Pregnancy
The Creation of a Child According to the Qur'an
In several verses of the Noble Qur'an, Allāh (SwT) has mentioned the creation and stages of transformation of the child. It is by observing this miracle that one inevitably desires to thank and revere Him, the best of Creators.In Surat al-Mu'minūn, verses 12-14, He states:
“Certainly We created the human being from an extract of clay. Then We made him a drop of (seminal) fluid (lodged) in a secure abode. Then We created the drop of fluid as a clinging mass. Then We created the clinging mass as a fleshy tissue. Then We created the fleshy tissue as bones. Them We clothed the bones with flesh. Then We produced him as (yet) another creature. So blessed is Allāh (SwT), the best of creators!”
In the verses above, Allāh (SwT) mentions 7 stages of creation:
Stage 1: The human being initially starts off as clay; in other words, the inorganic constituents of the earth are absorbed into living matter by way of food.
Stage 2: Living matter reproduces itself by means of sperm; thus the human is then made into a seed (the seminal fluid), and placed in a firm resting place (the ovum of a mother).
Stage 3: The first change in the fertilised ovum is the conversion into a sort of clot of thickly congealed blood, or clinging mass.
Stage 4: The zygote cells grow by segmentation; then the mass gradually assumes shape in its growth as a foetus (a lump of fleshy tissue).
Stage 5: From this develops bones.
Stage 6: Flesh now grows on the bones, as do organs and a nervous system.
Stage 7: So far the development of an infant human is like that of an animal. However, a major step is now taken and the foetus becomes a complete human.
This is the breathing of Allāh (SwT)’s spirit into him. (This may not be at a specific time; rather it may be parallel to that of physical growth.)On the subject of the creation of the foetus, it is narrated from the Prophet (S):
“The seed in the womb of the mother (takes) 40 days to become a clot, then after 40 days it becomes a lump of flesh (foetus); when the child is 4 months old, by the command of Allāh (SwT), 2 Angels give the foetus a spirit (rūĥ) and specify the sustenance (Rizq), period of living, deeds (A°māl), prosperity and adversity of the child.
It is perhaps for this reason that it has been suggested that especially after the 40th day of intercourse, one should be extra careful when preparing food. The food must be ritually clean and ĥalāl as this will have an impact on the child.
Imām as-Ŝādiq (as) also described the process of creation as follows: “After the completion of the materials of the body, Allāh (SwT) sends two Angels who have the duty of the creation of the child, and by the permission of Allāh (SwT), they create the ears and eyes and all the inner and outer organs (limbs) of the body.”
In Imām Husain’s (as) Du°a of °Arafāt, he refers to the process of creation and attempts to count the blessings bestowed by Allāh (SwT) in the following manner:“You originated me by Your blessing before I was a thing remembered.You created me from dust,then gave me a place in the loins (of my fathers),secure from the uncertainty of Fate and the vagaries ofthe ages and the years.I remained a traveller from loin to womb in a time immemorial of past days and by gone centuries. In Your tenderness, bounty and goodness toward me You did not send me out into the empire of the leaders of disbelief, those who broke Your covenant and cried lies to Your messengers.Rather, You sent me out to that guidance which had been fore ordained for me, the way which You made easy for me and in which You Nurtured me. And before that You were kind to me through Your gracious fashioning and abundant blessings. You originated my creation from a sperm-drop spilled and madest me to dwell in a threefold gloom among flesh,blood and skin. You gave me not to witness my creation,nor did You entrust me with anything of my own affair. Then You sent me out into the world for the guidance that had been foredained for me, complete and unimpaired.”
Imām Zain al-°Abidīn (as) in his Du°ā after Ŝalāt al-Lail in Saĥīfah Sajjādiya also mentions this amazing period of the foetus and of breastfeeding. He thanks Allāh (SwT) and expresses his amazement at how Allāh (SwT) created such a beautiful creation from a few seeds.“O God,You caused me to descend as mean waterfrom loins of narrow bones and tight passages into a constricted womb which You had covered with veils;You turned me about from state to state until You took me to the completion of the form and fixed within me the bodily parts, as You had described in Your Book: a drop,then a clot,then a tissue,then bones,then You garmented the bones with flesh, then You produced me as another creature as You willed. Then, when I needed Your provision,and could not do without the aid of Your bounty, Thou appointed for me a nourishment from the bounty of the food and drink which You bestowed upon Your handmaidin whose belly You gavest me to restand in the lodging of whose womb You deposited me. Hadst You entrusted me in those states, my Lord, to my own force or driven me to have recourse to my own strength, force would have been removed from me and strength taken far away. So You fed me through Your bounty with the food of the Good, the Gentle; You hast done that for me in graciousness toward me up to this my present point. I do not lack Your goodness, nor does Your benefaction keep me waiting. Yet with all that, my trust has not become firm enough that I might free myself for that which is more favoured by You.”
Importance of Motherhood and Pregnancy
The Prophet Muĥammad (S) has said that: “Paradise is under the feet of the mother.”
Allāh (SwT) states in the Noble Qur'an, in Surat al-Fāťir, Verse 11:
“And no female conceives or delivers except with His knowledge.”
It is also narrated from the Prophet (S): “If it is decided that Allāh (SwT) will make a child be born, He will make him in whatever shape he likes.”
This shows us that child-bearing is a direct blessing from Allāh (SwT) and one that must be shown continuous gratitude for. Indeed, the presence of a child has been likened to the fruit of a tree, which brings a man and woman closer to each other.
As for mothers, Islam has made for them a beautiful world, in which everyone must respect and revere them. Allāh (SwT) recognizes and mentions the difficulties borne by mothers:
In Surat Luqmān, Verse 14, He states:
“His mother carried him through weakness upon weakness.”
In Surat al-Aĥqāf, Verse 15, He states:
“His mother has carried him in travail, and bore him in travail.
Indeed, the status of mothers is even higher than fathers as demonstrated by the following traditions:
A man came to the Prophet (S) and said to him,
“O Messenger of Allah, to whom should I do good?”
The Prophet (S) said, “Your mother.” (So) the man said, “And then to whom should I do good?” The Prophet (S) said, “Your mother.” (Then) the man said, “And then to whom should I do good?” The Prophet (S) said, “Your mother.” (Then) the man asked, “After that, to whom should I do good?” The Prophet (S) said, “To your father.”
It is also narrated that the Prophet (S) was asked, “Which of the parents have a higher status?” The Prophet (S) replied, “The one who for nine months kept you between her two sides (stomach), and then brought you into this world and gave you milk from her breasts.”
