EMBRYOLOGY
SEX DETERMINATION
The sex of a foetus is determined by the nature of
the sperm and not of the ovum. The sex of the child,
whether female or male, depends on whether the
23rd pair of chromosomes is XX or XY respectively.
Primarily, sex determination occurs at fertilization
and depends upon the type of sex chromosome in
the sperm that fertilizes an ovum. If it is an ‘X’
bearing sperm that fertilizes the ovum, the foetus
is a female and if it is a ‘Y’ bearing sperm then
the foetus is a male.
وَأَنَّهُ خَلَقَ
الزَّوْجَيْنِ الذَّكَرَ وَالْأُنثَى 53:45
مِن نُّطْفَةٍ إِذَا تُمْنَى 53:46
“That He did create
in pairs – male and female,
from a seed when lodged
(in its place).”
[Al-Qur’an 53:45-46]
The Arabic word nutfah means a minute quantity of
liquid and tumnaa means ejaculated or planted.
Therefore nutfah specifically refers to sperm
because it is ejaculated.
The Qur’an says:
أَلَمْ يَكُ
نُطْفَةً مِّن مَّنِيٍّ يُمْنَى 75:37
ثُمَّ كَانَ عَلَقَةً فَخَلَقَ فَسَوَّى
75:38 فَجَعَلَ مِنْهُ الزَّوْجَيْنِ الذَّكَرَ وَالْأُنثَى
75:39
“Was he not a drop
of sperm emitted
(in lowly form)?
“Then did he become
a clinging clot;
then did (Allah) make
and fashion (him)
in due proportion.
“And of him He made
two sexes, male
and female.”
[Al-Qur’an 75:37-39]
Here again it is mentioned that a small quantity
(drop) of sperm (indicated by the word nutfatan min
maniyyin) which comes from the man is responsible
for the sex of the foetus.
Mothers-in-law in the Indian subcontinent, usually
prefer having male grandchildren and often blame
their daughters-in-law if the child is not a boy. If
only they knew that the determining factor is the
nature of the male sperm and not the female ovum!
If they were to blame anybody, they should rather
blame their sons, not their daughters-in-law, since
both the Qur’an and Science hold that it is the male
fluid that is responsible for the sex of the child!
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