ثُمَّ خَلَقۡنَا النُّطۡفَۃَ عَلَقَۃً فَخَلَقۡنَا الۡعَلَقَۃَ مُضۡغَۃً فَخَلَقۡنَا الۡمُضۡغَۃَ عِظٰمًا فَکَسَوۡنَا الۡعِظٰمَ لَحۡمًا ٭ ثُمَّ اَنۡشَاۡنٰہُ خَلۡقًا اٰخَرَ ؕ فَتَبٰرَکَ اللّٰہُ اَحۡسَنُ الۡخٰلِقِیۡنَ ﴿ؕ۱۴﴾
14. Then We made that zygote a clinging mass.* Then We developed that clinging mass into a lump of flesh (chewed with teeth). Then, out of this chewed lump, We developed a structure of bones and clothed the bones with flesh (and muscle). Later, We developed it (gradually) into a new form. So blessed is Allah, the Best of creators.
* The word ‘alaqa’ in this verse describes the human embryo from days 7–24, which clings to the endometrium of the uterus in the same way that a leech clings to the skin. Just as the leech derives blood from the host, the human embryo derives blood from the decidua or pregnant endometrium. It is remarkable how much the embryo of 23–24 days resembles a leech. No microscopes were available in the 7th century, so none would have known that the human embryo at this stage was clinging to the endometrium and had a leech-like appearance.
