Embryological Stages - Formation of a human body

“And indeed WE did create man 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; then WE developed out of it another creature. So blessed be Allah, the Best to create!”

[Al Qur’ an 23:12-14]

In these verses Allaah states that man is created from a small quantity of liquid which is placed in a place of rest, firmly fixed (well established or lodged) for which the Arabic word 'qaraarin makeen' is used. The uterus is well protected from the posterior by the spinal column supported firmly by the back muscles. The embryo is further protected by the amniotic sac containing the amniotic fluid. Thus the foetus has a well protected dwelling place. This small quantity of fluid is made into 'alaqah', meaning something which clings. It also means a leech-like substance. Both descriptions are scientifically acceptable, as in the very early stages the foetus clings to the wall and also appears to resemble the leech in shape. It also behaves like a leech (blood sucker) and acquires its blood supply from the mother through the placenta. The third meaning of the word 'alaqah' is a blood clot. During this 'alaqah' stage, which spans the third and fourth week of pregnancy, the blood clots within closed vessels. Hence the embryo acquires the appearance of a blood clot in addition to acquiring the appearance of a leech.

The 'alaqah' is transformed into 'mudghah' which means ‘something that is chewed (having teeth marks)’ and also something that is tacky and small which can be put in the mouth like gum. Both these explanations are scientifically correct. Prof. Keith Moore took a piece of plaster seal and made it into the size and shape of the early stage of foetus and chewed it between the teeth to make it into a 'mudghah'. He compared this with the photographs of the early stage of foetus. The teeth marks resembled the ‘somites’ which is the early formation of the spinal column. This 'mudghah' is transformed into bones (izâm). The bones are clothed with intact flesh or muscles (lahm). Then Allaah makes it into another creature.