Islamic Approaches to the Theory of Evolution: A Historical and Contemporary Perspective Following the Steps Taken by the Ministry of Education of the New Syrian Government

The theory of evolution, developed by Charles Darwin in the 19th century, has become one of the most influential scientific discoveries in the history of science. Its ideas, the accumulating evidence for it, and its developments in the modern evolutionary synthesis have offered a new perspective on how life on Earth evolved, thus fundamentally changing our understanding of nature. However, in many religious communities, the theory of evolution has provoked ethical and theological debates.
In the Muslim world, attitudes toward evolution are diverse and complex. Some schools of thought accept evolution as part of the idea of divine creation, similar to the concept of some schools of thought in Christianity, known as "intelligent design," while others reject it and see it as a direct contradiction to Scripture. This dynamic was recently sharpened (January 2025) in Syria, where the interim government ordered the removal of chapters on evolution from the school curriculum. This decision raises questions about the attitude of Islamic culture to science, the role of religious education, and political influences on educational systems in the Arab world.
Early references to evolutionary processes in the Islamic tradition
Among early Muslim thinkers, hints of concepts reminiscent of evolutionary processes have been discovered. For example, al-Jahz (776–868), author of The Book of Animals, referred to the concepts of "struggle for existence" and survival of the fittest - an idea close to the evolutionary idea that is about a thousand years later, the idea of "survival of the fittest." [1]In al-Jahaz's concepts, animals compete with each other for resources, and traits that enable survival are passed on to future generations. Al-Jahaz's ideas have received renewed interest due to their fundamental similarity to modern concepts involved in natural selection.
In the 10th century, the "Brothers of Purity," or "Pure Brothers" in Basra, in modern-day Iraq, developed in their philosophical writings an evolutionary view according to which the universe and life developed gradually. According to this view, primary matter underwent transformation through energy, thus creating minerals, plants, and animals.
In the 14th century, Ibn Khaldun, a prominent historian and philosopher, presented evolution as part of a religious process of creation. He wrote about the "gradual process of creation" and proposed the possibility that species gradually evolved from simpler life forms, with humans being the culmination of this process. His ideas emphasized the possibility of combining religious and scientific understanding.
The concept of evolution in the modern Muslim world
In the 19th century, Muslims began to be exposed to Darwin's theory of evolution. One of the main figures who dealt with the subject was Jamal ad-Din al-Afghani, who argued that evolution was compatible with belief in God. He argued that the evolutionary process reflected God's wisdom and creative abilities. This view gained support among Muslim intellectuals and scientists, especially in Turkey and Egypt.
On the other hand, during the 20th century, opposition from conservative movements in the Muslim world, especially among Salafi communities, grew. This opposition stemmed from concerns that evolution contradicted the story of creation as it appears in the Quran, and from the idea being seen as part of Western influence that undermined traditional values.
In Saudi Arabia and other countries, opposition to evolution has become official policy, including a ban on the subject in schools. This opposition has spread to other Muslim countries, where religious education is seen as a tool for preserving cultural and religious identity.
Removing evolution chapters from the curriculum in Syria
In early 2025, after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, which had been ruled by the Syrian Baath Party for decades, the interim government in Syria announced comprehensive reforms to the education system. These reforms included many content changes designed to align the education system with Islamic religious values, while removing content that was perceived as being related to the previous regime or the West. Among the most notable changes was the decision to remove chapters teaching about the "origins of life" and the theory of evolution, which were an integral part of Syria's science curriculum. [2]
The background to the decision lies in the ideology of the current coalition, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) movement, an Islamist movement with conservative leanings. This movement, which was previously affiliated with al-Qaeda, aspires to establish a state based on Islamic religious principles. The move to change the curriculum is seen as a vital step in realizing the movement's vision, with the aim of instilling religious values from a young age.
The positions of the interim government and the reactions in the public and around the world
The interim government claims that the changes to the curriculum are intended to "purge" the education system of content that "distorts" religious truth, and to strengthen the Islamic identity of students. According to the Syrian Minister of Education, Nazir Muhammad al-Qadri, these are amendments intended to improve understanding of religion and align teaching with accurate interpretations of the Quran.
As part of the reforms, it was claimed that the content that teaches the theory of evolution is not in line with the principles of the Muslim religion. Many religious commentators claimed that evolution contradicts the creation story in the Quran, in which man was created directly by Allah and not as a result of a long natural process.
The government's decision sparked a widespread uproar in the public and academic community. Many parents expressed concern that the changes to the curriculum would harm their children's educational and professional future. Educators and social activists claimed that the move reflected an attempt to impose a one-sided religious worldview on the education system, which is contrary to the values of inclusion and equality.
The international scientific community has been sharply critical of the removal of basic science content from the curriculum. Scientists have warned that removing these chapters will hinder the next generation's ability to integrate into the global scientific discourse and cause serious damage to the country's education system.
Broad implications of the changes
The removal of evolution from the Syrian curriculum is a violation of science education and thus threatens science education in the country. Evolution, as one of the cornerstones of modern biology, provides the basis for understanding fields such as genetics, cell biology, and ecology. Without a thorough study of this subject, Syrian students will struggle to understand complex scientific processes and apply this knowledge in academic or professional research.
In addition, removing the topic of evolution harms the development of critical thinking among students. The theory of evolution not only provides explanations for the origin of life, but also teaches students to deal with complex ideas and understand the power of scientific data and observations. In doing so, it encourages an open and analytical approach, which is essential for dealing with the challenges of the future.
Social, religious and geopolitical implications
The Syrian government's move could deepen the gaps between different groups in the population. While conservative sectors may see the changes as a positive step towards preserving religious values, secular and other groups may feel marginalized. Education that is limited to a single religious view undermines the possibility of building a pluralistic and inclusive state.
Moreover, presenting evolution as contradicting religious belief could reinforce a sense of alienation between religious communities and the scientific community. This situation could hinder scientific and technological developments in the country and harm Syria's integration into the international community.
Syria's decision could set a dangerous precedent for other countries with similar tendencies. If other countries choose to remove the subject of evolution from their curricula, it could lead to a wave of disengagement from modern science and exacerbate tensions between religion and science across the Muslim world.
The future of scientific education in Syria
The Syrian government’s decision to remove evolution from the curriculum in Syria stems from a combination of political and theological ideology, which seeks to deepen a conservative religious narrative and undermine the existence of scientific concepts that threaten certain interpretations of the Quran. The decision is part of a struggle between traditional values and modernity, between religion and science, and between national identity and global integration. While the move may gain support from certain groups, its long-term effects could be devastating for Syria’s education, society, and economy. Possible consequences include a decline in students’ scientific understanding, the strengthening of a conservative religious identity, and a potential damage to the country’s social and educational resilience. It should be remembered that science education is not only a tool for understanding nature, but also a platform for developing critical and open-minded thinking, which is essential for the existence of a progressive and dynamic society.
The debate over the theory of evolution in the Muslim world, and especially in Syria, highlights the tension between religion and science and the political and social influences of the education system. The Syrian government's decision to remove the chapters on evolution symbolizes not only a religious struggle, but also a battle for the social and cultural future of the country. The discussion of including the subject of evolution as an essential part of the biological sciences curriculum is not just a question of educational policy, but touches on broader questions about values, identity, and coping with the challenges of the 21st century.
Sources:
- Al-Jāḥiẓ, Book of Animals.
- Pew Research Center, "The World's Muslims: Religion, Politics and Society," 2013.
- Rana Dajani, "Why I Teach Evolution to Muslim Students," Nature, 2015.
- CNN, "Syria's New Government Sparks Backlash Over Curriculum Changes," 2025.
- BBC, "Amendments to School Textbooks Draw Outcry in Syria," 2025.
- Shoaib Ahmed Malik, Islam and Evolution: al-Ghazālī and the Modern Evolutionary Paradigm, 2021
[1] Al-Jāḥiẓ, Book of Animals.
[2] CNN, "Syria's New Government Sparks Backlash Over Curriculum Changes," 2025; BBC, "Amendments to School Textbooks Draw Outcry in Syria," 2025.
More of the topic in Hayadan: (Beresheet is the Hebrew name for the book of Genesis)
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And in the country?
Religions in general, and monotheistic ones in particular, are a disaster for humanity. Not only are they intolerant of each other, they are also murderous towards each other.
After all, if our God is not without Him, then anyone who disbelieves in Him is doomed to die.
Millions upon millions of people have been killed in religious wars since the days of early Christianity, by Islam throughout its generations, and today by the Jewish Hamas of the damned settlers.
You can say whatever you want because you are looking at Islam from the wrong angle.. In my opinion, Islam is the right direction, especially in this period!
Islam equals terrorism, it has always been that way since the birth of the "Prophet" Muhammad and even before, and every other story is a lie upon a lie.