QUESTION:
As Muslims, what is our stance on the belief of dinosaurs and the like? Is there any mention in the Quran or Ahadith of our Prophet (peace be upon him)? If not, by accepting they existed, is this kufr (disbelief) due to the evolutionary idea linked to them?
ANSWER:
All praises belong to Allāh, the Creator Most Sublime Who is Uncreated, the One Who has created every [living] creature from water. And of them are those that move on their bellies, and of them are those that walk on two legs, and of them are those that walk on four. Allah creates what He wills. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent. Peace and blessings be upon all Messengers of Allāh, specifically the final Prophet, Our Master, Muhammad Mustafa ﷺ, upon his purified family, his esteemed companions, and whomsoever follows in his blessed footsteps until the last day.
There is no known evidence to neither affirm nor negate the existence of dinosaurs within the Qūr’ān or Sunnah. We live at a time, according to LiveScience, approximately two million species of plants, animals and microbes have been discovered, however, scientists estimate there are approximately eight million more species yet to be discovered. New species are constantly being discovered and described. It is inconceivable to comprehend the sheer volume of different species that may have existed which are now extinct. Fossils of dinosaurs have been discovered all over the world and are a testimony to their existence, but their existence is just one of the many million species that existed.
To believe in their existence, in light of science, independent of the evolution theory, is permissible.
And Allaah knows best.
Answered by Ustadh Asid Shafait
Checked by Shaykh Naveed Jameel
Download the answer in PDF format here: [Q-ID0322] What does Islam say about the existence of Dinosaurs?
