Q 5: Some people claim that long ago humans were apes, and then later evolved into the current form. Is this true? Is there evidence for this?

A: This claim is not true. The evidence is found in the Quran' where Allah describes the stages of Adam's creation, as He states, Verily, the likeness of ‘Isâ (Jesus) before Allâh is the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust (Surah Al-'Imran, 3: 59). (Part No. 2; Page No. 436) This dust was sprinkled with water, until it became sticky clay, as Allah states, And indeed We created man (Adam) out of an extract of clay (water and earth). (Surah Al-Mu'minun, 23: 12). Allah also states, Verily, We created them of a sticky clay. (Surah Al-Saffat, 37: 11). Then, it turned into altered mud, as Allah says, And indeed, We created man from dried (sounding) clay of altered mud. (Surah Al-Hijr, 15: 26). When it dried, it became clay which resembles that of pottery, as Allah states, He created man (Adam) from sounding clay like the clay of pottery. (Surah Al-Rahman, 55: 14). Allah fashioned him as he pleased and breathed into him of His soul, and Allah stated, And (remember) when your Lord said to the angels: "I am going to create a man (Adam) from dried (sounding) clay of altered mud. "So, when I have fashioned him completely and breathed into him (Adam) the soul which I created for him, then fall (you) down prostrating yourselves unto him." (Surah Al-Hijr, 15: 28-29). These are the stages of Adam's creation as mentioned in the Qur'an. Regarding the stages of creating Adam's progeny, Allah states, And indeed We created man (Adam) out of an extract of clay (water and earth). Thereafter We made him (the offspring of Adam) as a Nutfah (mixed drops of the male and female sexual discharge and lodged it) in a safe lodging (womb of the woman). Then We made the Nutfah into a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood), then We made the clot into a little lump of flesh, then We made out of that little lump of flesh bones, then We clothed the bones with flesh, and then We brought it forth as another creation. So Blessed is Allâh, the Best of creators. (Surah Al-Mu'minun, 23: 12-14). (Part No. 2; Page No. 437) As for Adam's wife, Eve, Allah (Exalted be He) informs us that He created her from him, as He states, O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife [Hawwâ’ (Eve)], and from them both He created many men and women (Surah Al-Nisa', 4: 1).May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.