The Muslim scientists ibn Kathir, ibn Khauldun, ibn Arabi, ibn Sina, among other scientists, such as the Ikhwan school of thought, arrived at the same conclusions as Darwin with a convincing amount of evidence. Some westerners, including Darwins contemporary, Sir William Draper, called it the Mohammedan Theory of Evolution.
The Mutazili scientist and philosopher al-Jahiz (c. 776-869) was the first of the Muslim biologists and philosophers to develop an early theory of evolution. He speculated on the influence of the environment on animals, considered the effects of the environment on the likelihood of an animal to survive, and first described the struggle for existence and an early theory on natural selection. Al-Jahiz wrote the following on the struggle for existence:
"Animals engage in a struggle for existence; for resources, to avoid being eaten and to breed. Environmental factors influence organisms to develop new characteristics to ensure survival, thus transforming into new species. Animals that survive to breed can pass on their successful characteristics to offspring."
There are clearly things which are simply argument by analogy. For instance: coral has branches like a tree; the date palm does not wither if all its branches are chopped but it dies when the head is cut off so its like an animal. And through such analogy they link minerals to plants to animals.
In fact, Hamidullahs summary reads something like a Great Chain of Being which was associated with commoners earlier while al-Jahizs description reminds of natural selection.http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1712098
Isn't this contrary to the popular belief that religion is anti-evolution? Or there are other religions that accept evolution?
That's some mighty nice science you got there Baghdad, would be a shame if something were to happen to it.
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