The chewed appearance results from the somite which resembles teeth marks.
The chewed appearance results from the somite which resembles teeth marks. The somite represents the beginnings of the vertebrae. Figure 3 A plasticine model of the human embryo which has the appearance of chewed flesh. Right, a drawing of a 28-day-old human embryo showing bead-like somites which resemble the teeth marks in the model shown to the left. “Then We created the fleshy tissue as bones. Then We clothed the bones with flesh (Lahma)”.
The verse indicates that out of the chewed lump stage, bones and muscles form. This is in accordance with embryological development. First, the bones form as cartilage models and then the muscles (flesh) develop around them. “Then We produced him as [yet] another creature.” This next part of the verse implies that the bones and muscles result in the formation of another creature. This may refer to the human-like embryo that forms by the end of the eighth week.
At this stage it has distinctive human characteristics after the eighth week; the human embryo is called a foetus. This may be the new creature to which the verse refers. The interpretation of the verses in the Holy Quran referring to human development would not have been possible in the 7th century A.D., or even a hundred years ago. We can interpret them now because the science of modern embryology affords us new understanding.
Undoubtedly there are other verses in the Holy Quran that will be better understood in the future as our knowledge increases. Extracted from the book titled “Before we are Born” by Keith L. Moore (PhD, F.I.A.C, Professor of Anatomy and Associate Dean, Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada . Leave a Comment Leave a Comment Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published.
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