The science of Quran (Part 3)

Sunday, April 1, 2007
THE SCIENCE OF QURAAN (PART 3)
DROP EMITTED FROM BETWEEN THE BACK BONE AND THE RIBS
“Now let man but think
from what he is created!
He is created from
a drop emitted –
Proceeding from between
the back bone and the ribs.”
[Al-Qur’an 86:5-7]
In embryonic stages, the reproductive organs of the
male and female, i.e. the testicles and the ovaries,
begin their development near the kidney between
the spinal column and the eleventh and twelfth ribs.
Later they descend; the female gonads (ovaries) stop
in the pelvis while the male gonads (testicles)
continue their descent before birth to reach the
scrotum through the inguinal canal. Even in
adulthood after the descent of the reproductive
organs, these organs receive their nerve supply and
blood supply from the Abdominal Aorta, which is in
the area between the backbone (spinal column) and
the ribs. The lymphatic drainage and the venous
return also go to the same area.
NUTFAH – MINUTE QUANTITY OF
LIQUID
The Glorious Qur’an mentions no less than eleven
times that the human being is created from nutfah,
which means a minute quantity of liquid or a trickle
of liquid that remains after emptying a cup. This is
mentioned in several verses of the Qur’an including
22:5 and 23:13.1
Science has confirmed in recent times that only one
out of an average of three million sperms is required
for fertilising the ovum. This means that only 1/3
millionth part or 0.00003% of the quantity of sperms
that are emitted is required for fertilisation.
SULALAH – QUINTESSENCE OF LIQUID
“And made his progeny
from a quintessence
of the nature of
a fluid despised.”
[Al-Qur’an 32:8]
The Arabic word sulaalah means quintessence or the
best part of a whole. We have come to know now that
only one single spermatozoon that penetrates the
ovum is required for fertilization, out of the several
million produced by man. That one spermatozoon out
of several million, is referred to in the Qur’an as
sulaalah. We have also come to know now that only
one ovum is fertilized out of the tens of thousand
produced by the female. That one ovum out of tens
of thousand is also refered to in the Qur'an as
Sulaalah. This word also means gentle extraction
from a fluid. The fluid refers to both male and
female germinal fluids containing gametes. Both
ovum and sperm are gently extracted from their
environments in the process of fertilization.
NUTFATUN AMSHAAJ – MINGLED
LIQUIDS
“Verily We created man
from a drop of mingled sperm.”
[Al-Qur’an 76:2]
The Arabic word nutfatin amshaajin means mingled
liquids. According to some commentators of the
Qur’an, mingled liquids refers to the male or female
agents or liquids. After mixture of male and female
gamete, the zygote still remains nutfah. Mingled
liquids can also refer to spermatic fluid that is
formed of various secretions that come from various
glands.
Therefore, nutfatin amshaaj, i.e. a minute quantity
of mingled fluids refers to the male and female
gametes (germinal fluids or cells) and part of the
surrounding fluids.
SEX DETERMINATION
The sex of a foetus is determined by the nature of
the sperm and not of the ovum. The sex of the child,
whether female or male, depends on whether the
23rd pair of chromosomes is XX or XY respectively.
Primarily, sex determination occurs at fertilization
and depends upon the type of sex chromosome in
the sperm that fertilizes an ovum. If it is an ‘X’
bearing sperm that fertilizes the ovum, the foetus
is a female and if it is a ‘Y’ bearing sperm then
the foetus is a male.
“That He did create
in pairs – male and female,
from a seed when lodged
(in its place).”
[Al-Qur’an 53:45-46]
The Arabic word nutfah means a minute quantity of
liquid and tumnaa means ejaculated or planted.
Therefore nutfah specifically refers to sperm
because it is ejaculated.
The Qur’an says:
“Was he not a drop
of sperm emitted
(in lowly form)?
“Then did he become
a clinging clot;
then did (Allah) make
and fashion (him)
in due proportion.
“And of him He made
two sexes, male
and female.”
[Al-Qur’an 75:37-39]
Here again it is mentioned that a small quantity
(drop) of sperm (indicated by the word nutfatan min
maniyyin) which comes from the man is responsible
for the sex of the foetus.
Mothers-in-law in the Indian subcontinent, usually
prefer having male grandchildren and often blame
their daughters-in-law if the child is not a boy. If
only they knew that the determining factor is the
nature of the male sperm and not the female ovum!
If they were to blame anybody, they should rather
blame their sons, not their daughters-in-law, since
both the Qur’an and Science hold that it is the male
fluid that is responsible for the sex of the child!
FOETUS PROTECTED BY THREE VEILS OF DARKNESS
“He makes you,
in the wombs of your mothers,
in stages, one after another,
in three veils of darkness.”
[Al-Qur’an 39:6]
According to Prof. Keith Moore, these three veils of
darkness in the Qur’an refer to:
(i) anterior abdominal wall of the mother
(ii) the uterine wall
(iii) the amnio-chorionic membrane.
EMBRYOLOGICAL STAGES
“Man We did create
from a quintessence (of clay);
then We placed him
as (a drop of) sperm
in a place of rest, firmly fixed;
then We made the sperm
into a clot of congealed blood;
then of that clot We made
a (foetus) lump; then We made out of that
lump bones and clothed
the bones with flesh;
then We developed
out of it another creature.
so blessed be Allah,
the Best to create!”
[Al-Qur’ an 23:12-14]
In this verse Allah states that man is created from
a small quantity of liquid which is placed in a place
of rest, firmly fixed (well established or lodged) for
which the Arabic word qaraarin makeen is used.
The uterus is well protected from the posterior by
the spinal column supported firmly by the back
muscles. The embryo is further protected by the
amniotic sac containing the amniotic fluid. Thus
the foetus has a well protected dwelling place.
This small quantity of fluid is made into alaqah,
meaning something which clings. It also means
a leech-like substance. Both descriptions are
scientifically acceptable as in the very early stages
the foetus clings to the wall and also appears to
resemble the leech in shape. It also behaves like a
leech (blood sucker) and acquires its blood supply
from the mother through the placenta.
The third meaning of the word alaqah is a blood
clot. During this alaqah stage, which spans the
third and fourth week of pregnancy, the blood clots
within closed vessels. Hence the embryo acquires
the appearance of a blood clot in addition toacquiring the appearance of a leech. Compare the
readily available Qur'anic knowledge with Man's
struggle with scientific findings:
In 1677, Hamm and Leeuwenhoek were the
first scientists to observe human sperm cells
(spermatozoa) through a microscope. They thought
that a sperm cell contained a miniature human
being which grew in the uterus to form a newborn.
This was known as the perforation theory. When
scientists discovered that the ovum was bigger than
the sperm, it was thought by scientists like De Graf
and others that the foetus existed in a miniature
form in the ovum. Later, in the 18th century,
Maupertuis propagated the theory of biparental
inheritance.
The alaqah is transformed into mudghah which
means ‘something that is chewed (having teeth
marks)’ and also something that is tacky and small
which can be put in the mouth like gum. Both these
explanations are scientifically correct. Prof. Keith
Moore took a piece of plaster seal and made it into
the size and shape of the early stage of foetus and
chewed it between the teeth to make it into a
mudghah. He compared this with the photographs
of the early stage of foetus. The teeth marks
resembled the ‘somites’ which is the early formation
of the spinal column.
This mudghah is transformed into bones (izâm).
The bones are clothed with intact flesh or muscles
(lahm). Then Allah makes it into another creature. Prof. Marshall Johnson who is one of the leading
scientists in the USA, and is the head of the
Department of Anatomy and Director of the Daniel
Institute at the Thomas Jefferson University in
Philadelphia in the USA, was asked to comment on
the verses of the Qur’an dealing with embryology. At
first he said that the verses of the Qur’an describing
the embryological stages cannot be a coincidence. It
was probable that Muhammad (pbuh) had a powerful
microscope. On being reminded that the Qur’an was
revealed 1400 years ago, and microscopes were
invented many centuries after the time of Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh), Prof. Johnson laughed and
admitted that the first microscope invented could not
magnify more than 10 times and could not show a
clear picture.
Later he said: “I see nothing here in conflict with
the concept that Divine intervention was involved
when Muhammad (pbuh) recited the Qur’an.”1
According to Dr. Keith Moore, the modern
classification of embryonic development stages
which is adopted throughout the world, is not
easily comprehensible, since it identifies stages
on a numerical basis i.e. stage 1, stage 2, etc. On the
other hand, the divisions revealed in the Qur’an are
based on distinct and easily identifiable forms or
shapes, which the embryo passes through. These
are based on different phases of pre-natal
development and provide elegant scientific descriptions that are
comprehensible and practical.
Embryological stages of human development have
also been described in the following verses:
“Was he not a drop
of sperm emitted
(in lowly form)?
Then did he become
a clinging clot;
then did (Allah) make
and fashion (him)
in due proportion.
and of him He made
two sexes, male
and female.”
[Al-Qur’an 75:37-39]
“Him Who created thee,
fashioned thee in due proportion,
and gave thee a just bias;
in whatever Form He wills,
does He put thee together.”
[Al-Qur’an 82:7-8]
EMBRYO PARTLY FORMED AND PARTLY UNFORMED
At the mudghah stage, if an incision is made in the
embryo and the internal organ is dissected, it will be
seen that most of them are formed while the
remaining are not yet completely formed.
According to Prof. Johnson, if we describe the
embryo as a complete creation, then we are only
describing that part which is already created.
If we describe it as an incomplete creation, then
we are only describing that part which is not yet
created. So, is it a complete creation or an incomplete
creation? There is no better description of this stage
of embryogenesis than the Qur’anic description,
“partly formed and partly unformed”, as in the
following verse:
“We created you
out of dust,
then out of sperm,
then out of a leech-like clot,
then out of a morsel of flesh,
partly formed
and partly unformed
that We may manifest
(Our Power) to you.”
[Al-Qur’an 22:5]
Scientifically we know that at this early stage
of development there are some cells which are
differentiated and there are some cells that are
undifferentiated – some organs are formed and yet
others unformed.
SENSE OF HEARING AND SIGHT
The first sense to develop in a developing human
embryo is hearing. The foetus can hear sounds after
the 24th week. Subsequently, the sense of sight is
developed and by the 28th week, the retina becomes
sensitive to light.
The Qur'an explains it thus:
“And He gave
you (the faculties of) hearing
and sight and feeling
(and understanding).”
[Al-Qur’an 32:9]
“Verily We created man
from a drop of mingled sperm,
in order to try him:
so We gave him (the gifts),
of Hearing and Sight.”
[Al-Qur’an 76:2]
“It is He Who has created
for you (the faculties of) hearing, sight, feeling and
understanding:
little thanks it is ye give!”
[Al-Qur’an 23:78]
In all these verses the sense of hearing is mentioned
before that of sight. Thus the Qur’anic description
matches perfectly with the discoveries in modern
embryology.
13. GENERAL SCIENCE
FINGERPRINTS
“Does man think that We
cannot assemble his bones?
Nay, We are able to put
together in perfect order
the very tips of his fingers.”
[Al-Qur’an 75:3-4]
Unbelievers argue regarding resurrection taking
place after bones of dead people have disintegrated
in the earth and how each individual would be
identified on the Day of Judgement. Almighty Allah
answers that He can not only assemble our bones
but can also reconstruct perfectly our very
fingertips.
Why does the Qur’an, while speaking about
determination of the identity of the individual,
speak specifically about fingertips? In 1880,
fingerprinting became the scientific method of
identification, after research done by Sir Francis
Golt. No two persons in the world can ever have
exactly the same fingerprint pattern, not even
identical twins. That is the reason why police forces
worldwide use fingerprints to identify criminals.
Fourteen hundred years ago, who could have known
the uniqueness of each human’s fingerprint? Surely it
could have been none other than the Creator Himself! PAIN RECEPTORS IN THE SKIN
It was thought that the sense of feeling and pain
was dependent only on the brain. Recent discoveries
however prove that there are pain receptors present
in the skin, without which a person would not be
able to feel pain.
When a doctor examines a patient suffering from
burn injuries, he verifies the degree of burns by a
pinprick. If the patient feels pain, the doctor is
happy, because it indicates that the burns are
superficial and the pain receptors are intact. On the
other hand, if the patient does not feel any pain, it
indicates that it is a deep burn and the pain
receptors have been destroyed.
The Qur’an gives a clear indication of the existence
of pain receptors in the following verse:
“Those who reject
our signs,
We shall soon
cast into the Fire;
as often as their skins
are roasted through,
We shall change them
for fresh skins,
that they may taste
the Penalty: for Allah is Exalted
in Power, Wise.”
[Al-Qur’an 4:56]
Prof. Tagatat Tejasen, Chairman of the Department
of Anatomy at Chiang Mai University in Thailand,
has spent a great amount of time on research of
pain receptors. Initially he could not believe that
the Qur’an mentioned this scientific fact 1,400
years ago. He later verified the translation of this
particular Qur’anic verse. Prof. Tejasen was so
impressed by the scientific accuracy of the Qur’anic
verse, that at the 8th Saudi Medical Conference
held in Riyadh on the Scientific Signs of Qur’an and
Sunnah, he proudly proclaimed in public:
“There is no God but Allah and
Muhammad (pbuh) is His Messenger.”

14. CONCLUSION
To attribute the presence of scientific facts in the
Qur’an to coincidence would be against common
sense and a true scientific approach.
Indeed the scientific accuracy of the Qur'anic verses
confirm the Qur'an's open declaration.
“Soon will We show them
Our Signs in the (furthest)
regions (of the earth), and
in their own souls, until
it becomes manifest to them
that this is the Truth
it is not enough that
Thy Lord doth witness
all things?”
[Al-Qur’an 41:53]
The Qur’an invites all humans to reflect on the
Creation of this universe in the verse:
“Behold! In the creation
of the heavens and the earth,
and the alternation
of Night and Day –
there are indeed Signs
for men of understanding .”
[Al-Qur’an 3:190]
The scientific evidences of the Qur’an clearly prove
its Divine origin. No human could have produced a
book, fourteen hundred years ago, that would
contain such profound scientific facts.
The Qur’an, however, is not a book of Science but a
book of ‘Signs’. These signs invite Man to realize the
purpose of his existence on earth, and to live in
harmony with Nature. The Qur’an is truly a
message from Allah, the Creator and Sustainer of
the universe. It contains the same Message of the
Oneness of God, that was preached by all prophets,
right from Adam, Moses, Jesus to Muhammad
(peace be upon them).
Several detailed tomes have been written on the
subject of Qur’an and modern science and further
research in this field is on. Inshallah, this research
will help mankind to come closer to the Word of the
Almighty. This booklet contains only a few of the
scientific facts present in the Qur’an. I cannot claim
to have done full justice to the subject.
Prof. Tejasen accepted Islam on the strength of just
one scientific ‘sign’ mentioned in the Qu’ran. Some
people may require ten signs while some may
require hundred signs to be convinced about the
Divine origin of the Qur’an. Some would be
unwilling to accept the Truth even after being
shown a thousand signs. The Qur’an condemns such
a closed mentality in the verse:
“Deaf, dumb and blind,
They will not return
(To the path).”
[Al-Qur’an 2:18]
The Qur’an contains a complete code of life for the
individual and society. Alhamdulillah (Praise be to
Allah), the Qur’anic way of life is far superior to the
‘isms’ that modern man has invented out of sheer
ignorance. Who can give better guidance than the
Creator Himself?
I pray that this humble effort is accepted by Allah,
to whom I pray for mercy and guidance (Aameen).
10:50:19 AM
Posted By Ajmal Rashid Comments (0) Science