The articles on this website may be reproduced freely as long as the following source reference is provided: Joseph A Islam

www.quransmessage.com

Salamun Alaikum (Peace be upon you

VERSE 86:7 - HUMAN CREATION

!opyright " #$$% &oseph A 'slam: Article last modified #(rd )ebruary #$*+

BACKGROUN
The verses below (in particular verse 86:7 have often been the source of much debate and controversy between ,uslims and those critical towards the -uran.s authenticity. !86"!!# /So let man consider from what he is created/ !86"!!6 /0e is created from a gushing fluid 1 water pouring forth (main dafiqan / !86:!!7 /!oming forth from between the $al-s%l&$ and the $al-'a(a)&$/ 2nglish translations provide various meanings to the Arabic words $al-s%l&$ (plural: aslab) and .al'a(a$)&$ (plural of taribah) such as backbone and the ribs respectively of a male. 'f interpreted in this manner3 this would arguably present challenges with modern understandings of human biology. 0owever3 challenges aside which is not the focus of this article3 there does appear to be a lean on many modern interpretations which seem to suggest a skewed focus of this verse towards semen production within the male anatomy3 as if to somehow suggest scientific marvels to its readers. Such interpretations have inevitably attracted strong criticism from various theological perspectives. 4hatever may be the most scholarly approach to ascertain the best meaning of the -uranic words in question3 it should be recognised that the -uran was speaking primarily to an A(a& a%*)e+,e of the 5th century to offer them sp)()'%al -%)*a+,e foremost and not arguably to equip them with a new understanding of the human anatomy3 that was otherwise unknown to them.

The -uran6s intention was certainly not to present a dialogue to #*st century scientists conversant with modern technological advancements or to present itself as a science reference manual with a view to provide new information with regards human biology or semen production within the male anatomy. The point of the verses was simply to provide a sp)()'%al lesso+ to its immediate audience that ). 7od could create a human being .(om s%,h h%m&le/ mea-(e &e-)++)+-s3 7od could also3 without any doubt3 resurrect humans from their death. The latter sentiment is given by the very ne8t verse )+ +o %+,e('a)+ 'e(ms" !86"!!8 /'ndeed3 0e is able to bring him back (to life 9/ 't is also noteworthy that the -uran addresses themes of procreation in the most eloquent manner and not by distasteful graphical depictions. )or e8ample3 refraining from illicit se8ual liaisons is described eloquently as guarding ones modesty 1 private parts (#(:: or intimacy is presented as an analogy with a farmer tilling the soil with a view to cultivate (#:##( or as being referred to as being covered (taghashaha ; 5:*<% . 't is inconceivable that the Arabs would not have known how humans were formed. Therefore3 the relevance of the verse must therefore be understood under the spotlight of the sp)()'%al lesso+ that it intends to impart and +o' a comple8 lesson in human reproduction.

ANA01SIS
The most fundamental point to note is that the verses in question *o +o' speak e8clusively of semen production alone. The focus is regarding $h%ma+$ formation. /So let man consider from what he )s ,(ea'e*/ (<=:: A human being is not formed from semen alone but by the combination of genetic material from both se8es3 male and female. Two crucial words will be analysed with the following approach: 234 5(om a 6%(a+$s pe(spe,')7e a+* %sa-e" 284 5(om ,lass),al A(a&), le9),o+s a+* la+-%a-e so%(,es"

3 - A0 SU0B (>oun
The Arabic word $S%l&$ is well attested in classical Arabic le8icons to mean :lo)+s;" /(lo)+s chiefly ? literary the region of the se8ual organs regarded as the source of erotic or procreative power/ <3= This understanding is p()ma()l> s%ppo('e* by a -uranic verse where the meaning to the word $S%l&$ is evident as referring to the male lo)+s via which life forming secretion is emitted to form human life.

'llustration ; &oseph 'slam

!!?:!8@ 2pa('4 /...and the wives 1 spouses of your sons those who are from your lo)+s 2aS0AB)A%m4/ This rendition of the term 'sulb' to infer 'loins' is further supported by classical Arabic le8icons:

Source: 2dward @anes @e8icon <8=

Source: 2dward @anes @e8icon <@=

Therefore the -uran describes life forming fluid as gushing forth (main dafiqin) (<=:= from the male lo)+s.

8 - A0 TARA$IB (>oun Plural

The Arabic word $al-'a(a$)&$ is a hapax legomenon and is used in this form o+l> o+,e in the entire -uran. 0ence any cogent interpretation of the term should arguably be conducted through the language sources of the Arabs which would make best sense with the -uran.s overarching conte8t. As mentioned in the opening paragraphs3 it is inconceivable that the Arabs of the Prophetic ministry would not have known what the term meant or what the human procreation process generally entailed. $Al-Ta(a$)&$ is well understood to be an archaic word and uncommon. 'ts rarity is also evidenced by the various interpretations advanced by classical authorities in the works of le8icographers. 0owever3 one point that remains evident from classical le8icons is that AAl;Tara.ib6 is a reference spe,).),all> 'o a .emale ,o%+'e(pa(' and not generally part of the male anatomy.

Source: 2dward @anes @e8icon <?=

The core meaning of the AAl;Taraib6 seems to encompass the bones of the breast3 as is evidenced from the various meanings that linguistic authorities have imparted in classic le8icons. 3 (S3 ,3 TA3 or B 3 (TA3 sing. of 3 (S3 ,3 TA3 which signifies The part of the breast which is the place of the collar3 or necklace: (T3 ,3 C: so by the common consent of the le8icologists: (T: or the bones of the breast: (,3 A3 C: or the bones of the breast that are between the collar;bone and the pap: (S: or the part of the breast3 or chest3 that is ne8t to the two collar;bones: or the part that is between the two breasts and the collar;bones: or four ribs of the right side of the chest and four of the left thereof: (,3 C: or the two arms and two legs and two eyes: (T3 ,3 C: it is also said that the are the two ribs that are ne8t to the two collar;bones: 'Ath says that the is the uppermost part of the human breast3 beneath the chinD and its pl. is as above: accord. to ')3 in the ,E3 the B is the breast3 or chest: ,) says that relates to males and females in commonD but most of the authors on strange words affirm decidedly that it is peculiar to women: (TA:
Source: 2dward @anes @e8icon <#=

Such a diverse meaning involving the different bones of the rib cage and breast is also picked up by other dictionaries of note.

<6= BEHR" H/ A ),')o+a(> o. Mo*e(+ B()''e+ A(a&),

<7= CENRICE/ J/ A ),')o+a(> a+* Glossa(> o. 'he Ko(a+ 387@

<8= A0 MABRI - A Mo*e(+ A(a&),-E+-l)sh ),')o+a(>"

<D= BORTABETS A(a&), E+-l)sh ),')o+a(>"

<3!= OMAR/ A M/ ),')o+a(> o. 'he Hol> 6%(a+/ A(a&), Bo(*s

0owever3 classical le8icons also clearly state that :Ta(a$)&; can be a reference to the :'Eo a(ms/ a+* 'Eo le-s a+* 'Eo e>es;"

Source: 2dward @anes @e8icon <33=

This would suggest a representation of the female anatomy in more holistic3 encompassing terms. This would not be unusual as the -uran is seen to capture human activity by referring to general parts of the anatomy.

!6!:!38 2pa('4 F...nor bring or produce any lie 1 slander that they have devised 1 invented &e'Eee+ 'he)( ha+*s a+* .ee' ...G Therefore3 it can be safely posited from classical sources that $al-Ta(a)&$ whilst being a rare word3 is a plural noun depicting the female anatomy in general3 and in verse <=:53 it can encompass the female reproductive anatomy holistically. Thus the verses present an evident reality of human life as being formed from humble beginnings via a life forming fluid which issues forth from the male anatomy (sulb) and involving the female anatomy (tara'ib). This conclusion is also supported by presenting the following analogy with another verse of the -uran.

ANA0OG1 BITH VERSE 36:66

!36"!66 /And indeed3 in the cattle is a lesson. )rom what is in their bellies .(om &e'Eee+ (min bayni) the bowel contents (farth and blood (dam 3 4e produce for you drink3 milk3 pure and palatable to those who drink it./

This is comparable with the verses in this article in the following manner given the highlighted emphasis below:
!86"!!#-7 /So let man consider from what he is created. 0e is created from a gushing fluid 1 water pouring forth3 coming forth .(om &e'Eee+ (min bayni) the .al;sulb. (male loins and the .al;taraib. (female anatomy .G Therefore3 Ve(se 36:66 0a&a+ 2m)lA4 is !H2AT2I from what is in their bellies 5ROM BHAT IS BETBEEN (min bayni) <BOBE0 CONTENTS= A>I B0OO

Therefore3 milk is produced as a by;product of two entities * (bowel contents J # (blood . Similarly3 Ve(se 86:#-7 H%ma+ l).e is !H2AT2I of a life fluid 1 water pouring forth (<=:: 5ROM BHAT IS BETBEEN (min bayni) Al-SU0B 2male4 A>I $A0-TARA$IB$ 2.emale4 Therefore3 humans are produced as a by;product of two entities * (male anatomy J # (female anatomy .

5INA0 THOUGHTS
The -uran highlights a spiritual reality. 'f humans can be created from such meagre beginnings3 there is absolutely no doubt that 7od can recreate life. After all3 as the -uran asserts3 what is harder to createK ; The first creation or the subsequent creationK !#!:!3# /4ere 4e then worn out 1 tired by the first creationK >ay93 yet they are in doubt about a new creation9/ The depiction of human form from humble beginnings is depicted in a manner which remains encompassing and speaks to an audience who would have been familiar with human reproduction. 'n verses <=::;53 this reality is merely depicted as a life forming fluid which issues forth from the male counterpart (sulb) and involves the female counterpart (tara'ib) which in turn produces human life. The e8act meaning of the word .al;Taraib. would have been well known to the immediate audience of the prophetic ministry as the -uran was revealed in their vernacular3 though arguably becoming archaic in use3 afterwards. 0owever3 the meaning of 'tara'ib' as a reference to the .emale a+a'om> is well attested by classical Arabic le8icons as has been evidenced above. This would also present human creation in its most basic form for its primary audience and in a manner that they would be familiar with3 whilst retaining focus on the sp)()'%al messa-e that the -uran intends to impart.

Rela'e* A('),le:
234 Scientific ,iracles in the -uran

RE5ERENCES
<3= O9.o(* ),')o+a()es <o+l)+e= h''p:FFEEE"o9.o(**),')o+a()es",omF*e.)+)')o+Fe+-l)shFlo)+GHIlo)+ <A,,esse*= 8!'h 5e&(%a(> 8!3? <8= 0ANE" E"B/ E*Ea(* 0a+es 0e9),o+/ B)ll)ams a+* No(-a'e 386@J 0)&(a)()e *% 0)&a+ Be)(%'-0e&a+o+ 3D68/ Vol%me ?/ Ca-e 3@D7 0ighlights marked in red on the le8icon e8cerpt are my own insertions. They have no bearing on the original te8t other than they emphasise relevance to the topic at hand. These are merely illustrations and have solely been utilised for educational and e8planatory purposes. <@= I&)*"/ Vol%me ?/ 3738 <?= I&)*"/ Vol%me 3/ @!3 <#= I&)*" <6= BEHR" H/ A ),')o+a(> o. Mo*e(+ B()''e+ A(a&),/ E*)'e* &> J"M)l'o+ CoEa+/ @(* E*)')o+/ SpoAe+ 0a+-%a-es Se(7),es I+," 3D76/ Ca-e D8 <7= CENRICE/ J/ A ),')o+a(> a+* Glossa(> o. 'he Ko(a+ 387@J Rep()+' 3DD3 A*am C%&l)she(s K )s'()&%'o(s/ elh)/ Ca-e 88 <8= A0 MABRI - A Mo*e(+ A(a&),-E+-l)sh ),')o+a(>" (" Roh) Baal&aA)/ a( El-Ilm 0)lmala>)+/ Se7e+'h E*)')o+ 3DD#/ Ca-e @38 <D= BORTABETS A(a&), E+-l)sh ),')o+a(>/ Ca-e ?8 <3!= OMAR/ A M/ ),')o+a(> o. 'he Hol> 6%(a+/ A(a&), Bo(*s - E+-l)sh Mea+)+-s/ Noo( 5o%+*a')o+ - I+'e(+a')o+al I+,/ 5)(s' E*)')o+ Ma> 8?/ 8!!@/ Rep()+' %se* 5e&(%a(> 86 8!3!/ Ca-e 7?

&oseph 'slam " #$*$ -uransmessage.com All Hights Heserved