Theological and Scientific Critique of Islamic Teachings on Human Procreation: Surah At-Tariq 86:6-7 and Sahih Muslim 2644

By Dr. Maxwell Shimba

Shimba Theological Institute

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Introduction

The intersection between religious revelation and scientific knowledge is a point of continuous discussion within theology, philosophy, and the natural sciences. Islam, through the Quran and Hadith, claims to present ultimate truth regarding human existence, including matters of creation and procreation. However, a critical examination of these sources—specifically, Surah At-Tariq (Quran 86:6-7) and Sahih Muslim 2644—reveals fundamental scientific errors that undermine such claims. This article seeks to provide a scholarly theological analysis alongside a scientific evaluation of these texts, illustrating why the Quran and the teachings of Muhammad lack scientific validity in this domain.

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Quranic Statement on Human Procreation: Surah At-Tariq 86:6-7

“He was created from a fluid, ejected, emerging from between the backbone and the ribs.”
— (Quran 86:6-7, Sahih International)

Theological Context

Classical and contemporary Islamic commentators have interpreted this passage as describing the origin of human reproductive fluid (sperm). The "backbone and the ribs" (min bayni al-sulbi wa al-tara'ib) have been understood by many to refer to anatomical regions of the human body, often taken literally by classical exegesis.

Scientific Analysis

Modern biology and embryology have thoroughly mapped the processes of human conception:

1. Origin of Sperm: Sperm is produced in the testicles (testes) of the male, which are anatomically located in the scrotum, not between the backbone and ribs.

2. Origin of Ova: The female gamete (egg) is produced in the ovaries, which are also not located between the ribs and the backbone but rather in the pelvic region.

3. Location of Fertilization: Fertilization typically occurs in the fallopian tubes, which are anatomically distant from both the backbone and the ribs.

No modern anatomical or physiological source equates the production or ejection of reproductive fluids with the area "between the backbone and the ribs." This is a clear misrepresentation of human biology.

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Hadith Statement on Sperm in the Womb: Sahih Muslim 2644

"When the drop of (semen) remains in the womb for forty or forty-five nights, the angel comes..."
— (Sahih Muslim 2644)

Theological Context

This hadith claims that after semen remains in the womb for 40 or 45 days, an angel descends to decree the future characteristics of the embryo—its fate, actions, lifespan, and sustenance.

Scientific Analysis

Modern science provides the following facts:

1. Lifespan of Sperm: Sperm can survive inside the female reproductive tract for a maximum of 5-7 days under optimal conditions. After this, all sperm cells die.

2. Embryological Development: Within 24 hours of fertilization, the sperm cell and egg cell combine to form a zygote, which then begins rapid cell division. By day 40, the embryo has already undergone significant development, including organogenesis (the formation of organs).

3. Implantation: The embryo implants in the uterine wall approximately 6-10 days after fertilization—not after 40 or 45 days.

The idea that sperm or a "drop" of semen remains unchanged in the womb for 40 or 45 days is unequivocally false according to embryology. No credible scientific source supports this claim.

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Combined Theological and Scientific Critique

1. Theological Inerrancy versus Scientific Error

If, as Muslims claim, the Quran and authentic Hadith are the literal words of Allah and the infallible teachings of Muhammad, then scientific errors contained therein are deeply problematic. The infallibility claimed by Islam cannot be reconciled with demonstrable errors in anatomy and embryology.

2. Consequences for Islamic Claims of Scientific Miracles

Some modern Islamic apologists attempt to reinterpret such verses metaphorically or claim they "miraculously" anticipated modern discoveries. However, the plain language of these passages, as well as classical exegesis, reveals that the original understanding was literal and in line with ancient pre-scientific beliefs.

3. Comparison with Modern Science

• Quran: Claims sperm originates from a region between the backbone and ribs—scientifically false.

• Hadith: Claims sperm remains in the womb for 40/45 days—scientifically false.

• Science: Demonstrates clear, observable, and repeatable biological processes that contradict the above.

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Conclusion: Islam and Scientific Reliability

The examples analyzed above from both the Quran and Hadith demonstrate a fundamental disconnect from the realities discovered by modern science. Far from providing advanced knowledge or scientific miracles, these texts reflect the limited understanding of ancient peoples.

Therefore, the Quran and the teachings of Muhammad cannot be considered reliable sources of scientific knowledge about human procreation. Instead, they serve as historical documents revealing the pre-scientific context of 7th-century Arabia.

This realization challenges Islamic claims of divine scientific insight and calls for honest reflection within the theological and academic community regarding the nature and limits of religious texts.

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References:

• Quran 86:6-7 (Sahih International)

• Sahih Muslim 2644 (USC-MSA English Reference)

• Moore, K.L., Persaud, T.V.N., & Torchia, M.G. (2013). The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology. Elsevier.

• National Institutes of Health (NIH) – Embryology Resources

• Brown, F. (2009). A Critique of the Scientific Miracles in the Quran. Skeptic Magazine.

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