Quran

14th century cover

A 9th- or 10th-century leaf of
the Qur'an in Kufic scrip

EMBRYOLOGY
IN THE
HOLY QURAN
Prof Dr. Muhammad Shohayeb
Department of Biology
Faculty of Science
Taif University
Historical background
Scientists at that time of prophet (PBUH) believed
that man was created from menstrual blood
Until the 18
th
century there were two theories:

1- It was assumed by Aristotle that a full dwarf
embryo exists in man's semen
2- full dwarf embryo created out of the womans
menstrual blood coagulation

The dwarf embryo as imagined
by Leonardo da Vinci from the 15th
century (on the left)

The sperm as miniature human being by
Hartsoeker from the 17th century (on the
right)
In 1775 Spallanzani suggested that mans
sperm and womans ovum participate in the
creation of the embryo.
In 1783, Van Beneden was able to confirm
this statement, and thus the idea of the
dwarf embryo had been discarded
The Quran
The Qur'an is the divine guidance for
mankind, and it is the final divine revelation
of God. The Qur'an was revealed to
Muhammad (570 - 632) by the angel Gabriel
over a period of 23 years.
This manuscript, held by the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan, is the earliest
existent written version of the Quran. It is the definitive version, known as
. (UNESCO(.
Embryology in the Holy Quran
(

() 13 - 14 )
What is the matter with you, that ye are not conscious of Allahs
majesty,- Seeing that it is He that has created you in diverse stages"
(71: 13-14)

Testicles and Sperms
- The testicles, begin their development near the kidney.
Later they descend before birth to reach the scrotum
through the inguinal canal.
- Testicles form The mans fluid (semen ).
- Semen contains hundred million sperms (500-600).
- Sperms should gushing in order to enter through the vagina
and uterine cervix
- Only one sperm fertilizes the ovum of woman.
- The sperm and not the ovum decides the sex of the embryo
Embryology in the Holy
Quran

) )
) : 2 )
Verily We created man from a drop of a mingled fluid-drop (nutfa
amshaj), in order to try him: so We gave him (the gifts), of hearing and
sight. (76:2).

Nutfa in Arabic means very little water
Amshaj means mingling as mans water mingles with that of the
woman


( (

) ( 36 - 37
Does man think that he will be left uncontrolled (without purpose)? Was
he not once a fluid-drop of ejected semen? (75:37-37).

(

)
( : 7 - 8 ) .
He It is Who created all things in the best way and
began the creation of man from clay, and made his progeny from an
extract of despised fluid (Sulalah) (32: 7-8)
(

( ) 5 - 6 )
So, let man consider of what he was created . He was created
of gushing water (86: 5-6)

Formation of testes and ovaries
Testicles and ovaries are created from cells underneath the
kidneys at the back and then go down to the lower
abdomen at the last weeks of pregnancy
Week 5 Embryo
The genital ridges have begun to form adjacent to the developing kidneys.
The two ridges, also known as gonads, will turn into either testes or
ovaries. At this time and until the seventh week, the genital ridge is
similar in both males and females.
Week 6
Primitive germ cells, which will later become either sperm or eggs cells,
migrate from the embryo's yolk sac to the genital ridge. Here, they are
incorporated into the primary sex cords. The primary sex cords are
fingerlike projections that have formed over the previous week.
Formation of testes and ovaries
(

. Uj*.-4O--4
UUO- u-4 }g` NO^C ( ) 5 -
7 )
So, let man consider of what he was created . He was created of gushing
water Proceeding from between the back bone and the ribs (86: 5-6)

( ( ) 172 )
And remember when your Lord brought forth from the children of Adam,
from their loins, their seeds (7: 172).
The sperm determines the sex of embryo
The sperm contains 23 chromosomes. One of them is the sex
chromosome which is either (Y) or (X), while the chromosome in the
ovum is always (X).
The sex of the embryo is determined by the sperm (the male), rather
than the ovum (the female). When a sperm carries chromosome type
(Y) mingles with an ovum (X), the formed zygote will be male (XY),
whereas the embryo will be female (XX) if the sperm (X) mingles with
an (X) ovum.
Sex chromososes
(

) ) 45 - 46 )
That He created the pairs, male and female, from a fluid-
drop sperm as it is emitted. (53: 45-46),


Clinging of embryo in the uterus
This starts on the 15th day and ends on the
23rd or 24th day, the embryo looks like a
leech. Blood is formed in the vessels at the
shape of closed islands, having the image of
clotted blood.
Four cell embryo
Two cell embryo Fertilized ovum
The zygote divides quickly without a change in size and move from the
Fallopian Tube (connecting the ovary and the uterus) towards the uterus,
where it is implanted.
Quranic description of this stage
(

( ) 14 )
then of that fluid-drop (nutfa) We created a leech-like clot"
(23:14) .

Alaqa, in Arabic, has several meanings:
1- A leech that lives in ponds and sucks the blood of other creatures.
2- A thing attached or clings to something else.
3- Clotted or coagulated blood.
Fig 1: leech like embrryo Fig 2: embryo clinging to uterus Fig 3: Islands of blood
vessels
The leech as it appears on the uterine surface
Mudgha Stage
Scientifically the embryo is transformed from the stage of alaqa to the
stage of mudgha on the 24th day to the 26th day.
(

( ) : 14 )
then We changed the Alaqa (leech-like clot) into a Mudgha (chewed-like
lump) (23: 14).







Five weeks human embryo which looks like a piece of a chewed gum
Stage of bones
A cartilaginous skeleton starts to spread in the body.
Transformation from the mudgha form to the beginning of the
skeleton form occurs in a very short period of time at the end
of the 6th week and the beginning of the 7th week.
Muscle stage
This stage, which starts at the end of the 7th week and ends at
the end of the 8th week

Until very recently, embryologists assumed that the bones and muscles
in an embryo develope at the same time. Yet, advanced microscopic
research has revealed that first, the cartilage tissue of the embryo
ossifies. Then muscular cells that are selected from amongst the tissue
around the bones come together and wrap around the bones
Embryo stage and Foetus stage
Scientific facts:
- By the end of the 8th week, a new stage starts. The rate of
developing accelerates compared with the previous one.
- Between the 9th and 12th week, the embryo starts to
transform into another creature, as the sizes of head, body
and limbs start to be balanced and regular.
- By the 16
th
week , it becomes a Foetus.
(

)
( : 14 )
And clothed the bones with flesh; then We
developed out of it another creature. So blessed be
Allah, the best to create. (23: 14)


Embryonic stage
The image of embryo does not look like humans
Foetus stage( another creature ) 16th week ( 112 days)
Eyebrows, eyelashes and fine hair appear. The foetus can grasp with his
hands, kick, or even somersault. here the unborn baby is sucking his thumb
Sense of hearing and sight

The sense of hearing develops after 24 weeks . The fetus can respond to
sound from both inside and outside the uterus

The sense of sight develops later after 26 weeks. :The eyes of the embryo
become partially open and can perceive light.

"

( " 2 )
Verily We created man from a drop of a mingled fluid-drop (nutfa
amshaj), in order to try him: so We gave him (the gifts), of hearing and
sight )76:2 (
24 WEEKS EMBRYO:The fetus
can respond to sound from both
inside and outside the uterus
26 WEEKS EMBRYO :The eyes
are partially open and can
perceive light.
Protection of the embryo and Foetus
(

( ) 6 )

He creates you in the wombs of your mothers in stages, one after another,
in three veils of darkness. (39:6).
1- The amnion membrane which contains a fluid
encompassing the foetus.
2- The chorion membrane.
3- The decidua membrane.
The three veils of darkness may also be interpretted as:
1- membranes
2- uterus waa
3- abadomen wall

This is comprised of 4 stages:

1- Stage of dilatation of cervix and contraction of uterus muscle. This
stage takes about 7-12 hours
2- Stage of delivering the foetus. This stage takes about 30-50 minutes,
and starts after enough dilatation of cervix. As a result of consequent
uterus contractions, foetus head starts to emerge first. It is striking that
the diameter of foetus head may exceed 12 cm., i.e., normally triple the
diameter of vaginal canal.
3- Stage of placenta emergence and the formation of blood clot behind
the placenta. This stage lasts about 15 minutes.
4- Stage of uterus contraction. This is to alleviate the bleeding after
delivery process, and continues for about two hours.
Labour, and delivery

(

( ) : 20 )

Then He makes his path smooth for him.
(80: 20).
Conclusion
it is evident that these Quranic verses give an accurate description of
the main stages the embryo encounters during creation and formation
until delivery.
It is noticed that these changes coincide with the remarks of modern
embryology, and truly expresses the external phenomena of changes
that result from the internal changes.
This proves the miraculous nature of the Quran, which cannot be
revealed except from the Almighty Allah
( ( ) 53 )

Soon will We show them our signs in the furthest
horizons, and in their selves, until it becomes
manifest to them that this is the Truth (41: 53).
Thank you for your attention and may
Allah guide us to what pleases Him


9th century quran

11th Century North African
Qur'an in the British Museum