Extinction as Divine Design: Qur’anic Perspectives on the Disappearance of Living Beings and Natural Balance

Abstract

Extinction is commonly perceived as a catastrophic end in the history of life on Earth. However, the Qur’an presents a broader theological and cosmological framework in which destruction, disappearance, and renewal operate as integral components of divine order (sunnatullah). This article explores the concept of extinction from a Qur’anic perspective and examines its resonance with scientific understandings of mass extinction in Earth sciences. Employing a qualitative library-based approach, this study utilizes thematic Qur’anic exegesis (tafsīr mawdū‘ī) alongside insights from geology, paleontology, and environmental science. The analysis reveals that the Qur’an consistently frames the disappearance of living beings, through natural disasters, environmental transformations, and historical annihilation of past communities, as part of a purposeful process aimed at maintaining balance, preparing the Earth, and sustaining life for subsequent generations. Scientific accounts of mass extinction events similarly demonstrate that large-scale biological losses often precede ecological renewal and increased biodiversity. By placing Qur’anic narratives in dialogue with scientific explanations, this study argues that extinction should not be understood merely as destruction, but as a divinely governed mechanism of renewal and equilibrium. This integrative perspective contributes to contemporary Qur’an–science discourse and offers a theological foundation for ecological awareness, emphasizing human responsibility as khalīfah in preserving the balance of the Earth.