What does the Quran say about the development of fetus in stages?

Decoding the verses of the Holy Quran

The recognition of fetal development in stages has been a gradual accumulation of knowledge over centuries. But what does the Quran say about the development of fetus in stages?

What is the matter with you that you are not in awe of the Majesty of Allah, when He truly created you in stages ˹of development˺?

Chapter 71 (Surah Nuh) verse 13-14

Let’s decipher this verse of the Holy Quran.

Allah created us in Stages 

As we now know, there are different stages involved in the whole development process. First, the male and female gametes fuse to form a zygote. That zygote undergoes divisions to form an embryo, then a morula, then a blastocyst at day five of fertilization. Then the whole implantation process starts; the blastocyst hatches from the zona pellucida (a protective outer layer). The embryo undergoes gastrulation, neurulation, and organogenesis before finally becoming a fetus.

It must be kept in mind that the early stages of human development can only be seen through high power microscopes.

Click here to learn about Embryology and Quran

(I have a detailed blog on this topic, but here I am simply going to briefly explain it.)

1. The first stage is the fertilization (the fusion of gametes). It is mentioned in a number of verses, like in Chapter 23, verses 12-13 of the Quran.
2. Around Day 7-10, the embryo attaches to the uterine wall and resembles a leech in shape and function. It is in Chapter 23, verse 14.
3. The somites appear, and the embryo gives a chewed appearance. It is in Chapter 23, verse 14.
4. The skeletal system begins forming around week 6, followed by the development of muscles. It is in chapter 23, verse 14.
5. It is around week 8 that the embryo starts to take on a recognizable human shape. It is in Chapter 23, verse 14.

My final words

The glorious Quran says:

“We will show them Our signs in the universe and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that this ˹Quran˺ is the

truth. Is it not enough that your Lord is a Witness over all things?”

– Chapter 41 (Surah Fussilat ) verse 53 

Some people require only one sign, while others require numerous signs to embrace the truth. On the other side, there are others who, even after receiving thousands of indications, refuse to embrace the reality. The Quran describes these persons as:

“They are ˹wilfully˺ deaf, dumb, and blind, so they will never return ˹to the Right Path˺.”
– Chapter 2 (Surah Al-Baqarah) verse 18

The Bible says the same thing:

“Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.”
– Gospel of Matthew verse 13 of chapter 13 

So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?

My Blogs 

Hopefully, that was helpful to you and will assist you in strengthening your belief. You can also visit my other blogs:

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writer= Ayhian Ali

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