Was the birth of Jesus a parthenogenesis?

There are several ways in which a child could be born without a biological father, such as through a process of artificial insemination or through parthenogenesis (a form of asexual reproduction in which an egg develops into an embryo without being fertilized by sperm). While these scenarios may be rare, they are scientifically possible.

Parthenogenesis is a form of asexual reproduction in which an unfertilized egg develops into a new individual. This process occurs naturally in some species of animals, such as certain types of insects, fish, and reptiles. Some examples of animals that can reproduce by parthenogenesis are nematodes, some tardigrades, water fleas, some scorpions, aphids, some mites, some bees, some Phasmatodea and parasitic wasps. Some examples of plants that can reproduce by parthenogenesis are ferns, mosses, liverworts and some orchids. Parthenogenesis can also occur in algae, either by the development of an embryo from an individual sperm or an individual egg.

However, it is extremely rare in mammals, and has only been observed in a few cases where it occurred as a result of laboratory manipulation. In humans, parthenogenesis is not a natural form of reproduction and has not been observed to occur.

- In Parthenogenesis egg cell develops into an individual without being fertilized by a sperm cell. It occurs naturally in some plants, algae, and animals, but not in humans.

- In humans, egg cells are haploid, meaning they have half the number of chromosomes as body cells. They are produced by a process called meiosis, which involves the separation and recombination of genetic material. When an egg cell is fertilized by a sperm cell, it becomes diploid, meaning it has a full set of chromosomes. This is necessary for normal human development.

- Sometimes, parthenogenesis can occur spontaneously in humans, meaning that an egg cell will start to divide without being fertilized. However, this usually results in abnormal or non-viable embryos that cannot survive or develop into healthy babies. This is because human parthenogenetic embryos lack the genetic diversity and balance that comes from sexual reproduction.

- Parthenogenesis can also be induced artificially in humans by manipulating the egg cell or the culture conditions. This can be done for research purposes or for creating stem cells. However, this does not mean that human parthenogenetic embryos can be used for reproductive purposes. There are ethical and legal issues involved in creating and using human embryos without fertilization. Moreover, there is no guarantee that human parthenogenetic embryos can develop into viable babies even with artificial intervention.

Islamic scholars generally do not use the term "parthenogenesis" to describe the bith of jesus, as the concept of asexual reproduction is not recognized in Islam. Rather, it is viewed as a unique and miraculous event that occurred by the will and power of Allah.

وَٱذْكُرْ فِى ٱلْكِتَٰبِ مَرْيَمَ إِذِ ٱنتَبَذَتْ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا مَكَانًا شَرْقِيًّا

Recount in the Book how Mary withdrew from her people to an eastern place

فَٱتَّخَذَتْ مِن دُونِهِمْ حِجَابًا فَأَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَيْهَا رُوحَنَا فَتَمَثَّلَ لَهَا بَشَرًا سَوِيًّا

and kept herself in seclusion from them. We sent her Our angel, who presented himself to her as a full-grown human being.

قَالَتْ إِنِّىٓ أَعُوذُ بِٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ مِنكَ إِن كُنتَ تَقِيًّا

When she saw him, she said, "I seek refuge in the compassionate Allah from you; [do not come near] if you fear the Lord."

قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ رَسُولُ رَبِّكِ لِأَهَبَ لَكِ غُلَٰمًا زَكِيًّا

"I am only the messenger of your Lord," he replied. "I shall bestow upon you the gift of a son endowed with purity."

قَالَتْ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى غُلَٰمٌ وَلَمْ يَمْسَسْنِى بَشَرٌ وَلَمْ أَكُ بَغِيًّا

She said, "How can I have a son when no man has touched me; and neither have I been unchaste?"

قَالَ كَذَٰلِكِ قَالَ رَبُّكِ هُوَ عَلَىَّ هَيِّنٌ ۖ وَلِنَجْعَلَهُۥٓ ءَايَةً لِّلنَّاسِ وَرَحْمَةً مِّنَّا ۚ وَكَانَ أَمْرًا مَّقْضِيًّا

[The angel] replied, "So shall it be; your Lord says, 'This is easy for Me; and We shall make him a sign to people and a blessing, from Us. This has been decreed.'"

فَحَمَلَتْهُ فَٱنتَبَذَتْ بِهِۦ مَكَانًا قَصِيًّا

So she conceived him and withdrew with him to a distant place.

فَأَجَآءَهَا ٱلْمَخَاضُ إِلَىٰ جِذْعِ ٱلنَّخْلَةِ قَالَتْ يَٰلَيْتَنِى مِتُّ قَبْلَ هَٰذَا وَكُنتُ نَسْيًا مَّنسِيًّا

The pains of labour drove her to the trunk of a date-palm. She said, "Oh, if only I had died before this and passed into oblivion!"

 Mary was in a state of extreme anxiety and fear when she felt the contractions of childbirth. She was not worried about the physical pain, but about the social stigma and criticism that she would face from her people for having a child without a husband. She wished that she had died before this situation and avoided this disgrace. The angel’s words—“Grieve not at all”—were meant to comfort her and assure her that Allah had a plan for her and her child. The text contrasts Mary’s situation with that of a married girl who is delivering her first baby. Such a girl might suffer from severe pain, but she would not be sorrowful and grieved like Mary, because she would have the support and acceptance of her husband and family. (Tafeemul Quran)

فَنَادَىٰهَا مِن تَحْتِهَآ أَلَّا تَحْزَنِى قَدْ جَعَلَ رَبُّكِ تَحْتَكِ سَرِيًّا

But a voice called out to her from below, "Do not despair. Your Lord has provided a brook that runs at your feet,

وَهُزِّىٓ إِلَيْكِ بِجِذْعِ ٱلنَّخْلَةِ تُسَٰقِطْ عَلَيْكِ رُطَبًا جَنِيًّا

and if you shake the trunk of this palm-tree, it will drop fresh ripe dates on you.

فَكُلِى وَٱشْرَبِى وَقَرِّى عَيْنًا ۖ فَإِمَّا تَرَيِنَّ مِنَ ٱلْبَشَرِ أَحَدًا فَقُولِىٓ إِنِّى نَذَرْتُ لِلرَّحْمَٰنِ صَوْمًا فَلَنْ أُكَلِّمَ ٱلْيَوْمَ إِنسِيًّا

Eat and drink and rejoice. And if you see any human being say, 'I have vowed a fast [of silence] to the Gracious Allah, and will not speak with any human being today.'"

According to some tafsir (explanations) of the Qur’an, this verse shows that Allah provided Mary with food and water in the form of ripe dates and a stream under her feet. He also commanded her to rejoice and be happy with the birth of her son, who was a miracle and a blessing from Him. He also instructed her to say to anyone who would question her about her child that she had vowed a fast of silence to Allah, meaning that she would not speak to anyone that day. This was a way of avoiding any accusations or arguments from her people, and also a way of showing her devotion and gratitude to Allah. This verse also shows that fasting in the previous scriptures was not only abstaining from food and drink, but also from speech. 

فَأَتَتْ بِهِۦ قَوْمَهَا تَحْمِلُهُۥ ۖ قَالُوا۟ يَٰمَرْيَمُ لَقَدْ جِئْتِ شَيْـًٔا فَرِيًّا

Carrying her child, she brought him to her people. They said, "O Mary, you have indeed done something terrible!

يَٰٓأُخْتَ هَٰرُونَ مَا كَانَ أَبُوكِ ٱمْرَأَ سَوْءٍ وَمَا كَانَتْ أُمُّكِ بَغِيًّا

Sister of Aaron, your father was not an evil man, nor was your mother an unchaste woman!"

فَأَشَارَتْ إِلَيْهِ ۖ قَالُوا۟ كَيْفَ نُكَلِّمُ مَن كَانَ فِى ٱلْمَهْدِ صَبِيًّا

She pointed to the child. They said, "How shall we talk to someone who is a child in the cradle?"

قَالَ إِنِّى عَبْدُ ٱللَّهِ ءَاتَىٰنِىَ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ وَجَعَلَنِى نَبِيًّا

[But] he said, "I am Allah's servant. He has given me the Book and made me a prophet;

وَجَعَلَنِى مُبَارَكًا أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُ وَأَوْصَٰنِى بِٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَٱلزَّكَوٰةِ مَا دُمْتُ حَيًّا

He has made me blessed wherever I may be, and has enjoined upon me prayer and almsgiving throughout my life.

وَبَرًّۢا بِوَٰلِدَتِى وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْنِى جَبَّارًا شَقِيًّا

He has made me dutiful toward my mother, and He has not made me arrogant or wicked.

This verse also shows that being dutiful to one’s parents is a sign of piety and righteousness, and that being arrogant or wicked is a sign of misery and deviation. 

وَٱلسَّلَٰمُ عَلَىَّ يَوْمَ وُلِدتُّ وَيَوْمَ أَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ أُبْعَثُ حَيًّا

Blessed was I on the day I was born, and blessed I shall be on the day I die and on the day I am raised to life again."

ذَٰلِكَ عِيسَى ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ ۚ قَوْلَ ٱلْحَقِّ ٱلَّذِى فِيهِ يَمْتَرُونَ

Such was Isa, the son of Mary. That is the whole truth, about which they still dispute:

مَا كَانَ لِلَّهِ أَن يَتَّخِذَ مِن وَلَدٍ ۖ سُبْحَٰنَهُۥٓ ۚ إِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ

it does not befit the majesty of Allah that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! He is far above that: when He decrees something, He says only, "Be!" and it is.

وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ رَبِّى وَرَبُّكُمْ فَٱعْبُدُوهُ ۚ هَٰذَا صِرَٰطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌ

[Isa said], "And indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a straight path."