u/Ordinary-Leading-846

I’ve been thinking about a possible way of reconciling the Islamic account of human origins with modern evolutionary biology.
Suppose that Homo sapiens evolved through the normal evolutionary process over hundreds of thousands of years. Then, at a particular point in history, God selected two individuals from that already existing human population and made them Adam and Eve by giving them a unique spiritual status (or soul), making them the first humans in the theological sense rather than the biological sense.
In this view, Adam and Eve would not necessarily be the first biological Homo sapiens, but the first beings entrusted with moral responsibility and revelation. Their descendants could then have intermarried with the rest of the human population.
Are there classical or contemporary Muslim scholars who have defended a view similar to this? If not, what are the strongest theological objections to it? And from the perspective of evolutionary biology, does this scenario create any scientific problems?

I recently had a conversation with my family that left me thinking.
I was asked if I had a girlfriend. I said no, because I’m trying to avoid romantic relationships until marriage. This is mainly based on my understanding of Islam, where relationships outside marriage are generally not allowed.
One of my relatives reacted by saying that this is not a good approach. She suggested that even if I want to focus on my studies, I should still talk to girls or have some kind of romantic experience, otherwise it could be psychologically unhealthy.
I personally see it differently. For me, this form of restraint feels like a kind of self-discipline, similar to fasting. It’s not just about avoiding something forbidden, but also about training my will, staying focused, and channeling my energy into my studies and intellectual interests.
I don’t claim that everyone should think this way. I understand people have different views and experiences.
My question is:
From an Islamic perspective, is it valid to see this kind of avoidance of romantic relationships not only as obedience, but also as a form of character-building or spiritual discipline?
Or is this interpretation going too far compared to what Islam actually intends?

Hi everyone,
I’m applying for a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Relations through Türkiye Scholarships.
All of my university preferences are 100% English-taught. I didn’t select any Turkish-medium programs.
However, I signed the declaration stating that if there are quota limitations or other placement constraints, Türkiye Scholarships may assign me to a university outside of my preferences.
I have two questions:
Has anyone been assigned to a Turkish-medium program even though all of their preferences were 100% English-taught?
If I have a TOEFL score of around 110 and I’m admitted to an English-taught program, would I still be required to complete the one-year Turkish language preparation (TÖMER), or is it waived in that situation?
I’d really appreciate hearing from people who have been through the scholarship process. Thanks in advance!

I recently had a debate with my siblings about the relationship between faith and reason in Islam.
One of them argued that faith should come before reason and that relying too much on reason can actually harm faith. I responded that faith and reason are complementary rather than opposed.
My main objection was this: if faith alone is the basis for religious truth, then how can a Muslim argue against the beliefs of a Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, or any other religious person? They can all claim to have faith in their own religion.
To me, reason seems necessary if we want to explain why Islam is true rather than simply accepting the religion we were born into. Otherwise, it seems difficult to distinguish genuine truth from inherited belief.
At the same time, I understand that many Muslims believe reason has limits and that revelation ultimately takes priority.
So my question is:
What role should reason play in Islam?
Can reason lead someone to faith, or should faith be accepted independently of rational arguments?
I’m especially interested in hearing both traditional Islamic perspectives and philosophical perspectives on this issue.