What is Islam’s stance on life on other planets?

According to the Ahadith of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) life — intelligent life — exists on other planets. A Hadith of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) narrated by Hadhrat Ibn Abbaas (radhiyallahu anhu) describes the type and form of the different kinds of intelligent species of creation to be found on other planets

Answer:

In the name of Allah the Most Merciful, The Wise

I have not being able to find the Hadith which you have quoted which is supposedly narrated by Ibn Abbas, am aware that ?The Majlis? of South Africa have used this Hadith. But even they have not provided a reference. Please could you provide a reference (what book it has being mentioned in) for the what you have quoted and if possible a chain of narration. Inshallah

Inshallah I will attempt answer you?re the first part of your question based on the topic of life on other planets and Islam. Please be informed that I will present many of my own notions in my answer which do not reflect or are based on the Holy Quran or Righteous Hadith. And in no way whatsoever will I contradict or go against the Glorious Quran or Noble Ahaadith.

As far as my knowledge extends there is nothing in the Noble Hadith which says that life exists on other planets and there is nothing concrete which says that is does not exist.

At this stage what I can offer is my humble opinion on the matter, which has not come from Quran or Hadith but is an only a personal view. Firstly, I personally do not believe or think that ?intelligent? species or ?aliens? or exist in other parts of the universe other than Earth.

In my modest opinion and understanding there are many ecosystems on planet Earth which are sustained by living things and will continue in this way in one form or another because of this law and system set by Allah the All-Mighty. Living things are born they live and they die. This includes both plants and animals. In doing so they keep the ecosystem in harmony, an example would be humans, human beings benefit the Earth in countless ways. When they die they are buried into the soil and they rot and this helps put nutrients and other useful chemicals back into the earth, where it becomes part of the cycle of the ecosystem again. (Alhamdulilah, we do not cremate in Islam).

There are countless other examples one could use E.g. the water cycle, the nitrogen cycle and many more which exist on the surface of the Earth and in the oceans etc. All of these ecosystems rely in one way or another on living things. Be it humans, plants, bacteria or even Jinns (who will up hold their ecosystems, an they are a part of creations also).

Now if this is true on Earth then my humble guess would be that some form of life might exist on certain planets in the form of either tiny plants or micro organisms such as bacteria. And they will contribute to the existence of the ecosystem of the planet (as it all makes part of the whole) and if they do exist then they too like all creations will glorify Allah the deserver of All-Praise. Hence even that part of the universe is not void of the remembrance of Allah ?in that form?. Thus they too have a purpose and place in creation (if they exist). The Angels in the heavens too glorify Allah but in different ways, this fills the seen and unseen worlds with Zikr. (How magnificent is the creation of Allah).

Some would even consider the entire universe as a single system and are trying to establish a single unified theory that explains everything, such as Professor Stephen Hawking.

Now let us consider the other part of the question that if life does exist in other parts of the universe (micro organisms, bacteria etc) then how will its reckoning be on the Day of Judgment? The simple answer to this is that its reckoning will be in the same category as the animals. After which they will be turned back into soil. They will not need to bring even because of this. So even this does not contradict the Quran or Islamic teaching.

Some have said that there are Quranic Verses that refer directly to aliens again this is not 100 % true. But at this point I do not wish to go into detail regarding the tafaseers and commentaries as your question does not pertain to that.

In conclusion, I will say that there are many things which are on Earth which we still have to discover and understand. New creatures are being found in the depths of the oceans and even in the mountainous regions of the world. If humans claim with fidelity to have found life on other planets then it will not go against Islam and if they do not then it still does not go against Islam. New things and creatures will always be discovered it is the wonder of Allah’s limitless power.

And Allah the creator of all things the All-Significant knows best

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Mufti Abubakr Karolia
Batley, U.K
Founder of the “Islamic Foundation for Theology and Research” (I.F.T.A.R)