25- Is it correct to say that man was originally a monkey?
This theory is absolutely not correct. The reason is that Allah the Exalted has mentioned in the Noble Qur’an, completely, all the stages of the creation of Adam:
إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَى عِنْدَ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ آدَمَ خَلَقَهُ مِنْ تُرَابٍ
“Indeed, the likeness of Isa in the sight of Allah is like the likeness of Adam, whom He created from a little dust.”
And He explained its reality: that it was sticky clay which clings to the hands. In one place He said:
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ مِنْ سُلَالَةٍ مِنْ طِينٍ
“And indeed, certainly, We created man from an extract of lowly clay.”
He also said:
إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاهُمْ مِنْ طِينٍ لَازِبٍ
“Indeed, We created them from sticky mud.”
Then this became foul-smelling clay, and He said:
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ مِنْ صَلْصَالٍ مِنْ حَمَإٍ مَسْنُونٍ
“And indeed, certainly, We created man from resounding clay, from foul-smelling, black mud.”
Then that clay dried and became resounding like baked pottery. He said:
خَلَقَ الْإِنْسَانَ مِنْ صَلْصَالٍ كَالْفَخَّارِ
“He created man from resounding clay, like pottery.”
Then Allah, the Lord of the worlds, according to His will, fashioned the form of Adam (peace be upon him) from this clay, breathed the soul into it, and said:
وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي خَالِقٌ بَشَرًا مِنْ صَلْصَالٍ مِنْ حَمَإٍ مَسْنُونٍ فَإِذَا سَوَّيْتُهُ وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِنْ رُوحِي فَقَعُوا لَهُ سَاجِدِينَ
“And when your Lord said to the angels: Indeed, I am going to create a human being from resounding clay, from foul-smelling, black mud. So when I have fashioned him completely and breathed into him of My soul, then fall down before him in prostration.”
The above are the stages that Adam’s creation passed through, and the Qur’an has mentioned them. As for the stages of the children of Adam, Allah says:
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ مِنْ سُلَالَةٍ مِنْ طِينٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَاهُ نُطْفَةً فِي قَرَارٍ مَكِينٍ ثُمَّ خَلَقْنَا النُّطْفَةَ عَلَقَةً فَخَلَقْنَا الْعَلَقَةَ مُضْغَةً فَخَلَقْنَا الْمُضْغَةَ عِظَامًا فَكَسَوْنَا الْعِظَامَ لَحْمًا ثُمَّ أَنْشَأْنَاهُ خَلْقًا آخَرَ فَتَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الْخَالِقِينَ
“And indeed, certainly, We created man from an extract of lowly clay. Then We placed him as a drop in a secure resting place. Then We made the drop into a clot of congealed blood, then We made the clot into a lump of flesh, then We made the lump into bones, then We clothed the bones with some flesh, then We brought him into being as another creation. So blessed is Allah, the best of creators.”
As for Hawwa, the wife of Adam (peace be upon him), Allah the Exalted created her from Adam (peace be upon him). Allah the Exalted says:
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ مِنْ نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيرًا وَنِسَاءً
“O people! Fear your Lord, who created you from one soul, and created from it its wife, and spread from the two of them many men and women.”
