THE RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVE ON

THE ORIGIN OF MAN

By: Abd. Muqit

A. Introduction
Charles Robert Darwin was very famous person in 18th. century when he
released his book entitled The Origin of Species, By Means of Natural Selection
in 1859. In this book he stated his extraordinary idea about the origin of human.
He clarified that the individuals adapted to the habitat in the best way transferred
their qualities to subsequent generations; these advantageous qualities
accumulated in time and transformed the individual into a species totally different
from its ancestors. (The origin of these "advantageous qualities" was unknown at
the time). According to Darwin, man was the most developed outcome of this
imaginary mechanism (www.evolutiondeceit.com). Carolus Linnaeus and other
scientists of his time also considered the great apes to be the closest relatives of
human beings due to morphological and anatomical similarities (www. human
origin). The statements assume that there is a possibility in which the great apes
and human beings coming from the same species. This denotes that the man
ancestor is not from the human being, but from the certain species having
evolutionary process, which is later known as the evolution theory.
The emergence of the evolution theory brings some search of
investigations for finding the truth about the human ancestor. Lieberman (1998:
5) even affirmatively states that human being is from Africa. He states that “we,
homo sapiens Loquax, evolved in the last 150.000 years ago or so, most likely in
Africa, from which we spread out and populated the world, displacing earlier
human like animal”. Another finding is based on DNA investigation. This research
gets the conclusion that “Africa is the place where all human being originates; the
later distribution of people has an imprint of their place of origin”
(www.infonica.com/science/dna.html). The finding of DNA research clearly clarify
that Darwin’s theory is true.
This theory, however, faces some contradictions from other philosophers
and scientists. One of them is the creation scientists. They state that despite the
fact that 99.99% of the scientific community considers evolution of species from
other species to be a fact, the creation scientists proclaim that evolution is not a

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fact but just a theory, and that it is false. The vast majority of scientists who
disagree about evolution disagree as to how species evolved, not as to whether
they evolved (www.skepdic.com/creation.html). They present some logical views
to deny the evolutionist conceptions on the origin of man.
They show the evidences that the human being is the only descendant of
the man naturally. The other species, like the big ape, is the descendant of the
big ape. There is no crossing or transfer of descendent into different species. In
reality, the big ape does not and never change. No big apes turn to be man. If the
evolution occurs, why the big ape does not turn their figure to be men as they are
seen today.
The basic assumption of what Darwin mentioned in his book is who the
ancestor of man is, big ape or man. This topic becomes very interesting
discussion from time to time since there are two views involved in this case: the
evolutionists and anti-evolutionists. The former support the Darwin’s idea on the
origin of man, the species in which their ancestor is an ape. The anti-Darwinism,
on the other hand, refute Darwin’s idea by showing some scientific findings, such
as genetic investigation, logical facts, and religious fact. The scientific fact
investigation covers the genetic finding on the big ape and human being. The
genetic fact on big apes does not show any similarity between the genetic of
apes and human genetic. The word “human beings and chimpanzees are more
similar to each other” in Lieberman’s idea (1998: 4) does not mean that between
them are really similar. Genetically this idea shows the differences in the nuclear
genetic. The logical fact, for instance, is marked by there is no a change on the
monkeys or apes species into human beings. They still exist today and they do
not show any change in every structure of their figures. If the evolution happens,
why the evolution in the ape species has not lasted up to now.
The discussion about the origin of human and the theory of evolution is
still happening and the topic elicits interesting acceptance from the people.
According to a survey on the Americans perception on the evolution theory
carried out by Gallup poll. According to a recent (2001) Gallup poll, Americans
are about equally split regarding evolution. 49% believe in evolution and 45%
believe in special creation. 37% of those who believe in evolution believe God
guides the process. An earlier poll had similar results
(www.skepdic.com/creation.html).

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 The contradictory discussion on the Darwin’s evolution versus non-
evolutionist group may come to the end when it is brought to the religious view.
As it is believed that the religion is the best reference to solve the problems occur
in life.
According to the religious view, the origin of man is not from the big ape
species, but it is from Adam. Adam is stated as the first human being created by
the God. This belief is seen, at least, on three religions: Islam, Jewish, and
Catholic. They agree that Adam becomes the first person living in this world.
Islamic perspective, for instance, sharply claims that Adam is created by Allah
and he is the first man in this universe. This statement automatically denies the
Darwin’s claim of the first man is the ape in which it becomes the ancestor of
every human through the evolution process. The Islamic perspective, of course,
contradicts with the Darwin’s idea.
In line with the previous description, this paper tries to explain the origin of
human being based on Darwin Theory, the holy Qur’an verses, the process of
human creation, and the relevance of the Islamic evident with the scientific
findings on human creation, the refusal of Islamic view on Darwin’s concept on
the origin of human being in this world.

B. Darwin’s View on the Origin of Man

Charles Robert Darwin (1809-1882) has wonderful idea on the origin of
man. He states that every thing under goes a change. Every body (material)
experienced a change from an imperfect leads to perfection. Then he extended
this theory until he came to the origin of man. According to his opinion, today's
man is the most perfect result of these developments on a regular basis by the
laws of mechanics as well as plants and animals. Then came to his sharp
conclusion that people at the present stage are the result of evolution of great
apes (humans ape walking upright) for many years and have reached the most
perfect form (www.asal manusia.com).
The summary of Darwin theory on the evolution is based on key facts and
the inferences drawn from them, in which biologist, Ernst Mayr, summarized
Darwin’s ideas:
1. Every species is fertile enough that if all offspring survived to reproduce
the population would grow (fact).

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 2. Despite periodic fluctuations, populations remain roughly the same size
(fact).
3. Resources such as food are limited and are relatively stable over time
(fact).
4. A struggle for survival ensues (inference).
5. Individuals in a population vary significantly from one another (fact).
6. Much of this variation is inheritable (fact).
7. Individuals less suited to the environment are less likely to survive and
less likely to reproduce; individuals more suited to the environment are
more likely to survive and more likely to reproduce and leave their
inheritable traits to future generations, which produces the process of
natural selection (inference).
8. This slowly effected process results in populations changing to adapt to
their environments, and ultimately, these variations accumulate over time
to form new species (inference) (www.darwins-theory-of-evolution.com) .

C. The Origin of Man in the Qur’an

Adam is the first person created by the God (Allah). He created Adam
from the clay. This claim can be seen in the following verse taken from the holy
Qur’an which state that the Adam creation:
“He who created you from clay, and then decreed a stated term (for
you). And there is with Him another determined term; yet ye doubt
within yourself “(Al-An’am: 2).

The verse above explains that Allah created Adam from the clay. This statement
brings a consequence that Islam believes that Adam is created by Allah and he
becomes the first man in this universe. This, in advance, makes its followers
believe in this fundamental concept of early human being.
Some other verses on the holy Qur’an state the creation of Adam are
listed in Al Mu’minun: 12, Ar Rum: 20, A Sajda: 7, Al Fatir: 11, and Al Haj: 5. All of
them assure that Adam is the first person created by Allah to do some messages
in this world. Some statements of the Qur’an are, then, put in the following lists:
“Man we did created from a quintessence (of clay)” (Al Mu’minun: 12)

“Among his Signs is this, that he created you from dust; and then,
behold, ye are men scattered (far and wide)!” (Ar Rum: 20)

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 “He who created all things in the best way and He began the creation of
man from clay “(As-Sajda: 7).

“And Allah Did create you from dust; then from a sperm-drop; then He
made you in pairs. And no female conceives, or lays down (her load),
but His knowledge. Nor is a man long-lived granted lengths of days, nor
is a part cut off from his life, but is in a Book (ordained). All this easy to
Allah”. (Al-Fatir: 11)

“O’ mankind! If ye have a doubt about the resurrection, (consider) that

we created you out of dust, then out of sperm, then out of a leech-like
cloth, then out of a morsel of flesh, partly formed and partly unformed,
in order that we may manifest (our power) to you; and we cause whom
we will to rest in wombs for an appointed term, then do we bring you as
babes, then (foster you) that ye may reach your age of full strength;
and some of you called to die, and some are sent back to the feeblest
old age, so that they know nothing after having known (much). And
(further), thou seest the earth barren and lifeless, but when we pour
down rain on it, it is stirred (to life), it swells, and it puts forth every kind
of beautiful growth (in pair)” (Al Haj: 5).

The verses above describe that the Adam is created by the God (Allah) from the
clay, dust, or earth. It means that he is the origin of the man in this universe. The
word “clay, dust, or earth” has specific understanding that no one else exists
before him. This explanation becomes proofs that Adam is the first human being
created by Allah. This is not a matter of believe, but it is also a strong statement
saying that Adam is the first creature on human species created by Allah. Allah
states the Adam existence many times to show that he is the first man created.
After creating Adam, Allah, then, creates Eve as a partner of him. She is
created from a part of his body. She is intended to be his wife and she can
produce some children. This explanation is stated in the following verse:
“O’ mankind! Fear your Guardian Lord, who created you from a single
person, created, out of it, His mate, and from them twain scattered (like
seeds) countless men and women; fear Allah, through whom ye demand
your mutual (rights), and be heedful of wombs (that bore you): for Allah
ever watches over you” (An Nisa’: 1)

“And among his Signs is this that He created for you mates from among
yourselves, that ye may dwell in tranquility with them, and He has put love
and mercy between your (hearts): Verily in that are Signs for these who
reflect” (Ar-Rum: 21).

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The two verses indicate that the Eve created by the God (Allah) using a part of
his body. Her function and role are to be a wife, a place to share feeling, a center
to have some descendants. By the wisdom of Allah given to them a feeling of
love and mercy in a harmonious state to fill and live in this universe with their
children for the future.

D. The Honor of Adam’s existence

As the first human being in this world, the Adam is created with very
special creation an he has the highest position created by the God (Allah) in this
universe. It is marked by the existence of the human being with the most
complicated creature in this world compared to other species , like animals, trees,
fish, etc. The human beings, physically, consist of many complicated parts: heart,
lung, intestines, eyes, nose, etc. in which they are interdependence each other.
The parts support their existence by making cooperation to form a very well
constructed system, the human beings. They support each other in a
sophisticated construction to make the human having such a nice figure. Allah
states in His verse on the holy Qur’an:
“We have indeed created man in the best of moulds. Then do we abase
him (to be) the lowest of the low” (At Thin: 4).

The verse shows that human being is created from the best material figured him
in such a well creation. It implies that the Adam and Eve are created by the God
without any handicap in term of the physical system and figure. This verse
directly contradicts with presence of human being existence. It has been known
that present people are created from clay indirectly through the embryonic
process with the unique creation.
The specific characteristic of human being is that he has a brain. It is a
medium to think. Other creatures, on the other hand, do not have brain to think
for. With his brain, he can do anything such as making communication to convey
his purposes. Meanwhile, the animals do not communicate, they express any
thing with their instincts. That’s why, human being is called the best creature
created by Allah. Allah orders the angels and devils respect in Adam. This shows
that Adam is the best creature in front of the God. In line with this point, human
beings, Allah denotes the highest predicate of human in the holy Qur’an:

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 Behold, thy Lord said to the angels; “I will create a vicegerent on earth”.
They said: “Wilt Thou place therein once who will make mischief therein
and shed blood?-Whilst we do celebrate Thy praises and glorify Thy holy
(name)” He said: “I know what ye know not” (Al Baqoroh: 30).

The existence of human being makes other creatures, such as angels and devils
worry about him. They are afraid of their existence cause some troubles,
problems, destructions, disobedient, etc. However, Allah makes sure that the
man is created with very specific purpose.
The man is created to manage the world, as kholifah, meaning a leader.
As a leader, he has a right to do everything based on his intention in this
universe. In doing this role, he is controlled by his brain guiding him to the right
path. He is independent to determine his existence in this life. This matter
becomes a basic principle of the existensialists group (Hadiwijono, 1992: 148).
In applying this role, there are two dimensions of human: right path and
wrong path. The former is the human being who always acts positively and
constructively by creating the good environment. The later, in contrast, is filled by
those who always make the negative and destructive things. These actions
become a trade mark or identity of the people in front of his God to run the life.

E. The Process of Human Creation

In general, the process of creation of human beings from Adam to us
consists of two types: non embryonic and embryonic (Arifin, 2010: 1).
1. Non embryonic
Non embryonic is the creation of human being without the fertility
(embryonic) process as it is happened to a couple of husband and wife. This
case has ever happened to Adam, Eve, and the Jesus. As it is known that
Adam is created with special creating, from clay, by Allah without the
embryonic process. He does not have a father and a mother. The being
process is unique without the meeting of sperm and ovum in the fetus. Such
this process has also occurred to the Eve. She is created from a part of Adam
and the creation process is without having the embryonic process. This case
is shown in the verse below:
“He who created you from clay, and then decreed a stated term (for you).
And there is with Him another determined term; yet ye doubt within
yourself” (Al-An’am: 2).

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 This verse depicts that the Eve is created from a part of Adam. The part taken
as a part to form the Eve is not clearly mentioned. This creation does not
follow the ordinary process of pregnancy, through the insertion of sperm to
ovum. In other word, neither the Eve has parents.
The purpose of the God created the Eve is to be a partner of Adam, as a wife,
to reproduce the generation. The following verse informs this matter:
“And among his Signs is this that He created for you mates from among
yourselves, that ye may dwell in tranquility with them, and He has put love
and mercy between your (hearts): Verily in that are Signs for these who
reflect” (Ar-Rum: 21).

The next creation follows this step is the Jesus. Jesus is created by Allah with
a very special and unique creation. He does not have a father, but he has a
mother, Maria. With the God blessing, she becomes pregnant without making
any sexual intercourse. During her pregnancy, the unique thing is that the
ovum implies the sperm although there is no the intercourse process. This
case is seen in the following citation.

“The similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam; he created him

from dust, then said to him: “Be”: And he was” (Ali Imron: 59).

2. Embryonic
Embryonic is the process of creating human being through the natural
process by the meeting of sperm and ovum. This process occurs when a
couple (a husband and his wife) are doing the sexual intercourse. It is an
ordinary matter that the people at large meet with this process. This process
is described in the holy Qur’an at some verses below:
“Then we placed him as (a drop of) sperm in a place of rest, firmly fixed”.
(Al Mu’minum: 13)

“Then we made the sperm into a clot of congealed blood; then of that clot
we made a (foetus) lump; then we made out of that lump bones and clothed
the bones with flesh; then we developed out of it another creature. So
blessed be Allah, the best to created!” (Al Mu’minum: 14)

“Have we created you from a fluid (held) despicable?” (Al-Mursalat: 20)

“The which we placed in a place of rest. firmly fixed” (Al-Mursalat: 21)

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 “From what stuff hath he created him? From a sperm-drop: He hath created
him, and then mouldeth him in due proportions:” (Abasa: 18-19)

“Now let man but think from what he is created!. He is created from a drop
emited. Proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs:” (At-Thoriq: 5-
7)

“We have indeed created man in the best of moulds. Then do we abase him
(to be) the lowest of the low” (At Thin: 4).

The verses above indicate that the human beings, in general, come to their
existence through the embryonic process.
The two statements above can be drawn a conclusion that the man is
created through biological processes, as it is happened to us, through the
convergence process of sperm and egg cells in the ova.
The scientific expression of the Qur'an and Hadith described 15 centuries ago
has been the subject of research for biologists to deepen their knowledge about
the human beings. The next is in the Qur'an, the "essence comes from the land"
as the basic substance of human life is a protein, coming from food eaten by
human beings who all come from the ground. Then, through the metabolic
processes in the body which produce the hormone (sperm), t the result of
marriage (sexual relations), then there was a merging of the sperm (male) and
ovum (female egg cell) in the uterus. Then proceed to create the perfect human
form (as described in the paragraph above).
Scientifically, when we kiss semen, it is smelly male ground. This implies
that the origin of man indirectly. The experts found the problem in stages of the
embryo growth in 1940 and it was just proved in 1955. But in the Qur'an, and
Hadith revealed 15 centuries ago it was listed. This is very impressive for one of
America's leading embriolog namely Prof. Dr. Keith Moore. He said: "I am
amazed at the accuracy of the Qoranic statement scientifically regarding on the
human creation". In addition, he also said, "The Qoranic expression, and the
hadith inspired many scientists (scientist) now to see the development of human
life that begins with a single cell (zygote) formed when the ovum (female sex
cells) fertilized by a sperm (cell male genital). All these processes have not
known until the experiment was carried out by Spalanzani in the 18th century. So
did the idea of progress resulting from genetic planning of zygote chromosomes
have not been found until the late 19th. century. But long before, Al Qur’an has

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confirmed the germ He (God) created it and then (the hadith explains that God)
determines the properties and fate."
As concrete evidence in the study of genetics (the fetus) that during the embryo
in the womb, there are three veils that covere the walls of the abdomen (mother’s
stomach), the wall of the uterus (womb), and a thin layer of amichirionic (in the
belly of darkness, the darkness in the womb, and darkness in the membranes
that cover / wrap the child in the womb). This is very suitable to what is described
by Allah in the Qur'an. Allah states:
“... He made you in your mother's stomach after the incident happened in
three of darkness (the darkness in the stomach, the darkness of the
womb, and the darkness in a membrane that covers the child in the
womb)" (Az-Zumar 39: 6).

Some evidences shown above denotes that the incidence of human

beings through the natural process by the clash between the sperm and ovum
cells, as it is occured in present or contemporary humans.

F. The Relevance of the Islamic View with The Scientific Findings of Human
Creation

The relevance of the Qur'an and the results of research on human origins
has a significant agreement. However, not all the research findings are in line
with the religious facts and view.
Before discussing further the relevance of the Qur'an with the results of research
on human origins, it is important to briefly trace the occurrence of this universe. In
creating this world, the God says that:
"Who created the heavens and the earth and what is among them in six
Days, then He mounted above the Throne (He is) the Most Gracious, but
ask it to the All-Knowing." (Surat al-Furqan (25): 59)

In scientific term, the sixth period is known as Azoikum, Ercheozoikum,

Protovozoikum, Palaeozoikum, Mesozoic, and Cenozoikum. From the research
of experts, each period represents a change and the gradual development of
organisms according to the order in accordance with the size and levels
respectively.
"... and He has created all things, and He set the size to a size-neat-neat"
(Surat al-Furqan (25): 2).

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 From a combination of the Holy Qur'an with the results of this study,

Darwin's theory of evolution can not be accepted. The research have shown that

the end- period (cenozoikum) is a time where humans began to appear in

civilized manner and the God created the five previous periods provided with

everything needed completely is to meet the needs required by humans. This is

described by the God in one of his word:

"He is God, who makes everything on the earth for you and He wills
(created) the heavens, and made him the seven heavens. And He is
Knower of all things" (Surat al-Baqarah (2): 29)

Then, in the surah Al Baqarah verse 31 s / d 32 God says:

"And He taught Adam the names (objects) completely, then bring it to the
angels, and said: 'Call unto Me the names of these if ye are truthful!". They
said:' Blessed Holy Thou, no one we know of other than what You have
taught us that Thou Knower, Wise (Surat al-Baqarah (2): 31-32).

From the evidence above, it is noted that the creation of nature in the
Qur'an does not conflict with science (science). If we observe the literature
related to the problem of anthropology, it will appear once doubts of
anthropologists themselves, whether Homo sapiens is actually derived from
Pithecanthropus and Sinanthropus? After some considerations of the experts, It
is finally concluded that Pithecanthropus and Sinanthropus are not the origin
(ancestry) from Homo sapiens (human), but both are being developed in a
preliminary form similar to humans and then disappear.

"Remember when your Lord said to the angels: 'Verily I will create a
caliphate on earth'. They said: 'Why do you want to make (caliph) on earth
who will make mischief therein and shed blood, but we always celebrate
with praise You and sanctify You? ". He said: 'Verily I know what you know
tdak'." (Surat al-Baqarah (2): 30).

From this verse arises a question, who has done the damage being referred
by the angels in paragraph above. In anthropological literature, there is an
answer referring to this case. The man that exist before the human Homo
sapiens (human culture) is not a man, our species, but there is a similar creature

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called Pthecanthropus, Sinanthropus, Neanderthal. They, of course, always
make some troubles in this world because they are not civilized (cultured). They
always do damage like that seen by the angels (www.islamicreligion.com)
The names of creatures that anthropologists expressed above can also be
found in the opinion of Islamic expert. One of them is in the book, Tafsir Ibn
Kathir (an interpretation of the Qur’an by Ibnu Katsir) in Noor (1999: 29) which
says that: "What is meant by a creature before Adam is Al Jan, who works like
the riot act".

However, the relationship between logic verification based on religious

scriptures like the Koran and Hadith about the origins of human need further
investigation if indeed the perception of religion and science can be biting. Some
are able to be proved and the rests are not.

G. The Refusal of Islamic View on Darwin’s Concept of The Origin of Human

Being

The previous elaborations, of course, refute the evolution theory of

Darwin. In Islamic perspective, the origin of the man is Adam without any doubt.
The refusal of Darwin’s theory of evolution is best stated in the following verses:
“O’ mankind! Fear your Guardian Lord, who created you from a single
person, created, out of it, His mate, and from them twain scattered (like
seeds) countless men and women; fear Allah, through whom ye demand
your mutual (rights), and be heedful of wombs (that bore you): for Allah
ever watches over you” (An Nisa’: 1)

“He is who hath produced you from a single soul: Then there is a resting
place and a repository: We detail our signs for people who understand”
(Al-An’am: 98)d.

The verses describe that the human being is created from the clay, Adam. This
depicts that no one else before him. There is no evolution in human existence
because Allah has created him in a very well constructed. Therefore, it is
impossible that human being meets with the evolution process. This statement is
found and described by the verse in the citation below:
“ We have indeed created man in the best of moulds. Then do we abase
him (to be) the lowest of the low” (At Thin: 4).

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This verse becomes a very factual evidence that stating Adam is the first human
being created by Allah with very well, best, and the most perfect figure or
construction. With this claim, the Darwin’s theory is not accepted logically and
scientifically.

H. Conclusion
Based on the above exposure, it can be concluded that the view on the
human origin has two ideas: Darwinism and Anti-Darwinism. The first, then, is
called the evolutionist by stating that body (material) experienced a change from
an imperfect leads to perfection, the latter is called anti-evolutionists proving that
The evolutionists’ idea is incorrect.
According to the religious view that the human origin is the Adam. And the
process of creation of human origin consist of two kinds: non-embryonic and
embryonic. The creation process of Adam, Eve, and Isa include the non-ebryoic
category. While the process of human creation, in general, is classified into the
embryonic category.
There is a relationship between the religious view and the science.
However, not all the religious aspects are relevance with the science aspects. It
is caused by limitations in the ability to conduct the empirical analysis to combine
the two perspectives. Only Allah is the true creator and He knows everything.

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Bassam, Abdullah bin Abdurrahman Ali, 2009. Syarah Hadits Pilihan Bukhari-
Muslim, Jakarta: Penerbit Pustaka As-Sunnah

Bukhari, Imam, 2009. Shahih Bukhari (tar) H.Zainuddin Hamidy, H. Fachruddin

Hs, H. Nasharuddin Thaha, Johar Arifin, A. Rahman Zainuddin MA, Jakarta:
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Departemen Agama RI, 2005. Al Qur’an dan Terjemahannya, Jakarta: Penerbit

Al Huda

Hadiwijono, Harun, 1980. Sari Sejarah Filsafat Barat 2. Yogyakarta: Kanisius

Lieberman, Philip, 1998. Eve Spoke. London: W.W. Northon & Company Ltd.

Matdawam, M. Noor, 1999. Manusia Agama dan Kebatinan, Jakarta: Press

Zuhaili, Wahbah, et.al, 2007. Ensiklopedia Al Qur’an, Jakarta: Gema Insani

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www.wikipidia.com
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