The Quran On Human Embryonic Development

The Quran On Human Embryonic Development

One of the most remarkable things about the Quran is that it contains many verses that accurately describe natural phenomenon in various fields such as embryology, meteorology, astronomy, geology and oceanography.

This fact alone has been the cause of a number of distinguished scientists embracing Islam.

The Quran is written in Classical/Quranic Arabic. As such not all terms are easily translatable from Modern Standard Arabic.^[7] For clarification purposes:

1. Nutfah (نُطْفَةً) - drop of semen
2. Alaqah (عَلَقَةً) - leech and certain creatures that cling and suck blood, or blood, thick blood or clotted blood
3. Mudghah (مُضْغَةً) - bite-sized morsel of flesh
4. 'Itham (عِظَٰمًا) - bones, especially of the limbs
5. Kasawa(كَسَوَ) - clothed
6. Lahm (لَحْمًا) - flesh

In the Quran, God speaks of the stages of man’s embryonic development:

‘We created man from an extract of clay. Then We made him as a drop in a place of settlement, firmly fixed. Then We made the drop into an alaqah (leech, suspended thing, and blood clot), then We made the alaqah into a mudghah (a chewed substance)…’ Quran 23:12-14

The Arabic word ‘alaqah’ has three meanings: Leech, suspended thing, and blood clot.

Leech: In comparing a leech to an embryo in the ‘alaqah’ stage, we find similarity between the two (see Diagram 1). Also, the embryo at this stage obtains nourishment from the blood of the mother, similar to the leech, which feeds on blood too.

Diagram 1

Suspended thing: This is the second meaning. The suspension of the embryo, during the ‘alaqah’ stage, is in the womb of the mother. We can see in this diagram given (see Diagram 2).

Blood clot: We find that the external appearance of the embryo and its sacs during the stage is like a blood clot (see Diagram 3). This is due to the presence of relatively large amounts of blood present in the embryo during this stage.

But also during this stage, the blood in the embryo does not circulate until the end of the third week. Thus, the embryo at this stage is like a clot of blood.

The mudghah stage: The next stage mentioned in the verse is the ‘mudghah’ stage. The Arabic word ‘mudghah’ means ‘chewed substance.’  If one were to take a piece of gum and chew it in his or her mouth and then compare it with an embryo, we can see a similar appearance (see Diagram 4).  This is because of the somites at the back of the embryo that closely resemble ‘teethmarks’ in a chewed substance.

It is rather remarkable to know that all 3 meanings of the word ‘alaqah’ can relate to the topic of human embryonic development.

The Quran is also correct in stating that a baby inside the womb develops in stages:

‘He makes you, in the wombs of your mothers, in stages, one after another in three veils of darkness…’ Quran: 39:6

Verily We created man from a product of wet earth [sulalatin min teenin سُلَٰلَةٍ مِّن طِينٍ]; Then placed him as a drop (of seed) [nutfatan نُطْفَةً] in a safe lodging [qararin makeenin قَرَارٍ مَّكِينٍ]; Then fashioned We the drop a clot ['alaqatan عَلَقَةً], then fashioned We the clot a little lump [mudghatan مُضْغَةً], then fashioned We the little lump bones ['ithaman عِظَٰمًا], then clothed [kasawna كَسَوْنَا] the bones with flesh [lahman لَحْمًا], and then produced it as another creation. So blessed be Allah, the Best of creators!

Quran 23:12-14

O mankind! if ye are in doubt concerning the Resurrection, then lo! We have created you from dust [turabin تُرَابٍ], then from a drop of seed [nutfatin نُّطْفَةٍ], then from a clot [alaqatin عَلَقَةٍ], then from a little lump of flesh [mudghatin مُّضْغَةٍ] shapely and shapeless [mukhallaqatin waghayri mukhallaqatin مُّخَلَّقَةٍ وَغَيْرِ مُخَلَّقَةٍ], that We may make (it) clear for you. And We cause what We will to remain in the wombs for an appointed time, and afterward We bring you forth as infants, then (give you growth) that ye attain your full strength. And among you there is he who dieth (young), and among you there is he who is brought back to the most abject time of life, so that, after knowledge, he knoweth naught. And thou (Muhammad) seest the earth barren, but when We send down water thereon, it doth thrill and swell and put forth every lovely kind (of growth).

Quran 22:5

He it is Who created you from dust [turabin تُرَابٍ], then from a drop (of seed) [nutfatin نُّطْفَةٍ] then from a clot [alaqatin عَلَقَةٍ], then bringeth you forth as a child, then (ordaineth) that ye attain full strength and afterward that ye become old men - though some among you die before - and that ye reach an appointed term, that haply ye may understand.

Quran 40:67