|
Attitude of a Muslim
Scholar at Human Embryology
by
Dr. Ibrahim B. Syed
Clinical Professor of Medicine
University of Louisville School of Medicine
Louisville, KY 40292, USA
[Presented at the ISLAMIC ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE IN SCIENCE seminar,
Organized by the INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR ISLAMIC THOUGHT,
Washington, D.C. February 28-March 1, 1987.]
INTRODUCTION
George Sarton, a professor of Science History at Harvard University,
stated in his book “The Life of Science” that the foundations of science
were laid for us by the Mesopotamian civilizations whose scholars and
scientists were their priests; and to them we owe the foundations of
medicine, navigation, astronomy and some mathematics. The second
development came through the Greeks, as taught in the traditional way in
Western schools and colleges. The third stage of development, however,
is to be credited to the meteoric rise of Islam, whose Abased caliphs
drank avidly at the fountain of the ancient Persian, and Hindu, as well
as Greek sources of knowledge. For nearly four hundred years Islam led
the scientific world as from one end of Islam to the other, from Spain
to India, the great body of past knowledge was exchanged between her
scholars and the torch ‘carried forward with new discoveries. Scholars
of Christendom from about the eleventh century were mainly occupied for
over two hundred years in re-translating from Arabic into Latin. Thus
Islam paved the way for the Renaissance, which in turn led to science’s
fourth great development in the modern western world.
From that exalted position, the Muslims stand presently at the lowest
rung of the ladder of nations, possessing colonial minds with brain
washed non-Islamic attitudes and practices in science. The causes for
such decline and the reasons for the present day standing of the
world—Ummah of Islam are eloquently described by the late Ismail R.
Faruqi (l). To regain our glorious past and heritage, we must start
Islamization of attitude and practice in Science. The attitude of
Al-Qur’an is very scientific. It encourages mankind to think, to reflect
and to investigate all Natural Phenomena. The Qur’anic revelations do
not negate the modern scientific truths, truths which have come to light
in many areas of human knowledge. Maurice Bucaille in his book “ The
Bible, The Qur’an and Science” (2) shows how Qur’anic revelations are in
agreement with modern science in the areas of cosmology, geology,
astronomy, animal and vegetable kingdoms, and human reproduction. The
Islamic spirit, which prevailed during the meteoric rise of Islam,
should be instilled in all the Muslim children of the Muslim World from
Primary School to the University level.
This Islamization of science should inspire the young Muslim minds to
become the torch bearers who can push forward the frontiers of Science
to regain the Islamic heritage of Excellence and Mastery in all
Sciences.
One of the practical methods of achieving this is that when books and
textbooks of Science are written by Muslim Scientists and Scholars (who
are presumed to possess sound Islamic knowledge and Islamic spirit),
each chapter should start with one or more pertinent verses from the
Qur’an, Sahih Hadith or quotations from eminent Muslim Scientists or
Scholars. Where appropriate the Qur’anic verses should be elaborated
with modern scientific knowledge in the text of each chapter. In this
paper the author presents material on Human Embryology to prove that
modern scientific knowledge confirms the revelations in the Holy Qur’an
and how these revelations should be incorporated in the Textbooks for
Muslim students. The following presentation is only a work plan and
each chapter is not complete.
EMBRYOLOGY BEFORE QUR’ANIC REVELATIONS
The first recorded embryological studies are in the books of Hippocrates
(460 - 377 BC). He wrote on the nature of chicken embryos. Galen (2nd
century AD) wrote a book called “On the Formation of the Fetus.” in
which he described the placenta and fetal membranes. It appears that the
fact that human beings are developed in the uterus (womb) has not been
known until the 15th century. The first known illustration of a fetus in
the uterus was drawn by Leonardo da Vinci. The Physicians in the 7th
century AD did not know that the human embryo is developed in stages.
However in the fourth century BC Aristotle had described the stages of
development of the chick embryo. The fact that the human embryo develops
in stages was not discussed and illustrated until the 15th century.
In 1673 Leeuwenhoek discovered a simple microscope and described the
early stages of the chick embryo. Until 1941 the staging of human
embryos was not described.
The foregoing could be included in the introduction or Chapter 1 of the
Textbook on Human Embryology for Muslim students (see Table 1 for the
contents of the Textbook).
FERTILIZATION
“Then He made his seed (sperm) from a draught of despised fluid”
Surah 32: 8
“Hath not man seen that We have created him from a
drop of seed (sperm)?
Surah 36: 77
He it is Who fashioned you in the wombs as pleaseth Him.
Surah 3:6, 18:37, 22:5
Allah created you from dust, then from a little fluid, then He made
You pairs 9 the male and female)
Surah 35: 11
He it is Who created you from dust, then from a drop (of seed), then
From a leech-like clot.
SSurahs 40: 67, 75: 37-38
Lo ! We create man from a drop of thickened fluid to test him; so We
Make him hearing and seeing.
Surah 76:2
From a sperm-drop, He hath created him, and then mouldeth him in due
proportions.
Surahs 80: 19, 82: 7-8
So let man think from what he is created. He is created from a gushing
fluid that is issuedfrom between the loins and ribs.
Surah 86: 5-7
Verily, We fashioned man from a small quantity of mingled liquids
(gametes i.e., ovum and sperm)
Surah 76 : 2
Fertilization is the sequence of events that begins with contact between
a sperm and an ovum. Fertilization usually occurs in the outer third of
the uterine tube. The fertilized ovum goes into successive divisions.
The embryo’s sex is determined at fertilization by the kind of sperm (X
or Y) that fertilizes the ovum.
Of him (human male who has X or Y chormosome
sperm) He(Allah) created the male and female….75:36 (This is a great
scientific statement in the Qur’an with regard to sex determination).
And that He createth the two spouses, the male and female. From a drop
of sperm when it is poured forth Surah 53: 45-46
He bestows (children) male or female according to His will. …42: 49-50
IMPLANTATION
Have We not created you from a fluid (held) despicable? Which We placed
in a place of rest (uterus) firmly fixed for a period (of gestation)
determined (according to need). Surah 77: 20-23
The fertilized ovum by successive divisions forms a ball called
blastocyst or blastula (0.1 mm in diameter). The blastula reaches the
uterus from the uterine tube gently moved by the cilia of the uterine
tube itself in four or five days and lied free for a further two days
before it clings and gets implanted in the uterine wall. The most
suitable site of implantation is the upper third of the posterior wall
(Fig. 1).
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, in his book “Fatah Albary Sharah Sahib Albokhari”
writes that when the semen enters the womb, it remains for six days
before it is supported by the womb (3). He also quotes Ibn al-Qaim (13th
century) who said “When the semen enters the womb it forms a ball—like
structure which remains for six days before it attaches itself to the
womb.” (3).
Then We placed him as a drop in a place of rest. 23: 13
In this verse the word drop or nutfa is interpreted to mean zygote by
Moore (4). He further says that this interpretation is supported by
another verse (77: 2) in the Qur’an which states that “a human being is
created from a mixed drop.” The mixed drop is interpreted as a zygote
formed by the union of a mixture of sperm and ovum. The zygote divides
to form a blastocyst, which is implanted in the uterus (“a place of
rest”).
Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood. Surah 96: 2
Moore (5) says that an implanted blastocyst or a spontaneously aborted
conceptus would resemble a blood clot.
TRILAMINAR
EMBRYO
He makes you in the wombs of your mothers, in stages, one after
another, in three veils of darkness. Surah 39: 6
As stated earlier the staging of human embryos was not described until
1941.
The three veils of darkness were explained by the commentators of the
Holy Qur’an (4,6) to be (i) the anterior abdominal wall, (ii) the
uterine wall; and (iii) the amniochorionic membrane (Fig.l).
Al-Bar (6), has made an interesting observation and states that each of
these three layers is further made up of three consecutive layers. The
abdominal wall is made up of the external oblique sheet of muscle,
followed by the inner oblique muscle, and the transversus muscle.
The wall of uterus is made up of the epimetrium, the myometrium, and the
endometrium
The sac layers, which surround the embryo, are made of the amnion, the
chorion and the decidua. Decidua or pregnant endometrium does not
participate in the formation of the placenta. This membrane falls during
parturition (delivery of the baby), therefore it is called decidua i.e.,
temporary and not permanent. It is the part that is shed during either
menstruation or delivery.
EMBRYONIC PERIOD
Then We made the drop into a leech—like structure (alaq), then of that
leech—like structure, we made a chewed lump. then We made out of the
chewed lump, bones, and clothed the bones with flesh, then We developed
out of it another creature. Surah 23: 14
The word Alaq in the Qur’an has two meanings. One meaning is something
that clings or attaches to something else. This refers to the process of
clinging, attachment and implantation of the blastocyst in the compact
layer of the endometrium. This amazing process is revealed to man
through the Qur’an 14 centuries ago, long before any man knew anything
about it.
The second meaning of alaq refers to a leech or blood sucker. The human
embryo clings to the endometrium of the uterus, in the same way that a
leech clings to the skin. In the same manner as the leech derives blood
from the host, the human embryo derives blood (nutrition) from the
decidua or pregnant endometrium. Figure 2, shows the remarkable
resemblance between a 23-24 days human embryo and a leech. At the time
of this Qur’anic revelation in the 7th century, the physicians were not
aware that the human embryo had a leech-like appearance. They could not
verify this statement as there were no lenses or microscopes available.
Then of that leech-like structure (alaq), We made a
chewed lump (Mudhghah). 23: 14
The Arabic word “ mudhghah” means chewed substance or chewed lump. If
one looks at a human embryo which is four weeks old, then it looks like
a chewed lump of flesh( Fig. 3). The chewed appearance results from the
somites which resemble teeth marks. The somites are the bases from which
the greater part of the axial skeleton and musculature develop (7).
The Qur’an declares: “Then We made out of the chewed
lump, bones,
and clothed the bones with flesh.” 23: 14
The bone formation precedes muscles. This is true both in the vertebral
column and in the limb bones. This astoundingly in accordance with
embryological development. First the bones form as cartilage models and
then the muscles(flesh) develop around them from the somatic mesoderm.
“ Then out of a piece of chewed flesh, partly
formeand partly unformed.” 22: 5
This verse indicates that the embryo is made up of both differentiated
(formed) and undifferentiated( unformed) tissues. For example, when the
cartilage bones are differentiated, the embryonic connective tissue or
mesenchyme around them is undifferentiated. It later differentiates into
the muscles and ligaments attached to the bones (4).
Surah 23: 14 continues with the words “Then We developed out of it
another creature.”
One of the arguments of the theory of Evolution is that the embryos of
animals and humans look alike; therefore man evolved from lower
animals.
The above quoted words of Qur’an implies that the bones and muscles
result in the formation of another creature. This may refer to the
human— like embryo, which is formed at the end of the eighth week. At
this stage it has distinctive human characteristics and one can see that
it possesses the primordia of all the internal and external organs and
parts. After completion of eight weeks, the human embryo is classified
as a fetus. The Qur’anic verse may be referring to this as the new
creature.
“And He gave you hearing and sight and feeling and
understanding” ----32: 9
This verse tells us that the faculties of hearing, seeing, and feeling
are bestowed upon us in this order. Embryologists confirm that this is
exactly the order of development of special senses. Moore (4) further
confirms that the primordia of the internal ears appear before the
beginning of the eyes, and that the brain, which is the site of
understanding, differentiates last.
Surah 23: 14 could be quoted in the beginning of Chapter 14 and Chapter
15 on Skeletal System and Muscular System respectively.
FULL TERM
“And We cause whom we will to rest in the wombs for an appointed
term” -12: 5
“Who created you and fashioned you in due proportion and gave you any
form He willed” … 82: 7-8
And fashioned you and perfected your shapes, and bath provided you with
good things.” 40: 64
In the above verses Allah (SWT) says that He is the one Who determines
which embryos will remain in the womb until full term. It is well known
to embryologists that in the first month of development many embryos are
aborted some due to genetic malformations, and that only about 30 % of
the zygotes formed, develop into fetuses that are born at full—term.
Allah (SWT) says in Surah XLII, verses 49—50, that He determines the sex
of the embryo whether it becomes a boy or a girl and what genetic and
somatic characteristics (height, color, shape, size, beautiful or ugly,
etc.) it will be endowed with.
CONCLUSION
The foregoing is only an action plan and step by step methodology which
is presented as a guide for textbook writers on human embryology for
Muslim students.
The correct interpretation of verses pertaining to human embryology in
the Holy Qur’an would not have been possible 14 centuries ago or even a
50 years ago. The science of human embryology today is quite advanced
thanks to modern electronics and instrumentation. This has enabled us to
interpret and understand the Qur’anic verses better. As our knowledge
increases in the future, then other verses in the Holy Qur’an pertaining
to human development will be better understood.
REFEFRENCES:
1). Faruqi, I.R.: Islamization of knowledge: General Principles
and Work Plan. Published by International Institute of Islamic Thought,
Washington, D.C.
1982.
2). Bucaille, M.: The Bible, The Qur’an and Science. Published by
North American Trust Publications, Indianapolis, 1979.
3). Al-Bar, MA: Alaqa. Islamic World Medical Journal. 2(1): 54-56,
1986
4). Moore, K. L.: A Scientist’s interpretation of references to
Embryology in the Qur’an. Journal of Islamic Medical Association.:
18:15-17,1986
5). Moore, K. L.: Historical Gleanings. In The Developing
Human. W. B. Saunders Co. (Pub.), Philadelphia, pp.8, 3rd edition,
1982.
6). Al-Bar, N. A.: The three veils of darkness. Islamic World
Medical Journal. 2(2): 54-56, 1986
7). Al-Bar, MA: Bone and Flesh formation. Islamic World Medical
Journal. 1(6): 52, 1984. |