From One Cell to a Lump of Flesh

In the picture above, we see a three-weeks-old foetus attached to the wall of the uterus. This mass of cells resembling a piece of flesh will continue to divide and, in time, the eyes which allow us to see, the nose which permits us to smell, the feet with which we walk and run, and the hands and internal organs will be formed from these cells. This marvellous transformation cannot come about by chance. It could not happen by itself. It is God, the Lord of all the worlds, Who has ordained all these flawless transformations in the body.

Cells continue to divide and multiply over a period of time, forming eye cells sensitive to light, nerve cells to perceive bitterness, sweetness, pain, heat and cold, ear cells to sense sound waves, cells of the digestive system to process food, and many others.

After the embryo's first three weeks, the multiplying cells take on the appearance of a lump. In the Qur'an, this development is revealed as a change from an "alaq" (embryo) to a "lump":

Then We formed the drop into an alaq (embryo) and formed alaq into a lump and formed the lump into bones and clothed the bones in flesh, thus bringing forth another creature. Blessed be God, the Best of Creators!  (Qur'an, 23: 14)

It has only recently been discovered in the science of embryology that the first phase of a baby's formation ends with this kind of development. But this scientific fact was revealed 1400 years ago in the Qur'an, which is perfect and without error, sent down by God, Lord of the universe. Exalted is the Majesty of God.