THIS week, I read with interest the news story that scientists in Newcastle have “created human sperm in the laboratory for the first time in the world.” Even more interesting were the refutations by other scientists and researchers, who were not convinced that fully developed sperm cells can be created from scratch in a laboratory. For those who read the fine print, the claim came with a caveat: Scientists will need a “blueprint of life,” a supply of stem cells – taken from living human embryos which are a few days old, and which are destroyed in the process. This is not the first time that scientists have made such tall claims of achieving a “breakthrough” in the area of creation. Scientific misadventures like ‘Dolly' (“the world's most famous sheep”) make the headlines from time to time, underlining the feverish efforts underway to usurp what is exclusively Divine domain: the role of a ‘Creator'. The facts – that such cloned animals are unable to reproduce and often have to be euthanized – are nonchalantly brushed off as ‘collateral damage' in the larger interests of “scientific development”. While the head of the team of researchers at Newcastle, Professor Karim Nayernia stressed that they had no intention of “producing human life in a dish”, he neglected to acknowledge that they cannot do so. These scientists (while achieving nothing tangible at all) celebrate these events as if they were on the point of doing it themselves and making Allah redundant. As a verse in the Qur'an says: ‘'O mankind! A similitude has been coined, so listen to it (carefully): Indeed those on whom you call besides Allah, cannot create (even) a fly, even though they combine together for the purpose. And if the fly snatches away a thing from them, they will have no power to release it from the fly. So weak are (both) the seeker and the sought.” (Qur'an, 22:73) It is only Allah Who says: ‘Kun' (Be), and creates from nothing. It is Allah Alone, Who has the authority to say: “We created human beings from a product of wet earth; then, We placed it as a Nutfah (fertilized egg) in a safe (deep) lodging; then, We created the Nutfah into an ‘Alaqah (a leech-like, clinging object); then, We created the ‘Alaqah into a Mudghah (a little lump, like a chewed substance); then, We created out of the lump, bones; then, We clothed the bones with flesh; then, We produced it (the human being) as another creation. So blessed be Allah, the Best of creators!” (Qur'an, 23:14) A scholar I knew once called non-believing scientists and researchers – in fact, just about anyone who observes, understands and witnesses the awe-inspiring phenomenon of the creation of life and does not acknowledge its Creator – “Miskeen” (to be pitied/poor). This is because although scientists have all kinds of inside information about life processes, biological minutiae and physiological facts that ordinary people do not, they fail to recognize the One Who initiates, sustains and will finally resurrect and judge over His creation. In his book, Al-Fawa'id, Ibn Al-Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah talks about the ways in which people can get to know their Creator: “Allah calls upon His servants in the Qur'an to come to know Him by looking at two of His Signs: •Looking at His handiwork (in His creation) •Contemplating over His verses (in the Qur'an). Hence, the first signs are observed and witnessed and the second signs are recited and understood. An example of the first type of Signs are the verses of creation that occur repeatedly in the Qur'an: “In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding.” (Qur'an, 3:190) and others like it. The second type of signs are indicated in the verses of reflection in the Qur'an, like: “(This is) a Book (the Qur'an) which We have sent down to you, full of blessings that they may ponder over its Verses, and that men of understanding may take heed.” (Qur'an, 38:29). “Do they not then consider the Qur'an carefully?” (Qur'an, 4:82) and “Have they not pondered over the Word (of Allah)?” (Qur'an, 23:68) As for the Maf'oolaat, (the handiwork in creation), then that gives evidence to the actions (that have been performed upon them), and these actions in turn give evidence to attributes (Sifaat) of the Performer. Thus, the object which is created (Maf'ool) gives evidence to the action(s) of what brought it about. And this in turn necessitates the existence (Wujood) of the performer of the actions, His Power (Qudrah), Will (Mashee'ah), and Knowledge (‘Ilm). This is due to the impossibility of the occurrence of any action by a non-existing thing or from something that exists but has no power, life, knowledge and will.” Intellect (‘Aql) leads us to recognize the numerous favors we enjoy, and evokes gratitude to the Creator who bestowed them upon us. Of what use is it, if it leads one to negation of these favors and mulish rebellion against His laws instead?
