Episode 55 - "No Clash" - The Program Presented by a British Broadcaster

Critique of the "No Clash" Program and Normalizing the Quran with Scientific Superstitions

Peace be upon you, dear audience. I have been asked repeatedly about the program "There is no clash" presented by a British presenter funded by Muslims. "No clash" means no conflict or contradiction, and the intended meaning is no contradiction between empirical, experimental science and the Quran.

Methodology of the "No Clash" Program in Proving Alleged Harmony

How does the program attempt to prove this? I watched several episodes and found that its method is as follows:

First: What is the current scientific trend? We will search the Quran for verses from which we take certain words, cut them off from their context, impose meanings on them, and shape them according to this scientific trend. If scientific research provides conflicting numbers, we will take from these numbers what matches the scenario we have drawn for the Quranic verses. Then we will present to the people the news: the Quran does not only not contradict scientific facts, but it is the one that brought them more than fourteen hundred years ago.

So we tell people that Allah's statement, {I swear by the retreating stars * the runners, the swimmers} (Al-Waqiah 75-76), speaks about the physical Higgs boson particles, and the verse {Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth} (An-Nur 35) speaks about quantum light and the light emitted by chlorophyll in plants, and so on.

Critique of "No Clash" - General Approach

The program attempts to normalize Quranic verses to fit scientific fads and even "superstitions" (خرافات). For example, it claims that the Quran proves human evolution.

Case Study: "The Quran Proves Evolution and African Roots of Man" Episode

The program claims that Surah At-Tin and Az-Zaytun speak about the evolutionary timelines of fig and olive trees and their connection to primates and Homo erectus.

Detailed Analysis and Refutation of the Program's Claims

Point 1: Reliance on Flawed Evolutionary Scenarios: The program uncritically accepts evolutionary claims, even when Darwinists themselves disagree.

Point 2: Misinterpretation of "تقويم" and Homo Erectus: The program links Homo erectus to "أحسن تقويم". This is refuted by highlighting the context of "ثم رددناه أسفل سافلين" and the spiritual meaning of "تقويم". Additionally, there is scientific refutation of Homo erectus as a distinct species.

Point 3: Misinterpretation of "ثم رددناه أسفل سافلين": The program interprets this as descent from an Ethiopian mountain. This is refuted by pointing to the context of "إلا الذين آمنوا وعملوا الصالحات" and the spiritual meaning. Moreover, the specifics of the "Out of Africa" theory are scientifically refuted.

Point 4: Lack of Methodological Rigor and Selective Data: The program arbitrarily selects the "80 million years" figure for primate evolution despite scientific disagreement and lacks methodology.

Point 5: Inaccurate Claims about Fig Evolution: The claim that the study mentioned fig evolution in Africa 80 million years ago is refuted. There is scientific disagreement on the timing of fig evolution, and the program selectively uses data with "fuzziness" in Quranic interpretation.

Overall Critique of the Program's Approach

The program lacks methodology, cannot distinguish true from false science, and results in "chaos" and "darkness". It is dangerous to serve Islam ignorantly. The Quran is "قول فصل وما هو بالهزل" (clear speech, not a joke) and "كتاب عزيز" (a noble book). Abu Bakr cautioned against speaking about the Quran without knowledge. The program inadvertently legitimizes false science and makes people doubt the Quran if they doubt Darwinism.

The Danger of Denying Quranic Clarity and Prophetic Interpretation

The program's approach leads to denying fixed meanings in the Quran and the role of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in interpreting it. The program's claim that the Prophet did not interpret the Quran is refuted by relevant verses. The motive is to isolate the Sunnah to allow for arbitrary interpretations.

Distinction: True Scientific Miracles vs. Fabricated Ones

Genuine scientific allusions in the Quran (embryology, clouds, seas) are acknowledged. These are contrasted with fabricated "miracles" like human evolution, emphasizing that true allusions are clear and do not require distortion.

Conclusion: The Harm of Well-Intentioned but Flawed Apologetics

Good intentions do not justify errors. Islam does not tolerate falsehood or pseudo-science. This approach undermines the Quran's authority. May Allah guide us.

Normalizing the Quran with Scientific Superstitions: The Myth of Evolution as an Example

The program does not only attempt to normalize the verses of the Quran to align with controversial scientific trends, but also with superstitions, such as the myth of human evolution from lower creatures, which we have thoroughly disproven in the previous episode.

An example of this is an episode of the program titled "The Quran Proves Evolution and the African Origins of Man," where the program claims that Surah At-Tin and Surah Az-Zaytoun preceded Darwin in stating that humans evolved from lower creatures. How?

They said: The Quran chose the fig and the olive to form the temporal boundaries for the evolution of the human race. Fig trees evolved 80 million years ago, and olive trees evolved from a common ancestor 1.5 million years ago. The program states: 80 million years ago marks the beginning of the evolution of "Primates," which they claim are the first animal ancestors from which humans evolved. Meanwhile, 1.5 million years ago is the time when the upright-walking hominid "Homo erectus" appeared, one of the alleged transitional stages between animals and humans. Therefore, the oath by the fig refers to the time of the appearance of primates because it coincides with the evolutionary appearance of the fig 80 million years ago, and the oath by the olive refers to the appearance of the upright-walking hominid because it coincides with the evolutionary appearance of the olive.

Analysis and Critique of the Claims of the "No Clash" Program Regarding Evolution

Let us study the elements of this connection one by one and see the method used by the program in general.

1. Relying on Invalid Evolutionary Scenarios

First: In the previous episode, we saw the truth about the alleged evolutionary line that the program relies on, and how the evolutionary scenarios are submerged, twisted, ambiguous, and complex with statements by Darwinists themselves in their most famous journals, and that they hardly agree on anything. The first problem is taking what is attributed to science as if it were axioms, and not distinguishing between what is correct and what is wrong among them.

2. Distorting the Meaning of "Best Stature" and Linking It to "Homo Erectus"

Second: They said that the evolution of the olive coincides with the appearance of "Homo erectus," meaning the upright-walking hominid, which we mentioned in the previous episode has research by Darwinists denying its existence altogether, saying that what was called the upright-walking hominid is nothing but a human like us. But wait, why did the program choose "Homo erectus" out of the creatures in the alleged evolutionary line? To fit the word "stature" in the verse: {Indeed, We have created man in the best of stature}. They took the word "stature" out of context to interpret it as the upright posture, and linked it to the alleged upright-walking hominid, as if Allah the Almighty means by His saying: {Indeed, We have created man} previous creatures to us, and they do not put the verse in its context as He said afterwards: {Then We reduced him to the lowest of the low}, which indicates that the stature is an innate psychological stature as we have explained. They made {Indeed, We have created man in the best of stature} a statement about an alleged hominid creature that is fake in reality and also in a fake evolutionary line.

3. Distorting the Meaning of "Lowest of the Low" and Ignoring the Quranic Context

Third: How did the program interpret the saying of Allah the Almighty: {Then We reduced him to the lowest of the low}? The program said: It means the descent of man from a mountain in Ethiopia, to agree with what the Darwinists said about the appearance of the first man in Ethiopia. They interpreted "We reduced him to the lowest of the low" as descending from a mountain, completely cut off from the saying of Allah the Almighty afterwards: {Except those who believe and do righteous deeds}, which clearly indicates that the lowliness in "lowest of the low" is a spiritual and psychological lowliness. Moreover, we have explained, dear respected audience, in the previous episode that the idea of the appearance of the first man in Ethiopia has completely disappeared among the Darwinists with discoveries of older skulls in Morocco, Tanzania, Chad, and Kenya, and even outside Africa as in China and others. No problem, inform us of the latest discovery, and we will find other verses that can be interpreted to fit the new estimates. We notice in all of this, dear respected audience, the absence of methodology in dealing with the Quran, and taking its words as if they are amorphous and fragmented clay that can be molded according to demand.

4. False Assumptions About Evolutionary Estimates

Fourth: The program assumes that the followers of the superstition themselves agree on these estimates for the evolution of primates 80 million years ago, and for the evolution of the fig and the olive as well. This is also false, as they differ on the appearance of primates, with some saying they appeared 60 million years ago, others saying 80 million, and others saying 85 million years ago, and others saying otherwise. So, on what basis did you choose 80 million years out of these numbers for the beginning of the alleged evolution of the primates, which are claimed to be the ancestors of man, O No Clash program? There is no basis or methodology, but the important thing is to adjust the drawn scenario to match this number with the evolution of the fig as we will see. And when Allah swore by the fig, was this a mistake in determining the date of the evolution of the fig? Glorified be Allah from that? Or are you playing and stumbling in ignorance and daring to the Book of Allah the Almighty? This is about the alleged time of the appearance of the primates.

5. Incorrect Claims About the Evolution of the Fig

Fifth: What about the fig? Which they claimed appeared evolutionarily with the primates. The program claimed that the study it referred to mentions that the fig appeared in Africa 80 million years ago. First: Neither the study referred to nor the news it talked about mentioned that the fig appeared initially in Africa. This is an incorrect claim by the No Clash program. Secondly: Is the number 80 million years for the appearance of the fig a number agreed upon by the Darwinists? Also no, as we saw in the case of the primates, they also differ here. Some say that the fig appeared at least 60 million years ago, and others say 75 million years, and this is what I have seen briefly and have not exhausted the subject. Knowing that these estimates in all these studies about the fig are for the common relationship between the fig and the insects that help in its pollination, which they consider equal to the age of the fig itself. Will you look for other verses that fit these conflicting estimates? And there is no need to mention the discrepancies in their estimates for the time of the appearance of the olive. This is the third observation: selecting from studies without methodology in accordance with the predetermined result. Chaos in everything. Fabricating scenarios like someone forming a panel from scattered wood on the surface of water, then the wind and waves do not take long to dismantle it. Darkness upon darkness.

A Comprehensive Critique of the Program's Methodology and Its Impact

What is evident is that the program's organizers are in a state of losing their way. They are unable to distinguish between false and genuine knowledge, taking what some Western scholars present as certainties. The program lacks both linguistic and religious methodology. At the same time, they feel that what they consider knowledge threatens their faith in Islam, and they do not want to leave Islam. The result is what we have seen. Sometimes, my brothers, the person who tries to serve Islam out of ignorance harms himself more than the one who attacks him with clear malice.

The way the program is conducted, whether in this episode or in others, is a farce in the truest sense of the word. While Allah the Almighty describes His book saying: {Indeed, it is a decisive statement * And it is not a jest.} Using falsehood to deal with the Quran, while Allah the Almighty says: {And indeed, it is an honorable scripture * Falsehood cannot approach it from before it or from behind it; a revelation from a Wise, Praised One.} And may Allah be pleased with Abu Bakr al-Siddiq who said: "What land will carry me and what sky will shade me if I say about the Quran what I do not know."

The episode, unbeknownst to its owners, has turned into using the Quran to extinguish the legitimacy of false science, so that the follower fears that if he doubts Darwin's myth, they may doubt the Quran itself. Do you doubt the evolution of man from lower creatures? Then you doubt Surah At-Tin and Az-Zaytoun! To convince that the Quran preceded in stating the evolution of man from lower creatures, which we proved in the previous episode is a myth and a blind Darwinian doctrine. All this to win a myth of a clear contradiction of the Quran and the Sunnah, a matter known necessarily in Islam, spread in many verses and hadiths, that Allah created Adam with His hands and created his wife from him.

The Danger of Denying the Clear Meanings of the Quran and the Interpretation of the Prophet peace be upon him

Here, my brothers, there is an important matter. Anyone who tamper with the interpretation of the Quran in this way will try to convince you that the Quran does not have specific meanings that are true and others false, but all the Quran is similar to him, and there are no verses with clear meanings. And Allah the Almighty says: {It is He who has sent down to you, [O Muhammad], the Book; in it are verses [that are] precise - they are the foundation of the Book - and others unspecific. As for those in whose hearts is deviation [from truth], they will follow that of it which is unspecific, seeking discord and seeking an interpretation [suitable to them]. And no one knows its [true] interpretation except Allah . But those firm in knowledge say, "We believe in it. All [of it] is from our Lord." And no one will be reminded except those of understanding.} This is a characteristic of those who tamper in this way, doubting the clarity of the meanings of the Quran's verses in general. Therefore, the program "No Clash" dedicates an episode titled "The Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him did not interpret the Quran." Beware of those who tell you that the Prophet interpreted the Quran, as if they say: Beware of those who recite to you the saying of Allah the Almighty: {And We have sent down to you the Reminder that you may clarify to the people what was sent down to them and that they might reflect.} To clarify to the people what was revealed to them of the Quran, O Muhammad. As if they say: Beware of those who recite to you the saying of Allah the Almighty: {Indeed, Allah has bestowed a favor upon the believers by sending among them a Messenger from themselves, reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book and wisdom, although they were before in manifest error.} He recites to them His verses and purifies them and teaches them the Book, so teaching is an additional matter to recitation. And there are many hadiths in which the Prophet peace be upon him interprets the verses of the Quran, but those who delve into the Quran with ignorance want to separate the Sunnah from the Quran to make it easier for them to mold the verses as their whims suggest.

The Difference Between Quranic Scientific Facts and Superstitions

Of course, my brothers, there is no doubt that the Quran referred to scientific facts such as the stages of the creation of the fetus and details about clouds and the barrier between the two seas, etc. But all of these are not superstitions like the evolution of man from lower creatures, but facts that have become observed and monitored. And the Quran's indication of them is clear, not forced, and does not need this tampering that we have seen.

Conclusion: The Noble Purpose Does Not Justify Misguidance

Someone might say: Okay, brother, why do you criticize those who try to convince people that the Quran does not contradict science even if they make mistakes, as their purpose is noble? My brothers, the noble purpose does not justify misguidance in speaking about Allah without knowledge and in distorting the meanings of the Quran in this way. Islam does not tolerate any falsehood or false science, and what we see with our own eyes is that this method ultimately leads to diminishing the awe of the Quran in the hearts of Muslims, not the entry of non-Muslims into Islam. May Allah guide us and those in charge of the program, and may He grant us and them beneficial knowledge and use us and them in His obedience. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.