How did God create the first man, woman, or the first person?
According to Sikhi this question is outside the domain of religion. To know it is not the religious goal of our life as stated earlier. Gurmat wants us to marvel by thinking of the Creator and the creation, and not bother about the process of creation.
Sikhi does not speculate about how this earth was created or how the human race came into being. In general terms we find some references relating to creation. They actually are mentioned to tell the greatness and virtues of Waheguru. Gurbani states that before creation there was Waheguru alone for an unknown period. Everything came into being by His Order and Will. Nobody knows how and when the universe was created. If anybody knew he would have told it. Only Waheguru knows when he created it and how he created it.
ਜਾ ਕਰਤਾ ਸਿਰਠੀ ਕਉ ਸਾਜੇ ਆਪੇ ਜਾਣੈ ਸੋਈ ॥
“The Creator who created this creation-only He Himself knows.”
(Ang 4)
ਸੁੰਨ ਕਲਾ ਅਪਰੰਪਰਿ ਧਾਰੀ ॥
ਆਪਿ ਨਿਰਾਲਮੁ ਅਪਰ ਅਪਾਰੀ ॥
ਆਪੇ ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਦੇਖੈ ਸੁੰਨਹੁ ਸੁੰਨੁ ਉਪਾਇਦਾ ॥੧॥
ਪਉਣੁ ਪਾਣੀ ਸੁੰਨੈ ਤੇ ਸਾਜੇ ॥
ਸ੍ਰਿਸਟਿ ਉਪਾਇ ਕਾਇਆ ਗੜ ਰਾਜੇ ॥
ਅਗਨਿ ਪਾਣੀ ਜੀਉ ਜੋਤਿ ਤੁਮਾਰੀ ਸੁੰਨੇ ਕਲਾ ਰਹਾਇਦਾ ॥੨॥
“In the Primal Void, the Infinite Lord assumed His Power. He Himself is unattached, infinite and incomparable. He Himself exercised His Creative Power, and He gazes upon His creation; from the Primal Void, He formed the Void. ||1|| From this Primal Void, He fashioned air and water. He created the universe, and the king in the fortress of the body. Your Light pervades fire, water and souls; Your Power rests in the Primal Void. ||2||”
(Ang 1037)
ln this universe three phenomena — creation evolution, and destruction — are taking place continuously. We know the process of evolution involves both creation and destruction. Many species were created on this earth with different physical and intellectual capabilities. Some species became extinct because they could not face the changing environment. Dinosaurs are just one example. They evolved on this earth and became extinct. Even today, we find many new species being created and also see many species becoming endangered or extinct.
The life on this earth is undergoing continuous change, i.e., reproduction, evolution, and destruction. How and when exactly did man join this cycle and how long will he continue to be a part of it? No one is and no one can be definite about it. The answers differ with different religious leaders. Scientists have found fossils to conclude that we, Homosapiens, are the fourth evolved species. When our predecessors first started walking erect, they belonged to the species named Homo erectus, which (along with other species) now is extinct.
According to the Sikh faith, this question is of little significance and of no religious importance. The real and urgent issue before us is not when and how we humans were created, but what is the goal of this life, and how is that goal to be achieved. As mentioned earlier, we have to pursue that goal in our life.
The significance of this can be explained by one simple example. A child was given a paper and pencil to write his name and address so that he could be admitted to the school. However, he wanted to find out who made the paper, where and when it was made, how it was made, etc. If he kept himself engaged in finding answers to questions regarding paper, pencil and his desk, he would have wasted his time and failed to answer the questions asked of him for his admission. He, being involved in unnecessary activity, might lose his chance of admission to the school and hence remain ever ignorant. However, if he joined the school, in due course of time, he would learn answers to many of his questions. Some questions, of course, will ever remain unanswered.
In the same way we should do our duty assigned to us by Waheguru. We should love Him, His virtues and His children. In due course of time we will be able to know the answers to those questions which we are anxious to know now, but are not competent to understand at present .