230717P - THE QUR’AN AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES MANIFESTATIONS IN ANATOMY

Presented on Saturday, 15th JULY 2023 9.00am MALAYSIAN TIME by Professor Omar Hasan Kasule Sr. MB ChB (MUK), MPH (Harvard), DrPH (Harvard)

 

A. STRUCTURAL ORGANIZATION: ORGANISMAL LEVEL

Introduction: The human is the only animal with a bipedal posture all the time and has a highly developed cortex giving rise to high levels of intelligence.

Organization:

• The body is organized structurally and functionally at 4 levels: cell, tissue, organ, and organ system.
• The human body is organized as a cylinder with 2 tubes (alimentary canal and spinal canal) and a rod (vertebral column).
• The organization of the body is best understood by considering its embryological origins from three basic tissues: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm.

 

1.0 Organs mentioned in the Qur’an

• Head, ra’as[1]; cheek, khadh[2]; chin, dhiqn[3]; neck, raqbat[4]; neck, ‘unq[5], and face, wajh[6].
• Upper limb: digit[7], elbow, hand, yad[8], upper arm, ‘idhd[9] . Digits are used to point in salat, in dua, and in khutbah.
• Trunk: back, dhahr[10], forehead, jabiin[11],  janb[12].
• Lower limb: leg, rijl[13], shin, saaq[14], and ka’ab[15].
• Skeleton: has three main functions of support, movement, and protection was mentioned in the Qur’an as bones, ‘adhm[16].
• Muscles are mentioned in the Qur'an as meat, lahm[17]: Human civilization is based on the energy produced by contractions of human and animal muscles.

1.0 ORGANS MENTIONED IN THE QUR’AN: References

1. وَأَتِمُّوا۟ ٱلْحَجَّ وَٱلْعُمْرَةَ لِلَّهِ ۚ فَإِنْ أُحْصِرْتُمْ فَمَا ٱسْتَيْسَرَ مِنَ ٱلْهَدْىِ ۖ وَلَا تَحْلِقُوا۟ رُءُوسَكُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ ٱلْهَدْىُ مَحِلَّهُۥ ۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ بِهِۦٓ أَذًۭى مِّن رَّأْسِهِۦ فَفِدْيَةٌۭ مِّن صِيَامٍ أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ أَوْ نُسُكٍۢ ۚ فَإِذَآ أَمِنتُمْ فَمَن تَمَتَّعَ بِٱلْعُمْرَةِ إِلَى ٱلْحَجِّ فَمَا ٱسْتَيْسَرَ مِنَ ٱلْهَدْىِ ۚ فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَـٰثَةِ أَيَّامٍۢ فِى ٱلْحَجِّ وَسَبْعَةٍ إِذَا رَجَعْتُمْ ۗ تِلْكَ عَشَرَةٌۭ كَامِلَةٌۭ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن لَّمْ يَكُنْ أَهْلُهُۥ حَاضِرِى ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ. البقرة: ١٩٦

2. إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتُ ٱلنَّعِيمِ. لقمان: ٨

3. إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا فِىٓ أَعْنَـٰقِهِمْ أَغْلَـٰلًۭا فَهِىَ إِلَى ٱلْأَذْقَانِ فَهُم مُّقْمَحُونَ. يٰسٓ‎: ٨

4. لَا يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِٱللَّغْوِ فِىٓ أَيْمَـٰنِكُمْ وَلَـٰكِن يُؤَاخِذُكُم بِمَا عَقَّدتُّمُ ٱلْأَيْمَـٰنَ ۖ فَكَفَّـٰرَتُهُۥٓ إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَـٰكِينَ مِنْ أَوْسَطِ مَا تُطْعِمُونَ أَهْلِيكُمْ أَوْ كِسْوَتُهُمْ أَوْ تَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍۢ ۖ فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَـٰثَةِ أَيَّامٍۢ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ كَفَّـٰرَةُ أَيْمَـٰنِكُمْ إِذَا حَلَفْتُمْ ۚ وَٱحْفَظُوٓا۟ أَيْمَـٰنَكُمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ. المائدة: ٨٩

1.0  ORGANS MENTIONED IN THE QUR’AN: References, con’t. - 1

5. وَلَا تَجْعَلْ يَدَكَ مَغْلُولَةً إِلَىٰ عُنُقِكَ وَلَا تَبْسُطْهَا كُلَّ ٱلْبَسْطِ فَتَقْعُدَ مَلُومًۭا مَّحْسُورًا. الإساء: ٢٩

6. وَمِنْ حَيْثُ خَرَجْتَ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۖ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ. البقرة: ١٤٩

7. أَوْ كَصَيِّبٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فِيهِ ظُلُمَـٰتٌۭ وَرَعْدٌۭ وَبَرْقٌۭ يَجْعَلُونَ أَصَـٰبِعَهُمْ فِىٓ ءَاذَانِهِم مِّنَ ٱلصَّوَٰعِقِ حَذَرَ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ مُحِيطٌۢ بِٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ . البقرة: ١٩

8. إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُبَايِعُونَكَ إِنَّمَا يُبَايِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ يَدُ ٱللَّهِ فَوْقَ أَيْدِيهِمْ ۚ فَمَن نَّكَثَ فَإِنَّمَا يَنكُثُ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَنْ أَوْفَىٰ بِمَا عَـٰهَدَ عَلَيْهُ ٱللَّهَ فَسَيُؤْتِيهِ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًۭا. الفتح ١٠

9. قَالَ سَنَشُدُّ عَضُدَكَ بِأَخِيكَ وَنَجْعَلُ لَكُمَا سُلْطَـٰنًۭا فَلَا يَصِلُونَ إِلَيْكُمَا ۚ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ أَنتُمَا وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَكُمَا ٱلْغَـٰلِبُونَ. القصص: ٣٥

10. وَإِذْ أَخَذَ رَبُّكَ مِنۢ بَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ مِن ظُهُورِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَأَشْهَدَهُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ أَلَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ ۛ شَهِدْنَآ ۛ أَن تَقُولُوا۟ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ إِنَّا كُنَّا عَنْ هَـٰذَا غَـٰفِلِينَ. الأعراف: ١٧٢

1.0 ORGANS MENTIONED IN THE QUR’AN: References, con’t. - 2

11. فَلَمَّآ أَسْلَمَا وَتَلَّهُۥ لِلْجَبِينِ. الصافات: ١٠٣

12. ٱلَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ قِيَـٰمًۭا وَقُعُودًۭا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَـٰذَا بَـٰطِلًۭا سُبْحَـٰنَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ. العمران: ١٩١

13. يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ فَٱغْسِلُوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلْمَرَافِقِ وَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِرُءُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلْكَعْبَيْنِ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُمْ جُنُبًۭا فَٱطَّهَّرُوا۟ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَآءَ أَحَدٌۭ مِّنكُم مِّنَ ٱلْغَآئِطِ أَوْ لَـٰمَسْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ مَآءًۭ فَتَيَمَّمُوا۟ صَعِيدًۭا طَيِّبًۭا فَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُم مِّنْهُ ۚ مَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْ حَرَجٍۢ وَلَـٰكِن يُرِيدُ لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ. المائدة: ٦

14. قِيلَ لَهَا ٱدْخُلِى ٱلصَّرْحَ ۖ فَلَمَّا رَأَتْهُ حَسِبَتْهُ لُجَّةًۭ وَكَشَفَتْ عَن سَاقَيْهَا ۚ قَالَ إِنَّهُۥ صَرْحٌۭ مُّمَرَّدٌۭ مِّن قَوَارِيرَ ۗ قَالَتْ رَبِّ إِنِّى ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِى وَأَسْلَمْتُ مَعَ سُلَيْمَـٰنَ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ. النمل: ٤٤

1.0 ORGANS MENTIONED IN THE QUR’AN: References, con’t. - 3

15. يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ فَٱغْسِلُوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلْمَرَافِقِ وَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِرُءُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلْكَعْبَيْنِ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُمْ جُنُبًۭا فَٱطَّهَّرُوا۟ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَآءَ أَحَدٌۭ مِّنكُم مِّنَ ٱلْغَآئِطِ أَوْ لَـٰمَسْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ مَآءًۭ فَتَيَمَّمُوا۟ صَعِيدًۭا طَيِّبًۭا فَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُم مِّنْهُ ۚ مَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْ حَرَجٍۢ وَلَـٰكِن يُرِيدُ لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ. المائدة: ٦

16. ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ تُبْعَثُونَ. المؤمنون: ١٦

17. أَوْ كَٱلَّذِى مَرَّ عَلَىٰ قَرْيَةٍۢ وَهِىَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا قَالَ أَنَّىٰ يُحْىِۦ هَـٰذِهِ ٱللَّهُ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا ۖ فَأَمَاتَهُ ٱللَّهُ مِا۟ئَةَ عَامٍۢ ثُمَّ بَعَثَهُۥ ۖ قَالَ كَمْ لَبِثْتَ ۖ قَالَ لَبِثْتُ يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍۢ ۖ قَالَ بَل لَّبِثْتَ مِا۟ئَةَ عَامٍۢ فَٱنظُرْ إِلَىٰ طَعَامِكَ وَشَرَابِكَ لَمْ يَتَسَنَّهْ ۖ وَٱنظُرْ إِلَىٰ حِمَارِكَ وَلِنَجْعَلَكَ ءَايَةًۭ لِّلنَّاسِ ۖ وَٱنظُرْ إِلَى ٱلْعِظَامِ كَيْفَ نُنشِزُهَا ثُمَّ نَكْسُوهَا لَحْمًۭا ۚ فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُۥ قَالَ أَعْلَمُ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌۭ. البقرة: ٢٥٩

2.0 Use of organs: ibadat & ma’asiyat

• Organs are used for worship, work, aggression, and sinning.
• Prostration in salat is on 7 bones
• Organs can also be misused to commit sins. Zina of organs, zina al jawarih, other than the genitalia e.g. the eye, ear, and the leg was mentioned by the prophet[18].
• Organs will act as witnesses against the owner on the last day so that he or she cannot deny their sins.

Reference:

18. Al-Bukhari

3.0 Organs of wudhu

• Wudhu, a type of ibadat in itself and is also a pre-condition for other types of ibadat, has special hygienic significance.
• Only exposed organs are washed: the face, hands, forearm, leg, ear, mouth, nose, and hair[19]. Cleaning the nose clears germs and dirt. The concept of environmental pollution is implied
• Wudhu is not valid without istinja that cleans the excreta away.

Reference:

19. ٱلْيَوْمَ أُحِلَّ لَكُمُ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتُ ۖ وَطَعَامُ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ حِلٌّۭ لَّكُمْ وَطَعَامُكُمْ حِلٌّۭ لَّهُمْ ۖ وَٱلْمُحْصَنَـٰتُ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ وَٱلْمُحْصَنَـٰتُ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ إِذَآ ءَاتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ مُحْصِنِينَ غَيْرَ مُسَـٰفِحِينَ وَلَا مُتَّخِذِىٓ أَخْدَانٍۢ ۗ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِٱلْإِيمَـٰنِ فَقَدْ حَبِطَ عَمَلُهُۥ وَهُوَ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ مِنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ. المائدة: ٥

4.0 Water is the basis of life

• Water is the essence of life.
• أَوَلَمْ يَرَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَنَّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ كَانَتَا رَتْقًا فَفَتَقْنَاهُمَا ۖ وَجَعَلْنَا مِنَ الْمَاءِ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ حَيٍّ ۖ أَفَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ. الأنبياء: 30)
• Water constitutes 60% of the human body being found both in the intra-cellular and the extra-cellular compartments.
• The rest of the body are organic compounds (lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids) or inorganic minerals (calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, magnesium, cobalt, copper, iodine, manganese, and zinc). 
• Water, a universal solvent, mediates all chemical functions of the body
• The physical property of water expanding and not contracting in freezing is related to maintenance of life

A. STRUCTURAL ORGANIZATION: CELLULAR LEVEL

• The human body is made up of small particulate parts. The particulate nature of the body is implied in the Qur’anic term, jam’u al idhaam.
• These constitute the basic building blocks of the body. All the basic processes of life are found in the cell. The cell has organelles that can correspond to the human skin, skeleton, brain, and digestive tract.
• Thus, Allah is able to expand, yabsit and compress, yaqbidh, as He wishes. The same functions could be at a macro level or at a micro level.
• Cells are surprisingly similar in structure and function despite the differences in location and specialization.
• The same cellular DNA has different effects in different cells. Each cellular compartment is specialized for particular functions.

1.0 Chemical composition of the cell:

• The process of combining the basic elements of O, H, C, N, and P to make the basic cellular structure could not be random.
• Allah created the cell in a purposive way as part of the human organism.
• The complexity and specialization of cells was created and could not be a chance evolutionary event.
• There have been many arguments between creationists and evolutionists. It is not possible to set up an experiment to settle the argument either way because the phenomena concerned are part of human biological history and cannot be tested empirically today. The answer can only be found in revelation, wahy.

2.0 Parity, Zawjayn:

• Parity is one of the constants of creation, sunan al Llah fi al khalq[20].
• The female and male gender parity is one special case of parity that is essential for a normally-functioning human society[21].
• Males and females are a garment for one another[22].
• Most human organs occur in pairs. Even single organs like the heart, the uterus or the brain have distinguishable left and right portions; they were paired organs early in embryological development and became fused into one organ later in life.
• Paired organs are not always exactly the same.
• The phenomenon of parity is also found in animals, plants[23], and the phenomena of day and night[24].
• Parity in the human body serves many purposes. It creates balance and harmony. The paired organ or structure is a spare one in case the other is indisposed.
• The basic hereditary material of the cell, DNA also illustrates this parity in that it exists in a double helix. The 23 human chromosomes are also in pairs.

2.0 Parity, Zawjayn: References

20. سُنَّةَ ٱللَّهِ فِى ٱلَّذِينَ خَلَوْا۟ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّةِ ٱللَّهِ تَبْدِيلًۭا. الأحزاب ٦٢

21. قِيلَ ٱدْخُلِ ٱلْجَنَّةَ ۖ قَالَ يَـٰلَيْتَ قَوْمِى يَعْلَمُونَ. يٰسٓ‎: ٢٦

22. أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ لَيْلَةَ ٱلصِّيَامِ ٱلرَّفَثُ إِلَىٰ نِسَآئِكُمْ ۚ هُنَّ لِبَاسٌۭ لَّكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لِبَاسٌۭ لَّهُنَّ ۗ عَلِمَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ تَخْتَانُونَ أَنفُسَكُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَعَفَا عَنكُمْ ۖ فَٱلْـَٔـٰنَ بَـٰشِرُوهُنَّ وَٱبْتَغُوا۟ مَا كَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۚ وَكُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ ٱلْخَيْطُ ٱلْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ ٱلْخَيْطِ ٱلْأَسْوَدِ مِنَ ٱلْفَجْرِ ۖ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّوا۟ ٱلصِّيَامَ إِلَى ٱلَّيْلِ ۚ وَلَا تُبَـٰشِرُوهُنَّ وَأَنتُمْ عَـٰكِفُونَ فِى ٱلْمَسَـٰجِدِ ۗ تِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَقْرَبُوهَا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ. البقرة: ١٨٧

23. سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلْأَزْوَٰجَ كُلَّهَا مِمَّا تُنۢبِتُ ٱلْأَرْضُ وَمِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَمِمَّا لَا يَعْلَمُونَ. يٰسٓ‎: ٣٦

24. وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ ۖ كُلٌّۭ فِى فَلَكٍۢ يَسْبَحُونَز الأنبياء ٣٣

3.0 Symmetry:

• Both circular and lateral symmetry are a constant feature of creation.
• Human handiwork can create works of beauty by using symmetric patterns. Yet human endeavors are very far from Allah’s creation.
• The human body has bilateral symmetry.

4.0 Laterality

• Laterality of left and right: The Qur’an discussed laterality in several verses[25]. There is a difference in strength and use between the right and left sides of the body that reflects hemispheric dominance.
• Islamic culture also emphasises this laterality. The right side is preferable to the left one. The right hand is preferred in eating and greeting. The left hand is used exclusively for matters of personal hygiene. Sleeping is preferably on the right side of the body. Wearing shoes is started with the right and putting them off is started with the left.
• Brain handedness: The human organism has several examples of laterality. The brain has 2 identical hemispheres.
• Manual handedness is common in humans some are right-handed while others are left-handed while a few are ambidextrous. It is not known whether handedness is genetic or is due to environmental influence and training. The body has laterality in all its organs and structures.

 

25. عَنِ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ ٱلشِّمَالِ عِزِينَ. المعارج: ٣٧

B. STRUCTURE and FUNCTION: COMPLEXITY WITH SIMPLICITY:

• A student of anatomy is amazed at the detail and complexity involved even in the smallest organs
• Alongside this complexity is a basic simplicity. The complex human body is made up of cells as basic units of life. The cell is the basic building block. It is a miracle that the complex human body is composed of these tiny components that are in themselves very complex systems.
• The DNA molecule controls all the myriad functions of the cell.
• The many complex differences between males and females are due to a single pair of chromosomes, X & Y, and two glands, the ovary and the testis.
• The complex metabolic processes have simple end-products: glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids. At the intellectual level the co-existence of simplicity with complexity has been put to good use by humans. Study of the simple microorganisms helps understand the more complex organisms.
• It is conceptually wrong to refer to humans and mammals as higher organisms and the prokaryotes as lower organisms. There is no superiority based on biological characteristics. Everything that Allah created was perfect it its own way and none can be considered biologically inferior.

1.0 Adaptation of Structure to Function:

• Human tissues are specialized: nervous, muscle, epithelial, and connective. Structure determines function and vice versa.
• Ventricles of the heart have thicker muscles than auricles because they do more work. Similarly, the left ventricle has thicker walls than the right ventricle because it performs more work.
• The ovoid configuration of the erythrocyte and the large surface area are optimal for diffusion. The surface area of the erythrocyte is 138 cubic mu. A sphere of the same volume would have a surface area of 95 cubic mu.
• The perfect match between structure and function of various tissues and organs was created by Allah de novo and did not arise as a result of evolutionary adaptation. All was pre-conceived in Allah’s grand design for creation.

2.0 Variations in Structure and Function:

• Perfection does not exclude variations. No two individuals are exactly alike. There are differences due to age, sex, race, genetic inheritance, and environmental effects.
• There are also differences in the same individual among paired organs.
• These differences are however within the perfect scheme of creation.

3.0 Consistency and Predictability:

• Biological structure and function are consistent within species and across species. 
• This consistency is the basis of predictability of biological phenomena.
•  
• 4.0 Anticipation:
• Close study of the anatomical structure and its variations reveals that there is anticipation of physiological and pathological changes.
• For example, the brain is supplied by the carotid and vertebral arteries that are inter-connected in the circle of Willis. Blockage of either the carotid of the vertebral arteries does not cut off the brain blood supply because of existence of a collateral supply.
• The brain is the most vulnerable organ to hypoxia. Its total blood flow is 750 ml/mn. Consciousness is lost at blood flow less than 450 ml/min and is irreversible if blood flow is less than 350 ml/min.
• The carotid sinus reflex and the medulla oblongata ischemic reflexes are protective of the brain circulation and will trigger corrective action when the blood pressure or oxygen content decrease.

5.0 Protection:

• All human structures are created with mechanisms that protect them from anticipated injury. There are basically 5 protective systems.
• Mechanical e.g. The cranium protects the brain, the pleural, peritoneal, and pericardial membranes protect organs and viscera that they enclose.
• Secretions e.g., ear-wax.
• Natural/in-born non-specific immunity that may be cellular e.g., phagocytes, mast cells, neutrophils or humoral e.g., complement, lysozymes, interferon
• Acquired immunity that may be cellular (B-lymphocytes, T-lymohocytes, natural killer cells) or humoral.

6.0 CHANGES: Staging

• Many anatomical processes occur in phases. This is Allah’s plan to make sure that there is perfect interaction with the environment.
• For example, the mitotic division of the cell has 4 phases: inter-phase (G1=cell growth and DNA synthesis, G2=DNA replication, G3=growth), prophase, metaphase, and telophase.
• Embryological development is staged.
• Chemical and metabolic processes occur in phases.
• Allah had the power to make these processes occur in one step. He however had a higher purpose to let them proceed in phases.

7.0 CHANGES: Life cycle:

• Life cycle refers to changes from the start until adulthood when reproduction starts to begin the cycle once again.
• Life begins with the fusion of the male and female gametes.
• These grow into adults who produce male and female gametes once again.

8.0 CHANGES: Growth

• Growth refers to increase is size due to increase in either the number of cells or the size of cells or of both. Growth is pre-determined and follows a predictable pattern based onco genetic mechanisms. The rate of growth generally declines with age.
• Growth is also proportional in that different tissues grow at different rates and at different times but with perfect coordination to enable optimal functioning.
• Cell number increases by mitosis. Cell division is balanced by cell death.
• The ability of cells to grow is highest in the embryo and declines progressively in later life.
• Some tissues have little or no cell division whereas others divide continuously. For example, no new brain cells form after the embryonic period. Bone marrow cells that produce red and white blood cells retain the ability to divide throughout life.

8.0 CHANGES: Growth, con’t.

• Neoplasms result when the usual patterns of cell growth are disturbed.
• Compensatory growth occurs when one of a paired organs is destroyed.
• If the growth is increase in cell size it is called hypertrophy. If it is an increase in cell number it is called hyperplasia.
• Environmental factors such as nutrients, oxygen, and chemicals affect growth.
• Internal factors such as hormones eg growth hormone, thyroid hormone affect general growth. Sex hormones affect growth of gonads.
• Feedback inhibition plays a role in regulating growth. The human growth hormone, somatotropin, is a peptide secreted by the anterior pituitary. It stimulates tissue growth by stimulating protein synthesis. GH is used to treat dwarfism in children. Somatrem is a synthetic GH produced by DNA recombinant technology.

9.0 CHANGES: Biologic growth and development:

• The body changes in size, shape, and function all throughout its life span. These changes are progressive, non-repetitive, and follow a pre-determined and largely predictable course under the control of DNA.
• The essence of growth and development is translating the genetic potential (genotype) into reality (phenotype).
• The change may be structural or functional. Structural changes are closely correlated with functional changes.
• It may be quantitative (increase in size or growth) or qualitative (change in nature and function or development).
• In practice both quantitative and qualitative changes occur together.
• Growth is increase in the number and size of cells. The 2 processes may occur simultaneously or separately. Development involves changes of shape (morphogenesis) and differentiation (specialization).

9.0 CHANGES: Biologic growth and development, con’t.

• Growth and development are single-phase. This means that organs that appear early in life persists until the end. Some animals such as frogs and insects have multiphase growth and development in that they pass through larval before reaching adult forms and the larval structures bear little resemblance to adult structures.
• There is a wide range of normal growth and development.
• Abnormal growth and development result from genetic or environmental factors.
• Growth and development seem to be under tight control in normal circumstances. The control is exercised by genes and homeostatic feedback and regulatory mechanisms.
• Carcinogenesis (uncontrolled tissue growth) occurs due to loss of this control.
• The growth potential of cells is very high during the embryonic period. At that stage toti-potential cells are capable of growing into any type of tissue. This growth potential is progressively lost and is for most tissues unavailable after the embryonic period.

10.0 Integrity of DNA:

• Cellular DNA is subjected to constant mutation pressure. The mutations result in base substitution, deletion, insertion or rearrangement.
• Mutated cells may be eliminated by the immunological surveillance system on the basis that they are abnormal or they may be repaired and return to normal function.
• Repair processes preserve the integrity of DNA.
• The integrity is further preserved by the conservative replication of DNA.
• Preserving DNA integrity ensures that control of metabolic processes is constant.

11.0 Mitosis and Meiosis

• Mitosis is essential to provide new cells to replace or repair tissues. In mitotic reproduction, one cell divides to give rise to 2 identical daughter cells.
• Meiosis: Meiosis, also called reduction division, is the basis of sexual reproduction. It involves doubling of chromosomes followed by two divisions thus creating 4 gametes each containing half the number of chromosomes in the original cell.
• Meiosis can lead to big diversity. The 46 human chromosomes can form 23 pairs each with a maternal and a paternal chromosome. By independent assortment, 2²³ = 8,388,608 kinds of sex cells in each parent. The total number of sex cells for both parents becomes 2²³ . 2²³ = 24^46.

12.0 Control of Cell Growth:

• Growth factor is involved in cell growth. It binds to cell receptors causing activation of the protein phosphorylation cascade which leads to entry into the cell cycle.
• Cyclins are proteins that modulate the above process.
• Growth is limited by contact inhibition.

13.0 Control of Embryogenesis:

• The time-table and pre-determinism of the growth process result in a constant and predictable outcome. None of the phenomena of growth exceeds its expectations.
• There are correlations among physical, intellectual, moral, & social growth.
• The shaping in the uterine stage is according to Allah’s wish; He makes it as He likes[26].
• The uterine stage is for a limited period.
• The process goes through pre-determined stages[27]. Growth in definite stages, twuur[28].

13.0 Control of Embryogenesis, Reference

26. هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُصَوِّرُكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْحَامِ كَيْفَ يَشَآءُ ۚ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ. العمران: ٦

27. يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِن كُنتُمْ فِى رَيْبٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْبَعْثِ فَإِنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰكُم مِّن تُرَابٍۢ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطْفَةٍۢ ثُمَّ مِنْ عَلَقَةٍۢ ثُمَّ مِن مُّضْغَةٍۢ مُّخَلَّقَةٍۢ وَغَيْرِ مُخَلَّقَةٍۢ لِّنُبَيِّنَ لَكُمْ ۚ وَنُقِرُّ فِى ٱلْأَرْحَامِ مَا نَشَآءُ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍۢ مُّسَمًّۭى ثُمَّ نُخْرِجُكُمْ طِفْلًۭا ثُمَّ لِتَبْلُغُوٓا۟ أَشُدَّكُمْ ۖ وَمِنكُم مَّن يُتَوَفَّىٰ وَمِنكُم مَّن يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰٓ أَرْذَلِ ٱلْعُمُرِ لِكَيْلَا يَعْلَمَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ عِلْمٍۢ شَيْـًۭٔا ۚ وَتَرَى ٱلْأَرْضَ هَامِدَةًۭ فَإِذَآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْهَا ٱلْمَآءَ ٱهْتَزَّتْ وَرَبَتْ وَأَنۢبَتَتْ مِن كُلِّ زَوْجٍۭ بَهِيجٍۢ ٥. ثُمَّ خَلَقْنَا ٱلنُّطْفَةَ عَلَقَةًۭ فَخَلَقْنَا ٱلْعَلَقَةَ مُضْغَةًۭ فَخَلَقْنَا ٱلْمُضْغَةَ عِظَـٰمًۭا فَكَسَوْنَا ٱلْعِظَـٰمَ لَحْمًۭا ثُمَّ أَنشَأْنَـٰهُ خَلْقًا ءَاخَرَ ۚ فَتَبَارَكَ ٱللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ ٱلْخَـٰلِقِينَ ١٤. خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍۢ وَٰحِدَةٍۢ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَأَنزَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ ثَمَـٰنِيَةَ أَزْوَٰجٍۢ ۚ يَخْلُقُكُمْ فِى بُطُونِ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمْ خَلْقًۭا مِّنۢ بَعْدِ خَلْقٍۢ فِى ظُلُمَـٰتٍۢ ثَلَـٰثٍۢ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ لَهُ ٱلْمُلْكُ ۖ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ تُصْرَفُونَ ٦

28. يَغْفِرْ لَكُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمْ وَيُؤَخِّرْكُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍۢ مُّسَمًّى ۚ إِنَّ أَجَلَ ٱللَّهِ إِذَا جَآءَ لَا يُؤَخَّرُ ۖ لَوْ كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ٤

14.0 Post-natal growth in 5 stages

• Intra-uterine,Infancy and childhood, tufuula),
• Youth, sinn al shudd,
• Middle age, sinn al rishd,
• Old age, shaikhukhat[29].

29. وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ مَآءَ مَدْيَنَ وَجَدَ عَلَيْهِ أُمَّةًۭ مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ يَسْقُونَ وَوَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمُ ٱمْرَأَتَيْنِ تَذُودَانِ ۖ قَالَ مَا خَطْبُكُمَا ۖ قَالَتَا لَا نَسْقِى حَتَّىٰ يُصْدِرَ ٱلرِّعَآءُ ۖ وَأَبُونَا شَيْخٌۭ كَبِيرٌۭ ٢٣

15.0 Rationale of Staged Growth:

• The staged and relatively slow growth and change is necessary to allow interaction with and learning from the environment since the fetal stage and the later period of childhood are learning and adaptation processes to the environment.
• Relations established among organs and tissues in the embryological period correlate with later physiology and pathology.
• Embryological blood supply and innervation persist even when organs migrate to new positions. Some embryological organs and tissues disappear after serving their function.

16.0 Growth and Decline:

• It is a constant law that phenomena of growth and renewal co-exist with those of degeneration and decay. The overall result is determined by which of the two phenomena is dominant at a particular time.
• Human cells are growing and are increasing by mitosis but at the same time, old and effete cells are broken down.
• The human body declines and degenerates toward old age, ardhal al umr[30]. This overall physical decline occurs despite the daily renewal of cells.

17.0 Concept of Life-Span or Half-Life:

• Every living thing has a maximum lifespan. This applies to cells, sub-cellular organelles, tissues, and whole organisms.
• In biology, life-span is expressed as a half-life which is a measure of the time taken for a 50% decay. Half-life (T1/2) for albumin is 15-20 days, platelets 8-14 days, erythrocytes 120 days.
• Erythrocytes are replaced at the rate of 2 million a second.
• Exponential decay is a constant of nature and is considered one of the sunan.

18.0 Concept of Life Span vs Health Span

• Life span is in Allah’s control
• Healthspan is partially under human control but the qadar of Allah is above all