There are two Hadiths at which Islam haters jump with joy. This is mainly because of a mistranslation and misconception due to the mistranslation.
The Hadiths are as follows:
First Hadith:
أن امرأة قالت لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : هل تغتسل المرأة إذا احتلمت وأبصرت الماء ؟ فقال ” نعم ” فقالت لها عائشة : تربت يداك . وألت . قالت فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ” دعيها . وهل يكون الشبه إلا من قبل ذلك . إذا علا ماؤها ماء الرجل أشبه الولد أخواله . وإذا علا ماء الرجل ماءها أشبه أعمامه ” .
Transliteration:
Annam ra’ata, qaalat li Rasoolillah sal Allahi alayhi wasallam hal taghtasilul mar’atu izaH talamat wa absaratil maa’ faqaala na’m. Faqaalat laha Aishatu tarbat yadaaki wa ullat. Qaalat faqaala Rasoolullahi sal Allahi alayhi wasallam da’eeha wa hal yakoonush shabahu illa min qibali zaaliki iza ‘ala maa’uha maa’ ar rajuli ashbahal waladu akhwaalahu wa iza ‘alaa maa’ ar rajuli maa’ aha ashbaha a’amaamahu.
Translation:
“Aisha (رضي الله عنها) reported: a woman asked the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم): “Is a woman required to perform ghusl (i.e. wash completely as if showering as per the prescribed way) if she had a sexual dream and notices wetness? He responded: Yes. Aisha said to her: May your hand be covered with dust and injured (i.e. she blamed the woman for asking an embarrassing question). However, the Prophet (ﷺ) said: Leave her; resemblance happens because of it. When her water is dominant, the born child resembles his maternal uncles but if sperm of the man was dominant, the born child should resemble his paternal uncles.” [Sahih Muslim, book 3, Hadith 37]
The Hadith is usually translated as follows:
A woman came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and inquired: Should a woman wash herself when she sees a sexual dream and sees (the marks) of liquid? He said: Yes. ‘A’isha said to her: May your hand be covered with dust and injured. She narrated: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Leave her alone. In what way does the child resemble her but for the fact that when the discharge contributed by woman prevails upon that of man, the child resembles the maternal family, and when the discharge of man prevails upon that of woman the child resembles the paternal family.
Second Hadith:
” ماء الرجل أبيض وماء المرأة أصفر . فإذا اجتمعا، فعلا مني الرجل مني المرأة ، أذكرا بإذن الله . وإذا علا مني المرأة مني الرجل ، آنثا بإذن الله
Transliteration:
Maa’ ur rajuli abyadu wa maa’ ul mar’ati asfar fa izaj tama’aa fa’ala maniyyur rajuli maniyyul mar’ati azkara bi-iznillahi wa iza ‘alaa maniyyul mar’ati maniyyur rajuli anathaa bi-iznillah.
Translation:
The water of the man is white and the water of the woman is yellow. When they get together, if the discharge of the man (i.e. sperm) become above the discharge of the woman, the child is male, by the permission of Allah, and if the discharge of the woman becomes above the discharge of the man (i.e. sperm), the child is a female by the permission of Allah. [Sahih Muslim, book 3, Hadith 38]
The Hadith is usually translated as follows:
The reproductive substance of man is white and that of woman yellow, and when they have sexual intercourse and the male’s substance prevails upon the female’s substance, it is the male child that is created by Allah’s Decree, and when the substance of the female prevails upon the substance contributed by the male, a female child is formed by the Decree of Allah.
The criticism against the Hadiths is that the gender of the child is dependent on the chromosome of the sperm cell and has nothing to do with the discharges of either the man or the woman. The proper translations should clarify this misconception; however, we shall discuss further below.[1] The first Hadith discusses resemblance and the second one gender.
This narration goes along with the genetic science that resemblance of children is explained through the theory of dominance where superior genes prevail over the child. It is also known that sperm is alkaline whereas women’s ejaculated fluid is acidic. In order for sperm to reach the woman’s egg it has to go through the woman discharge. Thus, when acidic and alkaline fluids meet, alkaline fluids either neutralize, or overpower acidic fluid and hence cause sperm to preserve its nature [i.e. man’s genes become weak] or that alkaline discharge effects the fluid and makes it weak. This can be one of the interpretations and understanding.
One may argue that though it may be possible, it is not convincing. However, as this is supposed to be scientifically examined, we only can reach this decision based on facts and certainty. One major point that causes all this confusion about this Hadith, and hence some people find it problematic, is that they tend to immediately understand the word water of women to mean ejaculated fluid that happens due to intimacy or arousal.
If we pay attention to the words used in this Hadith we find great findings i.e. He (ﷺ) used the word water (maa’) in reference to the liquid of women and he did not specify it any further. We have to understand what the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم meant with water of women as he did not specify it. It is true that he did not specify it but he actually described it when he said in another narration the water of women is yellow and thin. So, what is that fluid that has such a description?
It is known that ejaculated discharge due to arousal or intimacy is white. The only liquid that is yellow is actually called follicular fluid which is discharged without a relation to copulation or arousal and it is directly related to pregnancy. It comes out with a thin layer called follicle of which inside there is a small egg that combines with the sperm of man during fertilization and this has to happen in order for a child to be created.
It must be noted that neither the questioner nor answerer [i.e. the Prophet (ﷺ)] intended to explain the how of this process. Rather, he explained why children sometimes resemble their fathers and some other times, resemble their mothers. This is proven and well explained in another Hadith when the Prophet (ﷺ) clearly stated that resemblance is purely genetic when a woman delivered a black boy and the man doubted that he his wife may slept with another man as none of the family was black. When he explained it to the man he told him that genetics of great grandfather may affect grandchildren.[2] From this we learn that it is obvious that the Prophet (ﷺ) acknowledged that determining the how of the matter was left for us to discover; the Hadith only provides us with the key, which is the answer to why this happen.
To sum it up:
- The Hadith only addresses the topic of resemblance
- Science states that ejaculated liquid of women is irrelevant to childbearing or resemblance
- The Hadith only addresses the topic of resemblance
- The Hadith calls the liquid of women as water without specifying its nature or type
- In another Hadith, this water has been described as yellow and thin
- Science states that only follicular fluid has such description whereas other ejaculated liquids are white in color
- Science states that follicular fluid has a layer inside the egg that is involved in the process because men have semen that includes sperm and women have follicular fluid that includes the egg.
Based on this, the Hadith becomes clear and understood. Unnecessary further digging is fruitless since the Prophet (ﷺ) did not explain genetic science. He simply answered how a child sometimes resemble his father’s side and at other times, his mother’s side. If this is kept in mind, one realizes that what confuses a person is due to the how of such process while the Hadith speaks of why. Therefore, we learn that one should not add assumptions or take the Hadith out of its context and then examine it according to these faulty assumptions.
Refer here for further reading.
The second Hadith:
- Some scholars like Ibn al-Qayyim questioned the authenticity of the words ‘it becomes male…it becomes female’ and said it is a possible mistake made by one of the narrators in the chain as the preserved text states about resemblance.
- It is important to pay attention to the used words in the Hadith. The key words are highlighted below for further clarification.
Literal Translation:
The water of the man is white and the water of the woman is yellow. When they get together, if the sperm of the man become above the sperm of the woman, the child is male, by the permission of Allah, and if the sperm of the woman becomes above the sperm of the man, the child is a female by the permission of Allah.
Notes on the Hadith:
- The word above here means dominant as this is one of the known meanings of the word above and has been used in Quran to mean dominant and controlled.
- The first half of the Hadith referred to the man and woman’s liquids as water while in the second half it became more specific and is referred to as the sperm.
- We already know that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) mentioned in other Hadiths that the water of women is involved in process of fertilization. We learn that this water has a description that does not befit ejaculated fluids since ejaculated fluids are white in color whereas he described the color as yellow and thin.
- The sound understanding of this text is that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) referred to the male and female chromosome of the sperm cell of the man (X as the female chromosome and Y as the male chromosome). Based on this, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) meant that when the male factor is dominant then it is a boy but when the female factor is dominant, then it is a girl. This is what science states and this is the sound understanding that one should have because the text can be understood in various ways and we know that authentic texts must be in agreement with agreed-upon facts.
What caused the confusion? People understood it in a certain way; they assumed that the sperm word used in this Hadith refer to a man and a woman while as a matter of fact, he (صلى الله عليه وسلم) referred to the sperm of the man only which is always a carrier of male and female chromosomes. This is supported by the fact that the word sperm is always exclusively for man when women’s liquid is always called water only.
Indeed, Allah knows best.
References and footnotes:
[1] The explanation is provided by brother Ayman b. Khalid.
[2] The Hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 3, Book 9, Hadith 2002 is as follows:
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي فَزَارَةَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ . فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ امْرَأَتِي وَلَدَتْ غُلاَمًا أَسْوَدَ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ” هَلْ لَكَ مِنْ إِبِلٍ ” . قَالَ نَعَمْ . قَالَ ” فَمَا أَلْوَانُهَا ” . قَالَ حُمْرٌ . قَالَ ” هَلْ فِيهَا مِنْ أَوْرَقَ ” . قَالَ إِنَّ فِيهَا لَوُرْقًا . قَالَ ” فَأَنَّى أَتَاهَا ذَلِكَ ” . قَالَ عَسَى عِرْقٌ نَزَعَهَا . قَالَ ” وَهَذَا لَعَلَّ عِرْقًا نَزَعَهُ ” . وَاللَّفْظُ لاِبْنِ الصَّبَّاحِ
It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: “A man from Banu Fazarah came to the Messenger of Allah, and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, my wife has given birth to a black boy! The Messenger of Allah said: ‘Do you have camels?’ He said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘What color are they?’ He said: ‘Red.’ He said: ‘Are there any grey ones among them?’ He said: ‘Yes, there are some grey ones among them.’ He said: ‘Where does that come from?’ He said: ‘Perhaps it is hereditary.’ He said: ‘Likewise, perhaps this is hereditary! “
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My friend (Muslim) wants clarification on this. His comment is this: “He said only a prophet would know, and then the Prophet said Gabriel just gave the answer which was that resemblance depends on who discharged first. Then the jew believed his prophethood. What I don’t get is how the jew would know that this was right when he said only a prophet would know the answer.
There can be a number of ways that the Jew knew that this was the right answer:
1. Jews had remnants of other forms of revelation not a part of the Torah and these could be either direct revelations (or their translations) or commentaries (oral or Talmudic). What should be remembered is that Bibles were not mass produced and only a handful of learned men had their own copies while others (also a handful of people) learned these through those knowledgeable ones who had copies and these people would have bits and pieces here and there. If they had some form of remaining revelation that mentioned a sign of the last Prophet, then this wouldn’t be surprising.
2. The Prophet (ﷺ) informed us that true dreams are 1/46th of revelation. It could be that this one particular Jew had seen a sign for which he got the confirmation.
3. It is even possible that the former Jew did not know the answer. We do not know of many things, for example in mathematics, but accept them when a teacher explains to us. How do we know that the teacher explained correctly? It is easy to spot a liar or someone faking it – if one does not know something and makes something up on the spot, it is usually easy to spot the lie. Truth comes without hesitation, without knots in the tongue, and without a problem. Perhaps the truthfulness of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was seen from these sings and the Jew(s) did not actually know of the answer.
4. When Makkans wanted to prove the Prophet (ﷺ) wrong, they sought advice of the Jews who told them to ask about some incidents of the past (sleepers of the cave, Zulqarnayn, soul). They themselves did not know of these events with certainty but still asked the Prophet (ﷺ) and would have judged him based on the answer. It is sometimes easy to tell that someone is telling the truth even if one does not know the truth himself.
sir, as it is discussed in this topic that Prophet(PBUH) replied to Jewish that if male semen dominate on the female, it will be the boy and in another case, If female sperm gets powerful on male semen then it will be a female baby.
at the same time reference of surah al najm ayat No 45/46 is given that male’s sperm is responsible for the determination of sex.
Sir, in my point of view, if we study Hadith, Quran and modern science carefully, there is no contradiction. I want to explain it as, according to modern scientific theory, women release the egg in the middle of her menstrual cycle and that egg remains to live up to 3 to 5 days. Similarly, male semen contains X and Y chromosome, study shows that male sperm “Y” are thin but fast moving and die early as compare to X while “X” chromosomes are thick in size but slow-moving as compare to “Y” chromosomes and have the longer life span as of “Y” chromosome.
Now when intercourse timing are closed to the release of female egg, then male sperm “Y” are healthy, fast moving, more in numbers and have more opportunity to fertilize the egg. on other hands, if intercourse timing is 3 to 4 days early from the release of the female egg, then male sperm “Y” will get die or may weak and due to thick shape “X” sperm have now opportunity to be live, active and more chances to fertilize the egg.
in the first case, “Y” sperm will win the race and in the second situation, “X” will dominate.
Similarly, at the time of ovulation if women vigina have acidic fluids then “Y” sperm get to die early and “X” sperm will get more chance to fertilize the egg, in this case, female dominate on the male. in the opposite, if vigina fluids are more alkaline, then “Y” sperm have the favorite environment and male sperm will dominate.
Now concept has some explanation, that how male and female dominate each other.
I am not good in English language writing and may have taken mistakes but I try my best to explain my views.
kindly review my comments for accuracy.
I wish to get your opinion on my comments. Thanks
This narration goes along with the genetic science that resemblance of children is explained through the theory of dominance where superior genes prevail over the child. It is also known that sperm is alkaline whereas women’s ejaculated fluid is acidic. In order for sperm to reach the woman’s egg it has to go through the woman discharge. Thus, when acidic and alkaline fluids meet, alkaline fluids either neutralize, or overpower acidic fluid and hence cause sperm to preserve its nature [i.e. man’s genes become weak] or that alkaline discharge effects the fluid and makes it weak. This can be one of the interpretations and understanding.
You are yet to show a source for the theory of Dominance. Furthermore, sperm is a modern translation. The word originally translates to “small amount of liquid”, referring to semen. You cant use a modern translation to arrive at a miracle. Nevertheless, the sperm being alkaline and womens fluid being acidic plus the meeting of the both fluids like you have described has nothing to do with gender deternination or resemblance. You do know that it is just one sperm that hits the egg, also the DNA/gene is held within the chromosome, tightly packed and is not harmed by the acidic fluid released by the female. The acidic fluid actually protects this.
Also, the follicular fluid isn’t a discharge. The fluid surrounds the ovum. The sperm doesnt meet this fluid, the follicle structure is left inside the ovary and only the egg is sent inside the fallopian tube.
The hadith is still not scientific and the rest of your essay is just low end apologetics
1) You can Google the theory of dominance and read more about the dominant and recessive gene types; 2) the word is ‘maa’ which means water and the article above explains this; 3) No one is claiming a miracle anywhere; 4) You did not understand the alkaline, acidic, and resemblance and gender determination part at all; try going through it again because what you wrote does not contradict what is written in the article; 5) For follicular fluid, if you don’t like the word discharge, then use some other like ‘formed’, ‘released’ and so on but try to grasp the essence of what is written and not just make up your mind to refute senselessly.
yellow discharge is secreted when there is some sort of infection . it has nothing to do with pregnancy
It is known that ejaculated discharge due to arousal or intimacy is white. The only liquid that is yellow is actually called follicular fluid which is discharged without a relation to copulation or arousal and it is directly related to pregnancy. It comes out with a thin layer called follicle of which inside there is a small egg that combines with the sperm of man during fertilization and this has to happen in order for a child to be created.
The yellow discharge is internal and not external.
It will all make sense if you prove that the Prophet spoke about the similarity referring to the internal fluid and not the external. From the apparent reading of the hadith, it seems that he was talking about an internal fluid
What about this Hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari that says the resemblance is based upon which one releases it first. Sahih al-Bukhari 3329: Why does a child resemble its father, and why does it resemble its maternal uncle” Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Gabriel has just now told me of their answers.” `Abdullah said, “He (i.e. Gabriel), from amongst all the angels, is the enemy of the Jews.” Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “The first portent of the Hour will be a fire that will bring together the people from the east to the west; the first meal of the people of Paradise will be Extra-lobe (caudate lobe) of fish-liver. As for the resemblance of the child to its parents: If a man has sexual intercourse with his wife and gets discharge first, the child will resemble the father, and if the woman gets discharge first, the child will resemble her.
Did you not say that only gender depends on this and not resemblance?
The Hadith uses the word maa’ (water) which is not necessarily ejaculate fluid but internal fluids as well. What you have quoted is similar to the Hadith posted above: ‘When her water is dominant, the born child resembles his maternal uncles but if sperm of the man was dominant, the born child should resemble his paternal uncles’. In the Hadith from Bukhari, ‘dominant’ is not used but ‘before’ is used.
Umm Salama (r) questioned whether women get a discharge (in Sahih Bukhari 3328). Basically she understood it to be external while the Prophet (s) clarified that it happens to everyone which implies that it is internal; otherwise, she would’ve objected against it.
I understand and agree that the fluid is internal. But my point is that one Hadith is saying that it’s about whether the male’s fluid is dominant or the woman’s is. This is what will cause the resemblance. Ok, according to the genetic theory of dominance, that arguably works. However, another Hadith (the Bukhari one) is saying that it’s not due to whether the male’s fluid dominates over the woman’s but it’s due to whether it is released first or last that causes resemblance. So it’s not only about dominance but it’s about which one is released first. This idea of fluids being released first resulting in resemblance, there is no scientific evidence for.
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Here is a useful piece worth reading: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3068791/
I have been reading articles against ‘Embroyology in the Qur’an’ and I do not find much there to address. I looked at the piece by WikiIslam here: as they compile everything into one place.
I find their stance quite amusing. They categorically denied copying from Greek sources or Talmud stating: ‘However, while interesting and very probable, these influences cannot be proven for the Quran, and it is in any case unnecessary when examining the accuracy of the Quranic descriptions’.
At least they are honest here and it appears that they couldn’t defend the allegation of plagiarism so conceded this to the Muslims.
Then they go ahead with some criticisms and blunder right from the beginning. They state: ‘The Quran claims that bones are formed before being clothed with flesh. In fact cartilage models of the bones start to form at the same time as and in parallel with surrounding muscles, and this cartilage is literally replaced with bone.’
The verses use the word ‘thumma’ (ثُمَّ) which is not necessarily sequential but has other meanings as well: It is also used to emphasize and indicate the recurrence of an event. The following example makes it clear:
ثُمَّ يَجْلِسُ وهو يَتكلَّم ثُمَّ يَتكلَّم بدون انقطاع
“Then” he sits while he speaks; “moreover“, he speaks without interruption.
Two ‘thumma’ in the same sentence but both have a different meaning. Anti-Islamic claims always try to force a sequence and be dishonest. Thumma can mean ‘then’, ‘moreover’, and ‘simultaneously’, ‘at the same time’, ‘on top of that’ etc.
The Wiki site claims: ‘Furthermore, there is no sign that the author of the Quran was aware of the female egg (ovum)’ and this is blatantly false. Please refer to the first link I’ve shared at the top of this comment [also copied here] which has the references to refute this false claim.
They acknowledge that the word ‘alaqah’ has other meanings but refuse to apply them and state: ‘Regardless of alternative meanings for this Arabic word…’ At least they admit that there are alternate uses but they don’t want to apply the alternate meanings. Why? We know the reason 🙂 but if we assume positive about them, then the answer would be that their understanding capacity is limited here because they ignore the grander context. The Qur’an is not just for our times, it is for the future as well and the past too. The following passage describes something that is from the brilliance of the Qur’an:
Ponder over this. This is a very educative quote from Tafsir Majidi.
I may write down a detailed piece refuting their arguments (but most likely not needed); however, I see that their stance is very shaky and on weak grounds. It just bothers them to insanity that some non-Muslim scientists affirmed the verses. They find the menacing warnings in the Qur’an somewhat disturbing and wish to gain peace of mind [They said it themselves].
Salam u alaykum brother Abu Rahma, may Allah bless you.
How would this Hadith in Bukhari play into what you mentioned about that the fluid is yellow and it would be the follicular fluid, instead of ejaculated fluid as this Hadith seems to be implying an ejaculated fluid? Thank you so much brother, hope you are having a good day!
Bukhari (3328)
“ Narrated Zainab bint Abi Salama:
Um Salama said, “Um Sulaim said, ‘O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! Allah does not refrain from saying the truth! Is it obligatory for a woman to take a bath after she gets nocturnal discharge?’ He said, ‘Yes, if she notices the water (i.e. discharge).’ Um Salama smiled and said, ‘Does a woman get discharge?’ Allah’s Apostle said. ‘Then why does a child resemble (its mother)?””
Umm Salama (r) questioned whether women get a discharge (in Sahih Bukhari 3328). Basically she understood it to be external while the Prophet (s) clarified that it happens to everyone which implies that it is internal; otherwise, she would’ve objected against it.
Asalam walykum
https://wikiislam.net/wiki/Embryology_in_the_Quran
The formation of bones and muslce in embryo section in the link above which i sent you is very confusing. It says that bones are formed after muscles have formed . The word used there is (Fa) which means then shows a sequence that bones are formed first and then clothed with flesh . Help needed.
as salamu walikum akhi, i am so sorry even tho you already answer this before, and i am asking again for further clarification.
this hadith in bukhari, also mention in muslim as well, cuz imam nawawi comment on it.
Bukhari (3328)
“ Narrated Zainab bint Abi Salama:
Um Salama said, “Um Sulaim said, ‘O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! Allah does not refrain from saying the truth! Is it obligatory for a woman to take a bath after she gets nocturnal discharge?’ He said, ‘Yes, if she notices the water (i.e. discharge).’ Um Salama smiled and said, ‘Does a woman get discharge?’ Allah’s Apostle said. ‘Then why does a child resemble (its mother)?”
Anas b. Malik reported that Umm Sulaim narrated it that she asked the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) about a woman who sees in a dream what a man sees (sexual dream). The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon bi m) said: In case a woman sees that, she must take a bath. Umm Sulaim said: I was bashful on account of that and said: Does it happen? Upon this the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Yes (it does happen), otherwise how can (a child) resemble her? Man’s discharge (i. e. sperm) is thick and white and the discharge of woman is thin and yellow; so the resemblance comes from the one whose genes prevail or dominate. (muslim Book #003, Hadith #0608
he explain this as external discharge, hence the prophet peace and blessing be upon him told her, women have to shower, another narration same hadith but yellow and thin women discharge is mention, how did you understood to be internal. because this is clearly addressing about taking ghusul after a wet dream.
“In case a woman sees that, she must take a bath. Umm Sulaim said: I was bashful on account of that and said: Does it happen?…….” THIS HERE IS TALKING ABOUT EXTERNAL DISCHARGE BECAUSE IT RELATED BATH TO PURIFY?
THEN HE (PEACE AND BLESSING BE UPON HIM) GIVE DESCRIPTION OF THE MEN AND MEN HAVE TO SHOWER AND WOMEN DISCHARGE, WOMEN HAVE TO SHOWER. HOW DID YOU UNDERSTAND TO BE INTERNAL
i am so sorry, i have been looking for the ans long time. please provide any scholar explanation or further explanation on what you already said. jazakallah khair
There is a clear conflict of interest in the interpretation of this hadith. The apologists who added terms “chromosome” and “gene” to the text are biased, as they already believe Muhammad is divinely guided and cannot be incorrect. The plain reading of the hadith clearly doesn’t make sense in a modern context therefore they assume Muhammad must have meant chromosomes and genes. Conversely, you defending the edited hadith from a skeptical perspective are also biased, as your approaching the text believing Muhammad could also not be mistaken. You reinterpret the edited hadith in the context of modern science, seeing the terms chromosomes and genes where none were originally implied. An unbiased reader, with no preexisting beliefs about Islam, would not naturally assume that the hadith is referring to modern genetic concepts. Just as we do not allow family members of victims to serve as jurors, or fans to judge celebrities in court, or examiners to grade their relatives’ papers due to potential bias, it is crucial to recognize the conflict of interest here. The original hadith suggests that Muhammad thought a woman’s fluids contributed to a child’s resemblance to its parents, a view reflecting the scientific understanding of his time
There is a clear conflict of interest in your tone as you already believe Muhammad is not divinely guided and cannot be correct. Conversely, you rejecting hadith from a skeptical perspective are also biased, as your approaching the text believing Muhammad could be mistaken. An unbiased reader, with no preexisting beliefs about Islam, would naturally assume that the hadith is referring to modern genetic concepts because the unbiased reader will look at the grand, overall context which the passage below will help clarify. Just as we do not allow family members of victims to serve as jurors, or fans to judge celebrities in court, or examiners to grade their relatives’ papers due to potential bias, it is crucial to recognize the conflict of interest here and your animosity towards Islam disqualifies you from any criticism.
When the sun, moon and the stars were mentioned, they were so with the examples that did not contradict the intellectual and mental state of the time but sufficient flexibility was retained such that after centuries, when the astronomical beliefs change, the explanation of the words of the commentary of the Qur’an do not confuse the mind. Roundness of the earth and its rotation and the movements of the sun and the moon – all these had not been mentioned in that time openly. The engineers of Greece and India, astronomers of Iraq and Egypt; all were of the view that the sky is the name of a big and vast roof in which the stars, moon are placed and fixed. If it had been mentioned, then who would have considered this Book worthy of believing and so many arguments, intellectual and mental, would have taken away the real purpose of guidance. The wisdom of Almighty chose such a miraculous way of speech in which the apparent meaning made sense to the people of that time but sufficient flexibility and space was kept so that when the intellect and knowledge of men reach its peak, then that same Book become a permanent evidence, and apart from pure believers and truthful ones, others also get benefit from it [Tafsir Majidi, Introduction 2, pg. 21, 22].
I had a question regarding your view. From what I read, it seems that you believe that what the Prophet Muhammad was referring to was the follicular fluid. This may be a sensible interpretation, Allah knows best, but according to many of the fatwas I have read, they have used the hadiths in the article to justify the maniy (discharge) being both yellow and thin. So, how would you reconcile your opinion with that of the scholars? And of course, all the sahih hadiths must be accepted as fact. So, how should we as muslims respond to the claim that the maniy (discharge) is not involved in the resemblance of the baby as it does not have the egg cell within it according to science?
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