Semen Production in the Quran: Difference between revisions

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[[Category:Islam and Science]]
[[Category:Islam and Science]]
[[Category:Qur'an]]
[[Category:Qur'an]]
[[Category:Sex]]
{{QualityScore|Lead=2|Structure=3|Content=4|Language=2|References=3}}[[File:Hippocrates.jpg|thumb|280px|right|Qur'an 86:7 says that sperm originates from the backbones and the ribs, a theory similar to another erroneous theory proposed by Hippocrates in 5th century BC (1000 years before Islam). Hippocrates taught that semen comes from all the fluid in the body, diffusing from the brain into the spinal marrow, before passing through the kidneys and via the testicles into the penis.<ref>Hippocratic Writings (Penguin Classics, 1983) pp. 317-318</ref>]]Towards the end of the 20th century and into the early 21st century, drawing on the work of a broad and largely Saudi-financed movement to demonstrate the concordance of [[Islam and Science|Islamic scriptures and modern science]], attempts have been made to not only defend the [[Quran|Qur'anic]] idea (found in {{Quran-range|86|6|7}}) of semen production from between the ''sulb'' and the ''tara’ib'' , but also to demonstrate it as an instance of divinely inspired scientific foreknowledge, or, as more commonly referred to, a [[Scientific Miracles in the Quran|scientific miracle of the Quran]]. Several specific [[Tafsir|interpretations]] advocating the miracle have been proposed, critiqued, and withdrawn - none, however, have been welcomed by the professional scientific or historical community.<ref>Sam Shamoun has, for example, considered some of these ideas in the articles found [http://answering-islam.org/Quran/Science/semenproduction.htm here] and [http://www.answeringislam.info/Shamoun/wonders.htm here].</ref>
{{QualityScore|Lead=1|Structure=3|Content=4|Language=2|References=3}}This article analyzes the [[Qur'an|Qur'anic]] idea of semen production from between the sulb and the tara’ib.[[File:Hippocrates.jpg|thumb|280px|right|Qur'an 86:7 says that sperm originates from the backbones and the ribs, a theory similar to another erroneous theory proposed by Hippocrates in 5th century BC (1000 years before Islam). Hippocrates taught that semen comes from all the fluid in the body, diffusing from the brain into the spinal marrow, before passing through the kidneys and via the testicles into the penis.<ref>Hippocratic Writings (Penguin Classics, 1983) pp. 317-318</ref>]]
 
==Introduction==
Human semen comprises the product of 4 glands: the testes produce sperm cells, while the fluid in which they are carried comes from seminal vesicles (behind the bladder), the prostate gland (below the bladder), and from the bulbourethral glands (below the bladder).
Human semen comprises the product of 4 glands: the testes produce sperm cells, while the fluid in which they are carried comes from seminal vesicles (behind the bladder), the prostate gland (below the bladder), and from the bulbourethral glands (below the bladder).


Towards the end of the 20th century and into the early 21st century, as part of a broad and largely Saudi-financed movement to demonstrate the concordance of Islamic scriptures and modern science, attempts have been made to not only defend the Qur'anic idea of semen production from between the ''sulb'' and the ''tara’ib'', but also to demonstrate it as an instance of divine foreknowledge. Several specific apologies and interpretations have been proposed, critiqued, and often withdrawn.<ref>Sam Shamoun has, for example, considered some of these ideas in the articles found [http://answering-islam.org/Quran/Science/semenproduction.htm here] and [http://www.answeringislam.info/Shamoun/wonders.htm here].</ref> This article provides an overview of the general claims made as well as their critiques.
==Semen production in Islamic scriptures==
===Surah 86:6-7===
{{Quote|{{Quran|86|6}}|


'''Pickthal:''' He is created from a gushing fluid}}Arabic: خُلِقَ مِن مَّآءٍ دَافِقٍ
===Verses 86:6-7===
There is relatively little disagreement over the proper translation of {{Quran|86|6}}. The only recurrent disagreement between translations is over whether the word ''maa'' should be translated literally as 'water' or generalized to 'fluid'. Most translations opt for the former translation, which is accurate to the Arabic text, as opposed to the latter, which amounts to a metaphorical interpretation. No scholar has expressed disagreement over the fact that the word for water (''maa'') was the standard Arabic euphemism for 'semen' - many translations have included this point in their footnotes on the verse.{{Quote|{{Quran|86|6}}|'''Arabic:''' خُلِقَ مِن مَّآءٍ دَافِقٍ<br>'''Corpus translation (literal):''' He is created from a water [''maa'', the word 'water' was the standard Arabic euphemism for semen], ejected,<br>'''Transliteration:''' ''Khuliqa min main dafiqin''}}As can be seen in the competing translations listed below, there is significant disagreement among Islamic translations and, as will be discussed, controversy surrounding the translation of the subsequent verse, {{Quran|86|7}}.{{Quote|{{Quran|86|7}}|'''Arabic:''' يخرج من بين الصلب والترائب<br>'''Corpus translation (literal):''' Coming forth from between the backbone and the ribs.<br>'''Transliteration:''' ''Yakhruju min bayni alssulbi waalttara-ibi''}}{{Quote|{{Qtt|86|7}}|'''Yusuf Ali:''' ''proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs.''


Transliteration: ''Khuliqa min main dafiqin''
'''Pickthal:''' ''that issued from between the loins and ribs.''  
 
Literal: He is created from a water gushing out
 
Maa' (water) was a common Arab euphemism for semen.{{Quote|{{Qtt|86|7}}|
 
'''Yusuf Ali:''' ''proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs.''
 
 
'''Pickthal:''' ''that issued from between the loins and ribs.''
 


'''Arberry:''' ''issuing between the loins and the breast-bones.''
'''Arberry:''' ''issuing between the loins and the breast-bones.''


'''Shakir:''' ''coming from between the back and the ribs.''


'''Shakir:''' ''coming from between the back and the ribs.''
'''Sarwar:''' ''which comes out of the loins and ribs.''  


'''Khalifa:''' ''from between the spine and the viscera.''


'''Sarwar:''' ''which comes out of the loins and ribs.''
'''Hilali/Khan:''' ''proceeding from between the back-bone and the ribs.''  


'''Malik:''' ''that is produced from between the loins and the ribs.''


'''Khalifa:''' ''from between the spine and the viscera.''
'''QXP:''' ''that issued from between tough rocks and mingled dust.''  


'''Maulana Ali:''' ''coming from between the back and the ribs.''


'''Hilali/Khan:''' ''proceeding from between the back-bone and the ribs.''
'''Free Minds:''' ''it comes out from between the spine and the testicles.''}}
 
====The word ''sulb'', translated as 'loins'====
Many Islamic translations opt to translate the word ''sulb'' in {{Quran|86|7}} as 'loins', evoking the euphemistic sense of the word 'loins' which alludes to the reproductive organs of a male. It is important to note that this sense of the word 'loins' is secondary to its primary sense, which refers to the lumber portion of the back (hence the word ''sirloin'', which refers to '(a piece of) meat from the back of an animal near the tail or from the top part of the back legs').<ref>[https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/loin "Loin", Cambridge Dictionary]</ref> Both sense of the word are accounted for in the Oxford English Dictionary.{{Quote|"Loin", Oxford English Dictionary|Loin, n.<br>1. a. In the living body. Chiefly pl. The part or parts of a human being or quadruped, situated on both sides of the vertebral column, between the false ribs and the hip-bone.<br>2. Chiefly Biblical and poet. This part of the body, regarded: a. as the part of the body that should be covered with clothing and about which the clothes are bound; so, to gird (up) the loins (lit. and fig.), to prepare for strenuous exertion.}}The Lane's Lexicon of Classical Arabic definition for ''sulb'' includes the following:{{Quote|[http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume4/00000436.pdf صلب Lane's Lexicon]|and any portion of the back containing vertebrae: (S, MSB, TA:) [and particularly '''the lumbar portion; the loins''':] and the back [absolutely]}}Lane also quotes an Arab saying that features ''sulb'', translating and explaining it as follows (''sperma'' is a Late Latin word meaning seed, or semen):{{Quote|[http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume4/00000436.pdf صلب Lane's Lexicon]|''These are the sons of their loins:'' Because the sperma of the man is held to proceed from the sulb of the man}}
 
'''Malik:''' ''that is produced from between the loins and the ribs.''
 
 
'''QXP:''' ''that issued from between tough rocks and mingled dust.''
 
 
'''Maulana Ali:''' ''coming from between the back and the ribs.''
 
 
'''Free Minds:''' ''it comes out from between the spine and the testicles.''}}Arabic: يخرج من بين الصلب والترائب
 
Transliteration: ''Yakhruju min bayni alssulbi waalttara-ibi''
 
Literal: It emerges/appears from between the spine and the rib bones.<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://iknowledge.islamicnature.com/quran/surah/86/lang/englishliteral/|2=2011-11-15}} 86. At-Tariq - The Morning Star (سورة الطارق) - Revealed in Makkah (English: Literal)] - IslamicNature, accessed November 15, 2011</ref>
===A note on the English word 'loins'===
Islamic sources often present the word ''loins'' in English translations of this verse, presenting the euphemistic sense of the word, which refers to the reproductive areas of a man. However, this meaning is secondary to its primary meaning which is the lumbar portion of the back, as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary:{{Quote||
 
Loin, n.
 
 
1.
 
a. In the living body. Chiefly pl. The part or parts of a human being or quadruped, situated on both sides of the vertebral column, between the false ribs and the hip-bone.}}It's secondary, euphemistic meaning in the O.E.D. is defined as follows:{{Quote||
 
2. Chiefly Biblical and poet. This part of the body, regarded:
 
a. as the part of the body that should be covered with clothing and about which the clothes are bound; so, to gird (up) the loins (lit. and fig.), to prepare for strenuous exertion.}}The Lane's Lexicon of Classical Arabic definition for ''sulb'' includes the following:<ref>sulb - [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume4/00000436.pdf Lane's Lexicon Book I page 1712]</ref>{{Quote||and any portion of the back containing vertebrae: (S, MSB, TA:) [and particularly '''the lumbar portion; the loins''':] and the back [absolutely]}}Lane goes on to quote a phrase of the Arabs that features ''sulb'', translating it and explaining as follows:{{Quote||''These are the sons of their loins:'' Because the sperma of the man is held to proceed from the sulb of the man}}(''Sperma'' is a Late Latin word meaning seed, semen).
===Supporting evidence in other verses and hadith===
===Supporting evidence in other verses and hadith===
Independent corroboration that ''sulb'' in the Qur'an refers to the back or backbone is found in another verse on the same subject using a different word for back. Verse 7:172 says that the offspring of the children of Adam are from their backs (loins). Instead of ''sulb'', the word here is ''thahr'', which means the back<ref>thahr - [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume5/00000212.pdf Lane's Lexicon Book I page 197]</ref>, as is clearly the case in other verses such as {{Quran|6|31}}.{{Quote|{{Quran|7|172}}|When thy Lord drew forth from the Children of Adam - from their loins - their descendants...}}Arabic: مِنۢ بَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ مِن ظُهُورِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ
Independent corroboration that ''sulb'' in the Qur'an refers to the back or backbone is found in another verse on the same subject using a different word for back. Verse 7:172 says that the offspring of the children of Adam are from their backs (loins). Instead of ''sulb'', the word here is ''thahr'', which means the back<ref>thahr - [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume5/00000212.pdf Lane's Lexicon Book I page 197]</ref>, as is clearly the case in other verses such as {{Quran|6|31}}.{{Quote|{{Quran|7|172}}|When thy Lord drew forth from the Children of Adam - from their loins - their descendants...}}Arabic: مِنۢ بَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ مِن ظُهُورِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ
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#Yusuf Ali: Backbone is a symbol of man's strength. Man's seed is a metaphor which flows between the backbone and the ribs.
#Yusuf Ali: Backbone is a symbol of man's strength. Man's seed is a metaphor which flows between the backbone and the ribs.


==Analysis==
==The perspectives of miracle advocates==
===Maurice Bucaille===
===Maurice Bucaille===
{{Quote||"Two verses in the Qur'an deal with sexual relations themselves...When translations and explanatory commentaries are consulted however, one is struck by the divergences between them. I have pondered for a long time on the translation of such verses (In plain English that means there is "an improbability or a contradiction, prudishly called a `difficulty'" ), and am indebted to Doctor A. K. Giraud, Former Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Beirut, for the following:
{{Quote||"Two verses in the Qur'an deal with sexual relations themselves...When translations and explanatory commentaries are consulted however, one is struck by the divergences between them. I have pondered for a long time on the translation of such verses (In plain English that means there is "an improbability or a contradiction, prudishly called a `difficulty'" ), and am indebted to Doctor A. K. Giraud, Former Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Beirut, for the following:
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===Miscellaneous Claims===
===Miscellaneous Claims===
{{Quote||The functioning of two spinal cord centers located between vertebrae and ribs connecting spinal cord and sex organs, and of the nerves controlling valves around urethra, causes ejaculation.}}This claim takes the meaning of the verse to say that the force for ejaculation comes from between the backbone and the ribs. The verse itself, however, only mentions a "liquid flowing" and not its cause.{{Quote||A line drawn from the tip of the coccyx to the upper portion of either seminal vesicle and extended forward touches the ribcage. The seminal vesicles from which the semen spurts out, lie between the ribs and the coccyx (lower back, loin, backbone).}}The ribs are above the seminal vesicles which are above the tip of the coccyx when a standing person's anatomy is viewed. The top of the seminal vesicles falls between the bottom of the coccyx and the bottom of the rib-cage on the above mentioned line, the vesicle is not between the loins and ribs.<ref>For a visual reference, see [http://www.columbia.edu/itc/hs/pubhealth/modules/reproductiveHealth/images/maleReproAnat.jpg<!-- http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.columbia.edu%2Fitc%2Fhs%2Fpubhealth%2Fmodules%2FreproductiveHealth%2Fimages%2FmaleReproAnat.jpg&date=2014-03-22 --> this] medical diagram. Taken from: {{cite web|url= http://www.columbia.edu/itc/hs/pubhealth/modules/reproductiveHealth/anatomy.html|title= Reproductive Health Module (SECTION I: Reproductive Anatomy and Physiology)|publisher= Columbia University: Mailman School of Public Health|author= |date= accessed March 22, 2014|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.columbia.edu%2Fitc%2Fhs%2Fpubhealth%2Fmodules%2FreproductiveHealth%2Fanatomy.html&date=2014-03-22|deadurl=no}}</ref> Additionally, the role of the prostate glands (source of 25-30% of semen), testes (2-5%) and bulbourethral glands (up to 1%) is not considered in this analysis.{{Quote||The word tara’ib refers to the woman’s uterus, since the rib cage surrounds it during pregnancy.}}Though the ribcage is roughly cylindrical, the uterus is never inside it. Further, the embryo is already "created" much before pregnancy since the verse refers to fertilisation. The liquid being discussed here never flows anywhere close to a woman's ribs.{{Quote||The verse refers to humans emerging from between the backbone and ribs, so it is about a baby and not sperm.}}This is partly similar to the claim of tara'ib meaning uterus; a baby has nothing to do with its mother's ribs. If one were to describe the emergence of a baby by referring to external organs, one would have better said "between backbone and abdomen", not ribs. In all major translations, verse 86:7 (Coming from between the backbone and the ribs) is an incomplete sentence which continues from 86:6 ("He is created from a gushing fluid"), hence it is only a fluid that is said to emerge.{{Quote||The germ cells which later become sperms are formed near the backbone.}}This is not true. The entire process of spermatogenesis from a spermatogonium to a sperm occurs in various regions of the testicles.<ref>[http://www.embryology.ch/anglais/cgametogen/spermato02.html Spermatogenesis]</ref>
{{Quote||The functioning of two spinal cord centers located between vertebrae and ribs connecting spinal cord and sex organs, and of the nerves controlling valves around urethra, causes ejaculation.}}This claim takes the meaning of the verse to say that the force for ejaculation comes from between the backbone and the ribs. The verse itself, however, only mentions a "liquid flowing" and not its cause.{{Quote||A line drawn from the tip of the coccyx to the upper portion of either seminal vesicle and extended forward touches the ribcage. The seminal vesicles from which the semen spurts out, lie between the ribs and the coccyx (lower back, loin, backbone).}}The ribs are above the seminal vesicles which are above the tip of the coccyx when a standing person's anatomy is viewed. The top of the seminal vesicles falls between the bottom of the coccyx and the bottom of the rib-cage on the above mentioned line, the vesicle is not between the loins and ribs.<ref>For a visual reference, see [http://www.columbia.edu/itc/hs/pubhealth/modules/reproductiveHealth/images/maleReproAnat.jpg<!-- http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.columbia.edu%2Fitc%2Fhs%2Fpubhealth%2Fmodules%2FreproductiveHealth%2Fimages%2FmaleReproAnat.jpg&date=2014-03-22 --> this] medical diagram. Taken from: {{cite web|url= http://www.columbia.edu/itc/hs/pubhealth/modules/reproductiveHealth/anatomy.html|title= Reproductive Health Module (SECTION I: Reproductive Anatomy and Physiology)|publisher= Columbia University: Mailman School of Public Health|author= |date= accessed March 22, 2014|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.columbia.edu%2Fitc%2Fhs%2Fpubhealth%2Fmodules%2FreproductiveHealth%2Fanatomy.html&date=2014-03-22|deadurl=no}}</ref> Additionally, the role of the prostate glands (source of 25-30% of semen), testes (2-5%) and bulbourethral glands (up to 1%) is not considered in this analysis.{{Quote||The word tara’ib refers to the woman’s uterus, since the rib cage surrounds it during pregnancy.}}Though the ribcage is roughly cylindrical, the uterus is never inside it. Further, the embryo is already "created" much before pregnancy since the verse refers to fertilisation. The liquid being discussed here never flows anywhere close to a woman's ribs.{{Quote||The verse refers to humans emerging from between the backbone and ribs, so it is about a baby and not sperm.}}This is partly similar to the claim of tara'ib meaning uterus; a baby has nothing to do with its mother's ribs. If one were to describe the emergence of a baby by referring to external organs, one would have better said "between backbone and abdomen", not ribs. In all major translations, verse 86:7 (Coming from between the backbone and the ribs) is an incomplete sentence which continues from 86:6 ("He is created from a gushing fluid"), hence it is only a fluid that is said to emerge.{{Quote||The germ cells which later become sperms are formed near the backbone.}}This is not true. The entire process of spermatogenesis from a spermatogonium to a sperm occurs in various regions of the testicles.<ref>[http://www.embryology.ch/anglais/cgametogen/spermato02.html Spermatogenesis]</ref>
==Other, broad concerns==
===Overarching concerns===
These propositions are frequently conflicting, such that if any one is correct, the remainder must be incorrect. For instance, Ibn Kathir refers to ''tara’ib'' as a female organ, while other tafsirs claim it belongs to the man.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://web.archive.org/web/20030918233810/http://www.montazar.net/eng/menu/1/quran/tafseer/tafseer-of-holy-quran/light/html/086/86_1-10.htm|title= Sura Tariq (The Night) no.86 (verses 1-10)|publisher= Montazar.net|author= |date= September 18, 2003|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20030918233810%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.montazar.net%2Feng%2Fmenu%2F1%2Fquran%2Ftafseer%2Ftafseer-of-holy-quran%2Flight%2Fhtml%2F086%2F86_1-10.htm&date=2014-02-09|deadurl=no}}</ref> Another conflict is the definition of ''sulb'' to mean either the backbone or the ‘hardening’ or the loins. These varying interpretations confirm the essential ambiguity of the scriptural texts.
These propositions are frequently conflicting, such that if any one is correct, the remainder must be incorrect. For instance, Ibn Kathir refers to ''tara’ib'' as a female organ, while other tafsirs claim it belongs to the man.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://web.archive.org/web/20030918233810/http://www.montazar.net/eng/menu/1/quran/tafseer/tafseer-of-holy-quran/light/html/086/86_1-10.htm|title= Sura Tariq (The Night) no.86 (verses 1-10)|publisher= Montazar.net|author= |date= September 18, 2003|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20030918233810%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.montazar.net%2Feng%2Fmenu%2F1%2Fquran%2Ftafseer%2Ftafseer-of-holy-quran%2Flight%2Fhtml%2F086%2F86_1-10.htm&date=2014-02-09|deadurl=no}}</ref> Another conflict is the definition of ''sulb'' to mean either the backbone or the ‘hardening’ or the loins. These varying interpretations confirm the essential ambiguity of the scriptural texts.


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.{{Core Science}}
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.
==See Also==
==See Also==


*[[Scientific Miracles in the Quran]]
*[[Scientific Miracles in the Quran]]
{{Hub4|Reproduction|Reproduction}}{{Hub4|Mistranslated Verses|Mistranslated Verses}}
{{Hub4|Reproduction|Reproduction}}{{Hub4|Mistranslations of Islamic Scripture (English)|Mistranslated Verses}}
 
==External Links==
==External Links==


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==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Reproductive sciences]]
[[Category:Biology]]
[[Category:Apologetics]]
[[Category:Criticism of Islam]]
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