Semen Production in the Quran: Difference between revisions

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{{QualityScore|Lead=1|Structure=3|Content=4|Language=2|References=3}}
{{QualityScore|Lead=1|Structure=3|Content=4|Language=2|References=3}}
<metadesc>This article analyzes the Qur'anic idea of semen production from between the sulb and the tara’ib.</metadesc>
<metadesc>This article analyzes the Qur'anic idea of semen production from between the sulb and the tara’ib.</metadesc>
[[File:Hippocrates.jpg|thumb|280px|right|Qur'an 86:7 says that sperm originates from the backbones and the ribs, a theory similiar 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 , op. Cit., 317-8</ref>]]
[[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 , op. Cit., 317-8</ref>]]
This article analyzes the [[Qur'an|Qur'anic]] idea of semen production from between the sulb and the tara’ib.
This article analyzes the [[Qur'an|Qur'anic]] idea of semen production from between the sulb and the tara’ib.
==Introduction==
==Introduction==
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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).


Many individuals have attempted to defend the Qur'anic idea of semen production from between the ''sulb'' and the ''tara’ib''. This has led to several distinct classes of explanations provided by them. There are already articles available that [[Refutations|refute]] these assertions.<ref>For example, those of Sam Shamoun's found [http://answering-islam.org/Quran/Science/semenproduction.htm here] and [http://www.answeringislam.info/Shamoun/wonders.htm here].</ref> However, this article aims to summarize the case against the various claims, so that a comprehensive review can be made of the issue.
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.


===Surah 86:6-7===
===Surah 86:6-7===
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Arabic: خُلِقَ مِن مَّآءٍ دَافِقٍ
Arabic: خُلِقَ مِن مَّآءٍ دَافِقٍ


Transliteration: Khuliqa min main dafiqin
Transliteration: ''Khuliqa min main dafiqin''


Literal: He is created from a water gushing out
Literal: He is created from a water gushing out
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===A note on the English word 'loins'===
===A note on the English word 'loins'===


Islamic websites sometimes will show you the word loins in certain English translations and want you to understand it in the modern euphemistic sense as the reproductive areas of a man. But this meaning is secondary to its primary meaning which is the lumbar portion of the back, as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary:
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||
{{Quote||
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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.}}
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>
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]}}
{{Quote||and any portion of the back containing vertebrae: (S, MSB, TA:) [and particularly '''the lumbar portion; the loins''':] and the back [absolutely]}}


He goes on to quote a phrase of the Arabs that features sulb, translating it and explaining as follows:
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}}
{{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).
(''Sperma'' is a Late Latin word meaning seed, semen).


===Supporting evidence in other verses and hadith===
===Supporting evidence in other verses and hadith===


Independant 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}}.
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...}}
{{Quote|{{Quran|7|172}}|When thy Lord drew forth from the Children of Adam - from their loins - their descendants...}}
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Literal: from the children of Adam, from their backs their offspring
Literal: from the children of Adam, from their backs their offspring


 
One other verse in the Qur'an uses the word ''sulb''. In this case there is no mention of ''tara'ib''. It is an example of the simple Arabic phrase mentioned in Lane's Lexicon (see above), based on the belief that the seed of men proceed from their backs.
One other verse in the Qur'an uses the word sulb. In this case there is no mention of tara'ib. It is an example of the simple Arabic phrase mentioned in Lane's Lexicon (see above), based on the belief that the seed of men proceed from their backs.


{{Quote|{{Quran|4|23}}|Forbidden unto you are your mothers, and your daughters, and your sisters [...] and the wives of your sons who (spring) from your own loins}}
{{Quote|{{Quran|4|23}}|Forbidden unto you are your mothers, and your daughters, and your sisters [...] and the wives of your sons who (spring) from your own loins}}


And slightly more explicitly, a hadith in Sahih Bukhari (also in {{Muslim|39|6733}}) uses sulb to say that the source of Adam's future progeny was in his back before they were even conceived.
And slightly more explicitly, a hadith in [[Sahih Bukhari]] (also in {{Muslim|39|6733}}) uses ''sulb'' to say that the source of Adam's future progeny was in his back before they were even conceived.


{{Quote|{{Bukhari|8|76|562}}|The Prophet (pbuh) said, "Allah will say to the person who will have the minimum punishment in the Fire on the Day of Resurrection, 'If you had things equal to whatever is on the earth, would you ransom yourself (from the punishment) with it?' He will reply, Yes. Allah will say, 'I asked you a much easier thing than this while you were in the backbone of Adam, that is, not to worship others besides Me, but you refused and insisted to worship others besides Me."'}}
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|8|76|562}}|The Prophet (pbuh) said, "Allah will say to the person who will have the minimum punishment in the Fire on the Day of Resurrection, 'If you had things equal to whatever is on the earth, would you ransom yourself (from the punishment) with it?' He will reply, Yes. Allah will say, 'I asked you a much easier thing than this while you were in the backbone of Adam, that is, not to worship others besides Me, but you refused and insisted to worship others besides Me."'}}
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===Apologetic Claims===
===Apologetic Claims===


The most prominent explanations are as follows:
The most prominent apologetic explanations are as follows:


#Drs. Maurice Bucaille and A.K. Giraud: Sulb and tara’ib refer to the sexual areas of the man and woman.
#Drs. Maurice Bucaille and A.K. Giraud: Sulb and tara’ib refer to the sexual areas of the man and woman.
#Ahmed A. Abd-Allah: Accepts and extends Bucaille’s assumption, and claims that all the acknowledged translations and tafsirs are in error, as ''sulb'' and ''tara’ib'' does not refer to a man’s backbone and ribs, but to the man’s “hardening” (i.e. penis) and a woman’s erogenous zones (not including the vagina).
#Ahmed A. Abd-Allah: Accepts and extends Bucaille’s assumption, and claims that all the acknowledged translations and tafsirs are in error, as ''sulb'' and ''tara’ib'' does not refer to a man’s backbone and ribs, but to the man’s “hardening” (i.e. penis) and a woman’s erogenous zones (not including the vagina).
#Dr. Zakir Naik: Sulb and tara’ib refers to the backbone and ribs of both sexes, however the verses refer only to the gonads in the embryonic stage, and not to adults in the act of sexual reproduction.
#Dr. Zakir Naik: ''Sulb'' and ''tara’ib'' refers to the backbone and ribs of both sexes, however the verses refer only to the gonads in the embryonic stage, and not to adults in the act of sexual reproduction.
#Dr. Jamal Badawi: The verses refer not to semen production but to the blood of the aorta as the ‘gushing fluid poured forth’.
#Dr. Jamal Badawi: The verses refer not to semen production but to the blood of the aorta as the ‘gushing fluid poured forth’.
#Tafsir Ibn Kathir: ''Sulb'' refers to the man’s backbone, and ''tara’ib'' refers to the woman’s chest.
#Tafsir Ibn Kathir: ''Sulb'' refers to the man’s backbone, and ''tara’ib'' refers to the woman’s chest.
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"This is the translation which appears to be most satisfactory."}}
"This is the translation which appears to be most satisfactory."}}


While there is evidence that ''sulb'' can mean “hardening” and thus, the penis, there is no evidence that ''tara’ib'' can mean the vagina. Bucaille and Giraud appear to have assumed that ''tara’ib'' means the ’sexual areas of the woman’, without providing supporting evidence. Even if ''tara'ib'' means what Bucaille and Giraud want it to mean, the term, 'sexual areas of the woman' is too vague to be meaningful. To assume that it means the vagina is merely an assumption, and may constitute the logical fallacy of equivocation.
While there is evidence that ''sulb'' can mean “hardening” and thus, the penis, there is no evidence that ''tara’ib'' can mean the vagina. Bucaille and Giraud appear to have assumed that ''tara’ib'' means the ’sexual areas of the woman’, without providing supporting evidence. Even if ''tara'ib'' means what Bucaille and Giraud take it to mean, the term, 'sexual areas of the woman' is too vague, it would appear, to be meaningful. To suggest that it means the vagina is merely an assumption, and may constitute equivocation.


=== Ahmed A. Abd-Allah===
===Ahmed A. Abd-Allah===


Abd-Allah extends Bucaille’s proposition, providing dictionaries and tafsirs to support his case that ''sulb'' means ‘hardening’ and ''tara’ib'' means the sexual areas of the woman.
Abd-Allah extends Bucaille’s proposition, providing dictionaries and tafsirs to support his case that ''sulb'' means ‘hardening’ and ''tara’ib'' means the sexual areas of the woman.
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{{Quote||Note that 'sulb' is *singular*. In the dictionary by Wehr you cite below, you will see that its meaning of backbone is *only* when we take the *plural* word of sulb (aslaab). In its singular form, it means hardening.}}
{{Quote||Note that 'sulb' is *singular*. In the dictionary by Wehr you cite below, you will see that its meaning of backbone is *only* when we take the *plural* word of sulb (aslaab). In its singular form, it means hardening.}}


Almost all the commonly available translations of the Qur'an refer to ''sulb'' as the backbone, though some refer to loins. Even Ibn Kathir accepts backbone. Wehr is a dictionary of modern Arabic. Is Wehr a more authoritative and knowledgeable authority on the Arabic language than Ibn Kathir? This is difficult to believe.  
Almost all the commonly available translations of the Qur'an refer to ''sulb'' as the backbone, though some refer to loins. Even Ibn Kathir accepts backbone. Wehr, as a dictionary of modern standard Arabic, is a less useful source for determining the meanings of words in the Qur'an than is Tafsir Ibn Kathir.  


Regardless, Abd-Allah’s proposition is undercut by his own definitions of ''tara’ib''. He failed to show that his tafsirs and dictionaries explain ''tara’ib'' to mean vagina. In fact, ''tara’ib'' is defined as the upper chest or ribs, or according to some sources can also mean the two legs, two arms or two eyes<ref name="Lane Lexicon taraib">tara'ib - [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume1/00000338.pdf Lane's Lexicon Book 1 page 301]</ref>. While erogenous zones are important in foreplay, the sexual act really must be consummated through the vagina.  
Abd-Allah’s proposition is undercut by the definitions of ''tara’ib'' he provides. He fails to show that the tafsirs and dictionaries explain ''tara’ib'' to mean vagina. ''Tara’ib'' is defined as the upper chest or ribs, or according to some sources can also mean the two legs, two arms or two eyes<ref name="Lane Lexicon taraib">tara'ib - [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume1/00000338.pdf Lane's Lexicon Book 1 page 301]</ref>. While erogenous zones are important in foreplay, the sexual act must be consummated through the vagina.  


Abd-Allah’s reference to Ibn Kathir’s tafsir is also disingenuous, as he only mentions the one half of the description which supports his case (i.e. ''tara’ib'' refers to the woman), while leaving out the other half that contradicts it (i.e. ''tara’ib'' is the woman’s ribs).
Abd-Allah’s reference to Ibn Kathir’s tafsir also appears disingenuous, as only the one half of the description which supports his case is mentioned (i.e. ''tara’ib'' refers to the woman), while the other half that contradicts it is excluded (i.e. ''tara’ib'' is the woman’s ribs).


===Zakir Naik===
===Zakir Naik===
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==See Also==
==See Also==
* [[Scientific Miracles in the Quran]]
 
*[[Scientific Miracles in the Quran]]


{{Hub4|Reproduction|Reproduction}}
{{Hub4|Reproduction|Reproduction}}
{{Hub4|Mistranslated Verses|Mistranslated Verses}}
{{Hub4|Mistranslated Verses|Mistranslated Verses}}


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