Hadith 4

Stages of Creation

مراحل الخلق

إنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ يُجْمَعُ خَلْقُهُ فِي بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْمًا نُطْفَةً، ثُمَّ يَكُونُ عَلَقَةً مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ يَكُونُ مُضْغَةً مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ يُرْسَلُ إلَيْهِ الْمَلَكُ فَيَنْفُخُ فِيهِ الرُّوحَ

Translation

Each of you is constituted in the womb of the mother for forty days as a seed, then as a clot for a similar period, then a lump of flesh for a similar period. Then the angel is sent to breathe the soul into it.

Narrated by

Abdullah ibn Masud

عبد الله بن مسعود رضي الله عنه

Source

Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim

صحيح البخاري وصحيح مسلم

Explanation

This hadith describes the stages of human development in the womb and the decree of destiny. It establishes belief in divine decree (qadar) as one of the articles of faith.

Key Lessons

  • 1Human life has predetermined stages
  • 2The soul is breathed in after 120 days
  • 3Destiny is written before birth
  • 4Four things are decreed: provision, lifespan, deeds, and final destination

Related Topics

qadarcreationangels