Reassessing the Epoch of Adam: A Comparative Approach Based on Qur’anic Characteristics and Scientific Evidence

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Faculty of Chemistry and Petroleum Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C, 1983969411, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

The present study adopts an interdisciplinary approach at the intersection of science and religion to propose an interpretive framework for situating the "Qur’anic Adam" within human natural history. The primary objective of the study is to correlate the key attributes of Prophet Adam as described in the Qur’an, such as advanced language, modesty and the need for clothing, rudimentary religious awareness, and the genealogical unity of humanity, with scientific evidence drawn from cognitive archaeology, population genetics, and paleoclimatology. The present study aims to identify a "Temporal Context" or historico-cultural setting consistent with the Qur’anic descriptions. The findings indicated that although various elements of modern human behavior emerged through a long and gradual process, a significant overlap of all these attributes exists within a specific time frame. It is concluded that the approximate period between 100,000 and 50,000 years ago represents an "Interpretive turning point" in human history and the best candidate for alignment with the image of the "Qur’anic Adam," a period in which humans had reached a threshold of cognitive maturity but were still in the process of forming their earliest cultural traditions. This framework presents a portrayal of Adam that is not only consistent with scientific findings but also situated within one of the most pivotal stages of human evolution.
 
 

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References

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