ABSTRACT
In attempting to harmonise Islam with evolution, some contemporary pro-evolutionary thinkers misread or misunderstand historical Muslim thinkers with modern evolutionary readings. Indeed, there are texts written by infamous historical Muslim scholars which apparently suggest that humans have evolved from lower forms of species. These include Ibn Khaldūn, Jalāl ad-Dīn Rūmī, al-Jāḥiẓ, and The Brethren of Purity (Ikhwān al-Ṣafā). However, as will be shown, such readings are mistaken. Instead of evolution, the aforementioned authors discussed some version of the scala naturae (the great chain of being). Unbeknown to some contemporary readers, they take them to be talking about an evolutionary or a proto-evolutionary theory. It is demonstrated how and why these historical records do not represent any notion of evolution as is understood today to avoid any further erroneous claims that seem to be proliferating amongst modern thinkers.
