Arabic (Original)
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ حَدَّثَنَا الْخَطَّابُ بْنُ الْقَاسِمِ عَنْ خُصَيْفٍ عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا اسْتَقَرَّتْ النُّطْفَةُ فِي الرَّحِمِ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْمًا أَوْ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً بَعَثَ إِلَيْهَا مَلَكًا فَيَقُولُ يَا رَبِّ مَا رِزْقُهُ فَيُقَالُ لَهُ فَيَقُولُ يَا رَبِّ مَا أَجَلُهُ فَيُقَالُ لَهُ فَيَقُولُ يَا رَبِّ ذَكَرٌ أَوْ أُنْثَى فَيُعْلَمُ فَيَقُولُ يَا رَبِّ شَقِيٌّ أَوْ سَعِيدٌ فَيُعْلَمُ.
English Translation
Ahmad ibn Abd al-Malik told us, al-Khattab ibn al-Qasim told us, from Khusayf, from Abu al-Zubayr, from Jabir, who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "When the semen-drop has settled in the womb for forty days or forty nights, He sends an angel to it, who says: 'O Lord, what is its provision?' and he is told. Then he says: 'O Lord, what is its lifespan?' and he is told. Then he says: 'O Lord, is it male or female?' and it is made known. Then he says: 'O Lord, is it wretched or blessed?' and it is made known."