A Brief Illustrated Guide To Understanding Islam

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 Qur’an 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.)

Figure 2: We can
see in this diagram
the suspension of
an embryo during
the alaqah stage in
the womb (uterus)
of the mother.
(The Developing
Human, Moore
and Persaud, 5th
ed., p. 66.)

Figure 3: In this photomicrograph, we can
see the suspension of an embryo (marked B)
during the alaqah stage (about 15 days old)
in the womb of the mother. The actual size
of the embryo is about 0.6 mm. (The Developing
Human, Moore, 3rd ed., p. 66, from
Histology, Leeson and Leeson.)

The third meaning of the word alaqah is “blood clot.” We
find that the external appearance of the embryo and its sacs during
the alaqah stage is similar to that of a blood clot. This is due to
the presence of relatively large amounts of blood present in the
embryo during this stage1 (see figure 4). Also during this stage,
the blood in the embryo does not circulate until the end of the third
week.2 Thus, the embryo at this stage is like a clot of blood.



Figure 4: Diagram of the
primitive cardiovascular
system in an embryo during
the alaqah stage. The
external appearance of
the embryo and its sacs
is similar to that of a
blood clot, due to the
presence of relatively
large amounts of blood
present in the embryo.
(The Developing Human,
Moore, 5th ed., p. 65.)

So the three meanings of the word alaqah correspond accurately
to the descriptions of the embryo at the alaqah stage.
The next stage mentioned in the verse is the mudghah stage.
The Arabic word mudghah means “chewed substance.” If one
were to take a piece of gum and chew it in his or her mouth and
then compare it with an embryo at the mudghah stage, we would
conclude that the embryo at the mudghah stage is similar in
appearance to a chewed substance. This is because of the somites
at the back of the embryo that “somewhat resemble teethmarks in
a chewed substance.”3 (see figures 5 and 6).
How could Muhammad have possibly known all this about
fourteen hundred years ago, when scientists have only recently
discovered this using advanced equipment and powerful
microscopes which did not exist at that time? Hamm and
Figure 4: Diagram of the
primitive cardiovascular
system in an embryo during
the alaqah stage. The
external appearance of
the embryo and its sacs
is similar to that of a
blood clot, due to the
presence of relatively
large amounts of blood
present in the embryo.
(The Developing Human,
Moore, 5th ed., p. 65.)
Chapter 1
Some Evidence for the Truth of Islam
A) The Qur’an on Human Embryonic Development
A Brief Illustrated Guide To Understanding Islam
8
(1) Human Development as Described in the Qur’an and Sunnah,
Moore and others, pp. 37-38.
(2) The Developing Human, Moore and Persaud, 5th ed., p. 65.
(3) The Developing Human, Moore and Persaud, 5th ed., p. 8.