[Al-Quran 50:6-8] Have they not looked at the heaven above them - how We structured it and adorned it and how it has no rifts? And the earth - We spread it out and cast therein firmly set mountains and made grow therein [something] of every beautiful kind, Giving insight and a reminder for every servant who turns [to Allah].

Monday, October 26, 2015

Virgin Birth

Related post:

Abstract
Virgin birth of Jesus is a matter of much debate. What we believe or not is a matter of faith, and depends on how we read and interpret the scripture(s). However, scientists have been studying parthenogenesis, the term used to describe virgin birth. Though virgin birth has been widely observed in nature, there are very few cases of experimental virgin birth in mammals, and no known cases yet in the wild. Combining observed phenomenon with emerging studies in Biophysics, and using analogies of known computing and communication technology, we can try to comprehend and appreciate the miracle of virgin birth. 


Full Text
Virgin birth of Jesus is a matter of much debate. Many Muslims and Christians believe that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a virgin, that Jesus had no human father, and was immaculately conceived through the Word of God. Most Christians believe Jesus was the Son of God, while Muslims believe Jesus is/was a human: a Prophet and Messenger of God. On the other hand, there are those who do not believe in virgin birth. All groups base their beliefs on scripture or/and science. However, even today, even if science proves the possibility, if someone was to claim virgin birth, only a very few people directly interacting with the woman may know the truth of the matter, while others may still keep doubting and debating the truth of the claim and counter-claims. 

From the current scientific knowledge-base, we can explore if there exists any explanation for these ‘signs’ mentioned in the scriptures: 
  • Does science have an explanation for virgin birth? The answer is both Yes and No.
  • Has virgin birth been observed? Yes, in plants, invertebrates and few vertebrates, both in isolation and in the wild. Mammals are the only exception, where the only observed cases of virgin birth are in the laboratory experiments on rabbits, mice and monkeys. 

Drawing upon available research on Sound, Communication Technology, Analog and Digital Biology, we can begin to construct a model with the help of the verses of the Quran.


Quran
Following are some of  the verses providing insights into how this miracle of virgin birth was brought about: 
Sound, Word, Command
Quran 3:45 informs us that the angels gave Mary glad tidings of a Word (command) from Allah. Quran 19:17 and 66:12 both use the word ruh-hinna (Our Spirit) to convey what was breathed into her.  

Bashr created from Water
Quran 25:54 informs us that Allah has created ‘Bashr’ (commonly taken to mean human or mortal) from water, and then made lineage and (relationships through) marriage.  Quran 3:47 and 19:20 both quote Mary wondering how can she have a child when she has not been touched by any ‘Bashr’.

Origin of Humans
Quran 4:1 and 7:189 inform us that the first human couple (male and female) have been created from a single ‘nafs’. Interestingly, the word ‘nafs’ is in feminine gender. I think ‘nafs’ is literally feminine, not just grammatically, as discussed in an earlier post: The First Humans 
If the ‘nafs’ is literally feminine, then we already have a precedence of (i) non-sexual reproduction, and (ii) male created from a female

Mary’s Virginity  
Quran 66 presents Mary as an example of those who believed:
[Quran 66:12 Translation: Literal] And Maryam, (the) daughter (of) Imran who guarded her chastity, so We breathed into it of Our Spirit. And she believed (in the) Words (of) her Lord and His Books, and she was of the devoutly obedient.  

Quran 3:33-62 and 19:16-37 relate the details of Mary, Jesus’ conception and birth, and his mission: 

Jesus' Lineage  
[Quran 3:33 Translation: Literal] Indeed, Allah chose Adam and Nuh, and (the) family (of) Ibrahim and (the) family (of) Imran over the worlds.

Lineage is generally determined by the father/sperm:
[Quran 33:4 - 33:5 Translation: Literal] ... And not He has made your adopted sons your sons. That (is) your saying by your mouths, but Allah says the truth, and He guides (to) the Way. Call them by their fathers; it (is) more just near Allah. But if not you know their fathers - then (they are) your brothers in [the] religion and your friends. But not is upon you any blame in what you made a mistake in it, but what intended your hearts. And Allah (is) Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

In the case of Jesus, had there been a father of Jesus, then Jesus’ lineage would be from the family of his father, and not of his mother Mary, daughter of Imran. For Jesus to be from the family of Imran, all his chromosomes must have come from his mother.

Conception of Jesus
[Quran 3:47 Translation: Literal] She said, "My Lord how is [it] for me a boy, and (has) not touch(ed) me any man?" He said, "Thus Allah creates what He wills. When He decrees a matter then only He says to it, "Be," and it becomes.
[Quran 19:1919:22 Translation: Literal] He said, "Only I am a Messenger (from) your Lord, that I (may) bestow on you a son pure." … So she conceived and she withdrew with him (to) a place remote. 

Divine Proofs
Jesus was reproduced without a father from his mother's body. If that was too difficult to believe, Allah showed His signs through Jesus by granting him permission to perform the following miracles:
[Quran 3:49 Translation: Literal]And (make him) a Messenger to (the) Children (of) Israel, "Indeed, I [surely] [I] (have) come (to) you with a sign from your Lord that I [I] design for you from [the] clay like the form (of) the bird, then I breath into it and it becomes a bird by (the) permission (of) Allah. And I cure the blind, and the leper, and I give life (to) the dead by (the) permission (of) Allah. And I inform you of what you eat and what you store in your houses. Indeed, in that (is) surely a sign for you, if you are believers.

Divine Challenge 
[Quran 3:593:62 Translation: Literal] Indeed, (the) likeness (of) Isa near Allah (is) like (the) likeness (of) Adam. He created him from dust then He said to him, "Be," and he was. The truth (is) from your Lord, so (do) not be among the doubters. Then whoever argues (with) you concerning it after what came to you of the knowledge then say, "Come, let us call our sons and your sons, and our women and your women, and ourselves and yourselves, then let us pray humbly, and [we] invoke the curse (of) Allah on the liars.  Indeed this, surely it (is) the narration - [the] true. And (there is) no god except Allah. And indeed, Allah, surely He (is) the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.




Science
Parthenogenesis
Parthenogenesis is the technical term for asexual reproduction.  

Parthenogenesis /ˌpɑrθənɵˈdʒɛnɨsɨs/ (from the Greek παρθένος parthenos, "virgin", + γένεσις genesis, "creation"[1]) is a form of asexual reproduction in which growth and development of embryos occur without fertilization. In animals, parthenogenesis means development of an embryo from an unfertilized egg cell and is a component process of apomixis.
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Parthenogenesis occurs naturally in many plants, some invertebrate animal species (including nematodeswater fleas, some scorpionsaphids, some bees, some Phasmida and parasitic wasps) and a few vertebrates (such as some fish,[2] amphibiansreptiles[3][4] and very rarely birds[5]). This type of reproduction has been induced artificially in a few species including fish and amphibians.[6]

Some species reproduce exclusively by parthenogenesis (such as the Bdelloid rotifers), while others can switch between sexual reproduction and parthenogenesis. 

In apomictic parthenogenesis, the offspring are clones of the mother and hence are usually (except for aphids) female. In the case of aphids, parthenogenetically produced males and females are clones of their mother except that the males lack one of the X chromosomes (XO).[22]
When meiosis is involved, the sex of the offspring will depend on the type of sex determination system and the type of apomixis.
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In many hymenopteran insects such as honeybees, female eggs are produced sexually, using sperm from a drone father, while the production of further drones (males) depends on the queen (and occasionally workers) producing unfertilised eggs. This means that females (workers and queens) are always diploid, while males (drones) are always haploid, and produced parthenogenetically.

Seven sawfish in Florida have become the first virgin-born animals ever found in the wild from a sexually reproducing species.

There are no known cases of naturally occurring mammalian parthenogenesis in the wild. Parthenogenetic progeny of mammals would have two X chromosomes, and would therefore be female.
In 1936, Gregory Goodwin Pincus reported successfully inducing parthenogenesis in a rabbit.[78] In April 2004, scientists at Tokyo University of Agriculture used parthenogenesis successfully to create a fatherless mouse. Using gene targeting, they were able to manipulate two imprinted loci H19/IGF2 and DLK1/MEG3 to produce bi-maternal mice at high frequency[79] and subsequently show that fatherless mice have enhanced longevity.[80]
Induced parthenogenesis in mice and monkeys often results in abnormal development. ... As a consequence, research on human parthenogenesis is focused on the production of embryonic stem cells for use in medical treatment, not as a reproductive strategy.

On August 2, 2007, after much independent investigation, it was revealed that discredited South Korean scientist Hwang Woo-Suk unknowingly produced the first human embryos resulting from parthenogenesis… This made Hwang the first, unknowingly, to successfully perform the process of parthenogenesis to create a human embryon and, ultimately, a human parthenogenetic stem cell line.

Recent Research in Sound  & Water
Properties of Sound are already being used effectively in diagnostics and other procedures. New studies and experiments are revealing the ability of sound to arrange matter in various patterns and waves.  

A simple and interesting experiment demonstrating how sound can be used at various frequencies to effect changes:

Water is the basis of all life forms. Scientists are just beginning to discover the amazing properties of water. There is emerging research and debate on whether water has a memory. Proponents believe that water retains memory of everything it comes in contact with, and this data can be transmitted even through phone lines. The term used for this area of study is Digital Biology.

However, these researches are in an elementary stage, and need to develop theoretically and technologically.  

Wirelessly Reprogrammed
Using our rudimentary knowledge, we can try to comprehend and appreciate the miracle of virgin birth with the following analogies of known computing and communication technology:
Word of God = Sound-based Command
Our Spirit= Algorithm  
Mary’s Body=A Living Matrix
Appeared as Bashr to Mary= Data Language Compatibility (Water Memory)
Breathed = Transmitted Wirelessly
She Conceived= Parthogenetic Pregnancy

I speculate that perhaps what is meant by the Word of God and Our Spirit being breathed into Mary, is that a wireless procedure was performed through which the sound (Word/Command/Instruction) was transmitted to Mary, and her body (living matrix) was thus programmed to reproduce parthenogenetically.
And Allah knows best!     


References and Links

Parthenogenesis

Female Sperm

Miraculous Births – Religion / Mythology

Sound

Water

Other



Last updated on: June 3, 2016