أطوار حياة الجنين من الحمل إلى الولادة بين الشرع والطب [The Stages of Fetal Life from Conception to Birth Between Sharia and Medicine]

Abstract

This study aims to explain the stages of fetal development from early pregnancy until birth by comparing what Islamic teachings mention with what modern medicine has discovered. The topic was chosen because of the ongoing debate about the time of ensoulment and the confusion some people have between religious texts and new medical information. The main question of the research is: Do the stages of the fetus described in Islamic sources agree with what medicine shows today? To answer this question, the study presents the stages of the fetus in the Qur’an and the Sunnah, explains the scholars’ opinions on when the soul enters the fetus, and then shows how doctors describe fetal development and when signs of life appear. It also discusses the points where religion and medicine agree or disagree. The study is important because it helps clarify the seeming contradiction between some prophetic traditions and supports scholars and judges in understanding the ruling on abortion and determining the correct time of ensoulment. The research reached several findings. Most classical scholars said that ensoulment happens after 120 days, while embryology shows that the main signs of life appear between days 42 and 49. Therefore, the study recommends reviewing some narrations about the timing of ensoulment and keeping up with medical progress to better understand the connection between scientific facts and Islamic teachings.