The Quran and Sunnah: Accurate Descriptions of Human Embryonic Development and Guidance for Nurturing the Fitrah

The Quran and Sunnah provide accurate and comprehensive descriptions of human embryonic development, which is a sign of divine revelation and scientific miracle. For example, the Quran mentions that the human being is created from a nutfah (a drop of fluid), then an alaqah (a leech-like clot), then a mudghah (a chewed-like lump), then izam (bones), then lahm (flesh), then a new creation

وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مِن سُلَٰلَةٍ مِّن طِينٍ

And certainly did We create man from an extract of clay.

ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَٰهُ نُطْفَةً فِى قَرَارٍ مَّكِينٍ

Then We placed him as a sperm-drop in a firm lodging.

ثُمَّ خَلَقْنَا ٱلنُّطْفَةَ عَلَقَةً فَخَلَقْنَا ٱلْعَلَقَةَ مُضْغَةً فَخَلَقْنَا ٱلْمُضْغَةَ عِظَٰمًا فَكَسَوْنَا ٱلْعِظَٰمَ لَحْمًا ثُمَّ أَنشَأْنَٰهُ خَلْقًا ءَاخَرَ ۚ فَتَبَارَكَ ٱللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ ٱلْخَٰلِقِينَ

Then We made the sperm-drop into a clinging clot, and We made the clot into a lump [of flesh], and We made [from] the lump, bones, and We covered the bones with flesh; then We developed him into another creation. So blessed is Allah, the best of creators.

(Al Quran 23:12-14 ). 

These stages correspond to modern scientific findings and terminology.

The Quran and Sunnah also emphasize the importance of human development as a means of fulfilling one's purpose in life, which is to worship Allah and attain His pleasure. The Quran states that Allah has created everything with qadr (measure and proportion) and has given humans fitrah (natural disposition) to recognize Him and follow His guidance 

سَبِّحِ ٱسْمَ رَبِّكَ ٱلْأَعْلَى

Exalt the name of your Lord, the Most High,

ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ فَسَوَّىٰ

Who created and proportioned

وَٱلَّذِى قَدَّرَ فَهَدَىٰ

And who destined and [then] guided

( Al Quran 87:1-3) 

The Quran and Sunnah emphasize the importance of nurturing the child’s fitrah (natural disposition) to recognize Allah and follow His commands.

فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًا ۚ فِطْرَتَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّتِى فَطَرَ ٱلنَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا ۚ لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

So direct your face toward the religion, inclining to truth. [Adhere to] the fitrah of Allah upon which He has created [all] people. No change should there be in the creation of Allah. That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know.

(Al Quran 30:30 ). 

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Every child is born upon fitrah, then his parents make him a Jew or a Christian or a Magian” (Bukhari and Muslim). 

The Quran and Sunnah also stress the need to respect the child’s rights and dignity, and to treat them with kindness and compassion. Allah says: 

وَلَا تَقْتُلُوٓا۟ أَوْلَٰدَكُمْ خَشْيَةَ إِمْلَٰقٍ ۖ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُهُمْ وَإِيَّاكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ قَتْلَهُمْ كَانَ خِطْـًٔا كَبِيرًا

“And do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you. Indeed, their killing is ever a great sin” (Al Quran 17:31 ) 

Another verse,

وَإِذَا ٱلْمَوْءُۥدَةُ سُئِلَتْ

بِأَىِّ ذَنۢبٍ قُتِلَتْ

“And when the girl [who was] buried alive is asked. For what sin she was killed” (Al Quran 81:8-9 ) 

The Quran also states that Allah has honored the human being and given him various faculties and potentials to explore and benefit from the universe 

وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ وَحَمَلْنَٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ وَرَزَقْنَٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَٰتِ وَفَضَّلْنَٰهُمْ عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا تَفْضِيلًا

And We have certainly honored the children of Adam and carried them on the land and sea and provided for them of the good things and preferred them over much of what We have created, with [definite] preference.

(Al Quran 17:70) , 

And also,

لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ فِىٓ أَحْسَنِ تَقْوِيمٍ 

We have certainly created man in the best of stature;

ثُمَّ رَدَدْنَٰهُ أَسْفَلَ سَٰفِلِينَ

Then We return him to the lowest of the low,

إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ فَلَهُمْ أَجْرٌ غَيْرُ مَمْنُونٍ

Except for those who believe and do righteous deeds, for they will have a reward uninterrupted.

(Al Quran 95:4-6 ). 

The Sunnah further explains how humans can develop their physical, intellectual, moral, and spiritual aspects by following the example of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companions.

Allah says: 

فَتَعَٰلَى ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱلْحَقُّ ۗ وَلَا تَعْجَلْ بِٱلْقُرْءَانِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يُقْضَىٰٓ إِلَيْكَ وَحْيُهُۥ ۖ وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدْنِى عِلْمًا

So high [above all] is Allah, the Sovereign, the Truth. And, [O Muhammad], do not hasten with [recitation of] the Qur'an before its revelation is completed to you, and say, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge."“And say, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge"” (Al Quran 20:114 ) 

 The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “He is not one of us who does not show mercy to our young ones and respect our elders” (Tirmidhi). He  (peace be upon him) said: “Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim” (Ibn Majah) and 

 مَا نَحَلَ وَالِدٌ وَلَدًا مِنْ نَحْلٍ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ أَدَبٍ حَسَنٍ ‏‏

“A father gives his child nothing better than a good education” (Tirmidhi).

 The Quran and Sunnah offer a more holistic and comprehensive view of human development that encompasses both this world and the hereafter.