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Semen Production in the Quran: Difference between revisions
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The theory that conception arises from a mixture of male and female sexual fluids (maniy) mentioned by Ibn Kathir was one of the influential teachings of the 2nd century CE Greek physician Galen, and is found also in the Talmud. These ideas are clearly apparent in a variety of hadiths, and possibly even in the Quran itself (see the article [[Sources of Islamic Theories of Reproduction]]). | The theory that conception arises from a mixture of male and female sexual fluids (maniy) mentioned by Ibn Kathir was one of the influential teachings of the 2nd century CE Greek physician Galen, and is found also in the Talmud. These ideas are clearly apparent in a variety of hadiths, and possibly even in the Quran itself (see the article [[Sources of Islamic Theories of Reproduction]]). | ||
==== Al-Jalalayn ==== | |||
Similarly the classical Islamic scholars, 'the two Jalal's' (composed first by Jalal ad-Din al-Maḥalli in 1459 and then completed after his death by Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuti in 1505), write in their extremely influential exegesis of the Quran. | |||
{{Quote|[https://quranx.com/Tafsir/Jalal/86.7 Tafsir Al-Jalalayn on Verses 86:5-7]|So let man consider, by way of reflection, from what he was created, from what thing: the response is: He was created from a gushing fluid, gushing forth from the man and the woman into the womb, issuing from between the loins, of the man, and the breast-bones, of the woman.}} | |||
==Modern revisionary perspectives== | ==Modern revisionary perspectives== | ||
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{{Quote|{{citation|author=Zakir Naik|title=The Qur'an & Modern Science: Compatible or Incompatible?|url=https://sites.google.com/site/quransciences/embryology/drop-from-ribs|year=2012|publisher=Islamic Book Services/Peace Vision|ISBN=9789960984933}}|“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 Surah al-Burooj 86:5-7] | {{Quote|{{citation|author=Zakir Naik|title=The Qur'an & Modern Science: Compatible or Incompatible?|url=https://sites.google.com/site/quransciences/embryology/drop-from-ribs|year=2012|publisher=Islamic Book Services/Peace Vision|ISBN=9789960984933}}|“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 Surah al-Burooj 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 backbone (spinal column) and the ribs. Even the lymphatic drainage and the venous return goes to the same area.}}Critics argue that Zakir Naik incorrectly | 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 backbone (spinal column) and the ribs. Even the lymphatic drainage and the venous return goes to the same area.}} | ||
Critics argue that Zakir Naik makes a number of errors in his claims here. Firstly, {{Quran|8|6}} does not mention a "drop emitted" but rather a water (i.e. fluid) ejected (māin dāfiqin), which was always understood to mean semen, and in the next verse is said to come forth from between the backbone and ribs. | |||
Secondly, his interpretation of the verses to mean the embryonic development of the testes is misleading, as the verse implies a fully developed and functional reproductive system, rather than an embryonic structure. Embryonic testes do not emit, ejaculate, gush forth, pour forth, spurt or ejaculate any substance; only peri- and post-pubertal testes and associated glands do. | |||
Naik’s explanation of the nerve, blood and lymphatic circular from the abdominal aorta is not relevant to the phenomenon being discussed. Semen is directly responsible for human reproduction, something which cannot be claimed for nerve signals, blood or lymph, or countless other anatomical features enabling a sexually active being. Circulation and nerve supply also do not correlate with embryonic origin. For example, the blood supply, lymphatics and nerve supply of the lower limbs originate in the abdomen and pelvis. This does not mean the lower limbs embryonically originated in the abdomen and pelvis. | |||
Finally, critics note that Naik incorrectly presents the biology and location of the phenomenon he describes in a number of ways. The original position of the cells, which are destined to develop into spermatogonia (sperm producing cells) are not ventro-medial to the kidneys (where these cells develop) but the wall of the yolk sac:{{Quote|{{cite web|url= http://web.indstate.edu/thcme/duong/EMBRYOL.html|title= Urogenital system embryology|publisher= Indiana University School of Medicine|author= Taihung Duong, Ph.D.|date= accessed February 9, 2014|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fweb.indstate.edu%2Fthcme%2Fduong%2FEMBRYOL.html&date=2014-02-09|deadurl=no}}|Testes and ovaries are derived from the mesodermal epithelium (mesothelium) lining the posterior abdominal wall, the underlying mesenchyme and the primordial germ cells. | |||
The primordial germ cells form in the wall of the yolk sac during week 4. They later migrate into the developing gonads at week 6 and differentiate into the definitive germ cells (oogonia / spermatogonia).}}The full argument of the critics runs as follows. If Naik’s assertion that the verse refers to the embryonic testes is accepted, it is not evident whether the gonads are located where he claims, i.e. between the spinal column and the eleventh and twelfth ribs. A cross-sectional diagram of the human embryo shows the gonads at or around the level of the placenta.<center>[[File:Gondev154.gif|alt=|thumb]]</center>Consequently, it cannot be said that the embryonic testes is located between the spinal column and the eleventh and twelfth ribs as the gonadal or genital ridge (precursor of the gonads) is generally held to lie medial to the lower part of the mesonephros, while the adult kidney actually develops from the metanephros. | The primordial germ cells form in the wall of the yolk sac during week 4. They later migrate into the developing gonads at week 6 and differentiate into the definitive germ cells (oogonia / spermatogonia).}}The full argument of the critics runs as follows. If Naik’s assertion that the verse refers to the embryonic testes is accepted, it is not evident whether the gonads are located where he claims, i.e. between the spinal column and the eleventh and twelfth ribs. A cross-sectional diagram of the human embryo shows the gonads at or around the level of the placenta.<center>[[File:Gondev154.gif|alt=|thumb]]</center>Consequently, it cannot be said that the embryonic testes is located between the spinal column and the eleventh and twelfth ribs as the gonadal or genital ridge (precursor of the gonads) is generally held to lie medial to the lower part of the mesonephros, while the adult kidney actually develops from the metanephros. | ||
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Additionally, the inferior pole of the kidney lies around ''L3'' (the third lumbar vertebra), such that the embryonic testes must be below ''L3''. The twelfth rib does not extend below ''L2''. And because the testes are ''below'' the kidneys, there is no possibility that the testes were ever between the ribs and the backbone either in the embryonic or the adult (as with cryptorchidism) stage. | Additionally, the inferior pole of the kidney lies around ''L3'' (the third lumbar vertebra), such that the embryonic testes must be below ''L3''. The twelfth rib does not extend below ''L2''. And because the testes are ''below'' the kidneys, there is no possibility that the testes were ever between the ribs and the backbone either in the embryonic or the adult (as with cryptorchidism) stage. | ||
===Jamal Badawi - blood supply to the testes and ovaries=== | ===Jamal Badawi - blood supply to the testes and ovaries=== | ||
{{Quote|{{cite web|url= http://www.answering-islam.org/Shamoun/wonders.htm|title= A Christian Response to Dr. Jamal Badawi's "Seven Wonders of The Quran"|publisher= Answering-Islam|author= Sam Shamoun|date= accessed February 9, 2014|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/6NG3qZLdv|deadurl=no}}|Badawi must assume that "gushing fluid poured forth" refers to the aorta which according to a book cited by him, Clinical Anatomy, supplies the testes and ovaries with the necessary nutrients and this is what the Quran refers to.}}According to critics, Badawi’s proposition repeats the error found in Naik’s proposition regarding blood circulation. | {{Quote|{{cite web|url= http://www.answering-islam.org/Shamoun/wonders.htm|title= A Christian Response to Dr. Jamal Badawi's "Seven Wonders of The Quran"|publisher= Answering-Islam|author= Sam Shamoun|date= accessed February 9, 2014|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/6NG3qZLdv|deadurl=no}}|Badawi must assume that "gushing fluid poured forth" refers to the aorta which according to a book cited by him, Clinical Anatomy, supplies the testes and ovaries with the necessary nutrients and this is what the Quran refers to.}}According to critics, Badawi’s proposition repeats the error found in Naik’s proposition regarding blood circulation. | ||
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'''The meaning of ''min bain''''' | '''The meaning of ''min bain''''' | ||
Another point alluded to by Dr. Campbell, is that the phrase ''min bain'' which literally means ''“''from between''”''. If this interpretation is accepted, which seems to be the case from a reading of the commonly accepted translations, then one must also note that semen emanates ''from'' the penis, and not ''from between'' the penis and the vagina. To be strictly correct, semen emanates ''from'' the penis ''into'' the vagina. This point seems to rule out tara’ib from anything to do with the female sexual partner. | Another point alluded to by Dr. Campbell, is that the phrase ''min bain'' which literally means ''“''from between''”''. If this interpretation is accepted, which seems to be the case from a reading of the commonly accepted translations, then one must also note that semen emanates ''from'' the penis, and not ''from between'' the penis and the vagina. To be strictly correct, semen emanates ''from'' the penis ''into'' the vagina. This point seems to rule out tara’ib from anything to do with the female sexual partner. His full response to claims of miracles in embryology and semen production can be read in the chapter 'Anatomy, Embryology and Genetics', pages 181-198 of his book, which can be read online for free following the link, [https://archive.org/details/quran-bible-campbell/%5BDr_William_Campbell%5D_The_Qur%27an_and_the_Bible_in_%28z-lib.org%29/page/181/mode/1up The Quran and the Bible : in the light of history and science]. | ||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
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*[http://www.answering-islam.org/Campbell/s4c2b.html Science and Revelation: Anatomy, Embryology and Genetics] | *[http://www.answering-islam.org/Campbell/s4c2b.html Science and Revelation: Anatomy, Embryology and Genetics] | ||
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUveLSqGyYc&t=906s Seminal Fluid From the Backbone: The Honest Truth] - ''islamwhattheydonttellyou164 - YouTube Video'' | |||
*[https://theislamissue.wordpress.com/2019/01/21/quran-866-7-semen-comes-from-between-backbone-and-ribs/ Quran 86:6-7: Semen comes from between backbone and ribs. - The Islam Issue] | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||