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Newsletter for May 2012
" After carefully examining the translation of the Qur'anic verses presented to him, Dr. Moore concluded that most of the information concerning embryology mentioned in the QUR'AN is in perfect conformity with modern discoveries in the field of embryology and does not conflict with them in any way. "
QUR'AN &
MODERN SCIENCE
Subject: EMBRYOLOGY
MAN IS CREATED FROM ALAQ---A LEECH-LIKE SUBSTANCE
A few years ago a group of Arabs collectedly information concerning embryology from the QUR'AN. Following the instruction of the QUR'AN, "If ye realize this not, ask Of those who possess the Message." [AL-QUR'AN 16:43 & 21:7]
the information from the QUR'AN so gathered was translated into
English and presented to Prof. (Dr.) Keith Moore, the Professor
of Embryology and Chairman of the Department of Anatomy at the
University of Toronto, in Canada. At
present, he is one of the highest authorities in the field of
Embryology. Dr. Moore was asked to give his opinion regarding
the information present in the QUR'AN concerning the field of
embryology. After carefully examining the translation of the
Qur'anic verses presented to him, Dr. Moore concluded that most
of the information concerning embryology mentioned in the QUR'AN
is in perfect conformity with modern discoveries in the field of
embryology and does not conflict with them in any way. He added
that there were however a few verses, on whose scientific
accuracy he could not comment. He could not say whether the
statements were true or false, since he himself was not aware of
the information contained therein. There was also mention of
this information in modern writings and studies on embryology.
One such verse is:
"Proclaim! (or Read!) In the name Of thy Lord and Cherisher, WHO
created---Created man, out of A (mere) clot Of congealed blood."
[AL-QUR'AN 96:1-2]
The word 'alaq' besides meaning a congealed clot of blood also
means something that clings, a leech-like substance. Dr. Keith
Moore had no knowledge whether an embryo in the initial stages
appears like a leech. To check this out he studied the initial
stage of the embryo under a very powerful microscope in his
laboratory and compared what he observed with a diagram of a
leech and he was astonished at the striking resemblance between
the two! In the same manner, he acquired more information on
embryology, that was hitherto not known to him, from the QUR'AN.
Dr. Keith Moore answered about eighty questions dealing with
embryological data mentioned in the QUR'AN and HADITH. Noting
that the information contained in the QUR'AN and HADITH was in
full agreement with the latest discoveries in
the field of embryology, Prof. Moore said, "If I was asked these
questions thirty years ago, I would not have been able to answer
half of them for lack of scientific information."
Dr. Keith Moore had earlier authored the book, 'The Developing
Human'. After acquiring new knowledge from the QUR'AN, he wrote,
in 1982, the 3rd edition of the same book, 'The Developing
Human'. The book was the recipient of an award for the best
medical book written by a single author. This book has been
translated into several major languages of the world and is used
as a textbook of embryology in the first year of medical
studies. In 1981, during the Seventh Medical Conference in
Dammam, Saudi Arabia, Dr. Moore said," It has been a great
pleasure for me to help clarify statements in the QUR'AN about
human development. It is clear to me that these statements must
have come to MUHAMMAD---sal Allahu alayhi wa alehi wasallam---
from GOD or ALLAH, because almost all of this knowledge was not
discovered until many centuries later. This proves to me that
MUHAMMAD---sal Allahu alayhi wa alehi wasallam--- must have been
a messenger of GOD or ALLAH.
This is the Truth'.
Dr. Joe Leigh Simpson, Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics
and Gynecology, at the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston,
U.S.A., proclaims: "... these HADITHS, sayings of MUHAMMAD---sal
Allahu alayhi wa alehi wasallam--- could
not have been obtained on the basis of the scientific knowledge
that was available at the time of the writer (7th century). It
follows that not only is there no conflict between genetics and
religion (ISLAM) but in fact religion (ISLAM) may guide science
by adding revelation to some of the traditional scientific
approaches... there exist statements in the QUR'AN shown
centuries later to be valid which support knowledge in the
QUR'AN having been derived from GOD."
MAN CREATED FROM A DROP EMITTED FROM BETWEEN THE BACKBONE AND
THE RIBS
"Now let man but think From what he is created! He is created
from A drop emitted --- Proceeding from betwen 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 the adult after the
descent of the reproductive organ, these organs receive their
nerve supply and blood supply from the Abdominal Aorta, which is
in the area between the back bone (spinal column) and the ribs.
Even the lymphatic drainage and the venous return goes to the
same area.
HUMAN BEINGS CREATED FROM 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 which remains after
emptying a cup.This is mentioned in several verses of the QUR'AN
including 22:5 and 23:13.{The same is also mentioned in the
QUR'AN in 16:4, 18:37, 35:11, 36:77, 40:67, 53:46, 75:37, 76:2
and 80:19} Science has confirmed in recent times that only one
out of an average of three million sperms is required for
fertilizing the ovum. This means that only a
1/three millionth part or 0.00003% of the quantity of sperms
that are emitted is required for fertilization.
HUMAN BEINGS CREATED FROM 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 'sulalah' means quintessence or the best part of
a whole. We have come to know now that only one single
spermatozoan that penetrates the ovum is required for
fertilization, out of the several millions produced by man.
That one spermatozoan out of several millions, is referred to in
the QUR'AN as 'sulalah'.'Sulalah' 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.
MAN CREATED FROM NUTFATUN AMSHAAJ (Mingled liquids) Consider the
following Qur'anic verse:
"Verily WE created Man from a drop Of mingled sperm." [AL-QUR'AN
76:2]
The Arabic word 'nutfatun 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 'nutfatun
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 the ovum. The sex of the chil, 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 'tumna'
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, by and large prefer having male
grandchildren and often blame their daughters-in-law if the
child is not of the desired sex. 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 blame
their sons and 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"
(a) anterior abdominal wall of the mother
(b)the uterine wall
(c)the amnio-chorionoic membrane.
EMBRYONIC 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 'qararin
makin' 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 to acquiring the appearance of a leech.
In 1677, Hamm and Leeuwenhoek were the first scientists to observe human sperm cells (spermatozoa) using 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 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 bi parental 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 'Mudgha'.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 (izam). The bones are clothed with intact flesh or muscles (lahm).
Then ALLAH makes it into another creature. Prof. Marshall Johnson is one of the leading scientists in US, and is the head of the Department of Anatomy and Director of the Daniel Institute at the Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia in US. He was asked to comment on the verses of the QUR'AN dealing with embryology.
He said that the
verses of the QUR'AN describing the embryological stages cannot
be a coincidence. He said it was probable that MUHAMMAD---sal
Allahu alayhi wa sallam--- had a powerful microscope. On being
reminded that the QUR'AN was revealed 1400 years ago, and
microscopes were invented centuries after the time of PROPHET
MUHAMMAD---sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam---, 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---sal Allahu
alayhi wa sallam--- recited the QUR'AN."
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. 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 prenatal development and
provide elegant scientific descriptions that are comprehensible
and practical. Similar embryological stages of human development
have been described in the following verse:
"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 'mugdhah' 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 others 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 embryo genesis 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." [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 fetus can hear sounds after the 24th wek.
Subsequently, the sense of sight is developed and by the 28th
week, the retina becomes sensitive to light. Consider the
following Qur'anic verses related to the development of the
senses in the embryo:
"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 with the discoveries in
modern embryology.
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