Embryology in the Quran: Difference between revisions

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(→‎The 'alaqah stage: "hanging" / "suspended" thing)
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====Hanging / suspended====
====Hanging / suspended====
Also flawed is a related claim, that 'alaqah is used here in its meaning of a suspended, or hanging thing, because the early embryo is attached via a connecting stalk to the uterine wall. The problem is that not all embryos hang downwards below their connecting stalk. Rather it depends where in the uterus implantation occurs. The uterus lies fairly horizontal at this time, so depending on the side of the uterus implantation occurs, the early embryo can also be above its stalk, as this diagram of twins at 4 weeks nicely demonstrates :[http://www.babycenter.com/fetal-development-twins-images-4-weeks]
 
Also flawed is a related claim, that 'alaqah is used here in its meaning of a suspended, or hanging thing, because the early embryo is attached via a connecting stalk to the uterine wall. The problem is that not all embryos hang downwards below their connecting stalk. Rather it depends where in the uterus implantation occurs. The uterus lies fairly horizontal at this time, so depending on the side of the uterus implantation occurs, the early embryo can also be above its stalk, as this diagram<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.babycenter.com/fetal-development-twins-images-4-weeks|2=2013-06-01}} Fraternal twins in the womb -- 4 weeks] -  BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board, June 1, 2013</ref> of twins at 4 weeks demonstrates :
 
<center>[[File:Fraternal twins in womb-4 weeks.jpg]]</center>


Various studies of placentas and ultrasound scans have found that between 26% and 53% of implantations occur on the anterior (frontal) wall of the uterus (like the lower twin in the diagram).<ref>Benirschke, K. & Kaufmann, B. 2000. Pathology of the Human Placenta. 4th Edition. Springer-Verlag, New York. Page 399 - 400</ref> Clearly Islamic apologists should expect better of a divine author than to say that as early embryos, humans are "hanging things" when such a description is untrue for a significant percentage of the population, not even a general rule.  
Various studies of placentas and ultrasound scans have found that between 26% and 53% of implantations occur on the anterior (frontal) wall of the uterus (like the lower twin in the diagram).<ref>Benirschke, K. & Kaufmann, B. 2000. Pathology of the Human Placenta. 4th Edition. Springer-Verlag, New York. Page 399 - 400</ref> Clearly Islamic apologists should expect better of a divine author than to say that as early embryos, humans are "hanging things" when such a description is untrue for a significant percentage of the population, not even a general rule.  


This scientific inaccuracy should be considered before even raising the doubts above about the suitability of the word 'alaqah to describe embryos that are on the posterior wall, and thus below their connecting stalks. For it is highly doubtful that 'alaqah in the sense of “hanging” would be a good way to describe the embryo in relation to the connecting stalk. Lane’s lexicon  strongly indicates that 'alaq is not just the thing which is hung, but the entire apparatus or vertical rope by which means it is suspended, or even just the rope itself, giving the example of a suspended bucket in a well. <ref>http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume5/00000419.pdf 'Alaq - Lane’s lexicon page 2134</ref> The stalk evidently has a certain amount of stiffness and does not hang vertically under gravity like a bucket in a well.
This scientific inaccuracy should be considered before even raising the doubts above about the suitability of the word 'alaqah to describe embryos that are on the posterior wall, and thus below their connecting stalks. For it is highly doubtful that 'alaqah in the sense of “hanging” would be a good way to describe the embryo in relation to the connecting stalk. Lane’s lexicon  strongly indicates that 'alaq is not just the thing which is hung, but the entire apparatus or vertical rope by which means it is suspended, or even just the rope itself, giving the example of a suspended bucket in a well.<ref>http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume5/00000419.pdf 'Alaq - Lane’s lexicon page 2134</ref> The stalk evidently has a certain amount of stiffness and does not hang vertically under gravity like a bucket in a well.


====leech====         
====leech====         
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