Quran by Topic
Human Embryology
علم الأجنة في القرآن
The Quran describes human embryonic development in stages: from a drop, to a clinging clot, to a lump, to bones, to flesh clothing the bones. Modern embryology confirms every stage.
10 verses from the Quran
#01
"And certainly did We create man from an extract of clay (سُلَالَةٍ مِّن طِينٍ)."
Arabic
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مِن سُلَٰلَةٍۢ مِّن طِينٍۢ
English (Sahih International)
And certainly did We create man from an extract of clay.
#02
"Then We placed him as a sperm-drop (نُطْفَةً) in a firm lodging (قَرَارٍ مَّكِينٍ). 'Firm lodging' = the uterus, in specific terms."
Arabic
ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَٰهُ نُطْفَةًۭ فِى قَرَارٍۢ مَّكِينٍۢ
English (Sahih International)
Then We placed him as a sperm-drop in a firm lodging.
#03
"Then We made the sperm-drop into a clinging clot (عَلَقَةً), and We made the clot into a lump (مُضْغَةً), and We made the lump into bones (عِظَامًا), and We clothed the bones with flesh (لَحْمًا). The full stage sequence: drop → clot → lump → bones → flesh. Modern embryology confirms this exact order."
Arabic
ثُمَّ خَلَقْنَا ٱلنُّطْفَةَ عَلَقَةًۭ فَخَلَقْنَا ٱلْعَلَقَةَ مُضْغَةًۭ فَخَلَقْنَا ٱلْمُضْغَةَ عِظَٰمًۭا فَكَسَوْنَا ٱلْعِظَٰمَ لَحْمًۭا ثُمَّ أَنشَأْنَٰهُ خَلْقًا ءَاخَرَ ۚ فَتَبَارَكَ ٱللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ ٱلْخَٰلِقِينَ
English (Sahih International)
Then We made the sperm-drop into a clinging clot, and We made the clot into a lump [of flesh], and We made [from] the lump, bones, and We covered the bones with flesh; then We developed him into another creation. So blessed is Allah, the best of creators.
#04
"O People, if you should be in doubt about the Resurrection, then We have created you from dust, then from a sperm-drop, then from a clinging clot, then from a lump of flesh, formed and unformed. The 'formed and unformed' distinction matches the embryological concept of differentiation."
Arabic
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِن كُنتُمْ فِى رَيْبٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْبَعْثِ فَإِنَّا خَلَقْنَٰكُم مِّن تُرَابٍۢ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطْفَةٍۢ ثُمَّ مِنْ عَلَقَةٍۢ ثُمَّ مِن مُّضْغَةٍۢ مُّخَلَّقَةٍۢ وَغَيْرِ مُخَلَّقَةٍۢ لِّنُبَيِّنَ لَكُمْ ۚ وَنُقِرُّ فِى ٱلْأَرْحَامِ مَا نَشَآءُ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍۢ مُّسَمًّۭى ثُمَّ نُخْرِجُكُمْ طِفْلًۭا ثُمَّ لِتَبْلُغُوٓا۟ أَشُدَّكُمْ ۖ وَمِنكُم مَّن يُتَوَفَّىٰ وَمِنكُم مَّن يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰٓ أَرْذَلِ ٱلْعُمُرِ لِكَيْلَا يَعْلَمَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ عِلْمٍۢ شَيْـًۭٔا ۚ وَتَرَى ٱلْأَرْضَ هَامِدَةًۭ فَإِذَآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْهَا ٱلْمَآءَ ٱهْتَزَّتْ وَرَبَتْ وَأَنۢبَتَتْ مِن كُلِّ زَوْجٍۭ بَهِيجٍۢ
English (Sahih International)
O People, if you should be in doubt about the Resurrection, then [consider that] indeed, We created you from dust, then from a sperm-drop, then from a clinging clot, and then from a lump of flesh, formed and unformed - that We may show you. And We settle in the wombs whom We will for a specified term, then We bring you out as a child, and then [We develop you] that you may reach your [time of] maturity. And among you is he who is taken in [early] death, and among you is he who is returned to the most decrepit [old] age so that he knows, after [once having] knowledge, nothing. And you see the earth barren, but when We send down upon it rain, it quivers and swells and grows [something] of every beautiful kind.
#05
"It is He who created you from dust, then from a sperm-drop, then from a clinging clot, then brings you out as a child. The same sequence, plus the birth outcome."
Arabic
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُم مِّن تُرَابٍۢ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطْفَةٍۢ ثُمَّ مِنْ عَلَقَةٍۢ ثُمَّ يُخْرِجُكُمْ طِفْلًۭا ثُمَّ لِتَبْلُغُوٓا۟ أَشُدَّكُمْ ثُمَّ لِتَكُونُوا۟ شُيُوخًۭا ۚ وَمِنكُم مَّن يُتَوَفَّىٰ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَلِتَبْلُغُوٓا۟ أَجَلًۭا مُّسَمًّۭى وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
English (Sahih International)
It is He who created you from dust, then from a sperm-drop, then from a clinging clot; then He brings you out as a child; then [He develops you] that you reach your [time of] maturity, then [further] that you become elders. And among you is he who is taken in death before [that], so that you reach a specified term; and perhaps you will use reason.
#06
"He created man from a sperm-drop; then at once, he is a clear adversary. The sudden transition from single cell to complex being."
Arabic
خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مِن نُّطْفَةٍۢ فَإِذَا هُوَ خَصِيمٌۭ مُّبِينٌۭ
English (Sahih International)
He created man from a sperm-drop; then at once, he is a clear adversary.
#07
"Does man not consider that We created him from a [mere] sperm-drop? Yet, behold, he is an open disputer."
Arabic
أَوَلَمْ يَرَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنُ أَنَّا خَلَقْنَٰهُ مِن نُّطْفَةٍۢ فَإِذَا هُوَ خَصِيمٌۭ مُّبِينٌۭ
English (Sahih International)
Does man not consider that We created him from a [mere] sperm-drop - then at once he is a clear adversary?
#08
"Had he not been a sperm from semen emitted? Then he was a clinging clot, and Allah created and fashioned him. The 'created and fashioned' (خَلَقَ فَسَوَّىٰ) pairing is the act of formation."
Arabic
أَلَمْ يَكُ نُطْفَةًۭ مِّن مَّنِىٍّۢ يُمْنَىٰ
English (Sahih International)
Had he not been a sperm from semen emitted?
#09
"Indeed, We created man from a sperm-drop mixture (أَمْشَاجٍ) that We may try him. The 'mixture' (amshaj) — multiple fluids mixing — is the modern understanding of seminal and uterine fluid."
Arabic
إِنَّا خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ أَمْشَاجٍۢ نَّبْتَلِيهِ فَجَعَلْنَٰهُ سَمِيعًۢا بَصِيرًا
English (Sahih International)
Indeed, We created man from a sperm-drop mixture that We may try him; and We made him hearing and seeing.
#10
"Then indeed, after that you are to die. Then indeed, on the Day of Resurrection, you will be raised. The end of the sequence is named."
Arabic
ثُمَّ إِنَّكُم بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ لَمَيِّتُونَ
English (Sahih International)
Then indeed, after that you are to die.
All Arabic text from the Uthmani edition · All English from Sahih International translation · Topical groupings are based on classical tafsir; scholars may differ on inclusion of specific verses