Dear Sir, When the drop (nutfah) passes forty-two nights in the womb, God sends to it an angel who shapes it and creates its hearing, seeing, skin, flesh, and bones. Then he says: ‘O Lord, is it a male or a female?’ Then your Lord decrees whatever He wills…” [Sahîh Muslim] The above hadith says that the sex of a child is determined on 42nd night. But modern scientific data shows that the physical signs of gender appear in 6 weeks. Also the ear, eyes begins to form much before 40th day. So how could the above hadith be correct?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

This narration does not contradict what modern science says. Modern science states that what happens before 40 days is the appearance of such limbs in the form of holes but these limbs are not completely formed until after the end of this period that is mentioned in the narration. Thus, there is no contradiction, praise be to Allaah.

Allaah Knows best.