Evolution in the Light of the Qurʾan and Tradition: Seyyed Hossein Nasr in conversation with Muzaffar Iqbal

In this conversation, Seyyed Hossein Nasr and Muzaffar Iqbal discuss various aspects of Evolution in light of the Qurʾanic teachings and traditional Muslim understanding of the origin of life. Beginning with a reference to certain methods being used by some modern Muslim evolutionists to insert the Hand of God in the evolutionary narrative, the conversation broadens to the historical context of the arrival of evolution in the Muslim world, especially in the Indian Subcontinent. Other topics discussed include Theistic Evolution and the so-called Adamic exceptionalism. They also discuss reasons for the paucity of scholarly works in the contemporary Islamic discourse and point to a way forward.
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Keywords: Evolution; Theistic Evolution; Adamic exceptionalism; historical context of evolution; Muslim responses to evolution.

Journal of Islamic Sciences, Vol. 16 (Summer 2023) No. 1

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Seyyed Hossein Nasr

Seyyed Hossein Nasr is the University Professor of Islamic studies at The George Washington University, Washington DC and President of the Foundation for Traditional Studies.

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Muzaffar Iqbal

Muzaffar Iqbal is the President of the Center for Islamic Sciences and the General Editor of the Integrated Encyclopedia of the Qurʾan.