Could Apes have evolved from humans?
A Quranic and Scientific Analysis
When we look at common depictions of our ancestral cousins, we find that two highly misleading additions are consistently included in illustrations and models:
1. Extensive Hair – There is more genetic and anthropological evidence suggesting that our closest relatives looked more like Aborigines and Africans rather than the excessively hairy, ape-like figures we are shown.
2. Nose Shape – Unlike bones, cartilage does not survive the test of time, meaning any reconstructions of ancient human noses are purely speculative.
By simply adjusting these two visual misrepresentations, our so-called “primitive ancestors” begin to appear far more human than what mainstream depictions suggest.
Now, before diving into the core of this discussion, let’s establish one crucial point:
Evolution vs. the Quran: A False Dichotomy
Many people reject the idea of evolution, believing that it contradicts their religious teachings. However, the Quran does not oppose the concept of evolution—in fact, it repeatedly affirms that living beings developed through natural processes:
• “And We made from water every living thing.” (21:30)
• “And certainly We created man from an extract of clay.” (23:12)
The concept of life originating from water and earth aligns with modern biology. However, what I reject—and what I will prove wrong—is the assumption that humans evolved from apes.
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The Angels’ Question: A Clue to Our True Origins
When Allah declared His intention to create humankind, the angels responded with a question:
Surah Al-Baqarah (2:30)
“And your Lord said to the angels: ‘I am placing a successor on the earth.’
They said: ‘Will You place in it one who would spread corruption and shed blood, while we glorify and praise You?’ He said: ‘I know what you do not know.’”
Key Observations:
1. Angels do not know the future – Their question was not based on prophecy; otherwise, they would have prostrated immediately.
2. Angels do not question Allah’s commands – Yet, here they express concern.
3. Why would they assume corruption and bloodshed?
The only logical conclusion is that the angels had prior knowledge of beings who existed before Adam and engaged in these behaviors. The only reason they yielded to Adam was after he expressed intelligence by speaking and naming different things.
Who Were These Pre-Adamite Beings?
The Quran does not explicitly name them, but their violent and corrupt nature suggests they were hominids who existed before modern Homo sapiens sapiens (wise modern humans).
Anthropological evidence places the emergence of modern Homo sapiens sapiens around 12,000–15,000 years ago—precisely when we see the first appearance of:
1. Advanced tool use (beyond any other animal).
2. Controlled use of fire and cooking.
3. The first evidence of clothing (a uniquely human trait).
4. The beginning of agriculture and permanent settlements.
This sudden cognitive leap does not fit a smooth evolutionary process—it suggests a distinct event of creation or transformation.
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Devolution, Not Evolution: A Quranic Perspective
Rather than believing humans evolved from apes, evidence suggests the opposite—that apes descended from humans through a process of devolution.
Quranic Evidence for Devolution
The Quran describes a specific incident where a group of people was transformed into apes due to their disobedience:
Twice it mentions, "We said to them: ‘Be despicable apes":
Surah Al-Baqarah (2:65)
“You have come to know who it was among you that transgressed the Sabbath.
We said to them: ‘Be despicable apes!’”
Surah Al-A’raf (7:166)
“So when they persisted in what they were forbidden from,
We said to them: ‘Be despicable apes!’”
And once we are told
Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:60)
“Shall I inform you of those worse in retribution from Allah?
Those whom Allah has cursed and brought His wrath upon—
of whom He made apes and swine, and those who served the devil.”
Why Does the Quran Mention This Transformation Twice?
Because we have two genetically closest relatives:
1. Bonobos – Known for excessive sexual behavior.
2. Chimpanzees – Known for aggression and warfare
(mimicking the behavior of those who “spread corruption and shed blood”).
Humans have 46 chromosomes (23 pairs), while all great apes (chimps, gorillas, orangutans) have 48 chromosomes (24 pairs).
Science proposes that a fusion of two ancestral chromosomes led to the formation of Chromosome 2 in humans.
However, this “fusion hypothesis” has a major flaw:
• For this change to successfully create modern humans, the exact same fusion must have occurred in both a male and female at the same time.
• The odds of such a precise genetic mutation happening in two separate individuals and then leading to an entirely new species are astronomically low.
• Instead, it is more likely that the original chromosome count was 46, and over time, it “broke” into 48 in some descendants.
This means:
• Humans did not evolve from apes.
• Rather, apes devolved from an earlier human-like ancestor.
This aligns perfectly with the Quran’s description of transformation into apes as a divine punishment—suggesting that such a process may have occurred more than once in history.
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Final Thoughts:
Are We Witnessing Devolution Today?
If devolution is real, are we still witnessing it in modern times? Consider:
• Intellectual decline in certain human populations.
• Physical degeneration due to environmental factors, poor diet, and genetic mutations.
• Moral decay—a return to primal instincts similar to those described in the Quran.
Could this be a warning that humanity may once again face the consequences of corruption and disobedience?
The Quran and science together suggest an alternative to the mainstream evolutionary narrative—one that acknowledges natural processes while recognizing divine intervention in the shaping of humanity.
This is not a rejection of evolution—it is an invitation to rethink it.
Both share over 98% of human DNA, and the only genetic difference between us is Chromosome 2.
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The Mystery of Chromosome 2