Abū al-Nu’mān narrated to us; Ḥammād ibn Zayd narrated to us; from ‘Ubaydullāh ibn Abī Bakr ibn Anas;

from Anas ibn Mālik (may Allāh be content with him); from the Prophet ﷺ, who said: “Indeed, Allāh has appointed an angel over the womb. He says: ‘O Lord, a drop (of fluid); O Lord, a clinging clot; O Lord, a lump of flesh.’ Then when Allāh intends to create it, he says: ‘O Lord, male or female? O Lord, unhappy or happy? What is his provision? What is his lifespan?’ So, it is written accordingly while he is in his mother’s womb.”