“اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ مَثَلُ نُورِهِ كَمِشْكَاةٍ فِيهَا مِصْبَاحٌ ۖ الْمِصْبَاحُ فِي زُجَاجَةٍ ۖ الزُّجَاجَةُ كَأَنَّهَا كَوْكَبٌ دُرِّيٌّ يُوقَدُ مِن شَجَرَةٍ مُّبَارَكَةٍ زَيْتُونَةٍ لَّا شَرْقِيَّةٍ وَلَا غَرْبِيَّةٍ يَكَادُ زَيْتُهَا يُضِيءُ وَلَوْ لَمْ تَمْسَسْهُ نَارٌ ۚ نُّورٌ عَلَىٰ نُورٍ ۗ
The Qur’an revealed more than 14 centuries ago mentions in a number of verses precise information about the human embryo and its developmental stages as signs of the divine power of God. Therefore, the question automatically raised is: Was the
“إِنَّا خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ أَمْشَاجٍ نَّبْتَلِيهِ فَجَعَلْنَاهُ سَمِيعًا بَصِيرًا” ( الانسان: 2). “Indeed, We created man from nutfatin amshajin (reproductive liquid from males and females) that We may try him; and We made him hearing and seeing.” (Qur’an, 76:2) The zygote
“اللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَحْمِلُ كُلُّ أُنثَىٰ وَمَا تَغِيضُ الْأَرْحَامُ” (الرعد: 8). “God knows what every female bears, and what the uterus embed (Tagheid).” (Qur’an, 13:8) Once fertilized, the embryo undergoes a series of cell divisions to form the morula and
“ثُمَّ خَلَقْنَا النُّطْفَةَ عَلَقَةً” (المؤمنون:14). “We then made the nutfah into alaqah (leech-like structure, suspended thing, blood clot).” (Qur’an, 23:14) Alaqah means literally, in Arabic, a suspended or clinging entity, a blood clot, or a leech. Within 2-3 weeks after fertilization,
“فَخَلَقْنَا الْعَلَقَةَ مُضْغَةً” (المؤمنون:14). “And then We changed the alaqah into mudghah (chewed-like lump).” (Qur’an, 23:14) After the fertilized ovum clings to the uterus, like a leech, then the somites develop. Somites are bilaterally paired blocks which give rise to
“فَخَلَقْنَا الْمُضْغَةَ عِظَامًا فَكَسَوْنَا الْعِظَامَ لَحْمًا” (المؤمنون:14). “And then We made out of the mudghah bones, then we clothed the bones with flesh (muscles).” (Qur’an, 23:12-14) Science has revealed that the bone structures of the embryo develop before the muscles.
“ثُمَّ أَنشَأْنَاهُ خَلْقًا آخَرَ ۚ فَتَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الْخَالِقِينَ” (المؤمنون:14). “Then We developed out of it another creation. So, blessed be God, the best to create.” (Qur’an, 23:14) After the development of the cartilaginous skeleton and the clothing of it
“إِنَّا خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ أَمْشَاجٍ نَّبْتَلِيهِ فَجَعَلْنَاهُ سَمِيعًا بَصِيرًا” (الانسان:2). “Indeed, We created man from liquids of males and female that We may try him; and We made him hearing and seeing.” (Qur’an, 76:2). “وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ السَّمْعَ وَالْأَبْصَارَ وَالْأَفْئِدَةَ ۚ
” يَخْلُقُكُمْ فِي بُطُونِ أُمَّهَاتِكُمْ خَلْقًا مِّن بَعْدِ خَلْقٍ فِي ظُلُمَاتٍ ثَلَاثٍ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ ۖ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ تُصْرَفُونَ” (الزمر:6). “God created you in the wombs of your mothers, one act of creation
