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Article
Accepting Evolution Entails Kufr? A Critical Appraisal of Nuh Ha Mim Keller’s Fatwa
Jurnal Studi Ilmu-ilmu Al-Qur an dan Hadis
  • Shoaib Ahmed Malik, Zayed University
  • Elvira Kulieva, Hamad bin Khalifa University
  • Ayub Ayub, Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-30-2021
Abstract

Muslim scholars who oppose the compatibility of Islam and evolution usually advance three kinds of arguments: scientific, metaphysic, and hermeneutic. This paper will examine the position of Nuh Ha Mim Keller, a prominent Sunni scholar who employ these three lines of arguments and proposes that believing in human evolution entails kufr. In this article we will critically analyze Keller’s understanding of the science of evolution in which he claims that the theory of evolution is not robust. We argue that through the consilience of induction, evolution is the best explanation for the biological origins and diversity. We also argue that a more nuanced understanding of the metaphysical and hermeneutical aspects of Islam and evolution debate would reveal that Keller’s anti-evolution claims are unwarranted, including his accusation of kufr against those who accept human evolution.

Publisher
Al-Jamiah Research Centre
Disciplines
Keywords
  • Kufr,
  • Evolution,
  • Human evolution,
  • Islam,
  • Nuh Ha Mim Keller
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International
Indexed in Scopus
No
Open Access
Yes
Open Access Type
Gold: This publication is openly available in an open access journal/series
Citation Information
Shoaib Ahmed Malik, Elvira Kulieva and Ayub Ayub. "Accepting Evolution Entails Kufr? A Critical Appraisal of Nuh Ha Mim Keller’s Fatwa" Jurnal Studi Ilmu-ilmu Al-Qur an dan Hadis Vol. 22 Iss. 2 (2021) p. 505 - 536 ISSN: <p><a href="https://v2.sherpa.ac.uk/id/publication/issn/2548-4737" target="_blank">2548-4737</a></p>
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/shoaib-malik/7/