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Hadith #4: Creation in the Mother's Womb modem-day equipment to actually witness the development of the human in the womb. However, as ibn al-Qayyim pointed out, when exactly is the spirit breathed into the human can only be known through revelation from the Creator. 1 There is no way to tell simply by witnessing what goes on in the womb to know when the spirit has been breathed into the embryo. A common answer to this question is that the rooh is breathed into the new human after 120 days in the womb. Some commentators state that there is agreement on this point.2 However, for most scholars, this answer is directly determined by the understanding of this hadith of ibn Masood that the period of the nutfah is forty days, followed by a forty-day period of the alaqah which is also followed by a forty-day period of the mudhghah. But this interpretation seems to be incorrect. Therefore, in order to answer this question correctly one must study closely the related texts of the Quran and hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him). In particular, in Sahih Muslim, there are a number of hadith that are relevant. In the Book of Qadar, Imam Muslim has recorded the following hadith: ,,. ,,. j .."'. J. J. J ,,.. .... . J , ··' , ,, i '. ࢩ '1' ' .... 1 : , ·-' ਢ-'I '-'-Ɵ Ơ • '·•. , ' 1' i' " •i' , ,, ,_ ठ l.) ࢨ C y. .J" ࢧ l..S.J-' r-' tUJ!.) ट.) डJ .) ࢦ "[Narrated Hudhaifah ibn Usaid:] After the nutfah3 is in the womb for forty or forty five nights, the angel comes to it and says, 'O Lord, will it be unfortunate or fortunate?' And these matters shall be written. Then he says, 'O Lord, will it be a male or female?' And such shall be recorded. His actions, deeds, life span and provisions will then be recorded. Then the pages shall be folded up and there is no addition or subtraction from them." 1 He says that this is why the scientists and others are so confused on this matter. Shams al-Din ibn al-Qayyim, al-Tibyaan .fi Aqsaam al-Quran (Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyah, 1982), p. 210. Ibn al-Qayyim himself concludes that this event takes place after 120 days based on his understanding of this particular hadith from ibn Masood. 2 Al-Mudaabaghi, p. 98. 3 It may still be referred to as a nutfah, since it still keeps part of that characteristic, even though it has passed through other stages. Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi ,.. ,,,. ,,,. ..-. / _,. J. ; O ,, J -' Iȉ ॅ ,' ै o.J.S . ૢLi ǭ\ J J•. ' " • ǭ\ ૝- *L;, Le &' . •'• Æ ·!- -- . , -- : cॆ r..i . .J ._) ॄ J ૟ૠ- '{ ' ( L. झ J ञ "When the nutfah passes forty-two nights in the womb, Allah sends to it an angel who shapes it and creates its hearing, seeing, skin, flesh and bones. Then he says, 'O Lord, is it a male or female?' Then your Lord decrees whatever He wills and the angel records it. Then he says, 'O Lord, what is its life span?' Then your Lord says whatever He wills and it is recorded by the angel. Then he says, 'O Lord, what will be its provisions?' Then your Lord decrees what He wills and it is recorded by the angel. Then the angel leaves with the scroll in his hand. Nothing shall be added to what he was ordered nor shall anything be decreased." 1 "" & IP .J ..-. J .J J \:.U.:., • i I "i\ ill ૞ " • ƃ Le -, J ., . r-' "The nutfah remains in the womb for forty nights. Then the angel appears to it. [Zuhair said, 'I think that he said, "The one who creates it."] The angel says, 'O Lord, is it a male or female?' Then Allah shall make it a male or female. Then he says, 'Shall he be complete or incomplete [physically speaking]?' Then Allah shall decree him complete or incomplete. Then the angel says, 'O Lord, what shall be his provisions, his life span, his character?' Then Allah decrees if he shall be fortunate or unfortunate." None of these hadith explicitly mention the rooh or human spirit and when it is breathed into the embryo. However, they are all explicit that the angel coming to the womb occurs at around forty, forty-two or forty-five days or nights. This further supports the interpretation of this hadith that all of these stages are completed within the first forty days and then the angel is sent to the womb to record these aspects of the human being. A relevant verse of the Quran which states, 1 Commenting on this hadith, Albar wrote (p.