Male Reproductive System and Surat At-Tariq

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In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

1. By the Sky And the Tāriq;
2. And what will explain to thee What the Tāriq is?
3. (It is) the Star Of piercing brightness;
4. There is no soul but has A protector over it.
5. Now let man but think From what he is created!
6. He is created from a drop emitted
7. Proceeding from between The backbone and the ribs:
8. Surely (God) is able To bring him back (To life)!

(Surah At-Tāriq 1-8)

This article presents an example of the parallels between science and revelation by discussing the similarities between the male reproductive system, sperm formation, egg fertilization, and the first 8 verses of Surah At-Tariq. The etymology of the words in the verses is evaluated together with recently obtained scientific data, defending the thesis that, according to one layer of meaning of the verses, "as-sama" (the sky) and "at-tariq" refer to the egg and sperm, respectively. Furthermore, against the claim that the 7th verse contradicts scientific data, it is attempted to show that some new developments are consistent with the allusive meanings of the verses.

1- EGG and SPERM

As is known, human reproduction occurs through the fertilization of the woman's egg by the man's sperm. Both cells carry 23 chromosomes each, containing genetic information from the male and female. Upon fertilization, this information combines to form the first cell with 46 chromosomes, the zygote. Although the chromosomes determining the genotype come in equal numbers from the male and female, the egg is of greater importance than the sperm in terms of the material density forming the zygote. After fertilization, the cytoplasm, mitochondria, and other organelles required for the zygote are provided by the egg cell. The reason for this is that while the egg exhibits a relatively static and protected stance during the reproductive process, the sperm undertakes a very difficult journey. The sperm cell, being light and fast, carries only enough cytoplasm and organelles to sustain itself during its journey.(1)

Surah Tariq begins in verse 1 by swearing by "as-sama" (the sky) and "at-tariq". If "at-tariq" indicates the sperm, then "as-sama" would be expected to be the egg. and can be used for anything that is high. The sky is called "sama" for this reason. Considering female anatomy, one could say, "The 'sama' of the sperm ejected into the uterus is the egg located above the uterus." Furthermore, in Arabic, words are divided into masculine (muzakkar) and feminine (mu'annath). "Tariq" is a masculine word, and "sama" is a feminine word. The oath in the verse is taken separately on both "as-sama" and "at-tariq". Since the zygote, the first cell of every human, is formed by the coming together of sperm and egg, it is clear that both are important enough to swear by. However, the mention of "as-sama" first in the verse is an indication of the egg's greater importance than the sperm in the formation of the zygote. In verse 2, attention is drawn to what "at-tariq" is, not "as-sama", saying, "And what will make you know what the Tāriq is?" This is because, compared to the static nature of the egg, the journey of the sperm, which will be addressed in the following verses, is quite remarkable.

2- THE NIGHT TRAVELER

The processes called spermatogenesis and oogenesis, which result in the egg and sperm reaching the maturity to meet certain criteria, are crucial for fertilization to occur. However, successful fertilization depends on many other factors. Even if all conditions are met, in a process that begins with the transfer of hundreds of millions of sperm from the male to the female, often no sperm succeeds in fertilizing the egg. This is because the sperm must complete a difficult process by passing through many dark canals within the female reproductive organ to reach the awaiting egg. For a sperm cell ejected into the vagina, traveling approximately 15-18 cm to reach the egg takes between 45 minutes and 12 hours. The sperm's survival time in the uterus can be up to 5 days. After sexual intercourse, hundreds of millions of sperm are ejected into the vagina. Many of these flow out due to gravity or die in the acidic environment of the vagina. About 2 million sperm that manage to enter the cervix, which has a very narrow, convoluted structure and sticky mucosa, fewer than half of these succeed in passing into the uterus. In the uterus, white blood cells await, perceiving the sperm as foreign invaders. About 10,000 sperm that survive the immune system's attack head towards the fallopian tubes. Half of the sperm that reach here will also be lost along the way. Because the egg is only present in one of the two fallopian tubes located on either side of the upper part of the uterus. Most of the sperm heading towards the correct tube get stuck in the mucus layer at the tube's entrance or on the cilia extensions lining the inner surface of the tube. From this arduous journey, only a few hundred sperm remain that successfully reach the egg.(2)(3)

"Tariq" means "one who walks on the road"³ According to Raghib al-Isfahani, 'tariq'/طَارِق means one who walks on the road, but in common usage, it is specialized to mean "one who comes at night". طَرَقَ أَهْلَهُ طُرُوقًا means he came to his family suddenly at night. A star is called 'tariq' only because it appears at night. According to Fakhr al-Din al-Razi (d:1210), 'Tariq' is anything that comes to you at night, be it a star or something else. , but in common usage, it is specialized to mean "one who comes at night." The journey of the sperm, which travels through the approximately 15 cm long, dark path consisting of the vagina, cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes in a matter of hours, is consistent with this meaning of the word "tariq" in the lexicon, which also gives the surah its name.

3- THE KNOCKING HERALD

Reaching the egg does not immediately mean fertilizing it. Here, a biochemical process called capacitation, lasting about 10 hours, begins. During this process, sperm become hyperactive under the influence of chemicals in the egg's environment. As a result, they swing their tails, called flagella, faster to gain speed, begin to thrash their heads from side to side, and move in a lurching manner due to their changed swimming pattern.(4)(5) This swimming pattern facilitates the sperm's finding of the egg and penetration of the layer called "corona radiata," made up of cumulus cells, by delivering rhythmic head impacts.(6) Sperm that reach the egg membrane called the "zona pellucida" after this layer try to pierce the membrane and insert their heads using hydrolytic enzymes found in their acrosomes. In describing the sperm's movements during these processes, the following expression is interesting: "The sperm tries to enter the egg first like a drill, then like a jackhammer, and finally like a stick of dynamite."

Sperm trying to enter the egg by impacting it with their heads

Etymologically, the word "Tariq" means From this meaning, it evolved into meanings such as "one who comes at night and knocks on the door" and "one who brings startling news." The sperm's becoming hyperactive upon reaching the egg and passing through the "corona radiata" layer surrounding the egg membrane by striking it with head impacts, its coming to the egg in the darkness of the uterus, and activating it perfectly align with the meanings of the word "tariq".

Structure of Egg and Sperm cells

4- THE PIERCING STAR

Fertilization of the egg is accomplished by a single sperm, with some exceptions. The first sperm that manages to insert its head through the egg membrane triggers a process called egg activation by causing the release of calcium ions into the environment. At this very moment, an astonishing event occurs. With the release of zinc atoms, which are highly concentrated in the egg membrane, a flash of light explodes around the egg. This light, reminiscent of a star flashing, is the herald that the gates of the egg membrane are now closed to any subsequent sperm, and the intensity of this flash is an indicator of how healthy the fertilized cell is.(7)(8)

After the question in verse 2, "And what will make you know what the Tāriq is?", verse 3 describes the Tariq as . It has also been translated as "the shining star" because stars pierce the darkness with their light. The word "Tariq" itself most commonly means "star." It could refer to all stars or pulsars, or it could be the name of a known star like the Pleiades (Süreyya), Saturn (Zuhal), or the Morning Star. It has also been said to refer to shooting stars, i.e., meteors. In fact, it is reported that the reason for the revelation of this surah was the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his uncle witnessing a meteor shower. This verse seems to describe the sperm that pierces the "zona pellucida" membrane like a meteor entering the atmosphere at night, causing a flash of light in the darkness of the uterus. "An-Najmu ath-Thaqib" also means This is consistent with the fact that only one sperm out of hundreds of millions succeeds in surpassing the others and fertilizing the egg.

Light flash observed around the egg at the moment of fertilization

5- THE GUARDIAN (Hafiz)

The egg activation, accompanied by the flashing of billions of zinc atoms around the egg, is a process vital for the formation of the zygote. The sperm inserting the very valuable genetic material from the male, carried in its head, through the egg membrane puts the egg into a sort of alarm state. For the essential element in fertilization is the structuring of the genetic information brought by the sperm with that of the egg, thus shaping the first cell that will form a human. For this purpose, the egg membrane first undergoes a transformation called the "zona reaction." This makes "polyspermy," i.e., a second sperm entering through the egg membrane and disrupting the genetic balance, impossible. Then, the egg completes its second meiotic division, forming the female pronucleus with 23 chromosomes. Meanwhile, the tightly packed genetic material carried in the sperm's head spreads within the egg cell's cytoplasm and reorganizes. Thus, the male pronucleus with 23 chromosomes is also formed. Both pronuclei unite to form the cell nucleus with 46 chromosomes, which determines all the characteristics of the human, from gender to hair color, eye color, and height.(2)

The expression in verse 4, "There is no soul without a guardian (Hafiz) over it," uses the word "hafiz," which in Turkish is also used for those who have memorized the Quran. Just as a Hafiz preserves the entire Quran in his mind, the sperm, as a soul (nafs), preserves (in its head) all the genetic information from the father to transfer it to the egg.

To briefly summarize what has been described so far, it is seen that almost all the meanings of the word "tariq" overlap with the sperm. It can even be said that this word evolved throughout the historical process before the revelation of the Quran, expanding its scope, and was specifically created to carry all the meanings pertaining to sperm. Tariq is, as in one of the lexical meanings, the inseminator; it is the one treading the path by passing through different layers from the vagina to the fallopian tube where the egg is; it is the one that strikes like a hammer the "corona radiata" layer made of cumulus cells surrounding the egg membrane upon reaching it; it is the nocturnal visitor knocking on the door or the heart-startling visitor by coming to the egg in the darkness of the uterus and activating it. Again, the Tariq, which is "an-najmu ath-thaqib," is the piercing and shining star that pierces the "zona pellucida" and causes zinc ions to suddenly emit light around the egg; and by rising above and surpassing hundreds of millions of sperm and singly fertilizing the egg, it is the star that rises above them all.

In verse 5, "So let man consider from what he was created," the human, who has perceived what the Tariq is within the contextual unity of the verses up to this point, is commanded to look at his own creation in the light of the verses to follow. What he should look at is stated in the next verse.

Verse 6 says, "He was created from a fluid, ejected." The descriptive active participle "ma'in dafiq" used in the verse for the nature of semen (seminal fluid) is very striking. If these words are translated literally from Arabic, one would need to use the expression "a fluid that ejects." However, the verse is translated in almost all interpretations as "an ejected fluid." This is because interpreters have interpreted the unconventional usage as a literary expression. In Arabic, using an active participle form where a passive form is required is a figure of speech. In this verse, the fluid is elevated to an active position to emphasize the importance of the semen that is the source of human creation. Expressions in our language like "the opportunity that escaped," "the secret that hides," "the help that arrives" can be given as examples. However, when semen fluid is examined under a microscope with today's technological capabilities, the expression "ejecting fluid" evokes the liveliness and jumping movements of sperm within the seminal fluid.

6- THE ORIGIN OF SPERM

The first reproductive cells that appear in the human body during the embryonic process are cells called PGCs (Primordial Germ Cells). The PGCs, which will form the origin of the sperm and egg cells to be produced from puberty, first begin to appear within the yolk sac. This sac is a structure that appears outside the embryo from the 2nd week of embryonic development, disappears after the 12th week, and plays a role in the formation of the embryo's blood cells. Starting from the 5th week of pregnancy, PGC cells leave the yolk sac and move towards the embryo via amoeboid movements along the mesentery, gathering in the formation of the first genital organ called the "Gonadal Ridge." At this stage, PGC cells and the embryo are not yet differentiated as male or female. From approximately the 42nd day of pregnancy, male and female embryos begin to differentiate, and the genital ridge changes to form the male or female gonads, the undeveloped forms of the testes and ovaries. (9)(10)

PGC migration and gonad formation according to sex at the embryo stage.(9)

As can be seen in the figures above, the Gonadal Ridge, which contains the first reproductive cells (PGCs) and is the first of the embryo's reproductive organs, is located exactly where the rib bones meet the spine, adjacent to the mesentery. In later stages of the embryo, the genital canals that begin to appear within the Gonadal Ridge continue their development to form the testes in males and the ovaries in females. In males, after these structures reach a certain maturity, they descend from their location—where the spine and ribs meet—to the external genital organs, along with the PGCs inside them. The descent of the testes begins in the 2nd month of pregnancy and continues until birth. PGCs, which spend the period until puberty dormant within the testes, gradually begin to form sperm from puberty onwards. These data are quite striking in showing that the movement of the PGCs (which will later turn into sperm) together with the internal reproductive organs (testes) is in complete harmony with verses 5-7 of Surah Tariq.

"So let man consider from what he was created! He was created from a fluid, ejected. It emerges from between the backbone and the ribs (from the place of its separation)."⁷ The word "بَيْنِ" (bayni) in verse 7 of Surah Tariq means "from between" as well as "place of separation." The same word appears in verse (18/Al-Kahf 61): "فَلَمَّا بَلَغَا مَجْمَعَ بَيْنِهِمَا / And when they reached the junction between the two seas," the word "بَيْنِهِمَا / between them" means, according to Raghib al-Isfahani, "the place of separation."

7- THE ORIGIN OF SEMINAL FLUID

With advancements in the field of medicine and the application of new treatment methods, new phenomena are emerging. One such phenomenon is cases of chimerism observed after bone marrow transplantation, particularly applied in leukemia treatment. An example of chimerism, which means a single individual carrying more than one DNA profile, was observed in America following a woman's rape.(11) When the victim reported to the police, semen samples taken from her were compared with DNA records. The matching identified a person already imprisoned for another crime as the attacker. Considering the fact that an imprisoned person could not be the perpetrator of a rape, upon more detailed investigation, the police found that the actual perpetrator was not the imprisoned person but his brother. The brother had undergone cancer treatment at a young age and had received a bone marrow transplant from his older brother. Years later, the patient's semen had changed and began to carry the donor's DNA. Chris Long, who underwent a marrow transplant for leukemia treatment, had a similar experience. A DNA test four years after treatment showed that his semen, largely composed of white blood cells, had completely changed to match the donor's. Since Chris Long had previously undergone a vasectomy, his semen contained no sperm.(12)

Bone marrow transplantation is applied using similar methods for various diseases. In the treatment method leading to the chimerism cases mentioned here, the patient diagnosed with leukemia is first given chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy to destroy the cancerous blood cells. Then, bone marrow from a healthy individual is taken with a syringe, the stem cells inside are separated, and given to the patient via blood. It is expected that the stem cells, which can turn into different cell types, will gradually transform into blood cells, and the patients will recover.(13) The primary source from which these stem cells are harvested is red bone marrow cells. As seen in the figure below, red marrow cells, found in almost all bones during infancy, continue to recede towards the central skeleton until the age of 25. In adults over 25, they are rarely found in bones other than the hip bones, spine, sternum, ribs, scapulae, and skull.(14)

Bones containing red marrow cells.(14)

Although stem cell methods are applied in the treatment of many diseases today, they still contain many unknowns. The complete DNA change of the seminal fluid (though not the sperm) in some patients with healthy sexual function who underwent bone marrow transplantation due to diseases like leukemia or anemia provides very strong data that bone marrow and stem cells contribute to the formation of this fluid.

When the provided information is evaluated together with verses 5-7 of Surah Tariq, many parallels are striking. Primarily, the ejected fluid emerging from between the bones, as stated in the verse, is consistent with the seminal fluid of men who have undergone bone marrow transplantation beginning to carry the donor's DNA. The expression "the backbone and the ribs" in the verse is like a summary of the bones that contain red marrow cells in adults.

8- THE RECYCLING OF UNUSED SEMEN

The lifespan of a sperm cell from the start of its production in the seminiferous tubules of the testes is approximately 74 days. A healthy male can produce about 3500 sperm per second. After these cells are produced, they gradually mature and are transferred to the epididymis located at the top of the testes. Sperm are stored in the tubular structures here to complete their maturation process and be ready for fertilization at any time. If sperm cells are not used within their natural lifespan, they break down and are absorbed by the lining of the epididymis, recycled back into the body via the lymphatic system and bloodstream for various bodily needs. A similar process applies to other fluids that make up the majority of semen, such as prostate fluid and seminal secretions.(15)

Verse 8 says, "Indeed, He [Allah] is able to bring him back (to life)." Considering the change in the DNA structure of seminal fluid via the bloodstream after bone marrow transplantation, the recycling and return of the same fluid back into the blood when necessary is consistent with the meaning of the verse. Similarly, considering that the building blocks and energy sources of sperm cells, produced at a rate of thousands per second, are delivered to the testes via the bloodstream, the breakdown and transfer of unused sperm into the bloodstream to be regained by the body as nutrients or building blocks can be said to be within the layers of meaning of the verse.

Islamic scholars, when unable to reconcile some of the monotheistic proofs from nature presented by the Quran with the generally accepted truths of their era, sometimes turned to metaphorical meanings to make the verses understandable. While such interpretations are not incorrect, they sometimes remained limited interpretations constrained by the understanding of their times. As expressed by Cemil Meriç's saying, "Every definition is a distortion," explanations made to clarify the literal meanings of verses can sometimes lead to the covering up of other layers of meaning. However, when read in light of new scientific developments, it is understood that the literal meanings of some of these verses are also correct. These also constitute unique examples of the Quran's miraculous style of delivering its message to all ages. God's knowledge is not limited to the understanding of scholars of tafsir and natural sciences who lived in specific centuries. His word, the Quran, can encompass new scientific explanations that become possible until the Day of Judgment. Like many other Quranic verses, the verses discussed in this article say much to everyone who reads the Quran as if it is addressing them, as required by servitude, about the need to read the universe by trusting both experience and revelation.

¹ According to Raghib al-Isfahani (d:1108) in his work 'al-Mufradat fi Gharib al-Quran', the verb 'taraka' (طَرَقَ), among other meanings, also means to inseminate/fertilize. From the perspective of the meaning 'to strike/hit', it is said: طَرَقَ الْفَحْلُ النَّاقَةَ : The stud (male) inseminated the she-camel/mated with her; أَطْرَقْتُهَا : I had her covered/I sent the stud to her; اِسْتَطْرَقْتُ فُلاَنًا فَحْلاً : I asked so-and-so for a stud to cover/inseminate my camels.

² According to Raghib al-Isfahani, the 'sama' of anything is its upper part. A poet describing the quality of a horse says: وَأَحْمَرَ كَالدِّيبَاجِ أَمَّا سَمَاؤُهُ *** فَرَيًّا وَأَمَّا أَرْضُهُ فَمَحُولُ /Red like brocade; its upper part is shiny, and its lower part is dusty. Some have said: Every 'sama' is 'sama' relative to what is below it and 'ard' (earth) relative to what is above it. Plants are called 'sama' either because they are formed from rain (which is called 'sama') or because they are at a higher level than the ground surface.

³ According to Raghib al-Isfahani, 'tariq'/طَارِق means one who walks on the road, but in common usage, it is specialized to mean "one who comes at night". طَرَقَ أَهْلَهُ طُرُوقًا means he came to his family suddenly at night. A star is called 'tariq' only because it appears at night. According to Fakhr al-Din al-Razi (d:1210), 'Tariq' is anything that comes to you at night, be it a star or something else.

⁴ As stated by Elmalılı Hamdi Yazır (d:1942) in his tafsir "Hak Dini Kuran Dili," the word "tariq" is an active participle from the root "tark". Tark means to strike or hit violently enough to produce a sound. This original meaning has been extended to be used in many meanings it implies. "Mitraqa" meaning "hammer" or "mallet" comes from this root. The word "tariq" (road/path) is also derived from it because travelers tread upon it. Accordingly, "tariq" originally means "one who strikes violently, like with a hammer," but later, with the meaning of treading feet, treading the road, it became a name for a traveler on the road in lexical common usage and became a literal term through widespread use. Later, it became specialized to mean "one who comes at night," meaning a visitor who comes at night and knocks on the door or causes the heart to leap. Its verbal noun is "tark" and "turuk". Then, this meaning was extended, and everything that appears at night and strikes the eye or the heart, even imaginary visions, is called "tariq". Also, "tariq" specifically refers to the morning star that rises just before dawn. According to Fakhr al-Din al-Razi (d:1210), 'Tariq' is anything that comes to you at night, be it a star or something else.

⁵ According to Raghib al-Isfahani, the word "najm" means a rising star, and by analogy, the emergence of plants, thoughts, and horns in animals is expressed with the same word. In verse 6 of Surah Ar-Rahman, "The plants and the trees prostrate," "najm" is used to mean plants that have no trunk and spread on the ground.

⁶ Al-Farrā, Yaḥyā b. Ziyād (d:823) said: This expression means "the star that rises above the other stars, the one that surpasses them all." Because Arabs say of a bird that rises very high into the sky, meaning "It is piercing the sky and going," “Kad sekabet-tairu”.

⁷ The word "بَيْنِ" (bayni) in verse 7 of Surah Tariq means "from between" as well as "place of separation." The same word appears in verse (18/Al-Kahf 61): "فَلَمَّا بَلَغَا مَجْمَعَ بَيْنِهِمَا / And when they reached the junction between the two seas," the word "بَيْنِهِمَا / between them" means, according to Raghib al-Isfahani, "the place of separation."

⁸ In a similar usage in this verse, another scientific miracle of the Quran referring to the formation of milk in the bellies of cattle (16/An-Nahl 66), the expression "مِنْ بَيْنِ فَرْثٍ وَدَمٍ / from between dung and blood" means "filtered from dung and blood."

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