"Verily the creation of everyone of you is brought together in the mother's womb as a drop of semen for forty days, then it becomes a clot for the same period, then it becomes a blob of flesh for the same period. Then the angel will be sent unto it to blow into it a spirit (ruh), and the angel ordered (to carry out) with four instructions: to write down his livelihood, the span of his life, his deeds, and either he is wretched or fortunate..." And so goes the first part of one of the most well-known hadeeth recorded by Bukhari and Muslim on the subject of Qadr (predestination).
The significance of this hadeeth is that science has recently verified this process of embryo/fetus development.
Once a woman has confirmed her pregnancy, she should express her gratitude before Allah Ta'ala as this is indeed a great bounty of Allah Ta'ala. This is such a boon that many people beseech Allah Ta'ala throughout their lives for pious children but Allah Ta'ala has destined otherwise. In fact one of the greatest Prophets of Allah Ta'ala, Ibrahim (Alayhis salaam) used to supplicate to Allah Ta'ala most profoundly and frequently. Even Zakariyya (Alayhis salaam) used to supplicate for children most passionately and fervently during the latter part of his life.
Written by Fatima Barakatullah | 
