﺱَاءً ﻭَاﺖَّﻕُوﺎ اﻠﻞَّﻩَ اﻞَّﺫِﻱ ﺕَﺱَاءَﻝُوﻦَ ﺏِﻩِ ﻭَاﻠأﺮْﺡَاﻢَ ﺇِﻥ‬
‫اﻠﻞَّﻩَ ﻙَاﻦَ ﻉَﻝَﻱْﻙُﻡْ ﺭَﻕِﻳﺐًﺍ‬

Sura 4 - An-Nisa [Women] Verse 1-1:

1. O mankind! reverence your Guardian-Lord, who created you from a single person, created, of
like nature, His mate, and from them twain scattered (like seeds) countless men and women;-
reverence Allah, through whom ye demand your mutual (rights), and (reverence) the wombs
(That bore you): for Allah ever watches over you.

Sura 33 - Al-Ahzab [The Clans, the Coalition, the Combined Forces] Verse 70-71:
‫ ﻱَﺍ ﺃَﻱُّﻩَﺍ اﻞَّﺫِﻳﻦَ آﻢَﻥُوﺎ اﺖَّﻕُوﺎ اﻠﻞَّﻩَ ﻭَﻕُوﻞُوﺎ ﻕَﻭْﻟﺎ ﺱَﺩِﻳﺪًﺍ‬.70
ِ‫ ﻱُﺹْﻝِﺡْ ﻝَﻙُﻡْ ﺃَﻉْﻡَاﻞَﻙُﻡْ ﻭَﻱَﻍْﻑِﺭْ ﻝَﻙُﻡْ ﺫُﻥُوﺐَﻙُﻡْ ﻭَﻡَﻥْ ﻱُﻁِﻉ‬.71
‫اﻠﻞَّﻩَ ﻭَﺭَﺱُوﻞَﻩُ ﻑَﻕَﺩْ ﻑَاﺰَ ﻑَﻭْﺯًﺍ ﻉَﻅِﻳﻢًﺍ‬

Sura 33 - Al-Ahzab [The Clans, the Coalition, the Combined Forces] Verse 70-71:
70. O ye who believe! Fear Allah, and (always) say a word directed to the Right:
71. That He may make your conduct whole and sound and forgive you your sins: He that obeys
Allah and His Messenger, has already attained the highest achievement.

Sura 3 - Aal-E-Imran [The Family of Imran] Verse 102-102:

‫ ﻱَﺍ ﺃَﻱُّﻩَﺍ اﻞَّﺫِﻳﻦَ آﻢَﻥُوﺎ اﺖَّﻕُوﺎ اﻠﻞَّﻩَ ﺡَﻕَّ ﺕُﻕَاﺖِﻩِ ﻭَﻟﺎ‬.102

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The Origin of Life According to the Quran

َ‫ﺕَﻡُوﺖُﻥَّ ﺇِﻟﺎ ﻭَﺃَﻥْﺕُﻡْ ﻡُﺱْﻝِﻡُوﻦ‬

Sura 3 - Aal-E-Imran [The Family of Imran] Verse 102-102:

102. O ye who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of
Islam.

As for what follows: Verily the most truthful speech is the word of Allah and the best guidance is
the guidance of Muhammad (saw) and the worst of affairs are the novelties and every novelty is
an innovation and every innovation is going astray and every going astray is in the Fire (of Hell).
I ask Allah to guide us to that which is proper – verily He is the one having authority over that
and having power to do so.

The Quran is very sophisticated and thorough in addressing the narration of the story of life at
various levels of understanding. It possesses many layers of knowledge in its sentences, which
can be extracted as society and science become sophisticated enough to decipherer it,
comprehend its signs and appreciate the majesty and wisdom of its Author. This makes the
Quran universal and applicable at all times, confirming it as the only eternal book authored by
the designer and Creator of the Universe and all that’s in it, all that surrounds it and all that’s
beyond it.

Allah Says:

Sura 86 - At-Tariq [The Morning Star, The Nightcomer] Verse 5-5:

َ‫ ﻑَﻝْﻱَﻥْﻅُﺭِ اﻠإﻦْﺱَاﻦُ ﻡِﻡَّ ﺥُﻝِﻕ‬.5

Sura 86 - At-Tariq [The Morning Star, The Nightcomer] Verse 5-5:

5. Now let man but think from what he is created!

In this alerting man to the weakness if his origin from which he was created. The intent of it is to
guide man to accept (the reality of) the Hereafter, because whoever is able to begin the
creation, then He is also able to repeat it in the same way.
This is as Allah says:

Sura 30 - Ar-Room [The Romans, The Byzantines] Verse 27-27:

ِ‫ ﻭَﻩُﻭَ اﻞَّﺫِﻱ ﻱَﺏْﺩَﺃُ اﻞْﺥَﻝْﻕَ ﺙُﻡَّ ﻱُﻉِﻳﺪُﻩُ ﻭَﻩُﻭَ ﺃَﻩْﻭَﻥُ ﻉَﻝَﻱْﻩ‬.27
ُ‫ﻭَﻝَﻩُ اﻞْﻡَﺙَﻝُ اﻠأﻊْﻝَﻯ ﻑِﻱ اﻠﺲَّﻡَاﻮَاﺖِ ﻭَاﻠأﺮْﺽِ ﻭَﻩُﻭَ اﻞْﻉَﺯِﻳﺰ‬
ُ‫اﻞْﺡَﻙِﻳﻢ‬

Sura 30 - Ar-Room [The Romans, The Byzantines] Verse 27-27:

27. It is He Who begins (the process of) creation; then repeats it; and for Him it is most easy. To
Him belongs the loftiest similitude (we can think of) in the heavens and the earth: for He is
Exalted in Might, full of wisdom.

In this article, we will see how Allah addresses various subjects with a single proposition;
illustrating the sophistication and magnitude of Allah’s Knowledge, Wisdom and Majesty. Verily,
Allah is All-Knowing and Most Wise.

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The Origin of Life According to the Quran

For example, when Allah states in the Quran that He had created all living things from water,
this refers to the following:
1.    All living things originates from water, molecules and microbes, this is the simple beginning
of all living organism from the vegetation to animals. Water is a building block of life, without
which life is not possible.
2.    All living organisms are built from bricks of cells, science now confirms that 80% percent of
cell is made up of water and the other 20% is made up of Carbon/matter.
3.    According to our knowledge and scientific advancement of today, Life in the animal
kingdom begins with a sexual activity between mates. This sexual activity is to aid the
transfusion of liquid, male (sperm) and female (Egg). Again, we see that life begins from a drop
of water.
4.    Finally, the clay that is mentioned in the Quran refers to matter we know as carbon, which
is a fabric of cells, that make up the physical body. The cells are like bricks that make up
buildings. The bricks can be used to build a mud house or a palace for a king. As such, cells
form the smallest living organism to the largest living creature we know. Putting science aside, if
you were to ask the most primitive of our society to put together a substance of clay, you would
find that they would gather soil; they would then mix it with water to create a sticky and
adhesives like material that would be used to mould and shape. Hence what they used is water
to keep each and every grain of soils together. This illustrates the scientific findings, that carbon
(clay) and water are the basic component of life.
5.    The Qur'an describes how Allah created Adam:

Sura 15 - Al-Hijr [Al-Hijr, Stoneland, Rocky City] Verse 26-26:

ٍ‫ ﻭَﻝَﻕَﺩْ ﺥَﻝَﻕْﻥَﺍ اﻠإﻦْﺱَاﻦَ ﻡِﻥْ ﺹَﻝْﺹَاﻞٍ ﻡِﻥْ ﺡَﻡَﺇٍ ﻡَﺱْﻥُوﻦ‬.26

Sura 15 - Al-Hijr [Al-Hijr, Stoneland, Rocky City] Verse 26-26:

26. We created man from sounding clay, from mud moulded into shape;
7.    Also:

Sura 32 - As-Sajda [The Prostration, Worship, Adoration] Verse 7-8:

ٍ‫ اﻞَّﺫِﻱ ﺃَﺡْﺱَﻥَ ﻙُﻝَّ ﺵَﻱْﺀٍ ﺥَﻝَﻕَﻩُ ﻭَﺏَﺩَﺃَ ﺥَﻝْﻕَ اﻠإﻦْﺱَاﻦِ ﻡِﻥْ ﻁِﻳﻦ‬.7
ٍ‫ ﺙُﻡَّ ﺝَﻉَﻝَ ﻥَﺱْﻝَﻩُ ﻡِﻥْ ﺱُﻟاﻞَﺓٍ ﻡِﻥْ ﻡَاءٍ ﻡَﻩِﻳﻦ‬.8

Sura 32 - As-Sajda [The Prostration, Worship, Adoration] Verse 7-8:

7. He Who has made everything which He has created most good: He began the creation of
man with (nothing more than) clay,
8. And made his progeny from a quintessence of the nature of a fluid despised:
9.    
So it’s clear that Allah is stating beyond any confusion and contradiction that, Adam is created
from sounding Clay (mud moulded into shape), and his progeny from essence of liquid.
The confusion or contradiction is verily not in the Quran but in the limitation of our knowledge
and understanding. We need to develop a better sense of understanding before our quest for
answers. Surely, the answers are there, but first the right questions needs to be asked, and as
we know, asking the right question requires a certain level of knowledge itself. Hence as we,
human-beings, develop our knowledge and understanding of our surroundings, we become
more and more aware of the signs of Allah that cannot be denied. Thus naturally we ask and

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The Origin of Life According to the Quran

question ourselves to better understand the purpose of our lives, and in order to comprehend
that, the origin of our existence.
The Qur'anic accounting of the creation of life is in line with modern scientific thought about the
development of the universe and life on earth. Muslims acknowledge that life developed by the
design and will of Allah, and Allah's power and freedom is behind it all. Descriptions of creation
in the Qur'an are set in context to remind the readers of Allah's knowledge, majesty, and
wisdom.

Sura 71 - Nooh [Noah] Verse 13-17:

1 ‫ ﻡَﺍ ﻝَﻙُﻡْ ﻟﺎ ﺕَﺭْﺝُوﻦَ ﻝِﻝَّﻩِ ﻭَﻕَاﺮًﺍ‬.3
‫ ﻭَﻕَﺩْ ﺥَﻝَﻕَﻙُﻡْ ﺃَﻁْﻭَاﺮًﺍ‬.14
‫ ﺃَﻝَﻡْ ﺕَﺭَﻭْﺍ ﻙَﻱْﻑَ ﺥَﻝَﻕَ اﻠﻞَّﻩُ ﺱَﺏْﻉَ ﺱَﻡَاﻮَاﺖٍ ﻁِﺏَاﻖًﺍ‬.15
‫ ﻭَﺝَﻉَﻝَ اﻞْﻕَﻡَﺭَ ﻑِﻳﻪِﻥَّ ﻥُوﺮًﺍ ﻭَﺝَﻉَﻝَ اﻠﺶَّﻡْﺱَ ﺱِﺭَاﺞًﺍ‬.16
‫ ﻭَاﻠﻞَّﻩُ ﺃَﻥْﺏَﺕَﻙُﻡْ ﻡِﻥَ اﻠأﺮْﺽِ ﻥَﺏَاﺖًﺍ‬.17

Sura 71 - Nooh [Noah] Verse 13-17:

13. "'What is the matter with you, that ye place not your hope for kindness and long-suffering in
Allah,-
14. "'Seeing that it is He that has created you in diverse stages?
15. "'See ye not how Allah has created the seven heavens one above another,
16. "'And made the moon a light in their midst, and made the sun as a (Glorious) Lamp?
17. "'And Allah has produced you from the earth growing (gradually),
Life Came From Water

The Quran provides a clear cut answer to the question: At what point did life begin?

Sura 21 - Al-Anbiya [The Prophets] Verse 30-30:

‫ ﺃَﻭَﻝَﻡْ ﻱَﺭَ اﻞَّﺫِﻳﻦَ ﻙَﻑَﺭُوﺎ ﺃَﻥَّ اﻠﺲَّﻡَاﻮَاﺖِ ﻭَاﻠأﺮْﺽَ ﻙَاﻦَﺕَﺍ‬.30
‫ﺭَﺕْﻕًﺍ ﻑَﻑَﺕَﻕْﻥَاﻪُﻡَﺍ ﻭَﺝَﻉَﻝْﻥَﺍ ﻡِﻥَ اﻞْﻡَاءِ ﻙُﻝَّ ﺵَﻱْﺀٍ ﺡَﻱٍّ ﺃَﻑَﻟﺎ‬
َ‫ﻱُﺅْﻡِﻥُوﻦ‬

Sura 21 - Al-Anbiya [The Prophets] Verse 30-30:

30. Do not the Unbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were joined together (as one unit
of creation), before we clove them asunder? We made from water every living thing. Will they
not then believe?

The notion of "getting something out of something else" does not give rise to any doubts. The
phrase can equally mean that every living thing was made of water (as its essential component)
or that every living thing originated in water. Life is in fact of aquatic origin and water is the living
component of all living cells. Without water, life is not possible. When the possibility of life on
another planet is discussed, the first question is: Is there a sufficient quantity of water to support
life?
Modern science leads us to think that the oldest living beings probably belonged to the
vegetable kingdom: Algae have been found to date back to the pre-Cambrian period, the time of
the oldest known lands. Organisms belonging to the animal kingdom probably appeared slightly
later, they too came from the sea.

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The Origin of Life According to the Quran

The words translated here as "water" is in fact "ma", which means both water in the sky and
water in the sea, or any kind of liquid. In the first meaning, water is the element necessary to all
vegetable life:

Sura 20 - Ta-Ha [Mystic letters Ta-Ha] Verse 53-53:

‫ اﻞَّﺫِﻱ ﺝَﻉَﻝَ ﻝَﻙُﻡُ اﻠأﺮْﺽَ ﻡَﻩْﺩًﺍ ﻭَﺱَﻝَﻙَ ﻝَﻙُﻡْ ﻑِﻳﻪَﺍ ﺱُﺏُﻟﺎ‬.53
ٍ‫ﻭَﺃَﻥْﺯَﻝَ ﻡِﻥَ اﻠﺲَّﻡَاءِ ﻡَاءً ﻑَﺃَﺥْﺭَﺝْﻥَﺍ ﺏِﻩِ ﺃَﺯْﻭَاﺞًﺍ ﻡِﻥْ ﻥَﺏَاﺖ‬
‫ﺵَﺕَّﻯ‬

Sura 20 - Ta-Ha [Mystic letters Ta-Ha] Verse 53-53:

53. "He Who has, made for you the earth like a carpet spread out; has enabled you to go about
therein by roads (and channels); and has sent down water from the sky." With it have We
produced diverse pairs of plants each separate from the others.

Sura 24 - An-Noor [The Light] Verse 45-45:

‫ ﻭَاﻠﻞَّﻩُ ﺥَﻝَﻕَ ﻙُﻝَّ ﺩَاﺐَّﺓٍ ﻡِﻥْ ﻡَاءٍ ﻑَﻡِﻥْﻩُﻡْ ﻡَﻥْ ﻱَﻡْﺵِﻱ ﻉَﻝَﻯ‬.45
‫ﺏَﻁْﻥِﻩِ ﻭَﻡِﻥْﻩُﻡْ ﻡَﻥْ ﻱَﻡْﺵِﻱ ﻉَﻝَﻯ ﺭِﺝْﻝَﻱْﻥِ ﻭَﻡِﻥْﻩُﻡْ ﻡَﻥْ ﻱَﻡْﺵِﻱ ﻉَﻝَﻯ‬
ٌ‫ﺃَﺭْﺏَﻉٍ ﻱَﺥْﻝُﻕُ اﻠﻞَّﻩُ ﻡَﺍ ﻱَﺵَاءُ ﺇِﻥَّ اﻠﻞَّﻩَ ﻉَﻝَﻯ ﻙُﻝِّ ﺵَﻱْﺀٍ ﻕَﺩِﻳﺮ‬

Sura 24 - An-Noor [The Light] Verse 45-45:

45. And Allah has created every animal from water: of them there are some that creep on their
bellies; some that walk on two legs; and some that walk on four. Allah creates what He wills for
verily Allah has power over all things.

Thus the statement in the Quran on the origins of life whether referring to life in general or the
element that gives to birth to the plants in the soil, or the seed of animals are all strictly in
accordance with modern scientific data. None of the myths on the origins of life that thrived at
the time when the Quran was revealed to Muhammad (saw) are found in this miraculous text.

The Qur'an describes that Allah "made from water every living thing"

Sura 21 - Al-Anbiya [The Prophets] Verse 30-30:

‫ ﺃَﻭَﻝَﻡْ ﻱَﺭَ اﻞَّﺫِﻳﻦَ ﻙَﻑَﺭُوﺎ ﺃَﻥَّ اﻠﺲَّﻡَاﻮَاﺖِ ﻭَاﻠأﺮْﺽَ ﻙَاﻦَﺕَﺍ‬.30
‫ﺭَﺕْﻕًﺍ ﻑَﻑَﺕَﻕْﻥَاﻪُﻡَﺍ ﻭَﺝَﻉَﻝْﻥَﺍ ﻡِﻥَ اﻞْﻡَاءِ ﻙُﻝَّ ﺵَﻱْﺀٍ ﺡَﻱٍّ ﺃَﻑَﻟﺎ‬
َ‫ﻱُﺅْﻡِﻥُوﻦ‬

Sura 21 - Al-Anbiya [The Prophets] Verse 30-30:

30. Do not the Unbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were joined together (as one unit
of creation), before we clove them asunder? We made from water every living thing. Will they
not then believe?

Another verse describes how:

Sura 24 - An-Noor [The Light] Verse 45-45:

45. And Allah has created every animal from water: of them there are some that creep on their
bellies; some that walk on two legs; and some that walk on four. Allah creates what He wills for

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The Origin of Life According to the Quran

verily Allah has power over all things.

Sura 24 - An-Noor [The Light] Verse 45-45:

‫ ﻭَاﻠﻞَّﻩُ ﺥَﻝَﻕَ ﻙُﻝَّ ﺩَاﺐَّﺓٍ ﻡِﻥْ ﻡَاءٍ ﻑَﻡِﻥْﻩُﻡْ ﻡَﻥْ ﻱَﻡْﺵِﻱ ﻉَﻝَﻯ‬.45
‫ﺏَﻁْﻥِﻩِ ﻭَﻡِﻥْﻩُﻡْ ﻡَﻥْ ﻱَﻡْﺵِﻱ ﻉَﻝَﻯ ﺭِﺝْﻝَﻱْﻥِ ﻭَﻡِﻥْﻩُﻡْ ﻡَﻥْ ﻱَﻡْﺵِﻱ ﻉَﻝَﻯ‬
ٌ‫ﺃَﺭْﺏَﻉٍ ﻱَﺥْﻝُﻕُ اﻠﻞَّﻩُ ﻡَﺍ ﻱَﺵَاءُ ﺇِﻥَّ اﻠﻞَّﻩَ ﻉَﻝَﻯ ﻙُﻝِّ ﺵَﻱْﺀٍ ﻕَﺩِﻳﺮ‬

About 70 to 80 percent of the surface of our Earth is covered with water, and it has been
estimated that if the inequalities of the surface were all levelled, the whole surface would be
under water, as the mean elevation of land sphere-level would be 7,000-10,000 feet below the
surface of the ocean. This shows the predominance of water on our Globe. That all life began in
the water, is also a conclusion to which our latest knowledge in biological science points. Apart
from the fact that protoplasm, the original basis of living matter, is liquid or semi-liquid and in a
state of constant flux and instability, there is the fact that land animals, like the higher
vertebrates, including man, show, in their embryological history, organs like those of fishes,
indicating the watery origin of their original habitat. The constitution of protoplasm is about 80 to
85 percent water, in another word, our bodies are about 80% water and 20% matter.”

Then Allah says:

Sura 86 - At-Tariq [The Morning Star, The Nightcomer] Verse 6-6:

ٍ‫ ﺥُﻝِﻕَ ﻡِﻥْ ﻡَاءٍ ﺩَاﻒِﻕ‬.6

Sura 86 - At-Tariq [The Morning Star, The Nightcomer] Verse 6-6:

6. He is created from a drop emitted-

This means the sexual fluids that come out bursting forth from the man and the woman. Thus,
the child is produced from both of them by the permission of Allah. Due to this Allah says:

Sura 86 - At-Tariq [The Morning Star, The Nightcomer] Verse 7-7:

ِ‫ ﻱَﺥْﺭُﺝُ ﻡِﻥْ ﺏَﻱْﻥِ اﻠﺺُّﻝْﺏِ ﻭَاﻠﺖَّﺭَاﺊِﺏ‬.7

Sura 86 - At-Tariq [The Morning Star, The Nightcomer] Verse 7-7:

7. Proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs:

Meaning, the backbone (or loins) of the man and the ribs of the woman, which is referring to her
chest. Shabib bin Bishr reported from Ikhrimah who narrated from Ibn Abbas that he said:

Ad-Durr Al-Manthur 8: 475

It (the fluids) is yellow and fine in texture. The child will not be born except from both of them
(i.e. their sexual fluids)

Creation of Adam & Eve

Islam teaches that human beings are a unique life form that was created by Allah in a special
way, with unique gifts and abilities unlike any other: a soul and conscience, knowledge, and free
will. In short, Muslims do not believe that human beings randomly evolved from apes. The life of

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The Origin of Life According to the Quran

human beings began with the creation of two people, a male and a female named Adam and
Hawwa (Eve).
The Qur'an describes how Allah created Adam:

Sura 15 - Al-Hijr [Al-Hijr, Stoneland, Rocky City] Verse 26-26:

ٍ‫ ﻭَﻝَﻕَﺩْ ﺥَﻝَﻕْﻥَﺍ اﻠإﻦْﺱَاﻦَ ﻡِﻥْ ﺹَﻝْﺹَاﻞٍ ﻡِﻥْ ﺡَﻡَﺇٍ ﻡَﺱْﻥُوﻦ‬.26

Sura 15 - Al-Hijr [Al-Hijr, Stoneland, Rocky City] Verse 26-26:

26. We created man from sounding clay, from mud moulded into shape;

And:

Sura 32 - As-Sajda [The Prostration, Worship, Adoration] Verse 7-8:

ٍ‫ اﻞَّﺫِﻱ ﺃَﺡْﺱَﻥَ ﻙُﻝَّ ﺵَﻱْﺀٍ ﺥَﻝَﻕَﻩُ ﻭَﺏَﺩَﺃَ ﺥَﻝْﻕَ اﻠإﻦْﺱَاﻦِ ﻡِﻥْ ﻁِﻳﻦ‬.7
ٍ‫ ﺙُﻡَّ ﺝَﻉَﻝَ ﻥَﺱْﻝَﻩُ ﻡِﻥْ ﺱُﻟاﻞَﺓٍ ﻡِﻥْ ﻡَاءٍ ﻡَﻩِﻳﻦ‬.8

Sura 32 - As-Sajda [The Prostration, Worship, Adoration] Verse 7-8:

7. He Who has made everything which He has created most good: He began the creation of
man with (nothing more than) clay,
8. And made his progeny from a quintessence of the nature of a fluid despised:

Thus, human beings have a fundamental attachment to the earth.

While the creation of Eve is not described in detail, the Qur'an does make it clear that a "mate"
was created with Adam, from the same nature and soul.

Sura 7 - Al-Araf [The Heights] Verse 189-189:

‫ ﻩُﻭَ اﻞَّﺫِﻱ ﺥَﻝَﻕَﻙُﻡْ ﻡِﻥْ ﻥَﻑْﺱٍ ﻭَاﺢِﺩَﺓٍ ﻭَﺝَﻉَﻝَ ﻡِﻥْﻩَﺍ ﺯَﻭْﺝَﻩَﺍ‬.189
ْ‫ﻝِﻱَﺱْﻙُﻥَ ﺇِﻝَﻱْﻩَﺍ ﻑَﻝَﻡَّﺍ ﺕَﻍَﺵَّاﻪَﺍ ﺡَﻡَﻝَﺕْ ﺡَﻡْﻟﺎ ﺥَﻑِﻳﻒًﺍ ﻑَﻡَﺭَّﺕ‬
‫ﺏِﻩِ ﻑَﻝَﻡَّﺍ ﺃَﺙْﻕَﻝَﺕْ ﺩَﻉَﻭَﺍ اﻠﻞَّﻩَ ﺭَﺏَّﻩُﻡَﺍ ﻝَﺉِﻥْ آﺖَﻱْﺕَﻥَﺍ ﺹَاﻞِﺡًﺍ‬
َ‫ﻝَﻥَﻙُوﻦَﻥَّ ﻡِﻥَ اﻠﺶَّاﻚِﺭِﻳﻦ‬

Sura 7 - Al-Araf [The Heights] Verse 189-189:

189. It is He Who created you from a single person, and made his mate of like nature, in order
that he might dwell with her (in love). When they are united, she bears a light burden and
carries it about (unnoticed). When she grows heavy, they both pray to Allah their Lord, (saying):
"If Thou givest us a goodly child, we vow we shall (ever) be grateful."

She is not mentioned by name in the Qur'an, but in Islamic tradition she is known as "Hawwa"
(Eve).

>From these two individuals, generations of human beings have inhabited the earth.

Sura 49 - Al-Hujraat [The Private Apartments, The Inner Apartments] Verse 13-13:
‫ ﻱَﺍ ﺃَﻱُّﻩَﺍ اﻠﻦَّاﺲُ ﺇِﻥَّﺍ ﺥَﻝَﻕْﻥَاﻚُﻡْ ﻡِﻥْ ﺫَﻙَﺭٍ ﻭَﺃُﻥْﺙَﻯ‬.13
َ‫ﻭَﺝَﻉَﻝْﻥَاﻚُﻡْ ﺵُﻉُوﺐًﺍ ﻭَﻕَﺏَاﺊِﻝَ ﻝِﺕَﻉَاﺮَﻑُوﺎ ﺇِﻥَّ ﺃَﻙْﺭَﻡَﻙُﻡْ ﻉِﻥْﺩ‬

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The Origin of Life According to the Quran

ٌ‫اﻠﻞَّﻩِ ﺃَﺕْﻕَاﻚُﻡْ ﺇِﻥَّ اﻠﻞَّﻩَ ﻉَﻝِﻳﻢٌ ﺥَﺏِﻳﺮ‬

Sura 49 - Al-Hujraat [The Private Apartments, The Inner Apartments] Verse 13-13:
13. O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into
nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily
the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And
Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).

The first stage of the evolution of man started when water mingled with the particular dust, clod
of earth or rocky substance. This mingling of the dry clod with water which resulted in a kind of
life being born in it is mentioned in the Quran:

Sura 21 - Al-Anbiya [The Prophets] Verse 31-31:

‫ ﻭَﺝَﻉَﻝْﻥَﺍ ﻑِﻱ اﻠأﺮْﺽِ ﺭَﻭَاﺲِﻱَ ﺃَﻥْ ﺕَﻡِﻳﺪَ ﺏِﻩِﻡْ ﻭَﺝَﻉَﻝْﻥَﺍ ﻑِﻳﻪَﺍ‬.31
َ‫ﻑِﺝَاﺞًﺍ ﺱُﺏُﻟﺎ ﻝَﻉَﻝَّﻩُﻡْ ﻱَﻩْﺕَﺩُوﻦ‬

Sura 21 - Al-Anbiya [The Prophets] Verse 31-31:

31. And We have set on the earth mountains standing firm, lest it should shake with them, and
We have made therein broad highways (between mountains) for them to pass through: that they
may receive Guidance.

Sura 32 - As-Sajda [The Prostration, Worship, Adoration] Verse 8-8:

ٍ‫ ﺙُﻡَّ ﺝَﻉَﻝَ ﻥَﺱْﻝَﻩُ ﻡِﻥْ ﺱُﻟاﻞَﺓٍ ﻡِﻥْ ﻡَاءٍ ﻡَﻩِﻳﻦ‬.8

Sura 32 - As-Sajda [The Prostration, Worship, Adoration] Verse 8-8:

8. And made his progeny from a quintessence of the nature of a fluid despised:

The word in the Arabic text for clay is ‘teen’ which means earth mixed with a quantity of water
which becomes adhesive. According to the Quran, therefore, human life originated in a
substance which was a mixture of earth and water which, in the course of time, developed into
man. In the fore-going verses we are told that an early initial stage in the evolution of man was
when he was given a particular form from wet earth. That was followed by a stage when man
began to be procreated through function of the sex organs of the male and female of his
species. In the words of the Holy Quran:

Sura 32 - As-Sajda [The Prostration, Worship, Adoration] Verse 9-9:

َ‫ ﺙُﻡَّ ﺱَﻭَّاﻪُ ﻭَﻥَﻑَﺥَ ﻑِﻳﻪِ ﻡِﻥْ ﺭُوﺢِﻩِ ﻭَﺝَﻉَﻝَ ﻝَﻙُﻡُ اﻠﺲَّﻡْﻉ‬.9
َ‫ﻭَاﻠأﺐْﺹَاﺮَ ﻭَاﻠأﻒْﺉِﺩَﺓَ ﻕَﻝِﻳﻠﺎ ﻡَﺍ ﺕَﺵْﻙُﺭُوﻦ‬

Sura 32 - As-Sajda [The Prostration, Worship, Adoration] Verse 9-9:

9. But He fashioned him in due proportion, and breathed into him something of His spirit. And
He gave you (the faculties of) hearing and sight and feeling (and understanding): little thanks do
ye give!

Sura 77 - Al-Mursalat [The Emissaries, Winds Sent Forth] Verse 22-22:

22. ٍ‫ﺇِﻝَﻯ ﻕَﺩَﺭٍ ﻡَﻉْﻝُوﻢ‬

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The Origin of Life According to the Quran

Sura 77 - Al-Mursalat [The Emissaries, Winds Sent Forth] Verse 22-22:

22. For a period (of gestation), determined (according to need)?

These verses indicate very clearly that man's origin in dry earth or rock was one stage from
which step by step he passed through a stage when it was mixed with water causing the
development of a rudimentary form of life which later on began to procreate through the
functioning of the sex organs which had developed in the male and female. All these stages
represent different periods of time, the duration of which can at best be only vaguely
conjectured or imagined.

The Holy Quran mentions a general principle with regard to the creation of man:

Sura 53 - An-Najm [The Star] Verse 43-48:

‫ ﻭَﺃَﻥَّﻩُ ﻩُﻭَ ﺃَﺽْﺡَﻙَ ﻭَﺃَﺏْﻙَﻯ‬.43
‫ ﻭَﺃَﻥَّﻩُ ﻩُﻭَ ﺃَﻡَاﺖَ ﻭَﺃَﺡْﻱَﺍ‬.44
‫ ﻭَﺃَﻥَّﻩُ ﺥَﻝَﻕَ اﻠﺰَّﻭْﺝَﻱْﻥِ اﻠﺬَّﻙَﺭَ ﻭَاﻠأﻦْﺙَﻯ‬.45
‫ ﻡِﻥْ ﻥُﻁْﻑَﺓٍ ﺇِﺫَﺍ ﺕُﻡْﻥَﻯ‬.46
‫ ﻭَﺃَﻥَّ ﻉَﻝَﻱْﻩِ اﻠﻦَّﺵْﺃَﺓَ اﻠأﺦْﺭَﻯ‬.47
‫ ﻭَﺃَﻥَّﻩُ ﻩُﻭَ ﺃَﻍْﻥَﻯ ﻭَﺃَﻕْﻥَﻯ‬.48

Sura 53 - An-Najm [The Star] Verse 43-48:

43. That it is He Who granteth Laughter and Tears;
44. That it is He Who granteth Death and Life;
45. That He did create in pairs,- male and female,
46. From a seed when lodged (in its place);
47. That He hath promised a Second Creation (Raising of the Dead);
48. That it is He Who giveth wealth and satisfaction;

The Quran is a Book of signs and not a book of science; this means that Allah as our Creator is
informing us of our existence; therefore we do not need science to prove the Quran BUT rather
the Quran to verify the science. Science is defined as hypothesis (theories) which are tested in
a methodical manner until the same results are achieved using controlled or reviewable
variables, on the other hand the Noble Quran is an encyclopedia of facts and divine guidance,
this makes the Glorious Quran a living miracle that has stood the test of time and the
advancement of knowledge and technology.
Lastly, we say: The believer must be pleased with Allah as his Lord. And one’s contentment
with Allah’s Lordship cannot be unless he believes in His Divine Knowledge and Wisdom. And
he must know that there is no difference in this between that which is apparent and that which is
not, all things happen by the will of Allah, for Allah anything is possible, as He say ‘be and it is’.
There are mysteries of this universe and beyond it, some which are in the realm of our
knowledge, and others that are beyond our comprehension. For all that which is apparent to us
and those that are not, for all those things are within our comprehension and for those that are
beyond us, we believe in everything that Allah has revealed to us in the Quran, the seen and
the hidden as the TRUTH beyond doubt, confusion or contradiction. That is beauty of our faith. I
ask Allah to make us from those who do the deeds of the people of success, and to record for
us prosperity in this world and in the Hereafter. All praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and

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may the peace and blessings be on our prophet, Muhammad, his family and all of his
Companions.

The Noble Quran: Chapter 45 Al-Jathiya [Crouching]

Sura 45 - Al-Jathiya [Crouching] Verse 1-20:

1. Ha, Mim.
2. The revelation of the Book is from Allah the Exalted in Power, Full of Wisdom.
3. Verily in the heavens and the earth, are Signs for those who believe.
4. And in the creation of yourselves and the fact that animals are scattered (through the earth),
are Signs for those of assured Faith.
5. And in the alternation of Night and Day, and the fact that Allah sends down Sustenance from
the sky, and revives therewith the earth after its death, and in the change of the winds,- are
Signs for those that are wise.
6. Such are the Signs of Allah, which We rehearse to thee in Truth; then in what exposition will
they believe after (rejecting) Allah and His Signs?
7. Woe to each sinful dealer in Falsehoods:
8. He hears the Signs of Allah rehearsed to him, yet is obstinate and lofty, as if he had not
heard them: then announce to him a Penalty Grievous!
9. And when he learns something of Our Signs, he takes them in jest: for such there will be a
humiliating Penalty.
10. In front of them is Hell: and of no profit to them is anything they may have earned, nor any
protectors they may have taken to themselves besides Allah: for them is a tremendous Penalty.
11. This is (true) Guidance and for those who reject the Signs of their Lord, is a grievous
Penalty of abomination.
12. It is Allah Who has subjected the sea to you, that ships may sail through it by His command,
that ye may seek of his Bounty, and that ye may be grateful.
13. And He has subjected to you, as from Him, all that is in the heavens and on earth: Behold,
in that are Signs indeed for those who reflect.
14. Tell those who believe, to forgive those who do not look forward to the Days of Allah: It is for
Him to recompense (for good or ill) each People according to what they have earned.
15. If any one does a righteous deed, it ensures to the benefit of his own soul; if he does evil, it
works against (his own soul). In the end will ye (all) be brought back to your Lord.
16. We did aforetime grant to the Children of Israel the Book the Power of Command, and
Prophethood; We gave them, for Sustenance, things good and pure; and We favoured them
above the nations.
17. And We granted them Clear Signs in affairs (of Religion): it was only after knowledge had
been granted to them that they fell into schisms, through insolent envy among themselves.
Verily thy Lord will judge between them on the Day of Judgment as to those matters in which
they set up differences.
18. Then We put thee on the (right) Way of Religion: so follow thou that (Way), and follow not
the desires of those who know not.
19. They will be of no use to thee in the sight of Allah: it is only Wrong-doers (that stand as)
protectors, one to another: but Allah is the Protector of the Righteous.
20. These are clear evidences to men and a Guidance and Mercy to those of assured Faith.
21. What! Do those who seek after evil ways think that We shall hold them equal with those who

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believe and do righteous deeds,- that equal will be their life and their death? Ill is the judgment
that they make.
22. Allah created the heavens and the earth for just ends, and in order that each soul may find
the recompense of what it has earned, and none of them be wronged.
23. Then seest thou such a one as takes as his god his own vain desire? Allah has, knowing
(him as such), left him astray, and sealed his hearing and his heart (and understanding), and
put a cover on his sight. Who, then, will guide him after Allah (has withdrawn Guidance)? Will ye
not then receive admonition?
24. And they say: "What is there but our life in this world? We shall die and we live, and nothing
but time can destroy us." But of that they have no knowledge: they merely conjecture:
25. And when Our Clear Signs are rehearsed to them their argument is nothing but this: They
say, "Bring (back) our forefathers, if what ye say is true!"
26. Say: "It is Allah Who gives you life, then gives you death; then He will gather you together
for the Day of Judgment about which there is no doubt": But most men do not understand.
27. To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and the Day that the Hour of
Judgment is established,- that Day will the dealers in Falsehood perish!
28. And thou wilt see every sect bowing the knee: Every sect will be called to its Record: "This
Day shall ye be recompensed for all that ye did!
29. "This Our Record speaks about you with truth: For We were wont to put on Record all that
ye did."
30. Then, as to those who believed and did righteous deeds, their Lord will admit them to His
Mercy that will be the achievement for all to see.
31. But as to those who rejected Allah, (to them will be said): "Were not Our Signs rehearsed to
you? But ye were arrogant, and were a people given to sin!
32. "And when it was said that the promise of Allah was true, and that the Hour- there was no
doubt about its (coming), ye used to say, 'We know not what is the hour: we only think it is an
idea, and we have no firm assurance.'"
33. Then will appear to them the evil (fruits) of what they did, and they will be completely
encircled by that which they used to mock at!
34. It will also be said: "This Day We will forget you as ye forgot the meeting of this Day of
yours! and your abode is the Fire, and no helpers have ye!
35. "This, because ye used to take the Signs of Allah in jest, and the life of the world deceived
you:" (From) that Day, therefore, they shall not be taken out thence, nor shall they be received
into Grace.
36. Then Praise be to Allah, Lord of the heavens and Lord of the earth,- Lord and Cherisher of
all the Worlds!
37. To Him be glory throughout the heavens and the earth: and He is Exalted in Power, Full of
Wisdom!

About the Author:

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The Origin of Life According to the Quran

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