The First Stage of Human Development
This stage represents the evolution of humanity within inorganic matter, beginning with its emergence in physical form. This emergence occurred in eternity, at the beginning of time. Allah refers to this profound beginning in His words: “Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe?” (21:30)
The term joined entity (ratq) refers to a state of union, the opposite of separation (fatq). Concerning this joined state, Allah says in another verse: “Then He directed Himself to the heaven while it was smoke and said to it and to the earth, ‘Come [into being], willingly or by compulsion.’ They said, ‘We have come willingly.’” (41:11)
Here, smoke refers to water in its vapor state. The heavens and the earth were once a single cloud of water vapor, united, and then separated. From this unity emerged multiplicity. Even at that time, the germ of humanity was not absent; it existed as the atoms of water vapor.
From that moment onward, the organic evolution of the human being began, a process driven, guided, directed, compelled, and refined by the Divine Will, which is singular in its authority. This stage of development spanned an inconceivable span of time, culminating in the emergence of organic matter.
