Background: in The Story of Science, Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution Is A Shining Star. It Is A Tale That Fascinated

• Al-Jahiz: The Name Preceding Darwin
Background:
In the story of science, Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution is a shining star. It is a tale that fascinated
many and stirred up debates worldwide. Religious community, especially the Islamic scholars strictly
nullify this theory. Because they think that this theory does not align with the theological theory of
inception of humanity.
But did you know that there is an earliear chapter to this story? Al-Jahiz, an Islamic scholar and
polymath whose ideas came long before Darwin's time.
While Darwin's name is famous, Al-Jahiz's works are just as remarkable, sparking curiosity and
discussions centuries before Darwin's theory.
While Darwin's theory came in 1959, in his book “On the Origin of Species”, Al-Jahiz talked about
evolution and natural selection in his book “Kitab al Hayawan”, which was written in 9th century AD.
The Story of Al-Jahiz:
The average life expectancy in U.S. is 79 years, 82 years in U.K. while Japan has the highest life
expectancy in the whole world i.e. 84 years. Given that, 92 is rightly seen as ripe old age now or anytime.
Imagine how much stranger it must have been to die from a tower of books falling on you in your private
library, during the 10th decade of you life. History tells us that this was the fate of the man known as Al-
Jahiz.
Al-Jahiz was born in Basra, Iraq, around 776 A.D. His original name was Abu Uthman Amr ibn Bahr al-
Fuqaimi al-Basri. Al-Jahiz was his nickname. He was not from a noble background, neither was he a good
looking man. Infact, his nickname Al-Jahiz means the “bug-eyed”, because he reportedly suffered from
an eye defect. And he had to sell fish to feed his family in his early age.
But it is said that he was born with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and wisdom. He rose from a
humble origin to become the literary superstar of the day.
His quest for knowledge led him to various places, but much of his scholarly activity took place in Basra
and Baghdad. These two cities were the major centers of learning during that era.
He was the first, or among the first, to discuss ideas about evolution that would eventually make Charles
Darwin a household name. Considered to be the finest writer of Arabic prose ever lived, this brilliant
stylist wrote over 200 books, out of which some survived till date. Those who have survived today are
still widely read. His writing covered a wide range of topics including Literature, Zoology, and Linguistics.
Kitab al Hayawan(The Book of Animals) is his poineering work that covers aspects of Biology and
Zoology, such as animals' classification, food chain, and evolution. This book falls in 7 volumes. This book
was written in 9th century, most probably during the early to mid 9th century. That is way before Charles
Darwin's “On the Origin of Species”, which was published in 1859.
Al-Jahiz died in the year 869, at the age of 92. It is said that he died in his private library, when a
bookshelf fell over him when he tried to pick a book from it.
Key Points of Al-Jahiz's Theory of Evolution and Natural Selection:

1. Variation: Al-Jahiz observed that within species, there is variation among individuals. This
variation could be attributed to environmental factors and other influences.
2. Competition: He recognized the role of competition in the struggle for existence. Al-Jahiz
understood that organisms compete with each other for resources such as food, territory, and
mates.
3. Adaptation: Al-Jahiz proposed that organisms adapt to their environment over time. Those
individuals with traits better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and
reproduce, passing on their advantageous traits to future generations.
4. Natural Selection: Al-Jahiz suggested that the process of natural selection occurs as a result of
this competition and adaptation. Organisms with beneficial traits are more likely to survive and
reproduce, while those with less advantageous traits are less likely to pass on their genes.
5. Randomness: He also acknowledged the role of chance or randomness in evolution.
Environmental changes and unpredictable events can influence which traits are favored in a
population over time.
Overall, Al-Jahiz's theory of evolution and natural selection laid important groundwork for later
scientists, including Charles Darwin, who further developed and popularized these concepts.

Background: in The Story of Science, Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution Is A Shining Star. It Is A Tale That Fascinated

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Background: in The Story of Science, Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution Is A Shining Star. It Is A Tale That Fascinated

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Background: in The Story of Science, Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution Is A Shining Star. It Is A Tale That Fascinated

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

• Al-Jahiz: The Name Preceding Darwin

The Story of Al-Jahiz:

Key Points of Al-Jahiz's Theory of Evolution and Natural Selection:

You might also like