❖ Origin of Humanity, Prophethood, and Revelation of Divine Books: A Rational Perspective ❖
It is often objected:
“Why did all the Prophets and revealed books come within the span of only 2,500 to 3,000 years, when science claims that humans have existed for 200,000 years or more? If humanity is that ancient, why did no Prophet come in the first 190,000 years?”
◈ Allah ﷻ appointed the very first human, Prophet Ādam (علیہ السلام), as a Prophet.
◈ The objection assumes that Prophets and divine books only came in recent centuries, but in reality, Prophets were sent throughout history, while written scriptures began only when mankind developed literacy.
◈ Science asserts that humans have existed for around 200,000 years, but there is no concrete historical documentation to prove this.
◈ Recorded human history spans no more than 5,000 years, making belief in a 200,000-year-old humanity seem logically inconsistent.
◈ The claim of early human existence is often based on fossil records, but fossils do not conclusively prove that they belonged to modern humans.
◈ Many historical fossil interpretations have proven to be inaccurate or even fabricated:
✿ Piltdown Man – Later exposed as a hoax.
✿ Nebraska Man – A tooth that turned out to be from a pig.
◈ When science says writing was discovered just 5,000 years ago, it is accepted without objection.
◈ However, when religion explains that early humans received oral teachings from Prophets, objections are raised.
◈ If early humans existed for nearly 190,000 years, why didn’t they learn to read and write during that vast period?
◈ If a brilliant child is left alone in a forest today, he might create tools or develop skills in a few years.
◈ So to assume that humans did nothing for nearly 200,000 years is logically unsound.
◈ According to scientific data:
– Around 12,000 years ago, the global human population was only 1 to 1.5 million.
– Around 70,000 years ago, it was merely 1,000 to 10,000 individuals.
◈ Such low population numbers raise serious questions about survival and development during that era.
◈ Today’s average human lifespan is 79 years, while 10,000 years ago, it was about 30 years.
◈ If lifespans were so short, how did humans manage to survive and persist over such a long timeline?
◈ Early human beings were illiterate, so Prophets taught through oral communication.
◈ Written scriptures began to be revealed once humanity became literate.
◈ Allah ﷻ began revealing books once humans were capable of understanding and preserving written teachings.
◈ Therefore, the notion that Prophets and scriptures came only within a short span reflects ignorance of the full historical process.
◈ If science asserts that humans existed 200,000 years ago, then it must answer:
Why did those humans do nothing for 190,000 years?
◈ Since science fails to offer a satisfactory answer, criticizing religion for presenting a logical, guided progression is unjustified.
Claiming that humans are 200,000 years old based on science is logically weak, due to the absence of strong evidence and the lack of historical documentation.
The process of Prophethood and revelation of divine books continued throughout human history and evolved alongside mankind’s intellectual and social development.
The revelation of scriptures began only when humans had the capacity to understand and preserve them.
❀ Clarification of the Objection
It is often objected:
“Why did all the Prophets and revealed books come within the span of only 2,500 to 3,000 years, when science claims that humans have existed for 200,000 years or more? If humanity is that ancient, why did no Prophet come in the first 190,000 years?”
❖ Beginning of Human Guidance and Nature of Knowledge
① Continuity of Divine Guidance
◈ Allah ﷻ appointed the very first human, Prophet Ādam (علیہ السلام), as a Prophet.
◈ The objection assumes that Prophets and divine books only came in recent centuries, but in reality, Prophets were sent throughout history, while written scriptures began only when mankind developed literacy.
② The Scientific Claim on Human Antiquity
◈ Science asserts that humans have existed for around 200,000 years, but there is no concrete historical documentation to prove this.
◈ Recorded human history spans no more than 5,000 years, making belief in a 200,000-year-old humanity seem logically inconsistent.
③ Lack of Concrete Evidence
◈ The claim of early human existence is often based on fossil records, but fossils do not conclusively prove that they belonged to modern humans.
◈ Many historical fossil interpretations have proven to be inaccurate or even fabricated:
✿ Piltdown Man – Later exposed as a hoax.
✿ Nebraska Man – A tooth that turned out to be from a pig.
❖ Discrepancies Between Scientific and Religious Criticism
◈ When science says writing was discovered just 5,000 years ago, it is accepted without objection.
◈ However, when religion explains that early humans received oral teachings from Prophets, objections are raised.
◈ If early humans existed for nearly 190,000 years, why didn’t they learn to read and write during that vast period?
❖ A Logical Assessment of Early Human Development
① Reality of Early Human Life
◈ If a brilliant child is left alone in a forest today, he might create tools or develop skills in a few years.
◈ So to assume that humans did nothing for nearly 200,000 years is logically unsound.
② Demographic Puzzles
◈ According to scientific data:
– Around 12,000 years ago, the global human population was only 1 to 1.5 million.
– Around 70,000 years ago, it was merely 1,000 to 10,000 individuals.
◈ Such low population numbers raise serious questions about survival and development during that era.
③ Changes in Life Expectancy
◈ Today’s average human lifespan is 79 years, while 10,000 years ago, it was about 30 years.
◈ If lifespans were so short, how did humans manage to survive and persist over such a long timeline?
❖ Wisdom Behind the Revelation of Prophets and Books
① Oral Transmission by Early Prophets
◈ Early human beings were illiterate, so Prophets taught through oral communication.
◈ Written scriptures began to be revealed once humanity became literate.
② Timing of Scripture Revelation
◈ Allah ﷻ began revealing books once humans were capable of understanding and preserving written teachings.
◈ Therefore, the notion that Prophets and scriptures came only within a short span reflects ignorance of the full historical process.
③ Questioning Both Science and Religion
◈ If science asserts that humans existed 200,000 years ago, then it must answer:
Why did those humans do nothing for 190,000 years?◈ Since science fails to offer a satisfactory answer, criticizing religion for presenting a logical, guided progression is unjustified.
✦ Conclusion
Claiming that humans are 200,000 years old based on science is logically weak, due to the absence of strong evidence and the lack of historical documentation.
The process of Prophethood and revelation of divine books continued throughout human history and evolved alongside mankind’s intellectual and social development.
The revelation of scriptures began only when humans had the capacity to understand and preserve them.
