The Quran on Human Embryonic Development:
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)... 1 (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 2 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. 3 Figure 1: Drawings illustrating the similarities in appearance between a leech and a human embryo at the alaqah s...