QUR’AN ON EMBRYOLOGY: A STUDY OF QUR’ANIC AND MODERN CONCEPT OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

The present era is the most astonishing from a developmental point of view. People across the globe are impressed by the latest developments and more particularly by genetic engineering. From an academic point of view, debates are organized on religion and science. Intellectuals are trying to prove their stands in their respective fields. Religious scholars put their efforts to prove their stand as the most applicable in the present era. A good number of modern scholars like Keith Moore, Maurice Bucaille, etc. also supported some religious facts mentioned in the religious books particularly in the Quran related to embryology. Among the most debate table issues is the concept of human development in the Quran and gave rise to a comparative study between religion and science again. In this paper, an analytical approach is applied to find the compatibility of Qur’anic embryology and modern embryology, in order to pinnacle and galvanize Qur’anic modern attitude.


Introduction
If one wish to comb through the works of the first few centuries of the history of Muslims to find a book, entitled as Islam and Cosmology, Islam and environment, Islam and Science, Islam and the West etc. one would likely be searching in vain. For example, the bibliographical work of al-Nadim does not carry any such title. However at present a good number of such titles are available (Anonym, 2000), and this clearly indicates a noteworthy transferal in the understanding of Islam under broader dimensions. However, the most misleading of the modern materialistic concepts currently in vogue is theory of Evolution. Though it got acceptance from the beginning, but never before had it found so widespread recognition. It has reasonably attained its highest point and holds an unquestioned sway over the educated minds. Evolution implies progressive creation of things without any divine role.
Among those of the contemporary ideologies and concepts which pose a challenge to the religious faiths, the theory of evolution is a notable one. It is more a hypothesis than a fact and several attempts to prove it as a scientific fact have turned futile. Being one of the modern age's most contentious issues, it has attracted good deal of intellectual efforts and discussion. The issue has inspired a lot of experimentation in farms, orchards and laboratories. During such experiments, chimpanzees have been tamed and trained to produce out of them human beings. The quest for biological samples has led the scientists to remote corners of the earth, to the ocean beds, and excavation of fossil remains. Their findings have been carried in thousands of books and volumes all over the world.
Meaning: "We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth" (QS. Fussilat: 53).
In the creation of whole natural scenario the development of human being, occupies a very unique position. The story of man's tryst with nature is as old as mankind itself. It is beyond the reason to think 1500 years back that the sophisticated equipments which now-a-day show embryological development and its different stages which gave boost to current scientific approach are mentioned in the Holy Quran, which very uniquely touches the realities of human embryonic development.
Here before going to touch and mention the human development in the Holy Quran it is better to explain the term embryology first "Embryology is a field which deals with the study of the formation and development of an embryo and foetus (Anonym, 1993). The Holy Quran presents various verses describing the creation of man from the basic ideas till child birth through various developmental stages of fetus in the womb of mother. Allah claims to have created man in best of his moulds irrespective of facilities in view of his low origin from a despised drop. There are near about hundred verses in Holy Quran, which had explained the embryonic development deals very accurately with the science of embryology (Moore, 1992).
Trying to reach the depth of embryonic development it is necessary to know the historical background of this field other than Holy Quran. As per the modern scientific theory, embryo is developed from a single cell was established in 1839. In this regard, Schleiden and Schwann had given cell theory, which classifies embryo being developed from the zygote. However, other theories which are of no importance are presented in last phase of 20th century. In this field in 1956 that Tyo and Lejeune proved that there are 46 chromosomes not 48, which plays great role in fertilization. During pre-Islamic period many theories also exist like that of Greeks and Hindu's. As per Greek theories are concerned they are of the view human formation is from menstrual blood. As Aristotle and Hippocrates theory concerning to embryonic development, they argued that human development constitutes all the natural bodies, water and fire. Both of these in turn consist of heat, dryness and moisture in different proportions likewise other Greek philosophers forwarded their theories in the same manner with little difference. The Hindu antiquity regarding embryology is, it is a structure mixture of semen and blood, and on the other hand, it was thought that a miniature creature is preformed first. It was only in late 18th century, that Spallanzani suggested that both sperm and ovum are necessary and sperm is the main fertilizing agent. The modern scientists prove their embryonic theory after the latest apparatus such as electronic microscope and the development branches like anatomy, physiology.
Journal of Islam and Science Vol 7, No. 1, June 2020 33 Now we touch the main theme of this paper what Holy Quran says about the development of human being through different stages. Holy Quran suggests that both male and female plays an important role in the in reproduction, but also describes historically that man is first created from the clay.
Meaning: "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, and then we made the sperm into a clot of congealed blood. Then of that clot we made a (fetus) lump, then we made out of that lump bones and clothed the bones with flesh" (QS. Al-Mu'minun: 12-14).
In Holy Quran some verses are very brief regarding the development of human being but these verses could be studied in the light of descriptive ones. The accuracy through which Holy Quran explains the various details of embryo was much ahead of time. In surah Anbiya Allah says, Meaning: "And we created from water every living thing" (QS. Al-Anbiya: 30) Particularly regarding the human development Allah says, Meaning: "It is He, who has created man from water, then has he established relationship of lineage and marriage; for thy Lord has power over all things" (QS. Al-Furqan: 54).
An appropriate description of the creation of man is highlighted in the Holy Quran. This information is in accordance with the latest scientific achievements. According to "Cell Theory" a cell is the basic unit of life and cytoplasm is the most important part of the cell. It is made of 80% of water. Modern scientific theories are of the view that most organisms consists of 50-90% of water (Holy Quran further made clear this fact by describing the various characteristics of this liquid (water). It is also applied for the Arabic words Mim Mayhem and Mae-e-dafiq. These two words directly refer to male germ cell (spermatozoa) and eggs (the female).
Meaning: "And made his progeny from quintessence of the nature of a fluid despised" (QS. As-Sajdah: 8).
In another surah it is as, Meaning: "Have we not created you from a fluid despicable? Which we placed in a place of rest firmly fixed" (QS. Al-Mursalat: 20-21) The etymological meaning of the word Mayhem means despised despicable, contemptible vile its adjective meaning is emitted through outlet of the urinary track used for the excretion of Urine (Alam, 1997).
In Holy Quran it is also explained as Sulala, this is translated as quintessence of best part of a whole. Here we say that semen is poured out through the reproductive part of the body. According to modern scientific theory 200-300 million spermatozoa, induce into female genital tract only 300-500 reach of the site of fertilization and only one among these spermatozoa get fertilized, this exactly matches with the Quranic description of the best part of a whole. In surah Tariq it is explained as a liquid as: Meaning: "Now let man but think from what he is created. He is created from drop emitted." (QS. At-Tariq: 5-6) The Arabic term "Dafiq" means poured forth. This meaning is very close to meaning of the word sperm, which is poured forth/emitted by male.10 In Holy Quran the development of an embryo is explained very accurately. In surah al-Hajj it is said: "O mankind! If you have a doubt the resurrection (consider) that we created you out of dust, then out of sperm, than out of a leach-like structure, than out of a morsel of flesh partly formed and partly unformed in order that we may manifest to you" (QS. Al-Hajj: 5).
In surah al Mumineen it is very explicitly said that: Meaning: "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 (fetus) Lamp; then we made out of that Lump, bone and clothed the bones with flesh, then we develop out of it another creature so blessed be Allah the best of create! (QS. al Mumineen: 12-14).
Keeping the above verse in view, 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 Qarrim Makeem in used. Observing Quranic verses three different stages are mentioned in it.

Nutfah
The word nutfah is used twelve times in Holy Quran; 16:14; 18:37; 23:12, 13; 35:11; 36:77; 40:67; 53:46; 75:37;76:2, 80:19. Under varying meanings and contexts, sperm which is (sperm) obviously alkaline in reaction and nature and mix with the secretion of the prostate gland nourishes the sperm. This Arabic word Nutfah in generally translated as spermatic fluid. A drop of this spermatic fluid contains millions of sperms, which are forcefully emitted at a time of ejaculation. In female, each ovary contains several hundred immature eggs, out of which only about 400 mature during lifetime of a women. During the puberty the pituitary gland secrets a hormone follicle along with liquid follicle and due to ejaculation property sperm liberates its contents. The verse Maa in Dafiq means fluid that release the ovum and its fluid. During ovulation as it has been interpreted recently. The liberated eggs make their entry into fallopian tube and the sperms are deposited into vagina. The migrated sperm make their entry through uterus into fallopian tube and mix with ovum, only one sperm get fertilized after mixing with ovum and form Zygote. This Zygote (Nutfah) came into division into number of cells which form a cluster called Morula and spread to form blastocyst. This blastoyst after ovulation after some days attach itself to the front wall of the Uterus (Alam, 1997). Ibn Hajr Asqalani a great Muslim scholar pointed out in his work Fatuh ul Bari sharah shih Bukhari that, after fertilization Nutfah (Zygote) takes six days to get attached with the uterine wall.
After attaching to uterine wall, rapid changes occurs which leads to the differentiation of the next stage (Authors team, 2000). )Keeping the above description in view that word Nutfah means a drop which is a mixture of male and female gametes. However, it is a comprehensive term which means male and female gametes and the natural fluid in the embryo. This is explained exactly in Holy Quran as In surah Najim: Meaning: "From a seed when lodged (in its place)" (QS. An-Najm: 46).
In Surah Qiyamah: Meaning: "Was he not a drop or part of germinal fluid emitted (QS. Al-Qiyamah: 37).
The meaning of the word "maen" here relates to male and female germinal fluid. In this regard, the prophet Mohammad (pbuh) is of the view that offspring is created from part of the germinal fluid as, "Not from all the fluid is the offspring created" (Sahih Muslim; Kitab al Nikah; Bab al Azl).
The scientific interpretation of the word Nutfah with reference to embryology in Holy Quran given by Maurice Bucuille in his famous work pointed out that the word Nutfah means to dribble or poured out (Buacille, 1977). His concept of dribbling resembles with the Quran as it is mentioned in Surah Qiyamah: 37 with meaning "was (man) not created from a small quantity of sperm which has been poured out" Another verse specifies that the small quantity in question be put in a firmly established lodging, which obviously means the genital organs.
Meaning: "Then we placed (man) as a small quantity of sperm in a safe lodging firmly established place" (QS. Al-Mu'minun: 13).
Dr. Zindani Associate professor in King Fahd University Saudi Arabia mention the word Nutfah exactly means the male and female gametes. It not only includes Zygote but also morula and blast cyst until implemented in the uterus. Consequently, the word Nutfah also called "Ismaj" is explained once again in the Holy Quran.
Meaning: "Verily we created man from a drop of mingled sperm." (QS. Al Insaan: 2). Some commentators are of view that mingled liquid refers to the male and female gametes because after their combination they remain Nutfah but others held the view that mingled liquid refers to spermatic fluid formed by a various secretions ejected from the different glands: testicle, seminal vesicle, prostrate gland, and glands attached to urinary tract.
In Holy Quran the word Nutfah means both male and female gametes and after combination they form zygote. So Nutfah (Zygote) is a comprehensive term which rests on the Qurarim -Makein refers to mother's womb and remain suspended with the uterine wall or to uterus (Buacille, 1977). After completing the combination the zygote reach the second stage of reproduction. This suspended thing has been called Alaqah (Auhtors team, 2000).

Alaqah
Literary this word in Arabic has three different meaning as it accomplish three different positions. This word Alaqah came five times in Holy Quranic [23:14,40:67,75:28,96:2]. The three different shapes are known as: 1) Leech like 2) Anything hanging or suspended from a surface.