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Sources of Islamic Theories of Reproduction: Difference between revisions
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==History of Embryology== | ==History of Embryology== | ||
Before commencing the specific topic of this article, the following timeline summarises existing theories of embryology, which may be compared with the wider content of [[Embryology in Islamic Scripture|Islamic embryology]]. Some argue that the vague statements of [[Embryology in the Quran|Qur'anic embryology]] have similarities with these theories, most conspicuously those of Galen.''</center> | |||
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“The Prophet said, "Allah puts an angel in charge of the uterus and the angel says, 'O Lord, (it is) semen! O Lord, (it is now) a clot! O Lord, (it is now) a piece of flesh.' And then, if Allah wishes to complete its creation, the angel asks, 'O Lord, (will it be) a male or a female?”<ref>{{Bukhari|8|77|594}}</ref><BR>"Verily We created man from a product of wet earth; Then placed him as a drop (of seed) in a safe lodging; Then fashioned We the drop a clot, then fashioned We the clot a little lump, then fashioned We the little lump bones, then clothed the bones with flesh, and then produced it as another creation. So blessed be Allah, the Best of creators!"<ref>{{cite Quran|23|12|end=14|style=ref}}</ref> | “The Prophet said, "Allah puts an angel in charge of the uterus and the angel says, 'O Lord, (it is) semen! O Lord, (it is now) a clot! O Lord, (it is now) a piece of flesh.' And then, if Allah wishes to complete its creation, the angel asks, 'O Lord, (will it be) a male or a female?”<ref>{{Bukhari|8|77|594}}</ref><BR>"Verily We created man from a product of wet earth; Then placed him as a drop (of seed) in a safe lodging; Then fashioned We the drop a clot, then fashioned We the clot a little lump, then fashioned We the little lump bones, then clothed the bones with flesh, and then produced it as another creation. So blessed be Allah, the Best of creators!"<ref>{{cite Quran|23|12|end=14|style=ref}}</ref> | ||
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==A few definitions== | ==A few definitions== | ||
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===Nu<U>t</U>fah نطفة=== | ===Nu<U>t</U>fah نطفة=== | ||
The word nu<U>t</U>fah is used 12 times in the Qur’an in the following verses, in each case saying much the same thing, that man is | The word nu<U>t</U>fah is used 12 times in the Qur’an in the following verses, in each case saying much the same thing, that man is created from a nu<U>t</U>fah: {{Quran|16|4}}, {{Quran|18|37}}, {{Quran|22|5}}, {{Quran|23|13}}, {{Quran|23|14}}, {{Quran|35|11}}, {{Quran|36|77}}, {{Quran|40|67}}, {{Quran|53|46}}, {{Quran|75|37}}, {{Quran|76|2}}, {{Quran|80|19}}. | ||
A nu<U>t</U>fah is a small quantity of liquid. It was also used in reference to semen that was believed to form the embryo. Lane’s Lexicon of classical [[Arabic]] defines nu<U>t</U>fah as: | A nu<U>t</U>fah is a small quantity of liquid. It was also used in reference to semen that was believed to form the embryo. Lane’s Lexicon of classical [[Arabic]] defines nu<U>t</U>fah as: | ||
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In each case, the word translated “fluid” is m<U>a</U>a<ref>For the Arabic: http://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=7&tSoraNo=76&tAyahNo=2&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=1</ref> (see above for definition), so there is no case for retro-fitting the sperm or ovum into it. Similar comments from Muhammad’s [[Sahabah|companions]] appear in [[al-Tabari]]’s Tafsir on 76:2. His companions apparently believed that the mingled nu<U>t</U>fah was a mixture of male and female semen. | In each case, the word translated “fluid” is m<U>a</U>a<ref>For the Arabic: http://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=7&tSoraNo=76&tAyahNo=2&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=1</ref> (see above for definition), so there is no case for retro-fitting the sperm or ovum into it. Similar comments from Muhammad’s [[Sahabah|companions]] appear in [[al-Tabari]]’s Tafsir on 76:2. His companions apparently believed that the mingled nu<U>t</U>fah was a mixture of male and female semen. | ||
Now we shall see that this same idea was taught by Galen, the hugely influential 2<sup>nd</sup> Century Greek physician. Galen’s main treatise about embryology was called “On Semen”, and his works were studied by Muhammad’s nearby contemporaries in Alexandria, | Now we shall see that this same idea was taught by Galen, the hugely influential 2<sup>nd</sup> Century Greek physician. Galen’s main treatise about embryology was called “On Semen”, and his works were studied by Muhammad’s nearby contemporaries in Alexandria, Egypt and in Gundeshapur, southwestern Syria.<ref>Marshall Clagett, “Greek Science in Antiquity”, pp.180-181, New York: Abelard-Schuman, 1955; Dover, 2001</ref> | ||
Galen said that the embryo is initially formed out of the male semen mixed (μίγνυται) with what he called the female semen, which also forms an additional membrane entwined (ἐπιπλεκονταί) with that of the male semen. He believed that blood from the woman is subsequently drawn in via the uterus and membrane, and this combined material literally goes on to form the fetus.<ref>Philip De Lacy (editor and translator). “Galen: On Semen (Corpus Medicorum Graecorum 5.3.1.)”, pp.85-89, Berlin: Akademie. Verlag, 1992</ref> This will be explained a little more later. Unlike Galen (and before him, Hippocrates) with the two-semens theory, Aristotle believed that there was only a male semen, which does not itself provide material for the embryo, but triggers its formation from menstral blood.<ref>Philip De Lacy (editor and translator). “Galen: On Semen (Corpus Medicorum Graecorum 5.3.1.)”, p.65, Berlin: Akademie. Verlag, 1992</ref> The quoted comments from Muhammad’s companions are good evidence for Galenic influence in 7<sup>th</sup> century Arabia. | Galen said that the embryo is initially formed out of the male semen mixed (μίγνυται) with what he called the female semen, which also forms an additional membrane entwined (ἐπιπλεκονταί) with that of the male semen. He believed that blood from the woman is subsequently drawn in via the uterus and membrane, and this combined material literally goes on to form the fetus.<ref>Philip De Lacy (editor and translator). “Galen: On Semen (Corpus Medicorum Graecorum 5.3.1.)”, pp.85-89, Berlin: Akademie. Verlag, 1992</ref> This will be explained a little more later. Unlike Galen (and before him, Hippocrates) with the two-semens theory, Aristotle believed that there was only a male semen, which does not itself provide material for the embryo, but triggers its formation from menstral blood.<ref>Philip De Lacy (editor and translator). “Galen: On Semen (Corpus Medicorum Graecorum 5.3.1.)”, p.65, Berlin: Akademie. Verlag, 1992</ref> The quoted comments from Muhammad’s companions are good evidence for Galenic influence in 7<sup>th</sup> century Arabia. | ||
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==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
[[Embryology in the Quran]] | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||