II.3.QUR’AN AND MODERN MEDICINE
II.3.1.THE EMBRYOLOGICAL EVOLUTION INSIDE THE UTERUS
Before dealing with the Qur’anic verses concerning the human reproduction, I think that it is necessary that I state the chief ideas and theories that prevailed in the past, and which have been recently rejected, partly or completely. The rejection of these false ideas happened when science became mature, especially with the espousal of the methodology of the scientific research, and the invention of microscopes and later on electron microscopes. In this connection, Dr Bucaille (1985, p.211) says:
“Considering the fact that to understand its [human reproduction] complex mechanisms, man first had to possess knowledge of anatomy, the discovery of the microscope had to be made, and the so-called basic sciences had to be founded which were to nurture physiology, embryology, obstetrics, etc.”
Dr Al Bar (1983, pp.183-90) gives us an interesting illustration of the prevailing embryological ideas in the past when he points out that from the time when Aristotle summarized the theories which were widespread in his time, concerning the genesis of the embryo, the debate went on flaring up between the supporters of the theory of the plenary minimized embryo present in the sperm and the exponents of that present in the ovum. Aristotle, who said that the embryo is moulded out of the blood of the menses, was an exponent of the former theory, which prevailed in the seventeenth century. The portrait propounded by Hartsoeker (Fig.3) in 1694 typified this theory. In 1745 the theory of the plenary reduced embryo present in the ovum gained a round in its battle. The conflict continued between the supporters of the two theories until Spallanzani (1729-1799) and Wolf (1733-1794) expounded through several experiments that both the male and the female participate in the formation of the embryo. But Wolf’s theory was neglected in spite of its validity, until 1817 when Pander expounded that the embryo of the chicken contains three layers. Then, when Von Baer came in 1829-1839, he said that the embryos of all animals also contain three layers. In 1824 Prevost and Dumas managed to describe the cleavage of the ovum, but could not perceive the meaning of that cleavage. In 1839 Schleiden and Schwann propounded their theory, saying that the body of the living being is composed of cells. On this basis, a lot of different branches of biology, anatomy, histology and embryology came into existence. In 1859 scientists knew that the sperm is but a living cell and so is the ovum. In 1875 Hertwig managed to observe how the sperm fertilizes the ovum. He proved thereby that both the spermatozoon and the ovum take part in the formation of the fertilized ovum (zygote). Hence, Hertwig is considered to be the first scientist who observed and described the process of fertilization. In 1883 Van Beneden proved that both the ovum and the sperm participate on a par in the formation of the fertilized ovum. In 1888 and 1909 Boveri proved that these chromosomes divide and bear different hereditary characteristics. In 1912 Morgan was able to specify the role of genes in hereditary and that they are present in specific zones of the chromosomes. So, we perceive conspicuously that humanity did not know through its empirical sciences that the human (or animal) embryo originates from the blending of the sperm and the ovum until the nineteenth century, and the beginning of the twentieth. Humanity did not also know that the (human or animal) embryo goes through different stages until recently.
A picture of the plenary minimized embryo present in the sperm propounded by Hartsoeker in his thesis: Paris 1694.
Fig.7 (Al Bar: 1983, p.187)
But the Qur’an, on the contrary, as Dr Bucaille (1985, p.211) noticed:
“…mentioned precise mechanisms in many places and describes clearly-defined stages in reproduction, without providing a single statement marred by inaccuracy. Everything in the Qur’an is explained in simple terms which are easily understandable to man and in strict accordance with what was to be discovered much later on.”
The human reproduction follows a natural pathway known to almost everybody, which that of a legal sexual intercourse during which the man’s sperm meets with the woman’s ovum to give birth to a new offspring, after a complex embryonic process.
{Now let man but think from what he is created! He is created from a drop emitted, proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs.}
[LXXXVI: 5-7]
The above verse states a scientific truth connected with the “sexual area of the man [and]…the sexual areas of the woman” (Ibid. p221). Dr Al Sharif (1990, p.78) states that both:
“…the backbone and the ribs constitute with the sternum what is anatomically called the thorax. The Holy verse could not be understood but in the light of embryology and anatomy, and the function of the organs of the man and the woman….The source of the neutral orders which control the psychic erection and the process of the man’s ejaculation is situated in the dorsal spinal cord (D9 D10 D11), which is located in the bones of the spinal column and the ribs.”
After the sexual intercourse has taken place, millions of spermatozoa ejected from the urethra travel from the vagina to the uterus where they meet the egg at the Fallopian tube. During this trip a great number of sperms die. At the end only one sperm has the right to pass through the egg’s wall. This union between the sperm and the egg is known as the fertilized ovum that develops into an embryo later on, then into a foetus.
{Has there not been over Man a long period of time, when he was nothing-(not even) mentioned? Verily We created Man from a drop of mingled sperm.}
[LXXVI: 1-2]
When the Qur’an speaks about the man’s sperm and the woman’s ovum, it gives only one term for both of them using the word (nutfa) which has, Qur’anically speaking , three meanings, as Dr Al Sharif (1990, pp.36-7) explains.
“1. The sperm of the man.
2. The ovum of the woman not yet fertilized, the two cell’s strata which envelop the egg: coronaradiata and zonapellucida, plus a small quantity of yellow liquid (or water).
3. The first stage in the formation of the embryo according to the Qur’anic division of the embryo’s stages.”
God the Almighty says in His Glorious Book:
{O mankind! If ye have doubt about the Resurrection (consider) that We created you out of dust, then out of sperm, then out of a morsel of flesh, partly formed and partly unformed, in order that We may manifest (Our power) to you; and W cause, whom We will to rest in the wombs for an appointed term, then do We bring you out as babes, then (foster you) that ye may reach your age of full strength.}
[XXII: 5]
{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 God, the Best to create.}
[XXIII: 12-14]
These verses I have just mentioned will be the focus of my study in this section, since they contain the main stages that the embryo goes through in its genesis inside its mother’s uterus.
{Then We placed him as (a drop of) sperm in a place of rest, firmly fixed.}
[XXIII: 13]
Dr Al Sharif (1990, p.51) states that:
“Among the meanings of the word (nutfa) in the Holy Qur’an is the first stage of the embryo’s genesis. This Qur’anic stage is explained and divided by modern embryology into three stages:
1. The stage of fecundation.
2. The stage of morula.
3. The stage of blastula.”
This stage -embryologically called the stage of the fertilized ovum- Dr Al Sharif (Ibid. p.49) explains, starts when the sperm fertilizes the ovum, and extends to the sixth day. The fertilized egg, then, moves from the Fallopian tube to the uterus where it shall cling firmly in the interior wall of the womb. In the previously mentioned verse [XXIII: 13], we notice how the Qur’an describes the uterus, stating that it is {a place of rest}, and that the fertilized egg is firmly fixed so that it might not be disturbed or shaken.
{Then We made the sperm into a clot of congealed blood.}
[XXIII: 14]
This stage -embryologically called the stage of attachment and implantation- extends, as Dr Al Sharif (Ibid. p.51) explains, from the seventh day of pregnancy to the third week. Mr Tabbarah (1988, pp.465-6) states that:
“On the surface of the clot there develop a number of villi tissues which attach the fertilized ovum to the wall of the womb.”
God Almighty says:
{Then out of a morsel of flesh, partly formed and partly unformed.}
[XXII: 5]
This stage, as Dr Al Sharif (1990, p.53) points out, begins from the third week to the seventh week. Mr Tabbarah explains that in this stage:
“…the embryo turns into an irregularly round and spherical shape, and stays like this for a number of weeks. In embryology, this stage combines the development of the clot, the multiplication of cells, and the distinctive differences which start to appear among its constituents.” (1988, p.466)
What deserves to be noted is that the Qur’an states that during this stage some parts of the “foetus lump” are partly differentiated (or formed), others partly undifferentiated (or unformed). This is indeed what has been established by modern embryology.
“Dr Leslie Arey, in his book Developmental Anatomy (7th ed., p.26), says: ‘In the embryo the cells differentiate according to different timed schedules. Some of these cells are quickly differentiated, and move towards a defined and designed end. Some move slowly in this differentiation….Some stop after progress, then follow up the procession of differentiation. But a group of these cells remains forever undifferentiated and thereby set up reserves which can be asked for in any moment.’ ” (Al Bar: 1983, p.207)
Dr Al Bar (Ibid. p.202) states that all translations of the meaning of the Holy Qur’an explain the word “alaq” as the {clot of congealed blood} [XXIII: 14]. Yet there are some doctors who preferred to translate the Arabic word “alaq” into “something which clings”; such is Dr Bucaille (1985, p.217).
{Then We made out of that lump bones and clothed the bones with flesh.}
[XXIII: 14]
Dr Al Sharif (1990, p.59) explains that in this stage -also called the stage of ossification- which begins from the seventh week of gestation, a part of Somites called sclerotomes mutates from the cartilaginous tissues -also called chondroblasts- to the osteotissues, so as to form the spinal cord and the rest of the skeleton.
{Look further at the bones, how We bring them together and clothe them with flesh.}
[II: 259]
This stage, as Dr Al Sharif explains:
“…begins in the eighth week of pregnancy in which the remaining part mutates from the myotomes to the muscles that clothe the spinal column. Besides, the bones of the limbs are clothed with muscles.” (Ibid.)
Dr Al Sharif (Ibid.) illustrates that Lennard Nilsson proved through his medical photography that the stage of ossification precedes in no more than a week that of clothing the bones with flesh.
So, after these embryonic stages have taken place, the Holy Qur’an states:
{Then We developed out of it another creature. So blessed be God, the Best to create.}
[XXIII: 14]
Modern embryology agrees totally with this Qur’anic statement, just mentioned above, which implicitly says that the human embryo resembles that of the other creatures in the process of the embryonic formation. But later on, the former takes another direction, which is totally different from the other embryos.
“Comparative embryology expounded that the multifarious vertebrates’ embryos pass in a particular stage of their developments through phases, to the extent that no embryologist can distinguish between these embryos and the human embryo in what concerns form. It is until the seventh and the eighth week, when the embryo begins to take its human shape which distinguishes it from the rest of the vertebrates’ embryos, that embryologists are able to make a clear and definite distinction.” (Al Sharif: Ibid. p.61)
Dr Al Sharif (Ibid.) points out that it is upon this similarity in the external form between the human embryo and the rest of the vertebrates that the supporters of the theory of evolution, like Darwin, built their false hypotheses of the evolution of man from the vertebrates. But later on, genetics came to expound that every creature has its own genetic legacy….Verily, this similarity of the vertebrates’ embryos in a particular stage of their evolution is a logical evidence that the Creator is one (Fig.9).
The vertebrates’ embryos resemble each other in some stages of their genesis; then differ at the stage of arrangement….Darwin and his exponents leaned in their hypotheses concerning the evolution of creatures on this similarity to support their theory. Is it not logical to say that this similarity during the stages of formation is an evidence of the uniqueness of the Creator? Fig.9 (Al Sharif: 1990, p.62).
The “three veils of darkness” is another scientific truth the Qur’an states in the following verse:
{He makes you, in the wombs of your mothers, in stages, one after another, in three veils of darkness. Such is God your Lord and Cherisher: to Him belongs (all) dominion. There is no god but He.}
[XXXIX: 6]
An interpretation was given to this verse in the past by commentators who said that the three veils of darkness are the abdomen, the uterus and the placenta. But recent research made in the domain of embryology and anatomical embryology showed to Muslim doctors interested in the scientific miracles in the Glorious Qur’an that, as Dr Al Barsha (1990, p.62) points out, if we scan the membranes which surround the embryo, we find that there are three membranes; put in the words of the Qur’an “three veils of darkness” that are according to Dr Al Bar (1983, p.423):
§Amnion
§Chorion
§Decidua (Fig.10)
Mr Tabbarah (1988, p.466) states that:
“It is noteworthy that these membranes can be detected only by means of dissection, and they appear as one membrane to the naked eye.”
In fact, we notice that both old and modern commentators agree upon the fact that there are three embryonic membranes. But they disagree upon the nature of these “veils”. The old commentators gave an interpretation according to their own thinking, when scientific discoveries were just simple because of the mere techniques used at that time. But recently the use of the sophisticated microscopes and the emergence of new embryological data have helped embryologists discover new mysteries and secrets of embryology which agree totally with the statements of the Holy Qur’an.
Eventually, after discussing almost the main embryological data dealt with in the Qur’an, we realize, as Mr Tabbarah (Ibid.) points out, that it is quite impossible for an illiterate man, living among illiterate people, fourteen centuries ago, to be the author of the Qur’an.