Abstract
Surah al-Isra clearly mentions that all humans have their fate tied to their neck. The Bible also mentions the neck and the lowering of the horns in humility and submission. There exists a bone in the neck which is not joined directly with the rest of the skeleton, but is held in place by muscles. It is involved in many key functions. It also contains two pairs of horns.
Full Text
وَكُلَّ إِنسَانٍ أَلْزَمْنَاهُ طَائِرَهُ فِي عُنُقِهِ وَنُخْرِجُ لَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ كِتَابًا يَلْقَاهُ مَنشُورًا
اقْرَأْ كِتَابَكَ كَفَىٰ بِنَفْسِكَ الْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكَ حَسِيبًا
And [for] every person We have imposed his fate upon his neck, and We will produce for him on the Day of Resurrection a record which he will encounter spread open.
[It will be said], "Read your record. Sufficient is your nafs against you this Day as accountant."
The Quran repeatedly reminds us that our eternal life will be in accordance with our faith and deeds. The ayaat quoted above from Surah al-Isra clearly mentions that all humans have their fate tied to their neck, recording in detail, and will be produced for us to read on the Day of Resurrection.
Some important points made in these ayaat are:
In Surah Qaf, we read:
In Surah al-Waqiah, we read
It seems that this record is removed at the time of death. In Surah al-Hajj, The Quran challenges the unbeliever of trying to cut off to see if it removes what enrages him:
The Bible also mentions the neck and the lowering of the horns in humility and submission.
There exists a bone in the neck which is not joined directly with the rest of the skeleton, but is held in place by muscles. It is involved in many key functions. It also contains two pairs of horns. Interestingly, variations in its shape and size are being noted in emerging studies.
Hanging around The Neck
The Bible teaches to bind good around the neck:
Of course, the heart does enjoy a central place in the scriptures. We also know that its muscle is shaped like a double helix, as discussed in another post.
Horns in The Neck
Some important points made in these ayaat are:
- all humans have their fate with them
- its tied to their necks
- the root letters of the word for fate shares its root with the word for birds
- this will be taken out on the Day of Resurrection
- it will be readable on that Day
- we will be commanded to read it
- our Nafs will itself be sufficient to take account of our deeds
In Surah Qaf, we read:
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ وَنَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَسْوِسُ بِهِ نَفْسُهُ وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيدِ
إِذْ يَتَلَقَّى الْمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ الشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ
مَّا يَلْفِظُ مِن قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ
وَجَاءَتْ سَكْرَةُ الْمَوْتِ بِالْحَقِّ ذَٰلِكَ مَا كُنتَ مِنْهُ تَحِيدُ
And certainly We created man and We know what whispers to him his nafs, and We (are) nearer to him than (his) habli alwareedi.
When receive the two receivers on the right and on the left seated.
Not he utters any word but with him (is) an observer ready.
And will come (the) stupor (of) death in truth, "That (is) what you were [from it] avoiding."
[Note on habli alwareedi at bottom of this post]
In Surah al-Waqiah, we read
تَنزِيلٌ مِّن رَّبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
أَفَبِهَٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ أَنتُم مُّدْهِنُونَ
وَتَجْعَلُونَ رِزْقَكُمْ أَنَّكُمْ تُكَذِّبُونَ
فَلَوْلَا إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ
وَأَنتُمْ حِينَئِذٍ تَنظُرُونَ
وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنكُمْ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تُبْصِرُونَ
فَلَوْلَا إِن كُنتُمْ غَيْرَ مَدِينِينَ
تَرْجِعُونَهَا إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
A Revelation from (the) Lord (of) the worlds.
Then is it to this statement that you (are) indifferent?
And you make your provision that you deny.
Then why not when it reaches the throat,
And you (at) that time look on,
And We (are) nearer to him than you but you (do) not see,
Then why not, if you are not to be recompensed,
Bring it back, if you are truthful.
It seems that this record is removed at the time of death. In Surah al-Hajj, The Quran challenges the unbeliever of trying to cut off to see if it removes what enrages him:
مَن كَانَ يَظُنُّ أَن لَّن يَنصُرَهُ اللَّهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ فَلْيَمْدُدْ بِسَبَبٍ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ ثُمَّ لْيَقْطَعْ فَلْيَنظُرْ هَلْ يُذْهِبَنَّ كَيْدُهُ مَا يَغِيظُ
[Al-Quran 22:15]
Variously translated as:
[Muhammad Asad] If anyone thinks that God will not succour him in this world and in the life to come, let him reach out unto heaven by any [other] means and [thus try to] make headway: and then let him see whether this scheme of his will indeed do away with the cause of his anguish.
[Abdul Majid Daryabadi] Whosoever hath been imagining that Allah shall not make him victorious in the world and the Hereafter, let him stretch a cord up to the heaven and let him cut it, and let him look if his stratagem can do away that whereat he enrageth.
[Sahih International] Whoever should think that Allah will not support [Prophet Muhammad] in this world and the Hereafter - let him extend a rope to the ceiling, then cut off [his breath], and let him see: will his effort remove that which enrages [him]?
The Bible also mentions the neck and the lowering of the horns in humility and submission.
There exists a bone in the neck which is not joined directly with the rest of the skeleton, but is held in place by muscles. It is involved in many key functions. It also contains two pairs of horns. Interestingly, variations in its shape and size are being noted in emerging studies.
Hanging around The Neck
The Bible teaches to bind good around the neck:
Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.
[Proverbs 3:3, Translation: New American Standard Bible]
My son, observe the commandment of your father And do not forsake the teaching of your mother; Bind them continually on your heart; Tie them around your neck.
[Proverbs 6:20-21, Translation: New American Standard Bible]
Of course, the heart does enjoy a central place in the scriptures. We also know that its muscle is shaped like a double helix, as discussed in another post.
Horns in The Neck
The Bible refers to the horns in the neck, commanding that humans keep it lowered:
Do not lift up your horn on high, Do not speak with insolent pride.'"
[Psalm 75:5, Translation: New American Standard Bible]
And all the horns of the wicked He will cut off, But the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.
[Psalm 75:10, Translation: New American Standard Bible]
The Hyoid Bone in the Human Neck
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Anatomography [CC BY-SA 2.1 jp]
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According to a study published in 2016:
The hyoid bone plays an important role in the functions of speaking, swallowing, prevention of regurgitation, and airway maintenance [1, 2]. Deviations in its position relative to the mandible or larynx, or in its angle of placement, can have significant ramifications for these important functions [2, 3]. The hyoid bone changes its position relative to the vertebrae during normal growth and development. In infancy, the hyoid bone lies just anteriorly to the second and third cervical vertebrae, and eventually lowers to the level of the fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae in adults [3]. Hyoid bone descent occurs concurrently with descent of functionally related structures, namely the larynx and epiglottis [4]. The only bone in the body that is free-floating, the hyoid bone maintains attachment with the mandible, tongue, styloid processes, thyroid cartilage, cricoid cartilage, clavicles, and sternum by ligament and muscle attachments [1]. Hyoid bone anatomy and physiology have been well documented due to the diverse nature of the muscle attachment sites as well as the multiple important functions that the hyoid bone supports. However, the precise nature and timing of hyoid bone fusion during the course of development has been less documented. ...
As can be seen in the animation below, the Hyoid is not connected directly with the rest of the skeleton.
The following shows how the hyoid bone is tied in place with muscles:
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| Hyoid Bone & Muscles in the Neck Page URL Attribution: Henry Vandyke Carter [Public domain]
Shape and Size Details
Interestingly, emerging studies are reporting variations in the shape and size of the Hyoid bone. Though the focus of the researches are variations based on gender, height, weight, etc., however, to cite from a 2018 report:
Given the significance of being able to do this, a relatively complex categorization system has been developed for various known shapes of the hyoid. Remarkably, it has been noted that 60% of hyoid bones still do not fit into one of these commonly described categories
Note on habli alwareedi
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ وَنَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَسْوِسُ بِهِ نَفْسُهُ وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيدِ
And certainly We created man and We know what whispers to him his nafs, and We (are) nearer to him than (his) habli alwareedi.
[Al-Quran 50:16, first translation at link (edited to retain arabic words in italics)]
The phrase habli alwareedi is generally translated as jugular vein, but as can be seen in page 2936 of Lane's Lexicon (screenshot below), the phrase has been variously understood.
However, if it is treated as two separate words, and not a phrase, then:
Habl is generally translated as rope, and among the shades of meaning employed by the root wāw rā dāl (و ر د) are passing over, rose-coloured, came or led, etc. as can be seen in the screenshots below.
Looking at how the Hyoid Bone is tied in place by the muscles (above) and the colour of the muscles, and/or the proximity of the carotid artery and jugular vein to the Hyoid Bone (below), all three meanings point towards the same bone.
Veins in the Neck
Attribution: Henry Vandyke Carter [Public domain]
 Arteries in the Neck Page URL Attribution: Henry Vandyke Carter [Public domain] By Henry Vandyke Carter - Henry Gray (1918) Anatomy of the Human Body (See "Book" section below)Bartleby.com: Gray's Anatomy, Plate 513, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=559527 |
Hadith Nabwi ﷺ
Hadith 11
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
عَلَيْكَ بِحُسْنِ الْخُلُقِ وَطُولِ الصَّمْتِ فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ مَا عَمِلَ الْخَلائِقُ عَمَلا أَحَبَّ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنْهُمَا
You must have good character and observe long periods of silence. By the One in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, no one can behave with deeds more beloved to Allah than these two.
Source: Shu’ab al-Imān 4591, Grade: Hasan
Hadith 21
‘Amr ibn ‘Absah reported: A man said, “O Messenger of Allah, what is Islam?” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
أَنْ يُسْلِمَ قَلْبُكَ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَأَنْ يَسْلَمَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ مِنْ لِسَانِكَ وَيَدِكَ
That you surrender your heart to Allah and that Muslims are safe from your tongue and hand.
Source: Musnad Aḥmad 17027, Grade: Sahih
Last updated on: August 13, 2022
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