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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Evolution of Man Meaning of Historical Evolution: Man's Social Evolution and Progress Learned men maintain that there are two evolutions for man: 1) A natural and biological evolution, with which you have been familiar in biology, considering man as the most perfect animal and the last link in natural evolution. 2) Historical or social evolution.

Meaning of Natural Evolution Natural evolution is one which is produced by a natural process, without man's interference and without his demand. In this way, there is no difference between man and other animals. It is a natural, forcible and fatalistic process which brings each kind of animal to a certain stage, and it has done the same for man, even though we call him a specific type of animal.

Meaning of Historical Evolution Historical or social evolution means a new process in which nature plays no part similar to natural evolution. It is an acquired evolution which man secures by his own efforts and transfers it by way of education, and not through heritage. In natural evolution, there is no option or acquisition, but it is subject to a series of inherited laws carried out stage by stage.

In social or historical evolution which is acquired by man himself, its transfer from one generation to another has not been and cannot be accomplished through heritage, but through teaching and learning, and mainly through the art of writing. The Qur'an, in Chapter "Al-Qalam" (the Pen), Verse 1 swears in the name of the Pen, and say: "I swear by the Pen and what the Angels write." or in Chapter "Alaq" (the Clot), Verses 1-4: “Read in the name of your Lord who created. He created man from a clot.

Read and your Lord is Most Honorable, Taught man what he knew not." This shows that God granted man the talent to proceed towards social and historical evolution. There is no doubt that since his creation, man has advanced towards civilization and evolution, and this progress has been as gradual as that of natural evolution, but with one difference. As time has passed, the momentum of evolution too has increased.

There has been no immovability, and no monotony of movement, but like a moving car, the speed has been boosted with the passage of time. Though progress seems to be an obvious matter yet there have been some learned men who have refrained from calling such changes as progress and evolution. What is the reason for their doubt?