Joe Leigh Simpson,
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the North Western University
in Chicago in the United States of America:
As we know, these chromosomes contain all the characteristics
which the new human being will have such as the color of the eyes, skin,
hair, etc. Hence, many of the details
in the human being’s make-up are determined in his
chromosomes.
These chromosomes begin to form during the early nutfah stage of embryonic
development. In other words, the distinguishing features
of the new human being are determined from
the very beginning at the nutfah stage.
Allah, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorified,
has stated this fact in the Qur’aan:
During the first
40 days of gestation, all the body parts and organs are completely, though
consecutively, formed.
The Prophet
Muhammad, (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), has informed us in a hadeeth
that: In every one of you, all components
of your creation are gathered together in your mothers’
womb by 40 days. (Narrated in Saheeh
Muslim and Al-Bukhaari).
In another Hadeeth,
Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:
When forty-two nights have passed over the drop (nutfah), Allah sends an
angel to it, who shapes it and makes
its ears, eyes, skin, flesh and bones. Then he says, "O Lord, is it male
or female?" and your Lord decides what
he wishes. (Narrated in Saheeh Muslim).
Professor Simpson
studied these two hadeeths extensively, noting that the first 40 days
constitute a clearly distinguishable stage of embryogenesis.
He was particularly impressed by the absolute
precision and accuracy of those hadeeths.
Then during one of the conferences which he
attended he gave the following opinion:
So that the two hadeeths that have been noted can provide us with a specific
time table for the main embryological
development before 40 days. Again, the point had been made
repeatedly by other speakers this morning that these hadeeths could not
have been obtained on the basis of the scientific
knowledge that was available at the time of their
recording.
Professor Simpson
says that religion can successfully guide the pursuit of knowledge. The
West, as we said, has rejected this. But here is
an American scientist who says that religion, namely
Islam, can achieve this with success.
By analogy, if you go to a factory and have with you the operation manual
of the factory, then you will
be able to easily understand the kind of operation that goes on in that
factory, thanks to that manual by the
factory designer and builder. But if you do not have this manual with
you, chances are much less that you will have good understanding of the
various processes there.
Professor Simpson
said: It follows, I think, that not only is
there no conflict between genetics and religion, but in fact religion can
guide science by adding revelation to some traditional scientific approaches.
That there exists statements in the Qur’aan shown by science to be valid,
which supports knowledge in the Qur’aan having been derived from Allah.
This is true. I also
say that the Muslims can lead the way in the pursuit of knowledge and that
they can accord knowledge its proper status. Moreover,
Muslims know how to use knowledge as proof
of the existence of Allah, May Allah be Exalted and Glorified, and to affirm
the Messengership of Muhammad (sallallahu
‘alaihi wa sallam).