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We present to you Dr.
G.C. Goeringer, Course Director and Associate Professor of Medical Embryology at the
Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C..
We met with him and asked him whether in the history of embryology there was any mention
of the different stages of embryonic development and whether there were any books on
embryology at the time of the Prophet Muhammad or the centuries after him which mention
these various stages, or whether the division into these different stages only came to be
known in the middle of the nineteenth century. He said that the ancient Greeks were
concerned with the study of embryology and many of them attempted to describe what happens
to the fetus and how it develops. We agreed with him that Aristotle, among others,
attempted to expound some theories on the subject, but was there any mention made of these
stages? |
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| We know that these stages were not known until the middle of the
nineteenth century and were not proven until the beginning of the twentieth century. After
a long discussion, Professor Goeringer concurred that there was no mention of these
phases. Thus we asked him if there was any specific terminology applied to these phases
similar to that found in the Quran. His reply was negative. We asked him: What is
your opinion on these terms which the Quran uses to describe the phases which the fetus
goes through? After long discussions, he presented a study at the 8th Saudi Medical
Conference. He mentioned in the study man's basic ignorance of these phases. He also
discussed the comprehensiveness and precision of these Quranic terms in describing the
development of the fetus by means of concise and comprehensive terms which convey far
reaching truth. Let us listen to Professor Goeringer as he explains his opinion:
"In a
relatively few aayahs (Quranic verses), is contained a rather comprehensive description of
human development from the time of the commingling of the gametes through organogenesis.
No such distinct and complete record of human development such as classification,
terminology, and description existed previously. In most, if not all, instances, this
description antedates by many centuries the recording of the various stages of human
embryonic and fetal development recorded in the traditional scientific literature."
The discussion
with Professor Goeringer led us to talk about a fact which was discovered recently and
which would eliminate any controversy. Although the virgin birth of Christ has been a
Christian belief for centuries, some among the Christians insist that Christ must have had
a father, as a virgin birth is scientifically impossible. They argue this, and
perhaps they do not know, that there could be a creation without a father. The Quran
replied to them and has used as an example the creation of Adam. Allah said: "The similitude of Jesus before Allah
is as that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him: Be: And he
was." [Quran 3:59]
There are
three types of creation:
1. Adam,
who was created without a mother or father
2. Eve, who
was created without a mother
3. Jesus
Christ, who was created without a father
Therefore, the One
who was able to create Adam without a father or a mother is also able to create Jesus from
a mother and without a father. In spite of this, the Christians still continue to argue
even though Allah has sent them evidence after evidence and proof after proof. Then when
they are asked why they persist in this controversy, they reply that they have never seen
or heard of anybody being created without a father and a mother. But modern science now
revealed that many animals and beings in this world are born and reproduced without
fertilization from the male of the species. For example, a male bee is no more than an egg
which has not been fertilized by the male, whereas the egg which has been fertilized by
the male functions as a female. Moreover, male bees are created from the eggs of the queen
but without fertilization by a male. There are many other examples such as this in the
animal world. Moreover, man today has the scientific means of stimulating the female's egg
of some organisms so that this egg develops without fertilization by a male.
Let us read the
words of Professor Goeringer: "In another type of approach, unfertilized eggs of many
species of amphibians and lower mammals can be activated by mechanical (such as pricking
with a needle), physical (such as thermal shock), or chemical means by any of a number of
different chemical substances, and continue to advance to stages of development. In some
species, this type of parthenogenetic development is natural."
Allah has given us
the definitive answer and he used Adam, whom they believe in, as an example of a human
being who has no father or mother. The Christians regard as deviance the fact that a human
being can be born without a father. Thus, Allah has shown them an analogy of a human being
who had no father and no mother, that is, Adam. The Quran says: "The similitude of Jesus before Allah is as
that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him: Be: and he
was." [Quran 3:59]
Allah has willed
that there be such scientific advancements and discoveries which provide proof after proof
of the truth which has been revealed in the Quran. It is in this way that the verses of
this glorious book were revealed with the passage of time. The verses become known to the
foremost scholars and scientists of our religion and of generations to come. Science will
never deplete the wonders of the Quran.
"And
those to whom knowledge has come see that the (Revelation) sent down to you from your Lord
- that is the truth, and that it guides to the path of the Exalted (In Mighty), worthy of
all praise." [Quran 34:6]
Allah, may He be
Exalted and Glorified, said in the Quran: "And you shall certainly know the truth of it (all) after a
while." [Quran 38:88]
Allah also said: "For every prophecy is a limit of time, and
soon shall you know it." [Quran 6:67]
 
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