Quran and Medicine

Quran and Medicine

A Comparative Study of Verses 5–7 of Surah Al-Tariq and Medical Findings Based on the Linguistic Analysis of Key Terms in These Verses

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Retired prof. Of Ahvaz Jundishapour University Of Medical Sciences
2 PHD in linguistics
Abstract
Verses 5 to 7 of Surah Al-Tariq have been interpreted by some translators and exegetes in a way that has led certain critics to claim a contradiction between these Quranic statements and medical findings. These critics argue that the Quran’s description of the ejaculated fluid emerging from between the "sulb" and "taraeib" of the human body is inconsistent with knowledge in anatomy, embryology, and physiology of the human reproductive system.
This article presents medical findings regarding the anatomy and physiology of the male reproductive system and then analyzes the three key Quranic terms "mae dafiq", "sulb" and "taraib" from a linguistic perspective. By comparing the linguistic meanings of these terms with medical knowledge, the study rejects the alleged contradiction between the Quran and medical science concerning the human reproductive system. The study concludes that such misconceptions arise from misidentifying the proper referents of the Quranic terms in these verses.
Keywords

  1. Hamadani, S. M. B. (Translator). Al-Mizan tafsir al-Quran Vol. 20- 1999/1378 SH),[Persian].
  2. Khorramshahi, B. Qur’an Karim: With Persian translation and commentary (1st ed.). Tehran: Nashr-e Tarh-e No.1996 [Persian].
  3. Gray, H. Gray’s Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42nd ed.). London: Elsevier; 2020.
  4. Hall, J. E. Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology (15th ed.); 2021.
  5. Moore, K. L, Persaud, T. V. N, & Torchia, M. G. The developing human: Clinically oriented embryology (12th ed.). Philadelphia:2023.
  6. Ibn Faris, A. b. H. Majam Maqayis alLughah (Vols. 1–6). Beirut, Lebanon: Dar Ihya alTurath alArabi;2001/1422 AH. [Arabic].
  7. Jawadi Amoli, A. Tafsir Tasnim: A commentary on the Holy Qur’an (Vols. 1–80). Qom, Iran: Markaz Beyn al MelaliNashr Esra. (Original work published 1379 HS; 2006. [Persian].
  8. Tantawi, M. S. AlTafsir alWasit lilQuran alKarim [The Middle Commentary on the Noble Quran]. Dar alMaarif.1992. [Arabic].
  9. Hall, J. E. Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology (15th ed.); 2021.
  10. Al-Zabidi, M. M. Taj al-arus min jawahir al-qamus (A. Hilali, Ed, 2nd ed.). Kuwait: Turath al-Arabi;1407 AH[Arabic].
  11. Raghib al-Isfahani. Mufradat al-Quran (M. F. Abd al-Baqi, Ed.). Dar al-Maaarif. (Original work published c. 1379 AH);2000[Arabic].
  12. Al-Zabidi, M. M. Taj al-arus min jawahir al-qamus (A. Hilali, Ed, 2nd ed.). Kuwait: Turath al-Arabi;1407 AH[Arabic].
  13. Silverman, M, & Pettigrew, D. How the sacrum got its name. Spine,1986, 11(6), 553–555
  14. Moein, M. Farhang-e Fārsi-ye Moein [Moein Persian Dictionary] (Vol. 1, 1st ed.). Tehran: Behzad.2003[Persian].
  15. Al-Farahidi, K. ibn Ahmad. Kitab al-Ayn (A. H. Handawi, Ed.). Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah;1424 AH[Arabic].
  16. Ibn Faris, A. b. H. Majam Maqayis alLughah (Vols. 1–6) Beirut, Lebanon: Dar Ihya alTurath alArabi;2001/1422 AH[Arabic].
  17.  Al-Tabari, Muhammad ibn Jarir. Jami al-bayan an tawil ay al-Quran (Abd Allah ibn Abd al-Muhsin al-Turki, Ed; Vol. 24; 1st ed.). Cairo: Dar al-Hijr 1422 A.H. [Arabic].
  18. Al-Dhahhak. (n.d.). Tafsir (as cited in Al-Thalabi, A. ibn M. ibn I, Al-Kashf wa al-bayan an tafsir al-Quran, Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi, 2002[Arabic].
  19. Al-Zabidi, M. M. Taj al-arus min jawahir al-qamus (A. Hilali, Ed, 2nd ed.). Kuwait: Turath al-Arabi;1407 AH[Arabic].
  20. Amin, M. Ayan al-Shia (Vols. 1–56). Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Taaruf li al-Matbuat;1983[Arabic].
  21. Al-Tabari, Muhammad ibn Jarir. Jami al-bayan an tawil ay al-Quran (Abd Allah ibn Abd al-Muhsin al-Turki, Ed; Vol. 24; 1st ed.). Cairo: Dar al-Hijr 1422 A.H. [Arabic].
  22. "Ibn Kathir, Ismail. Tafsir al-Quran al-Azim (1st ed.). Beirut: Dar Ibn Hazm,1420 A.H.[Arabic].
  23. Ibn Manzur, M. ibn M. Lisan al-Arab (Vols. 1–15). Beirut, Lebanon: Dar Sadir;1990[Arabic].
  24. Ibn Faris, A. b. H. Majam Maqayis alLughah (Vols. 1–6) Beirut, Lebanon: Dar Ihya alTurath alArabi;2001/1422 AH[Arabic].
  25. Al-Tusi, Muhammad ibn al-Hasan. Al-Tibyan fi tafsir al-Quran (Vols. 1–10). Qom, Iran: Maktabat al-Nasr al-Islamiyyah 1984[Arabic].
  26. Ibn Kathir, Ismail. Tafsir al-Quran al-Azim (1st ed.). Beirut: Dar Ibn Hazm,1420 A.H.[Arabic].
  27. Hamadani, S. M. B. (Translator). Al-Mizan tafsir al-Quran Vol. 20- 1999/1378 SH),[Persian].
  28. Al-Zamakhshari, M. Al-Kashshaf an haqaiq ghawaamid al-tanzil wa-uyun al-aqawil fi wujuh al-tawil (Vols. 1–5). Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyya.2000
  29. Tabrisi, A. F. b. H. Majma alBayan fi Tafsir alQuran (Vols. 1–…). Beirut, Lebanon: Dar alMarefah.1986.[Arabic].
  30. Shariati, M. T. (n.d.). Tafsir Novin [Modern commentary] (Vol. 1). Tehran, Iran: Daftar Nashr Farhang Eslami.1967[Persian].