Referring to this stage, Almighty Allah says, "We created you out of dust, then out of sperm, then out of a leech-like clot, then out of a morsel of flesh, partly formed and partly unformed, in order that We may manifest (Our power) to you." (Al-Hajj 22:5)

Allah addresses humankind and their doubts about life, death, and resurrection by providing a simple and logical answer: He is the Creator of all humankind. Then, Allah proceeds by stating overwhelming facts about their physical growth from a lifeless matter to seed, fertilised ovum, embryo, fetus, child, youth, old age, and then death!

How can there be any doubt about the Creator of all these wonderful stages of life? How can there be any doubt about His ability to create another life and cause resurrection of all humankind?

By the beginning of the seventh week, the bones give a human shape to the embryo's body. The ears and the eyes begin to form in the fourth week and are clearly visible at the sixth week, 42 days after the zygote or nutfah forms. Sex is not yet distinguishable at this stage.

The Prophet said, "Allah sends an angel to the nutfah after 40 or 50 days and nights of settling in the uterus and asks Allah, 'O, My God! Male or female?’ " (Muslim)

The Angel's inquiry about the sexual differentiation of the embryo indicates that angels do not know the future. Because the angel is shaping the organs of the zygote and all that is common between male and female, he asks Allah about the sex to form the sex organs.

There are many other verses and hadiths about embryology. Some verses can be understood now, and others may be understood in the future, Allah's willing.
An overwhelming challenge

These understood verses became clear to us only a few decades ago. These verses are an overwhelming challenge from Allah to those who do not believe in Him and to non-Muslims. No other holy book or revelation from Allah to a prophet contains such information or explanation about embryology except the Qur'an. All the above-mentioned verses are stated not only as stand-alone scientific facts, but rather in a context of encouraging humankind to think and to believe in their Creator.

Adel Elsaie is a visiting assistant professor at the University of Toronto, Canada; associate professor at McMaster University, Canada, and adjunct associate professor at the University of Texas at Arlington, United States.