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01-28-2009, 10:59 PM
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#1 |
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 ''Sheikh'' Usama Hasan on Evolution
Salaam alaikum to all,
What are your opinions on this article written by Usama hasan who validates the theory of evolution and says its completely compatible with the Qur'an. He also dismisses anyone who disagrees with it as 'fundamentalist'. I did shock me a little, I didnt know such mainstream scholars would begin tp support this theory in such a way. Can anyone shed some light on this? Knowledge regained In contrast to their forebears, modern Muslims have a childlike view of science, especially evolution. This needs to change Comments (181) * Usama Hasan * guardian.co.uk, Thursday 11 September 2008 13.30 BST * Article history Professor Richard Dawkins recently said that most Muslims were creationists, and their children are taught that the theory of evolution is wrong, which causes a huge problem in schools. He's largely correct, and the Muslim world desperately needs to debate the matter properly without fear, since science can neither prove nor disprove God. Whereas the Christian world, where Charles Darwin first proposed his thesis, has had a century and a half to come to terms with the theory of evolution, it has only begun to be taught rather recently in the Muslim world, where faith and religious practice is still relatively strong. No wonder then that the theory is opposed by some religious elements, especially those that are ignorant of science. Snazzy websites, videos and books produced by fundamentalist Muslim "creationists" such as those at www.harunyahya.com, are obscuring clear scientific thinking. Creation or evolution? Many believers in God have no problem with an obvious solution: that God created man via evolution. Here is some explanation of this view from a Muslim perspective. I have a background in physical sciences, not biological ones, but there are parallels. Just as we can see clear evidence for the fact that planets, stars and galaxies evolved very gradually over the last 13 billion years since the big bang and weren't just beamed into existence by God, it would seem intuitive that life in its breathtaking variety on Earth also arose through a gradual evolutionary processes. There are plenty of Muslim biologists who have no doubt about the essential correctness of evolutionary theory. The Qur'an teaches that humanity began with Adam, whose wife Eve was made "of like nature". The raw materials from which Adam was created are variously described as dust, clay and water, ie a mixture of water and minerals found on earth and in its soil. God completed the creation of Adam, breathed his spirit into him and taught him the names of everything. Since the angels were ignorant of these names, he commanded them to bow down to Adam, to symbolise human superiority over angels due to our free will, intelligence, capacity to understand and express ourselves in eloquent language. One problem is that many Muslims retain the simple picture that God created Adam from clay, much as a potter makes a statue, and then breathed into the lifeless statue and lo! it became a living human. This is a children's madrasa-level understanding and Muslims really have to move on as adults and intellectuals, especially given the very serious scientific heritage of the medieval Islamic civilisation. Another objection that is sometimes posed is the following: doesn't evolution denigrate and insult all humans, but especially the prophets of God, by insisting that we all originate from apes? I reply that the theory doesn't insult anyone, but does remind us of the humble origins of our created form. This is nothing new or blasphemous, since numerous Qur'anic verses remind us that we are all created from "dust" via sexual discharges: "despised drops of water". Those verses clearly do not insult the prophets. Meanwhile, our spiritual form remains the most exalted, since it is from the spirit of God breathed into Adam: we exist for the most noble purpose of knowing and loving God, freely and after having been given a choice. Another irony in this whole debate is that several medieval Islamic thinkers had ideas that were broadly similar to the theory of evolution. The 10th-century Persian philosopher Ibn Miskawayh may have had ideas about the natural world that were, broadly speaking, evolutionist. The 14th-century philosopher Ibn Khaldun wrote: One should then look at the world of creation. It started out from the minerals and progressed, in an ingenious, gradual manner, to plants and animals. Although Ibn Khaldun wasn't speaking directly about evolution in the modern sense, I don't think he would have had a major problem with Darwin's theory, judging from the passage above. But it is precisely the loss of the heritage of people like Ibn Khaldun that has led to the current, appalling state of science in the Muslim world and the Muslim consciousness. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...winbicentenary |
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01-28-2009, 11:10 PM
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01-29-2009, 05:33 AM
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#3 |
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Asslamo Allaikum ,
Dr Usama Hasan is going over-the-limit asome of his comments are brodering Kuf'r (and some say that he has crossed it). I would guess that the British Government is setting him up to be the Grand-Mufti of UK. I am keen to know what his Father has to say about these things but he is silent (even in private circles). Don't be surprised when you hear something from the British Governmet about Dr Usama Hasan. Allah (SWT) knows best. |
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01-29-2009, 06:20 AM
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 As far as (general) evolution is concerned, in my opinion, there is enough evidence in the primary sources for one not to reject the idea out-of-hand - it is not something to be dogmatic about. That is that, Allah  does what He wills. He may create in stages (evolution) and He may add to/take from creation as and when He wills. That said the proof relating to the 'special' creation of sayyidna Adam  is incontrovertible. And by such Allah guides or leads astray whom ever He wills. with peace |
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01-29-2009, 06:58 AM
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Not criticising rather informing as both Father & Mother are scholars. He gives Khutbah at that Mosque every Friday and hundreds are witness to it so its not a secret. Nevermind if it offended you, I have taken it off. Jazakullah Khairun for correcting me., |
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01-29-2009, 08:10 AM
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#6 |
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Yes , this is what has worried me. Usama hassan seemed like such a genuine guy , he used to come on Islam channel regularly and had some good programs on commentary of the Qur'an.
Just found out thats hes also part of Quilliam foundation, who are heavily funded by the british goverment |
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01-29-2009, 08:57 AM
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#7 |
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If this guy is not believing that the first human being was Sayyidina Adam عليه السلام and that Hawwa was created from his rib, and that they are the common ancestors of ALL human beings, than yes he is a kafir. Also, you have to clearly define what you mean by "evolution". I mean it is a fact that humans have been changing over time. Sayyidina Adam عليه السلام was sixty cubits tall, but over time human beings have gotten smaller. Sayyidina Nuh عليه السلام lived to the age of nine hundred and fifty years, but over time human being age span decreased. If you want to call this as "evolution" that is fine, as long as you believe these facts there is no problem.
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01-30-2009, 12:49 AM
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#8 |
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Instead of simply just disagreeing why do I read so many 'oh he doesnt believe in this therefore he is kafir' can we please stop doing that?
Just stay objective and agree or disagree on his argument dont argue about his aqeedah and call him kafir in the same post. |
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01-30-2009, 05:27 AM
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#9 |
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What he said would certainly take one out of Islam which is what shaykh nuh wrote in evolution and islam (sidi masud's site). Remember we're not just dealing with the Qur'an but mutawwatir hadiths as well.
Why is it necessary that Adam have an ancestor? What about the story of the she-camel of sayyidna salih (as)? are we gonna somehow say she was metaphorically made from the side of a rock? |
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03-10-2011, 05:51 AM
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#10 |
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Instead of simply just disagreeing why do I read so many 'oh he doesnt believe in this therefore he is kafir' can we please stop doing that? |
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03-10-2011, 06:40 AM
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#11 |
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Salam
firstly I have always viewed evolution as an ongoing process occuring by Allah's will that impacts animals and humans. my view has always been that those aspects of evolutionary theory which are contradictory to Islam are wrong without a doubt (i.e. through speciation humans evolved from primates over a period of millions of years via homo habilis, erectus, neanderthal, and cro-magnon. however the process of eveolution can be witnessed everday in laboratories in universities, among bacteria, it can also be witnessed in nature among parasites like the plasmodium which cause malaria (hence drug resistance emerges). the point is I have never seen any problem with natural selection etc. only the part about how Humans came from primates. another point i want to raise is that homo habilis, homo erectus, specimens/fossils collected to date show animals that appear to be a cross between apes and humans. i remember hearing somewhere that Allah as an azab turned certain communities of the sinful into apes (or rather made them appear as apes), can anyone confirm this? if this happened along time ago it may help in answering questions about the sources of these half ape/half man like creatures. forgive me if offend but i get pretty angry when muslims say that evolution is against the qur'an evolution is an ongoing process, and if more muslims knew about they would realize in of itself evolution is not contradictory to the qur'an. rather the view that humans evolved from primates is the theory that is in direct contradiction to islam. the creation of humans as we all know did not take place by chance or on earth, correct me if i'm wrong but life was breathed into Adam (AS) in jannah correct. |
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03-10-2011, 06:58 AM
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#12 |
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Not that its completely related to this thread but I'm currently reading a book called Islam's Quantum Question which would interest others here who have a science related educational background. |
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03-10-2011, 06:59 AM
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#13 |
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03-10-2011, 09:14 AM
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#14 |
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Not that its completely related to this thread but I'm currently reading a book called Islam's Quantum Question which would interest others here who have a science related educational background. It is actually quite related. The author, Nidal Ghesoun, is a staunch pro-science type of person. Not only does he defend natural evolution and say that the Quran should be reinterpreted, but he also denies other obvious things in Islam such as the evil eye, saying that psychology has "proven" that it is a case of selective memory.
In this sense he is a Hadith denier and Quranist who tries to hide his very problematic views by saying that the Quran should be reinterpreted, which is a common disease today. |
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03-10-2011, 10:26 AM
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#15 |
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The western world of scientists and philosphers is itself divided on the issue of evolution. The "discovery institute" of america,which has some really remarkable scholars like Dr David Berlinski , machael behe, Stephen C mayer etc are challenging the concept of "natural selection and random mutations". Their views on evolution can be viewed in this documentary (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqR7cT0XZVM). Watch all the seven parts get the basic understanding to Darwinian flaws.
The war between science and religion has been fought on the European grounds of Christianity, where the religious establishment of its time went on some very extreme levels in the opposition of science.The scientists were persecuted and the scientific theories were rejected.The case of heliocentric/geocentric philosophies and Galileo is a good example. However,Islam has never been any sort of opposition to science historically and thats the why many many Muslim theologians were practicing chemists,physicists,doctors,herbalists and philosophers. After the fall of church in the christian world,the people got freedom from the brutal irrational mafia of Pops,bishops and cardinals.Ironically, this was the same time when modern sciences were starting to evolve.The anti-religion sentiments combined with the scientific rationalism started to throw the religion out of the window.The Christian scholars,with a bad past and an irrational belief system which was more mythical than practical,could not defend their religion and silently moved to their churches to collect the remains of their religious treasure. In 1850 , when Charles darwin wrote "the origin of species",it provided the answer to the long standing mystery question "where did we come from if there is no God?". Since then ,atheism along with Darwinism and a blend of scientific rationalism,picked on the religion,further demargenalizing it. In the Muslim world however,the impact was a bit slow.In 1870s,Sir Syed Ahmed khan,started rejecting the hadiths and the concepts of angels.He also adopted a deistic approach in his beliefs.The legacy of Syed Ahmed khan was carried on by Ghulam Ahmed parvez who was a staunch Hadith rejector and deist.The "evolved" form of that legacy is Mr Javed Ahmed Ghamidi. In the west meanwhile , the dust had started setting down and people had started looking back.The issue of fossils which has always been a headache for the evolutionary biologists,turned into a scandal.The famous "missing link between man and app" fossils which were discovered in 1912,turned out to be a forgery.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piltdown_Man).The sincerity and intention of the scientific world came under question and the voices of dissent started to raise.The further development of Molecular biology created more issues for the evolutionists as the Molecular biology rejects the concept of Natural selection as being responsible for the complicated designs. However,since the media had been taken over by the so called rationalist/empiricist group in the early 1940s,they never propagated the faults of evolutionary theory.The best example is Haekal embryo scam which went unnoticed.(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5okQ7iKJrkA) This Sheikh Usama Hassan needs to understand science.How come he make such wild claims even when he is not aware of the scientific facts?Bending the religions to make it fit for the society has never been a good approach.The fall of Christianity is the best example. Ps.Is anyone aware of any detailed lecture/book of this Sheikh Usama on evolution in which he has expounded on the biological aspects of evolution according to his understanding? |
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06-20-2011, 06:30 AM
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#16 |
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What has upset the worshippers at his 'local' mosque is the incoherency in the expression of Dr Usama Hasan's views coupled with his high-handed approach.
How can the situation be resolved when he will not agree to a debate on evolution, but prefers to lecture the local congregation, who he considers intellectually inferior to himself, which, if true, is a situation that he and his family have encouraged over many years. For instance, his mother criticises women who go out from the home, but allowed her own daughter to study at university. Not surprising when her sons graduated from the best universities and studied at perhaps the best schools in England. For some of Usama Hasan's critics the issue is not so much with his recent views on evolution, but that they consider him a careerist. Some are hungry for revenge and so the issue on evolution may have become a smoke-screen for some other underlying issues. Yes, from those against him, there are some who are behaving child-like, but Usama is no saint either. |
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06-20-2011, 07:55 AM
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#17 |
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Colonel - I feel the same thing about this guy, given how he is promoted by the British media, his support of the Quilliam foundation etc I do believe his father, Shaykh Shoaib Hassan, however, has openly said that he himself is with the majority of the scholars i.e. he doesnt support the theory of evolution. |
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06-20-2011, 03:44 PM
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#18 |
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I think we as Muslims need to be very careful regarding evolution. On the one hand, I don't want to go overboard and say there are no potential problems with the theory (science is always changing of course), but on the other hand I don't want to completely dismiss it. The creation of the universe and life itself is one of the most complex and miraculous of experiences and not something which should be overly simplified. Most importantly though, I don't want Muslims or Islam to go on blindly ignoring scientific discoveries to the detriment of the deen as has been done in fundamentalist Christian circles to the point where many Christians distrust science altogether. I do not want to end up like the Christians who continue to think mankind ran around fighting dinosaurs and that fossils were planted by satan. A deen that does this does it to its detriment. Let me clarify a bit: I don't think science EVER contradicts Islam. If it appears to, then it is merely a problem with our understanding. |
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