Before discussing the Islamic view of extraterrestrial life forms, it is necessary to decide what is meant by this. This concept does not include, for example, angels, in whose existence Muslims and followers of other religions believe. Extraterrestrial life forms, as science understands them, have a material basis and can exist somewhere in space on some other planets besides the Earth. These life forms can be represented by both single-celled microorganisms and highly developed individuals with thinking.
Life, as we understand it, requires a complex of certain conditions from the point of view of chemistry and physics, which will allow its various forms to exist and develop. For example, the presence of liquid. But liquid cannot exist in space without pressure on a solid. In the solar system, only on Earth there are suitable conditions for the existence of life. Recent studies have shown that liquid may be on Mars, as well as on Saturn's moon Titan and Jupiter's moons Europa and Ganymede. That is, the possibility of the existence of some forms of life there is not excluded.
In this regard, it is worth recalling that the Holy Quran speaks of the connection between water and the existence of different forms of life. For example: “Can't the unbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were one and that We divided them and created all living things out of water? Will they not believe? (Quran, 21:30).
Scientists today say that life begins in the ocean when elementary molecules combine and acquire the ability to reproduce themselves. Allah says that He created all life forms from water and erected a protective vault over the Earth.
Returning to our topic, there are verses in the Quran that can be regarded as a likely confirmation of belief in the existence of extraterrestrial civilizations, but there are no verses that would unequivocally affirm this. The very phrase "Lord of the worlds" in the description of Allah indicates the possibility of the existence of His creations in many worlds.
The Qur'an also contains references to all kinds of creations of Allah.
For example: “Among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, as well as those living creatures (or those living creatures) that He settled on them. He is able to collect them whenever he wishes (Qur'an, 42:29).
Based on this and other verses, some of the Islamic theologians believe that belief in extraterrestrial civilizations does not contradict the teachings of Islam. The phrase "living beings", given in the translation of this verse, in the Arabic text is designated as "dabba" and, according to the opinion of the authoritative translator of the Koran, Muhammad Asad, means "a living being that has a body and is capable of independent movement, unlike spiritual beings who do not have body shell, for example, angels. " (Asad, Muhammad. The Message of the Quran. England: Book Foundation, 2003, 449).
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For his part, the no less famous translator of the Koran, Abdullah Yusuf Ali, writes in his commentary: "It can be assumed that life in some forms is common on some of the millions of planets scattered throughout the cosmos." (Ali, Abdullah Yusuf, The Quran: Text, Transaltion and Commentary, Ad-Dar Al-`Arabiah, Beirut, 1938, 1314).
However, to date, no scientific evidence has been presented for the existence of intelligent extraterrestrial life. Of course, there is no shortage of claims that humans have come into contact with aliens or seen unknown flying objects (UFOs), presumably alien spaceships.
However, all of these statements are questioned. Numerous "testimonies" of aliens and UFOs stay on earth in fact turn out to be falsifications and a figment of the imagination of overly impressionable people, although they attract huge attention of the public, eager for sensations. Especially many fans of "Ufology" (UFO in English analogue of UFO in Russian) live in the USA. These people are the source of many myths that are then spread around the world. Hollywood does not stand aside, which makes huge money on the production of all kinds of fantastic blockbusters.
From the point of view of science, no solid evidence has yet been found for the existence of life on other planets and galaxies. However, the universe is so large that we cannot completely reject the very possibility of its existence.
From the point of view of Islam, only science can confirm or deny this. The Qur'an supports all kinds of honest and impartial scientific research, including research in the universe to the extent that it helps to strengthen faith in the Supreme Creator.
We do not know all the secrets of the universe, and we hardly will. Among other things, belief or disbelief in the existence of extraterrestrial life forms does not affect the foundations of our faith and does not require our close attention to this issue.
Author: Ildar Mukhametzhanov