Islamic Theology and Extraterrestrial Life: New Frontiers in Science and Religion

by Shoaib Ahmed Malik (Editor), Jörg Matthias Determann (editor)

Over the last thirty years, humanity has discovered thousands of planets outside of our solar system. The discovery of extraterrestrial life could be imminent. This book explains how such a discovery might impact Islamic theology. It is the foundational reference on the subject, comprising a variety of different insights from both Sunni and Shi'i positions, from different Muslim contexts, and with chapters that compare and contrast Islamic perspectives with Christianity. Together, they address some of our biggest questions through an Islamic What makes humans unique in the cosmos? What are the ethics of dealing with other sentient beings? And how universal is salvation?
Given the accelerating advances in exoplanet research and astrobiology, the book is at the frontier of science and Islamic thought. Contributors include a range of leading experts from Muslim theologians, scholars of comparative religion and philosophers, to historians, social scientists and natural scientists.

Genres: Islam

254 pages, Hardcover

Published February 22, 2024

Reviews

[Ario Toro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the topic of aliens and extraterrestrial life is widely discussed in popular media, it was intellectually refreshing to see it examined within the framework of Islamic theology—anchored in tawhid and grounded in Qur’anic exegesis and authoritative sources. The Qur’an does not explicitly affirm the existence of extraterrestrial beings; however, it does not categorically deny the possibility either. For instance, in Surah An-Nahl (16:8), the phrase “and He creates that which you do not know” opens interpretive space. While this verse cannot be used as definitive proof of extraterrestrial life, it allows room for the possibility that creation extends beyond human knowledge, potentially including beings unknown to us.

The chapter on the Islamic UFO discourse—particularly compelling as it was written by Indonesian scholars—presents several hypotheses regarding the identity of alleged “aliens”:

1. Pre-Adam hypothesis: The possibility of advanced civilizations that existed before Adam.
2. Bani Adam hypothesis: The idea that so-called alien knowledge or technology may ultimately trace back to Adam and his descendants.
3. Intelligent Dābbah hypothesis: The potential existence of creatures more intelligent than humans.
4. Jinn/Iblis hypothesis: UFO phenomena as manifestations or deceptions carried out by jinn.
5. Permanent Ghayb hypothesis: The possibility that extraterrestrial reality belongs to the category of unseen knowledge permanently beyond human epistemic access unless disclosed through divine revelation.

Ultimately, the discussion does not seek sensational conclusions. Instead, it situates the question within the disciplined boundaries of Islamic theology, reminding readers that intellectual curiosity must remain anchored to theological humility.