Question
assalamalaykum
I was reading on another site the following:
The period between Adam and Nooh (peace be upon them both): it was narrated from Abu Umaamah that a man said: “O Messenger of Allaah, was Adam a Prophet?” He said, “Yes, and Allaah spoke to him.” The man asked, “How much (time) was there between him and Nooh?” He said, “Ten centuries.” Narrated by Ibn Hibbaan in his Saheeh, 14/69; and by al-Haakim, 2/262. He said it is saheeh according to the conditions of Muslim, and al-Dhahabi agreed with him. Ibn Katheer said in al-Bidaayah wa’l-Nihaayah (1/94): this is (saheeh) according to the conditions of Muslim, even though he did not narrate it.
The period between Nooh and Ibraaheem (peace be upon them both): our evidence is in the continuation of the hadeeth of Abu Umaamah (may Allaah be pleased with him) quoted above: … He said, “And how long was there between Nooh and Ibraaheem?” He said, “Ten centuries.” (Narrated by al-Haakim in al-Mustadrak, 2/288. He said: this hadeeth is saheeh according to the conditions of Muslim, although he did not narrate it. And it was narrated by al-Tabaraani in al-Mu’jam al-Kabeer, 8/118.
how can this be true if ibraheem 3alayhe salam lived at the time of bablyon and science now tells us that humanity is around 200,000 years old?
Wa Alaykumu Salam
Answer
Setting aside the veracity of these ahadith there are several issues one needs to consider. The simplest fact to consider is that no one knows the exact time line of when these Prophets (pbut) existed. Even these ahadith do not suggest a time frame; rather, they only mention the chronological distance between certain Prophets. Without any historical evidence for the dates mentioned we cannot, with any confidence, give an appropriate answer as to the dates of their existence. In fact, one cannot say with any certainty who lived at what point of time or during which civilization – even that of the Babylonians.
The scientific idea relating to the “out-of-Africa” concept takes into consideration the development of humans. The religious concept relates to the spiritual. They are, in their contexts, not mutually exclusive. For more on this matter please read one of our previous responses: The Theory of Natural Selection and the Existence of God
I hope this helps.
God knows best.