Allah, the Exlated and Glorious, has appointed an angel as the caretaker of the womb, and he would say: My Lord, it is now a drop of semen; my Lord, It is now a clot of blood; my Lord, it has now become a lump of flesh, and when Allah decides to give it a final shape, the angel says: My Lord, would it be male or female or would he be an evil or a good person? What about his livelihood and his age? And it is all written as he is in the womb of his mother.
The Book of Destiny - Sahih Muslim 2646
This narration from Sahih Muslim details the profound process of human creation and the divine decree, affirming that Allah's knowledge and will encompass all matters before they come into existence.
Commentary on the Stages of Creation
The hadith describes the embryonic development in precise stages: nutfah (sperm drop), alaqah (clinging clot), and mudghah (chewed lump of flesh). This corresponds perfectly with modern embryology while being revealed centuries before scientific discovery.
The angel's progressive reporting demonstrates Allah's continuous involvement in creation, with each stage requiring divine permission to proceed to the next.
The Decree of Qadr
When the embryo reaches 120 days, the angel inquires about four fundamental aspects of the person's destiny: gender, moral character, livelihood, and lifespan. This marks the moment when the soul is breathed into the fetus.
All these matters are recorded in the Preserved Tablet (al-Lawh al-Mahfuz) while the child is still in the womb, affirming the comprehensive nature of divine preordainment.
Scholarly Insights
Classical scholars emphasize that this predetermined decree does not negate human free will. Rather, it encompasses Allah's foreknowledge of the choices individuals will make.
The recording of sustenance and lifespan serves as a reminder to trust in divine provision and to utilize one's time in righteous deeds, knowing that nothing occurs outside Allah's wisdom and knowledge.