The Quran has explained the creation of man and his origin using different words and phrases.  Some verses say that the initial material man comes from is clay.  Other verses say it is water, while a third group say it is sperm.  Meanwhile a fourth group says it was both clay and sperm together.

Nevertheless, what can be deduced from all of these verses is that man was dirt in the beginning[i], then the dirt was mixed with water making it clay[ii], then the clay became foul-smelling[iii], after that it became sticky[iv], then turned into dry clay[v] and finally life was breathed into it.

Meanwhile, scientists have two theories regarding the creation of creatures, both plants and animals:

a) The theory of evolution or transformism b) Fixism

The theory of evolution says that all forms of organisms weren’t created from the start, but certain organisms gradually evolved into ones we see today.  The most complete and developed form of those early organisms is man.  This theory is referred to as “Transformism”.  As for the other theory referred to as “Fixism”, it says that all forms of life and organisms were created separately, denying any link and development between various forms.

Although the Quran doesn’t explain the creation of man in detail, not saying anything about the two theories mentioned above, yet what some verses slightly suggest is that the Quran’s standpoint regarding this issue is that different forms of animals and plants (especially man) were created separately, although no verse directly mentions such a matter.