Fertilization: The male reproductive cell is known as the sperm while the female reproductive cell egg, Life cycle begins with the fusion of these two cells, i.e. fertilization of the egg by a sperm which gives rise to a single cell known as the zygote

(1). This zygote contains chromosomes and associated genes from both the father and the mother, i.e. it contains all the genetic information from both the parents and in the course of subsequent cell division uses this information to direct the differentiation of cells into tissues and organs and ultimately into a mature organism. If the genetic information received from parents is taped, its length will be 93 million miles.

Developmental Stages of the Child in the Womb: The zygote passes through a series of develop-mental steps. The process called cleavage, is the firstsuch step after fertilization. Cleavage involves a process of cell division without significant growth i.e. the zygote (single cell) divides into two, these two cells again into two each i.e. four, these four into [two each i.e. eight and so on. The one-celled zygote thus divides and subsequent cells continue to divide repeatedly while adhering to each other. At the end of cleavage, the organism consists of a ball of many cells, not very much larger in aggregate than the original egg. However, each cell has received a complete set of genes during its creation by cell division and therefore has a full compliment of genetic information. By the time cleavage has produced several hundred cells, the zygote has typically become a hollow ball of cells — the blastula

(2). The appearance of blastula signals the end of information distribution and job assignment stage of early zygote formation. During the next stage, gastrulation, the cells of zygote begin to grow and to differentiate into kinds of cells that are clearly different from one another. Cell multiplication of course continues. With the advent of tissue formation, the new organism henceforth carries the title of embryo

(3). As the embryo continues to differentiate and develop, the middle layer (mesoderm) produces bones, muscles, heart and the circulatory system. It also produces organs of the excretory system and the reproductive system. The duct which develops early in the blastula becomes a cup-like cavity in the gastrula and ultimately develops into the alimentary canal with mouth at one end and anus at the other. The inside or endoderm lining of this cavity differentiates to produce gut, stomach and intestine as well as other glands and organs such as pancreas, liver and lungs. The ectoderm (outer) produces those cells (that will ultimately become skin, some of which will produce pigments and others hair. One region of the ectoderm forms a hollow tube that differentiates to become the nervous system. Three weeks after fertilization, the human embryo is about the size of a small nail head and three quarters of it is head structure. Four weeks after fertilization, the eyes are partly developed and the heart is already beating. Limb buds (hands and feet) appear in the fifth week, ears are elaborated at that time and the embryo now responds to mechanical stimuli by muscular contraction. Human form is vaguely recognizable eight weeks after fertilization when the embryo is about one inch long. From this stage on one speaks of foetus

(4). Rather than an embryo. In man, much of the skeleton is prepared in cartilage during embryonic stages, but this support is then gradually replaced by bones in most of the skeleton. By the 12th week fingers are formed; the semi-circular canals in the ears are functional and the embryo moves jerkily but in balance, within its amniotic water pool. Eye lids are still fused yet the eye ball may rotate underneath. Five months i.e. (20 weeks) after fertilization, the foetus is about eight inches long and weighs about one pound and the facial features show signs of individual personality in the ensuing weeks breathing machinery develops rapidly. The foetus is now in perpetual drowsy state neither sleeping nor waking. In the eighth and ninth month wakefulness occurs increasingly. Arms and legs are moved frequently and the hands open and close. In nine months, the microscopic fertilized egg has multiplied from one cell to 50,000 billion cells.

Following verse of the Quran have a bearing on this subject:
“….and He began the creation of man from wet clay. Then He made his progeny from something taken out of [he fluid which is weakened after vigour. Then He set him in equilibrium and breathed into him of His spirit, and made for you the ears and the eyes and the hearts; little is it that you give thanks. “(Chapter: 32 Verses 7 to 9)

2. “And We have created man from something taken out from wet clay. Then We made it (nutrients) sperm in a settling place, then We proportioned the sperm (into) that which clingsand hangs like a leech, then We proportioned that which clings and hangs like a leech (into a thing tike) chewed flesh, then We proportioned (the thing like) chewed flesh into bones, then We clothed the bones with flesh, then We proportioned it into another proportion (creation). So, blessed be Allah, the Best of proportioners. (Chapter: 23 Verses 12-14)

3. “We certainly created man from a sperm mingled… (Chapter: 76 Verse 2)

4. “…He created you in the wombs of’ your mother’s creation after creation in triple darkness…” (Chapter: 39 Verse 6)

5. “He it is Who shapes you in the wombs as He likes…” (Chapter: 3 Verse 5) Something taken out of the fluid could be the sperm, mingled sperm, the zygote, that which clings and hangs like a leech, the blastula, (the thing like) chewed flesh could mean the embryo in which bones develop and the later stage could be that referred to by scientists as the foetus. On this subject too, words that could be easily understood by a common man have been used, as in other cases where smoke was used for hydrogen and clay, mud etc. for atoms, molecules etc. Only the Creator could have described these hidden events so correctly 1400 years back an age of ignorance compared to the present state of scientific knowledge. This topic has been dealt with in detail in the following books:

1. The Bible the Quran and Science. Maurice Bucaille 1977
2. What is the origin of man. Maurice Bucaille 1983.
3. Human Development as revealed in Quran and Hadis, Md. Alt Albar 1986.
4. The Developing Human, Keith L. Moores and Abdul Majeed Zandani 1983.

Birth of Man:

Cell; The smallest part of a living thing that can carry on a separate existence is known as a cell. The outer boundary of a cell is a membrane within which is a clear viscid material called cytoplasm, floating in cytoplasm are a number of bodies, amongst the most important of which is the nucleus. Inside the nucleus are thread like bodies called chromosomes. The chromosomes contain a large number of particles called genes which are units of heredity, i.e. heredity is determined by genes that are handed down from one generation to another. There are genes that determine the physical characteristics of the off-spring such as colour of eyes, hair, skin etc. According to latest research reports there are genes that even determine and direct the behaviour of offspring and fix the lifespan. Some genes are known to be active while others suppressed.

Fertilization:

The male reproductive cell is known as the sperm while the female reproductive cell egg, Life cycle begins with the fusion of these two cells, i.e. fertilization of the egg by a sperm which gives rise to a single cell known as the zygote (1). This zygote contains chromosomes and associated genes from both the father and the mother, i.e. it contains all the genetic information from both the parents and in the course of subsequent cell division uses this information to direct the differentiation of cells into tissues and organs and ultimately into a mature organism. If the genetic information received from parents is taped, its length will be 93 Million miles.

Developmental Stages of the Child in the Womb:

The zygote passes through a series of develop­mental steps. The process called cleavage, is the first such step after fertilization. Cleavage involves a process of cell division without significant growth i.e. the zygote (single cell) divides into two, these two cells again into two each i.e. four, these four into [two each i.e. eight and so on. The one-celled zygote thus divides and subsequent cells continue to divide repeatedly while adhering to each other. At the end of cleavage, the organism consists of a ball of many cells, not very much larger in aggregate than the original egg. However, each cell has received a complete set of genes during its creation by cell division and therefore has a full compliment of genetic information. By the time cleavage has produced several hundred cells, the zygote has typically become a hollow ball of cells — the blastula (2). The appearance of blastula signals the end of information distribution and job assignment stage of early zygote formation. During the next stage, gastrulation, the cells of zygote begin to grow and to differentiate into kinds of cells that are clearly different from one another. Cell multiplication of course continues. With the advent of tissue formation, the new organism henceforth carries the title of embryo (3). As the embryo continues to differentiate and develop, the middle layer (mesoderm) produces bones, muscles, heart and the circulatory system. It also produces organs of the excretory system and the reproductive system. The duct which develops early in the blastula becomes a cup-like cavity in the gastrula and ultimately develops into the alimentary canal with mouth at one end and anus at the other. The inside or endoderm lining of this cavity differentiates to produce gut, stomach and intestine as well as other glands and organs such as pancreas, liver and lungs. The ectoderm (outer) produces those cells (that will ultimately become skin, some of which will produce pigments and others hair. One region of the ectoderm forms a hollow tube that differentiates to become the nervous system.

Three weeks after fertilization, the human embryo is about the size of a small nail head and three quarters of it is head structure. Four weeks after fertilization, the eyes are partly developed and the heart is already beating. Limb buds (hands and feet) appear in the fifth week, ears are elaborated at that time and the embryo now responds to mechanical stimuli by muscular contraction. Human form is vaguely recognizable eight weeks after fertilization when the embryo is about one inch long. From this stage on one speaks of foetus (4). Rather than an embryo. In man, much of the skeleton is prepared in cartilage during embryonic stages, but this support is then gradually replaced by bones in most of the skeleton. By the 12th week fingers are formed; the semi-circular canals in the ears are functional and the embryo moves jerkily but in balance, within its amniotic water pool. Eye lids are still fused yet the eye ball may rotate underneath. Five months i.e. (20 weeks) after fertilization, the foetus is about eight inches long and weighs about one pound and the facial features show signs of individual personality in the ensuing weeks breathing machinery develops rapidly. The foetus is now in perpetual drowsy state neither sleeping nor waking. In the eighth and ninth month wakefulness occurs increasingly. Arms and legs are moved frequently and the hands open and close. In nine months, the microscopic fertilized egg has multiplied from one cell to 50,000 billion cells.

Following verse of the Quran have a bearing on this subject:

1. “….and He began the creation of man from wet clay. Then He made his progeny from something taken out of [he fluid which is weakened after vigour. Then He set him in equilibrium and breathed into him of His spirit, and made for you the ears and the eyes and the hearts; little is it that you give thanks. “(Chapter: 32 Verses 7 to 9)

2. “And We have created man from something taken out from wet clay. Then We made it (nutrients) sperm in a settling place, then We proportioned the sperm (into) that which clings and hangs like a leech, then We proportioned that which clings and hangs like a leech (into a thing tike) chewed flesh, then We proportioned (the thing like) chewed flesh into bones, then We clothed the bones with flesh, then We proportioned it into another proportion (creation). So, blessed be Allah, the Best of proportioners. (Chapter: 23 Verses. 12-14)

3. “We certainly created man from a sperm mingled… (Chapter: 76 Verse 2)
4. “…He created you in the wombs of’ your mother’s creation after creation in triple darkness…” Chapter: 39 Verse 6)
5. “He it is Who shapes you in the wombs as He likes…” (Chapter: 3 Verse 5)

Something taken out of the fluid could be the sperm, mingled sperm, the zygote, that which clings and hangs like a leech, the blastula, (the thing like) chewed flesh could mean the embryo in which bones develop and the later stage could be that referred to by scientists as the foetus. On this subject too, words that could be easily understood by a common man have been used, as in other cases where smoke was used for hydrogen and clay, mud etc. for atoms, molecules etc. Only the Creator could have described these hidden events so correctly 1400 years back an age of ignorance compared to the present state of scientific knowledge. This topic has been dealt with in detail in the following books:

1. The Bible the Quran and Science. Maurice Bucaille 1977

2. What is the origin of man. Maurice Bucaille 1983.

3. Human Development as revealed in Quran and Hadis, Md. Ali Akbar 1986.

4. The Developing Human, Keith L. Moores and Abdul Majeed Zandani 1983.