# Creation before Adam: Neanderthals, bashar and insan, and the formation of man

- URL: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/zbya7rqfyru/s/7/
- Date: 2016-03-15 · Kind: discussion · Transcript tier: machine · Recording: Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan & Mufti Abu Layth - A Discussion on Contemporary Issues (29:07–32:56)
- Status: a view quoted in order to be discussed, not a position held
- Watch from the start of the segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbyA7rqfyRU&t=1747s
- Recording page: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/zbya7rqfyru/

**Topics:** Quran and science; Human origins; Guest conversations

**Summary (not a quotation; machine-made, unchecked):** Creation before Adam is discussed through a distinction between bashar and insan and two ways of reading the fossil record. The speaker raising it says he has no verdict either way.

## Longer summary

One speaker, apparently Mufti Abu Layth [?], raises the question of creation before Adam given the hominins such as Neanderthals that have been found, and mentions a book by an Egyptian scholar who has died [?] on the story of Genesis that distinguishes bashar from insan, the first insan being Adam, while verses about creating from clay describe bashar. He says he has told people there are only two ways to read the fossil findings: either humanity took a massive dip after an intelligent Adam and re-emerged with intelligence hundreds of thousands of years later, or those creations preceded Adam; he says Adam's creation would be a miracle either way and the earlier creation does not defy understanding. He cites the same author's reading of the verse that Allah created you and then gave you form [?] as referring to formation over time rather than a single creation. The other speaker says this makes sense, and the first says he does not have a verdict either way and that what interests him is the reaction such discussions provoke. The recording cuts off mid-sentence.

## Sources and names cited

- Nouman Ali Khan
- bashar
- insan
- Quran 7:11 (We created you, then gave you form) [?] (reference uncertain; possibly https://quran.com/7/11)

## Transcript (machine tier, 29:07–32:56)

[28:50] else you know I've got I just want to I want some contentment you know what I mean like so so yeah so It Isn't So this this thing of U but it's interesting you mentioned the thing about Adam the whole you see this whole thing it stirred a whole other discussion I think I don't know if I previously spoke to you about it but this whole thing of creation before Adam right now you know we've we other homings that we that are around Neals and things like this and all these other BS that have been found and stuff like you know I've discussed this with people I've said to people this there's actually a very interesting book

[29:29] with by I think I mentioned it to you last time that it's by an Egyptian scholar who passed away after it's my father story of Genesis between and what he's saying is he's doing a distinction and I really like it between insan and and he says bash is the whole Harmony and insan the first insan is now the thing is and and then he brings like so when Allah says in un [Music] creating and using to

[30:10] show a type of B but he has anyway other show this the point is I got I've got into several discussions about this with people I've said to people there's only two ways of looking at this the boms the findings all these things are here either we know that Adam Alam was enjy of his intelligent sophisticated he was I mean he you know Allah he was intelligent so either after him Humanity takes a massive dip and all these other you know these other varying Creations existing with slightly

[30:47] different DNA whatever and then later on they reemerge with intelligence hundreds of thousands of years later once again all those things proceed as [Music] and really this is having no bearing in the sense that we're not saying Adam and not saying Adam is of would be a miracle but it would not say that the other creation before him defies our understanding in in any way and I tell you this's an interesting that the brings this verse he says that take that one but he brings the verse

[31:25] that where Allah says that we created time lapses then we gave you formation he says that yes people traditionally just said that was creating but what was referring to and then their formation over time comes on the seene you know what was it argue

[32:07] that I [Music] mean that's interesting actually be physical not be a agressive that's true Ian makes absolute sense but I'm just saying that the interesting thing isn't the discourse which is fascinating is very interesting the interesting thing is reaction I why woulds oh my God this was so I don't have a verdict on this either way to be

[32:45] honest because people are so long telling

## Cite

Mufti Abu Layth Archive, segment zbyA7rqfyRU/s/7. https://muftiabulayth.org/r/zbya7rqfyru/s/7/

Not a fatwa: these answers were given to specific people at specific times. Ask a qualified scholar about your own situation.