THE QUR'AN ON SEMEN PRODUCTION
A Scientific and Theological Challenge to Islamic Claims of Divine Revelation
By Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute
“He was created from a fluid, ejected, emerging from between the backbone and the ribs.” (Qur'an 86:6–7)
Introduction
Muslims frequently proclaim that the Qur'an is a perfect revelation from an all-knowing God. They maintain that its scientific statements are miraculous, accurate, and impossible for a seventh-century Arabian man to have known independently. Islamic apologists often present the Qur'an as a book that anticipated modern science centuries before scientific discovery.
However, when the Qur'an's statements concerning human reproduction are examined carefully, one encounters a serious problem. Surah At-Tariq states that the reproductive fluid comes from a location "between the backbone and the ribs." Modern anatomy demonstrates that sperm cells are produced in the testes and that semen is formed primarily by the seminal vesicles and prostate gland. None of these organs are located between the backbone and the ribs.
The question therefore becomes unavoidable: If Allah is omniscient, why does the Qur'an describe the origin of semen in a manner that appears inconsistent with modern anatomy?
The Quranic Claim
The text reads:
“So let man observe from what he was created. He was created from a gushing fluid, emerging from between the backbone and the ribs.” (Qur'an 86:5–7)
The Arabic terms "sulb" and "tara'ib" have historically been understood as the backbone, loins, chest, or ribs. Classical Islamic commentators generally understood the passage as describing a physical location from which reproductive fluid emerges.
Among early commentators:
Ibn Kathir associated the fluid with the male and female reproductive origins.
Al-Tabari interpreted the passage literally.
Al-Jalalayn connected the fluid to the region between the backbone and chest.
None of these classical scholars possessed modern knowledge of reproductive anatomy.
The Scientific Problem
Modern medicine teaches:
Sperm cells are produced in the testes.
The epididymis stores sperm.
The vas deferens transports sperm.
The seminal vesicles contribute seminal fluid.
The prostate gland adds additional secretions.
Ejaculation occurs through the urethra.
The testes are located within the scrotum outside the abdominal cavity, not between the backbone and the ribs.
If the Qur'an intended to provide scientifically accurate information, why is the actual anatomical location absent?
Did the Qur'an Reflect Ancient Medical Ideas?
Several historians of medicine note that ancient Greek theories influenced medical thought throughout the Near East.
The physician Galen believed reproductive substances originated from regions associated with the kidneys and spinal system. Similar concepts circulated for centuries before Islam.
This raises an important question:
Did the Qur'an reveal divine medical knowledge, or did it reflect the scientific assumptions commonly held in late antiquity?
If seventh-century people believed reproductive fluid originated from the torso, then the Qur'anic description becomes understandable as a product of its historical environment.
Modern Reinterpretations
Facing scientific criticism, some contemporary Muslim apologists argue:
"Backbone and ribs" refers metaphorically to the entire body.
The verse refers to embryonic development.
The passage describes male and female reproductive systems.
The words should not be understood literally.
Yet these interpretations raise another question.
If the verse was always intended to mean something else, why did early Islamic scholars fail to understand it?
If Allah intended a scientific miracle, why require twenty-first century reinterpretations to explain the text?
A miracle should become clearer with advancing knowledge, not increasingly dependent upon reinterpretation.
Questions for Muslim Scholars
The following questions deserve serious consideration:
1. If Allah created the human reproductive system, why does the Qur'an not mention the testes?
2. Why does the Qur'an locate the origin of the fluid between the backbone and the ribs when sperm production occurs in the testes?
3. Why did classical Muslim scholars interpret the passage literally if it was intended metaphorically?
4. Why are modern reinterpretations different from the explanations of early Islamic commentators?
5. If this verse is scientifically miraculous, why has modern medicine not confirmed its anatomical description?
6. Why do Islamic apologists continually revise the interpretation as scientific knowledge advances?
7. Would Muslims accept similar scientific inaccuracies if they appeared in the Bible?
8. If an all-knowing God inspired the Qur'an, why employ language that appears anatomically incorrect?
9. Why does the verse resemble ancient medical theories that existed before Muhammad?
10. Can a book containing demonstrably inaccurate scientific statements still be considered perfect and infallible?
The Problem of Divine Omniscience
The God of the Bible is presented as all-knowing:
“His understanding is infinite.” (Psalm 147:5)
An omniscient God would possess perfect knowledge of anatomy, reproduction, genetics, and embryology.
Therefore, if the Qur'an contains statements that reflect ancient misconceptions rather than scientific reality, serious theological implications arise.
Either:
The verse has been misunderstood by nearly all generations of Muslims.
The verse is scientifically inaccurate.
The Qur'an reflects the scientific knowledge available during Muhammad's lifetime.
Each possibility presents difficulties for the doctrine of Qur'anic inerrancy.
Why Do Many Muslims Continue to Defend the Passage?
Many Muslims defend this verse because belief in the Qur'an's perfection is central to Islamic theology. Admitting error in one passage could raise questions about other scientific, historical, or theological claims.
Yet truth should never fear examination.
If Christianity, Judaism, or any other religion may be critically examined, then Islam must also permit honest investigation of its foundational claims.
Faith should not require the rejection of established scientific evidence.
Conclusion
The Qur'anic description of semen originating from "between the backbone and the ribs" presents a significant challenge to claims of scientific miraculousness. Modern anatomy does not support the literal reading of the passage, and contemporary reinterpretations differ substantially from classical Islamic understandings.
The central question remains:
If Allah is all-knowing and the Qur'an is His perfect revelation, why does the text describe human reproduction in terms that appear consistent with ancient medical theories rather than modern scientific knowledge?
This issue invites Muslims, Christians, and all seekers of truth to examine the evidence carefully, test theological claims honestly, and ask whether the Qur'an reflects divine omniscience or the scientific understanding of the seventh century.
Discussion Questions
Does scientific error disprove divine inspiration?
Can an infallible book contain anatomically incorrect statements?
Why do interpretations of Qur'an 86:5–7 continue to change?
Should religious claims be tested against scientific evidence?
How should believers respond when scripture appears to conflict with established science?
Does reinterpretation preserve faith or reveal weakness in the original claim?
What would an omniscient God say about human reproduction?
“Test all things; hold fast what is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
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