Sadr-ol-Mote'allehin, commonly known as Mulla Sadra, assumed a new motion in existence (wujud) itself, which is called Substantial Motion. That is, the mere substance, or the mere essence, undergoes motion from one thing to another thing: one thing gradually changes from within another thing. Not that an entity with certain properties changes by merely changing those properties; and the properties being accidental properties. Not in that manner. However, the entity itself changes gradually into another thing. For example, a plant changes into an animal; that is, an animal eats the plant, and the plant becomes part of animal's body and changes into an animal in this aspect. Or, like a human being, one that is no more than a creature with animal properties at first: without humane intelligence, reason and conscience, and then, gradually, changes into a more perfected human. This represents Substantial Motion. The substance, the essence undergoes a change. The following well-known poem by Rumi is said to imply the same concept:
I died as a mineral and became a plant,
I died as plant and rose to animal,
I died as animal and I was Man.
Why should I fear? When was I less by dying?
Yet once more I shall die as Man, to soar
With angels blest; but even from angelhood[1]
Accordingly, a human being’s motion and evolution lead him to the level of angels, to the level of essential spirituality and holiness: this is considered to be evolution within Islamic Logic. According to the materialistic viewpoint and dialectical logic, evolution is becoming more complex. So when a bicycle changes into a motorcycle, it has become more complex; thus, it has evolved. Alternatively, for instance, imagine the brain of a chimpanzee like creature, from which some Darwinist claim that--in the abrogated theory, the opposite of which has been proven--has evolved into the brains of humans by becoming more complex. In the logic of Marxists and Dialecticians, evolution is this: becoming more complex. However, within Islamic Logic, all forms of becoming more complex does not mean becoming more evolved. Because, the brain of that individual who discovers a deadly poison, a drop of which can kill thousands of people, is a complex brain; but that person is by no means an evolved person; he is a very defective person; he is lower than all other animals. The Quran says: “Those [who do not know faith] are like livestock; rather, they are more astray.”
Hence, within the scope of Islamic Logic, evolution is not only becoming more complex; but, evolution happens when an animal essence changes into human essence.
November 27, 1991
[1] Translated by Reynold A. Nicholson
