❖ Five Facts About the Knowledge of the Wombs in Light of Qur’an and Sunnah ❖
Adapted from: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
Today, doctors can determine whether the fetus in the womb is male or female. However, Allah says in the Qur’an:
﴿وَيَعلَمُ ما فِى الأَرحامِ﴾
(Sūrah Luqmān: 34)
“And He alone knows what is in the wombs.”
According to Tafsīr Ibn Jarīr, Imam Mujāhid (رحمه الله) narrates that when a man asked the Prophet ﷺ what his wife would deliver, this verse was revealed. A similar narration is found from Imam Qatādah (رحمه الله).
So how should one reconcile these narrations with modern scientific discoveries? And what limits the general wording of “fī al-arḥām”?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Amā baʿd:
Before proceeding, it must be emphasized that the explicit texts of the Qur’an never conflict with reality. If any apparent contradiction arises, it is either:
✔ A baseless claim, or
✔ A misunderstanding of the Qur’anic meaning.
Both the Qur’an and observed reality are definitive; real contradiction between them is impossible.
Today’s advanced medical tools may detect the gender of a fetus. If this is not true, there’s nothing to discuss.
But even if true, it does not contradict the verse of the Qur’an.
The verse in question refers to one of the five matters of the unseen, known only to Allah, as clarified in various texts. These hidden aspects concerning the fetus include:
① How long the pregnancy will last
② Details of life and death
③ Nature of deeds the child will do
④ Provision (rizq) allotted
⑤ Whether the child will be blessed (saʿīd) or wretched (shaqī)
⑥ Whether it will be male or female
These matters remain unseen before creation, but once the fetus is formed, some aspects may become observable.
Even though the fetus lies within three layers of darkness (the womb, abdomen, and membranes), Allah has created powerful rays that can penetrate and display internal details.
It is important to note:
✔ The verse ﴿مَا فِى الْأَرْحَامِ﴾ does not explicitly mention gender
✔ No Hadith restricts the meaning of the verse to only the gender of the fetus
The narration from Imam Mujāhid (رحمه الله), reported in Tafsīr Ibn Jarīr, regarding a man asking about his wife's pregnancy is interrupted (munqaṭiʿ), as Mujāhid was a Tābiʿī.
The explanation from Imam Qatādah (رحمه الله) can be interpreted to refer to Allah’s exclusive knowledge before creation.
Hafiz Ibn Kathīr (رحمه الله) explains in his Tafsīr of Sūrah Luqmān:
“None knows what will come from the wombs except Allah. But once Allah commands that the child will be male or female, blessed or wretched, these matters may become known to the angels appointed over the fetus—or to whomsoever Allah wills among His creation.”
If the verse refers to post-creation realities, then the human senses and observed reality serve as limiting factors (mukhaṣṣiṣ).
According to principles of Islamic jurisprudence, valid mukhaṣṣiṣāt (limiters) of a general expression include:
✔ Textual evidence (Naṣṣ)
✔ Consensus (Ijmāʿ)
✔ Analogy (Qiyās)
✔ Rational evidence (ʿAql)
If the verse refers to pre-creation, then it has nothing to do with modern tools that detect the gender after creation.
No actual reality—past, present, or future—has ever contradicted or will contradict the Qur’an.
Those who criticize the Qur’an based on perceived contradictions either:
✔ Misunderstood the message
✔ Or had malicious intentions
Scholars and sincere believers have established, through investigation and reflection, that both Qur’anic truth and actual realities are in perfect harmony. All doubts fade with proper understanding.
Some fall into two extremes:
① Exaggeration (Ifrāṭ): Taking the apparent meaning of the verse and rejecting all observable realities—leading to blameworthy dogmatism or opening doors for accusations against the Qur’an
② Neglect (Tafrīṭ): Ignoring Qur’anic guidance and relying solely on materialism—resulting in secularism and disbelief
Balanced individuals are those who:
✔ Embrace the correct understanding of the Qur’an
✔ Confirm it with verified realities
✔ Recognize that both revelation and reality are truthful and never in conflict
Such people honor both transmitted and rational knowledge, preserving their religion and intellect.
Indeed, Allah guides whom He wills to the straight path.
May Allah grant us and all believing brothers firm guidance, make us guided and guiding, righteous and reformative leaders calling towards truth and renewal.
Āmīn.
Hādhā mā ʿindī, wallāhu aʿlam biṣ-ṣawāb.
Adapted from: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
✦ The Knowledge of What is in the Wombs Belongs Solely to Allah
❖ Question:
Today, doctors can determine whether the fetus in the womb is male or female. However, Allah says in the Qur’an:
﴿وَيَعلَمُ ما فِى الأَرحامِ﴾
(Sūrah Luqmān: 34)
“And He alone knows what is in the wombs.”
According to Tafsīr Ibn Jarīr, Imam Mujāhid (رحمه الله) narrates that when a man asked the Prophet ﷺ what his wife would deliver, this verse was revealed. A similar narration is found from Imam Qatādah (رحمه الله).
So how should one reconcile these narrations with modern scientific discoveries? And what limits the general wording of “fī al-arḥām”?
✦ Response:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Amā baʿd:
✦ ① No Conflict Between the Qur’an and Established Realities
Before proceeding, it must be emphasized that the explicit texts of the Qur’an never conflict with reality. If any apparent contradiction arises, it is either:
✔ A baseless claim, or
✔ A misunderstanding of the Qur’anic meaning.
Both the Qur’an and observed reality are definitive; real contradiction between them is impossible.
✦ ② Medical Technology and Gender Identification
Today’s advanced medical tools may detect the gender of a fetus. If this is not true, there’s nothing to discuss.
But even if true, it does not contradict the verse of the Qur’an.
✦ ③ The Verse Refers to Divine, Hidden Knowledge
The verse in question refers to one of the five matters of the unseen, known only to Allah, as clarified in various texts. These hidden aspects concerning the fetus include:
① How long the pregnancy will last
② Details of life and death
③ Nature of deeds the child will do
④ Provision (rizq) allotted
⑤ Whether the child will be blessed (saʿīd) or wretched (shaqī)
⑥ Whether it will be male or female
These matters remain unseen before creation, but once the fetus is formed, some aspects may become observable.
Even though the fetus lies within three layers of darkness (the womb, abdomen, and membranes), Allah has created powerful rays that can penetrate and display internal details.
✦ ④ The Verse Does Not Explicitly Refer to Gender
It is important to note:
✔ The verse ﴿مَا فِى الْأَرْحَامِ﴾ does not explicitly mention gender
✔ No Hadith restricts the meaning of the verse to only the gender of the fetus
✦ ⑤ Interpretation of the Scholars
The narration from Imam Mujāhid (رحمه الله), reported in Tafsīr Ibn Jarīr, regarding a man asking about his wife's pregnancy is interrupted (munqaṭiʿ), as Mujāhid was a Tābiʿī.
The explanation from Imam Qatādah (رحمه الله) can be interpreted to refer to Allah’s exclusive knowledge before creation.
Hafiz Ibn Kathīr (رحمه الله) explains in his Tafsīr of Sūrah Luqmān:
“None knows what will come from the wombs except Allah. But once Allah commands that the child will be male or female, blessed or wretched, these matters may become known to the angels appointed over the fetus—or to whomsoever Allah wills among His creation.”
✦ Limiting the Generality of the Phrase
If the verse refers to post-creation realities, then the human senses and observed reality serve as limiting factors (mukhaṣṣiṣ).
According to principles of Islamic jurisprudence, valid mukhaṣṣiṣāt (limiters) of a general expression include:
✔ Textual evidence (Naṣṣ)
✔ Consensus (Ijmāʿ)
✔ Analogy (Qiyās)
✔ Rational evidence (ʿAql)
If the verse refers to pre-creation, then it has nothing to do with modern tools that detect the gender after creation.
✦ The Harmony Between Revelation and Reality
No actual reality—past, present, or future—has ever contradicted or will contradict the Qur’an.
Those who criticize the Qur’an based on perceived contradictions either:
✔ Misunderstood the message
✔ Or had malicious intentions
Scholars and sincere believers have established, through investigation and reflection, that both Qur’anic truth and actual realities are in perfect harmony. All doubts fade with proper understanding.
✦ Misguided Extremes: Exaggeration and Neglect
Some fall into two extremes:
① Exaggeration (Ifrāṭ): Taking the apparent meaning of the verse and rejecting all observable realities—leading to blameworthy dogmatism or opening doors for accusations against the Qur’an
② Neglect (Tafrīṭ): Ignoring Qur’anic guidance and relying solely on materialism—resulting in secularism and disbelief
✦ The Balanced Approach
Balanced individuals are those who:
✔ Embrace the correct understanding of the Qur’an
✔ Confirm it with verified realities
✔ Recognize that both revelation and reality are truthful and never in conflict
Such people honor both transmitted and rational knowledge, preserving their religion and intellect.
Indeed, Allah guides whom He wills to the straight path.
❖ Supplication
May Allah grant us and all believing brothers firm guidance, make us guided and guiding, righteous and reformative leaders calling towards truth and renewal.
Āmīn.
Hādhā mā ʿindī, wallāhu aʿlam biṣ-ṣawāb.
