The Quran on Human Embryonic Development




In the Holy Quran, God speaks about 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 (chewed substance)... (Quran, 23:12-14) *

**

**

Literally, the Arabic word *alaqah *has three meanings: (1) leech, (2)
suspended thing, and (3) blood clot.

In comparing a leech to an embryo in the *alaqah *stage, we find similarity
between the two as we can see in figure 1. Also, the embryo at this stage
obtains nourishment from the blood of the mother, similar to the leech,
which feeds on the blood of others.



[image: Figure 1]

*Figure 1:* Drawings illustrating the similarities in appearance between a
leech and a human embryo at the *alaqah* stage. (Leech drawing from *Human
Development as Described in the Quran and Sunnah*, Moore and others, p. 37,
modified from *Integrated Principles of Zoology*, Hickman and others.
Embryo drawing from *The Developing Human*, Moore and Persaud, 5th ed., p.
73.)



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source: http://www.islam-guide.com/frm-ch3-4.htm


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