The Islam Papers

Last Updated 29th March 2014.

I have listed some of the posts related to the subject of Embryology in the Qur’an on this page for easy access. For the remaining articles and posts that are not listed here, please browse the site or use the Categories. Finally, please rate and comment on any posts!

(1) Begin Here

• Embryology in the Qur’an – Correlation Studies with Modern Embryology – Introduction to Embryology in the Qur’an.
  
• A Scientist’s Interpretation of References to Embryology in the Qur’an – Paper by Keith L. Moore published in the Journal of the Islamic Medical Association, 1986.
• Highlights of Human Embryology in the Koran and Hadith – Paper by Dr. Keith L. Moore from Arabization and Medical Education, pp. 51-58. Proceedings from the Seventh Saudi Medical Conference, King Faisal University, May 3-6 1982.
  
• Video: The Miracle of Life (14 mins) An amazing 14 minute visual experience showing human development from fertilization to an embryo, and finally to a newborn child.
• Video: How Dr. Keith L. Moore and Other Scientists became involved with Embryology in the Qur’an Short video clips where Dr. Keith L. Moore explains how he and other scientists got involved in the area of embryology in the Qur’an.

(2) Presentations by Prof Keith L Moore

(4) Alaqah or “Leech-like” Stage of Human Development

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  Embryology in the Qur’an: A description of the ‘Alaqah stage ‘Alaqah is a stage in the development of the embryo. In this illustrated essay the term ‘alaqah is described with an emphasis on the outer appearance of the embryo and its internal structures.
• Video: Prof. Keith Moore describes the ‘alaqah or “leech-like” appearance of the human embryo at the International Conference on Scientific Signs of the Qur’an and Sunnah in Cairo, Egypt, 1989.
• Surely the Qur’anic ‘Alaqah (the leech-like stage) is easily observed with the naked eye? When would the human embryo then be visible to the unaided eye
• Does the embryo resemble a leech in these photos?

(5) The Mudghah or “Chewed-Like” Stage of Human Development

• Embryology in the Qur’an: The Mudghah Stage This article focuses on the term mudghah – the third stage of human prenatal development according to the Qur’an.
• The ‘Chewed-Like’ Embryo: A Closer Look at Qur’anic Embryology
• Video: Dr. Keith L. Moore describes the Mudghah stage of human development at the University of Illinois, Chicago, USA on the 8th May 1990.

(6) Human Development During The First 40 Days

• Human Development in the first 40 days This paper reviews the hadith of the Prophet which describes the embryo in the first 40 days narrated in Saheeh Muslim and Saheeh Al-Bukhari.
  

(7) Human Development After The 42nd Day

• Human Development after the 42nd Day This paper is concerned with the period of prenatal development after the 42nd day. The 7th week of development marks a time of several eventful changes in the external and internal features of the fetus. The paper also reviews the hadith of the Prophet which describes the embryo after the 42nd day (narrated in Saheeh Muslim).

• Embryology in the Qur’an: Bone and Muscle Development In this paper the processes of embryonic osteogenesis (the production of bone) and myogenesis (formation of muscular tissue) are described in biological terminology; then the Qur’anic terms ’izam (skeleton, bones) and lahm (muscles, flesh) are discussed.
• Embryology in the Qur’an: Fetus acquires a skeleton This article briefly describes the Izam (skeleton, bones) and Lahm (muscles, flesh) stages of development.
• Video: Embryology in the Qur’an – Bone and Muscle development by Dr. Keith L. Moore (6 mins) Dr. Keith L. Moore talks about bone development and the formation of muscular tissue in the embryo with reference to the Qur’anic terms ’izam (skeleton, bones) and lahm (muscles, flesh). Moore also answers the question of which “appears” first, the bones or muscle.
• Video: Embryology in the Qur’an: Bone and Muscle Development by Dr. TVN Persaud (4.5 mins) Dr. TVN Persaud talks about the stages of bone and muscle development as mentioned in the Qur’an.

(9) Responses To Contentions

• The Stages of Embryological Fabrication by Dr. Lactantius Exposes Dr. Lactantius, a Christian author, who fabricates evidence in order to attack the Qur’an.
  
• Response to Dr. William Campbell’s claim that the human embryo does not resemble a leech
  
• Was al-Harith bin Kaladah the Source of the Prophet Muhammad’s Medical Knowledge? Writing under the pen name of Lactantius, a Christian author alleges that the descriptions of human embryonic development as mentioned in the Qur’an had been plagiarised from the writings of ancient Greek physicians. Such writings are said to have been transmitted to the Prophet Muhammad through his companion al-Harith bin Kaladah, who is said to have studied medicine at an old and noted medical school in Jundishapur (southern Persia) where instruction in all of the Greek disciplines could be obtained. This essay investigates the accusation that al-Harith bin Kaladah was the source of the Prophet’s medical knowledge.
  
• Q&A: Was al-Harith bin Kaladah the source of the Prophet’s medical knowledge? – Some historians and commentators believe the Prophet Muhammad plagiarised Aristotle’s and Galen’s accounts of the developing human embryo via al-Harith bin Kaladah. Hamza Tzortzis gives nine reasons why this is unfounded.
  
• Does the Qur’an Plagiarse Ancient Greek Embryology? This paper addresses the accusation that the embryological development described in the Qur’an, has been plagiarised from the writings of ancient Greek physicians, such as Galen. The main embryological ideas found in the writings of the ancient Indians, Hippocrates, Aristotle, Galen, and Jewish scriptures are reviewed and then compared to the embryological development stated in the verses of the Qur’an.