In the Holy Quran, Allah speaks about the stages of man’s embryonic development:





"And certainly We did create man from an extract of clay.Then We placed him as a sperm-drop in a firm lodging [i.e., the womb].Then We made the sperm-drop into a 'alaqah' [leech, suspended thing, and blood clot], and We made the 'alaqah' into a 'mudghah' [chewed substance]..." (Quran, 23:12-14)





Literally, the Arabic word 'alaqah' has three meanings: (1) leech, (2) suspended thing, and (3) blood clot , which is very similar to the embryo at that stage :





the embryo obtains nourishment from the blood of the mother exactly like the leech, which feeds on the blood of others.





the embryo is suspended in the womb of the mother.





the appearance of the embryo is similar to that of a blood clot.





So the three meanings of the word 'alaqah' correspond accurately to the description of the embryo at the alaqah stage.





The next stage mentioned in the verse is the 'mudghah', meaning 'chewed substance', which bears a striking resemblance to the appearance of the embryo at that stage. This similarity is due to the somites at the back of the embryo, which somewhat resemble teethmarks in a chewed substance.





However, a little was known about the staging and classification of human embryos until the twentieth century. Therefore, Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, who was illiterate and had no scientific training, could not have known such details except through divine revelation