Signs of the Quran - Biology

Embryology - Stages

"Man We did create from a quintessence (of clay); Then We placed him as (a drop of) sperm in a place of rest firmly fixed; Then We made the sperm into a clot of congealed blood; then of that clot We made a (foetus) lump; then We made out of that lump bones and clothed the bones with flesh..."

Surah Al-Muminun, 23 Ayahs 12-14

"Created man out of a (mere) clot of blood"

Surah Al-Alaq, 96 Ayah 2

"Seeing that it is He that has created you in diverse stages? And Allah has produced you from the earth growing ..."

Surah Nuh, 71 Ayahs 14-18

The first of these three verses describes in microscopic detail how the sperm needs to fix itself at the ovum and enter through the congealed blood around it. Then the ovum itself needs to stick firmly to the ovarian wall in order not to be digested by the hostile surrounding fluids, digestive enzymes. After that the resulting clot is developed into the foetus lump, the blastula and that is then further distinguished into separate fibres, the gastrula, consisting of bones, muscles and skin, which develop from mesoderm (organs) and endoderm (blood system and bone skin) and ectoderm (skin, lungs, digestive system).

"O mankind! if ye have a doubt about the Resurrection (consider) that We created you out of dust then out of sperm then out of a leech-like clot then out of a morsel of flesh partly formed and partly unformed in order that We may manifest (Our Power) to you; and We cause whom We will to rest in the wombs for an appointed term then do We bring you out as babes then (foster you) that ye may reach your age of full strength"

Surah Al-Hajj, Surah 22 Ayah 5

"He makes you in the wombs of your mothers in stages one after another in three veils of darkness."

Surah Az-Zumar, Surah 39 Ayah

The foetus looks like a leech at first and then, before it is recognised as an embryo, it looks like a piece of meat or a morsel of flesh which has been chewed or partly formed. The chronology and precision in the first of the above two Ayah is exactly confirm with the modern embryological view which has been derived from microscopical and electro-microscopical research in the 20th century.

The number of cell-layers or tissues of maternal skin between the embryo and the outside world is exactly 3 (see figure below). These are the Uterus, the Chorion and the Abdominal Wall. From the point of view of the embryo it must look as if there were three veils or light dimming tissues between it and the outside world.