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RESEARCH ARTICLE XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
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Copyright © XXXX American Scientific Publishers Advanced Science Letters
All rights reserved Vol. XXXXXXXXX
Printed in the United States of America
Determination of the Fetus Gender in the
Light of Quran
Abdulrahman Obeid Hussein1, Zohdi Amin MZM1, Syed Ahmad Tarmizi Syed Omar1, Adnan Mohamed
Yusoff1, Abdullaah Jalil2, Robiatul Adawiyah Mohd1, Norazman Alias1, Muhammad Musa1, Tazul Islam1,
Zamrie Ibrahim@Musa1, Mohamed Akhiruddin Ibrahim1, Khairul Anuar Mohamad1, Kauthar Abd Kadir1
1Fakulti Pengajian Quran dan Sunnah, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Nilai, N. Sembilan 71800, Malaysia
2Fakulti Ekonomy dan Muamalat, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Nilai, N. Sembilan 71800, Malaysia
This paper highlights one of the controversial issues among Muslims and none Muslims which is the wonders of the holy Quran
and its ascendency over modern scientific discoveries. From the Positive perspective the wonders of Quran don’t add a real
value to scientific discoveries, whereas, Muslim scholars contend the magnificent effect of Quranic miracles and its role of
consolidating the Quran divine position among other revealed and philosophical books. The researchers present one of the
Quranic marvels in field of eugenics and embryology as unequivocal evidence for compelling impact of the Quran nowadays
by using the descriptive method. Researchers found that the impact of Quranic marvels is fact despite all objections depending
on one example about determining the gender of the fetus and they attempted to compile Quranic verses that are relevant to the
matter presented to two deferent categories based on the possible like between the verse and the issue of sex determination.
Keywords: Quranic marvels, Gender determination, Semen, Sperm, Ovum, Chromosome.
1. INTRODUCTION
Modern sciences have revealed many facts which
Muslim scholars found evidences for them in the holy
Quran, but their efforts didn’t change those facts or
developed them and for sure didn’t help to discover them.
However, Quran from the early days of Islam directed
people to cultivate science, and if Muslims have no serious
contribution to modern scientific discoveries today that
doesn’t imply Quran violates sciences. The fact is
discoveries of mortal human fortifies the immortality of the
Quran as the word of Allah! The relation between Quran
and science shows unexpected and unusual cooperation
because the contributions of modern scholar knowledge
facilitate a better understanding of certain verses in the
Quran that are enigmatic until today1.
Holy Quran has made a magnificent statement about
some scientific phenomena before more than 1400 years,
*Email Address: drabrahman@usim.edu.my
which is an evidence boost Muslim belief about the
eternity of Quran as the word of God; but the holy Quran
is a book of signs not the book of science! This simple fact
protect the sanctity of the Quran as the book of belief and
help scientists to understand the scientific signs of Quran
at the same time.
2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This paper based on two approaches, mainly method is
inductive aims to extrapolate Quranic verses relevant to
embryos’ sex determination and classify them into three
codex according to germane or quite relevance to the
subject; whereas, the secondary method relies on library
sources of data (books, journals). The data presentation of
this paper, by and large, is descriptive.
Adv. Sci. Lett. X, XXX–XXX, 201X RESEARCH ARTICLE
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3. LITERATURE REVIEW
Contemporary Studies, which presented miracles of
the Quran and the issue of the fetus’s development
marginalized sex selection of the fetus in the light of the
Quran. For instance, Ismail zadeh Mahdi in his article
“Development Biology in Holy Quran” in year 2012
highlighted the features of Quranic description style of
embryology comparing with modern medical references;
whereas, Sabiha Saadat in her article “Human Embryology
and the Holy Quran” in year 2009 focused more on the
Quranic record about embryology that no such explicit and
complete presentation of human development, in term of
classification, terminology and description was found
before. Zakir Naik in his book “The Quran and the Modern
Sciences” in year 2007 mentioned the issue of fetus’ sex
determination in general but didn’t classify the relevant
Quranic verses that should be interpreted in context.
4. DETERMINING THE FETUS GENDER IN THE
LIGHT OF QURAN
The confrontation between the texts of the Scriptures
and scientific data has always provided man with food for
thought. It was at first held that corroboration between the
scriptures and science was a necessary element to the
authenticity of the sacred text1. When many ancient great
civilizations were attempting a futile method to determine
the gender of the baby during confirmed pregnancy, Quran
mentioned distinctly that sex of the baby is determined by
the sperm. That was before more than one thousand years
before the discovery of Stevens and Wilson in 1905
explaining the fact that chromosomes appear as 23
homologous pairs to create the diploid number of 46; there
are 22 pairs of mulching chromosomes and 1 pair of sex
chromosomes. If the sex pair is xx, the embryo is female,
if the pair is xy, the fetus is genetically male. One
chromosome of each pairs is formed from the maternal
gamete, and one pair from the paternal one2.
There are two verses relevant to this issue explaining
the fact sharply beyond any doubt at all. The first verse is
incredibly strict in determining the exact meaning for
gender selection in the pollination stage, while the second
verse could be interpreted in two deferent ways noting that
the desired one is the stronger:
(i) The first verse is: “And that He creates the two
mates from a sperm-drop when it is casted” [An-Najm.
53/45-46].
This verse reports clearly that the sperm is responsible
for determining the sex of fetus whether is male or female.
Modern sciences confirm that in humans’, and most of the
mammals, gender of the embryo is determined by the
sperm through a pair of chromosomes called X
chromosome and Y chromosome. the ova gamete does not
influence the baby’s sex because the sperm that carry male
chromosomes (XY) swim fast and one of the sperm only
can penetrate the ovum (that contributes X chromosome)
and fertilize it resulting two possible outcomes: XX or a
girl and XY or a boy.
Another marvel of this verse lies in the interpreting this
part of it “And that He created the two kinds, male and
female, of sperm)3. However, the truth that only one sperm
can penetrate the ova was completely unknown before 20th
century, but the Quran pointed this fact distinctly4. This
interpretation is supported by the prophetic traditions;
when the prophet was asked about the ejaculate ectopic –
Al-`azl (to cast the sperm out of the womb) He said: “not
from all of the ejaculation the fetus is created, if it is the
will of God to create the fetus nothing can stop His will!”5
(ii) The second verse is: “Had he not been a sperm
from semen emitted? * Then he was a clinging clot, and
created [his form] and proportioned * And made of him
two mates, the male and the female” [Al-Qiyamah. 75/37-
39].
According to the Arabic grammar the pronoun (Min-
hu) is back to masculine which is the semen in the verse,
but it is possible that the pronoun refers to (Clot), then the
meaning will totally deferent. After all, it seems that the
first interpretation of this verse is more rational because the
clot itself is a natural development of the impregnation
between the semen and ovum.
5. PROPOSED INDEX OF QURANIC VERSES
RELEVANT TO DETERMINATION OF FETUS
GENDER
Our main contribution in this article is presented in
verses indexing. Here we will divide the verses into two
types; first group of the verses are related to the subject of
determining the sex identity in indirect way which is
symbolic and figurative. The second group of verses refers
to the subject through interpretation based on linguistic
considerations and context, noting that the previous two
verses that have been discussed are not figurative or
symbolic, directly related to the subject of gender
determination and quit clear.
It was said that the ancient Egyptians stated in the
pyramid text of pharaoh Pepi that the gender of the fetus is
created by the sperm after an intercourse. In other word
Quran has no priority in this topic because marvels of the
holy Quran were predated by pagans!
Actually, this argument is not a cardinal criticism
because Prophet Muhammed peace be upon him had no
idea about pyramid text and what has been mentioned in
the holy Quran is a divine revelation. However, we can
trace some other Quranic wonders in the Old Testament
and that information never disturb our admiration in the
marvels of Quran since the master point here is prophet of
Islam was illiterate lived among illiterates and didn’t
complete his education in Rome, or Egypt or Pars polis.
Consequently Quran is the word of Allah revealed to his
messenger in order to guide people.
May be this Hadith highlights the fact above: While I
was standing beside the Prophet one of the rabbis of the
Jews came then said: “I have come to ask you about
something no one on earth would know except a Prophet.
I have come to ask you about the embryo. The Prophet said:
The fluid of the man is white and that of the woman yellow.
When they unite and the male fluid prevails upon the
female fluid, their child is male by Allah permission. When
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the female fluid prevailsheir child is female by Allah
permission”. The Jew said: What you said is true; you are
truly a Prophet! He turned and went away. The Messenger
of Allah said: “This man just asked me about things of
which I had no knowledge whatever until Allah had
revealed to me!”
First Group
(i) The verse of Al-Furqan [25: 54] “And He it is who
out of this water has created man, and has endowed him
with descent and marriage-tie”.6
Water in this verse certainly refer to sperm, the Word
(Nasaban) pointing to male descendent because in Arabic
culture and genealogy males are carrying the family name;
while (Sihran) refer to female. Zamakhshari died 537 H
deduced: from one sperm He created male and female!7.
Zamakhshari confirmed it is one sperm although he didn’t
expound in similar way the verses [53: 45-46] which is too
explicit about gender determination, but (one) should be
understood according to their knowledge about sperm that
time. However, it seems most of earlier Quranic
commentators believed that part of sperm only is fertilizing
the ova8.
(ii) The verse of Al-Nahl [16: 4] “He creates man out
of a drop of sperm: and lo! this same being shows himself
endowed with the power to argue!”.
The Arabic word nutfah means a minute quantity of
liquid and tumnâ means ejaculated or planted. Here again
it is mentioned that a drop of sperm (indicated by the word
nutfetan min meniyyin) which comes from the man is
responsible for the sex of the fetus.
(iii) The verses of Al-Mu`minun [23: 13-14] “We
create man out of the essence of clay * and then We cause
him to remain as a drop of sperm in firm keeping”
Extract (Sulalah): Means the extract that is taken out in
secret; it is what can be drawn out or separated from
something else. While Ensella and Tesllela are two verbs
that mean to withdraw from a group in secret, Sal-la or
Asal-la (verbs) mean to take something out from its place.
Seleel (noun) means the male descendant, and its feminine
noun is Seleelah9.
(iv) The verse of Al-Sajdah [32: 8] “Then He causes
him to be createdout of the essence of a humble fluid”
(v) The verse of al-Mursalat [77: 21] “Did We not create
you out of a humble fluid”
(vi) The verses of `Abasa [80: 18-19] “Does man ever
consider out of what substance creates him? * Out of a
drop of sperm He creates him, and thereupon determines
his nature”.
(vii) The verse of al-Insan [76: 2] “Verily, it is We who
have created man out of a drop of sperm intermingled that
We might try him [in his or her life]: and therefore We
made him a being endowed with hearing and sight”.
The word Amshajin (intermingled) in this verse
highlights a magnificent scientific fact, which is the sperm
carries 23 chromosomes and ovum as well carries 23
chromosomes, together they form a living cell. Those 46
chromosomes transfer the parent’s characteristics10. It is
remarkable that the earlier Quranic Commentators
interpreted (Amshajin) as a melange of sperm and ovum
and they disregarded the Aristotle legends about the little
embryo that inspired European views about the fetus for
centuries!11
The fluid referred to as semen, which contains the
sperm, does not consist of sperm only. But, unbelievably,
it is made of a mixture of many fluids. Seminal fluid is a
collection of substances secreted from the testicles, the
seminal vesicles, and the prostate gland. A detailed
analysis of this fluid shows that it consists of many
substances, such as citric acid, prostaglandin, flavin,
ascorbic acid, phospholipids, phosphatase acid, phosphase,
and sperm. These fluids exercise different functions, such
as containing the sugar necessary for providing energy for
the sperm, neutralizing the acids at the entrance of the
uterus, and providing a slippery substance to ease the
movement of the sperm.
When semen is mentioned in the Qur'an, this fact,
which was discovered by modern science, is also referred
to, and semen is defined as a mixed fluid:
(viii) The verse of Al-Tariq [86: 5-6] “Let man, then,
observe out of what he has been created * he has been
created out of a seminal fluid * issuing from between the
loins (of man) and the pelvic arch (of woman)”.
Second Group
This group of verses can achieve the target not by use
of rational arguments to discourse on religious matters like
Islamic theology, but through linguistic analysis and the
effect of context in the sense.
(i) The verse of Al-A`raf [7: 172] “And whenever thy
Sustainer brings forth their offspring from the loins of the
children of Adam, He [thus] calls upon them to bear
witness about themselves: "Am I not your Sustainer?" - to
which they answer: "Yea, indeed, we do bear witness
thereto”.
In this verse the context is about drawing progeny
(before they born) from the human loins to confess that
there no God except Allah. Indeed, this metaphysical event,
which called the first covenant, cannot be materialized into
anthropomorphic scenario, but it present that
chromosomes of men and women are settled in the man
backbone (chromosome X and Y) based on the fact that the
origins of human semen is there!
According to the modern anatomy Semen is produced
and originates from the seminal vesicle, which is located in
the pelvis, sometimes also called bony pelvis, or pelvic
skeleton. Pelvis is the lower part of the trunk (Torso) of the
human body which is coincided with the Quranic
description [Sulb 86:6]. Accordingly, this verse marked out
that semen stands behind the gender determination in
indirect way.
In this concern, some Muslim exegete had efferent
point of view in dealing with this verse, for instance, Al-
Zamakhshari preclude the anthropomorphic and assumed
the verse as fiction and phantasy7. Regardless this
Mu`tazilite understanding our explanation remain prior
because in both scenarios human loins is the origins of
semen which carries X and Y chromosomes.
(ii) The verse of al-`Araf [7: 172] “It is He who has
created you out of one living entity, and out of it brought
into being its mate, so that man might incline towards
woman. And so, when he has embraced her, she
Adv. Sci. Lett. X, XXX–XXX, 201X RESEARCH ARTICLE
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conceives a light burden, and continues to bear it”.
This verse could be understood as a sign of natural
determination of the fetus gender during intercourse by
highlighting the word ‘Tagashaha’.
6. FINDINGS OF THE RESEARCH
This paper attempted to analyze some Quranic verses
dealing with the issue of gender determination and found
that these verses can be classified into three different
groups; the first one is directly related to the subject of
gender determination and quit clear, the second group of
the verses are related to the subject in indirect way which
is symbolic and figurative and The third group of verses
refers to the subject through interpretation based on
linguistic considerations and context understanding.
The researchers confirmed the Quranic marvel of
mentioning the topic of sex determination before 1400
years through analysis study of two verses that are clear
and convincing.
Researchers emphasized that some Quranic wonders
were predated in other scriptures Old Testament, New
Testament, Indian or Egyptian text, but this small
discovery doesn’t turbid Muslim’s pride of Quranic
marvels since there is no proven link between Quran and
other sources.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The author would like to acknowledge Research
Management Centre, University Sains Islam Malaysia
(USIM) for the management and financial support as this
research was a part of its Grant (PPP/UCG-0114/FQS/30/
11714).
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[3] Arthur J. Arberry, The Koran Interpreted, trans.. London: Allen &
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