The Qur'an also talks of the birth of man from `black clay' and Mastic clay'.

The Qur'an also talks of the birth of man from `black clay' and Mastic clay'. (Surah al‑Hijr, 15:28 and Surah al-­Saffat, 37:11). It also says: " W e made every living thing o f water". (Surah al‑Anbiya, 21:30). When the Qur'an has such a wide horizon, there is no reason why a Muslim who follows it, should be narrow-­minded. Life, a Divine phenomenon It may be pointed out that the Qur'an expressly ascribes life to Allah. "It is He who created death and life" . (Surah al‑Mulk, 67:2).

"It is He who created you to die". (Surah al‑Hajj, 22:66). Do such verses mean that no one else can make a living being? In reply it may be said: Firstly, the Qur'an ascribes to Allah all natural changes, from coming down of rain and taming rivers and mountains to the birth of a man. On some other ‑occasions it ascribes these very changes to natural factors also.

These two groups of verses are not contradictory, but corroborate each other, because the scientific laws which govern natural changes are simply the norms prescribed by Allah. His will does not mean that He directly brings about all changes and natural events. In fact he has created a system of natural changes. That is His will. Secondly, if in the case of life we find that the Qur'an has given special attention to it, that is only a sign of its importance and high value.

Allah describes it as the infusion of divine spirit. While discussing man, we will explain what is meant by that. Thirdly, every evolutionary movement is a manifestation of Allah's will and His creative design, especially if the change is such that a material organism reaches a stage where it may receive life, become a living being and may at last attain human life. Man and Evolution The theory of evolution on the whole has a long history. Lamarck enunciated certain principles in this connection.

But it was Charles Darwin, who carried out extensive studies of the living organisms and the way of their birth, and gathered enough scientific evidence to show that evolution has taken place actually. He held that: (a) Every living being, wherever it may be, gradually adapts itself to its environment, and meets its natural needs, such as obtaining food and defending itself in accordance with the conditions prevailing in that environ­ment.