In the final weeks of embryonic development, the fetus progresses through the "clothing with flesh" phase, where muscles form and cover the bones. This phase, starting at the end of the seventh week and continuing through the eighth week, is marked by the gradual connection and symmetry between body parts, lending a distinctly human shape to the fetus. This transformation of the fetus allows for more coordinated movement, reflecting an advanced stage in physical development. In the Qur'an, this stage is described with the phrase:
then We developed the drop into a clinging clot, then developed the clot into a lump ˹of flesh˺, then developed the lump into bones, then clothed the bones with flesh, then We brought it into being as a new creation. So Blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators.23:14
Here, the term "clothed" suggests a layering process, as if the muscles fit over the bones like a garment. Following this stage, the fetus's structure solidifies, and the formation of muscles allows for initial fetal movement. Once this muscular stage is complete, the fetus is referred to as a new creation: then clothed the bones with flesh, then We brought it into being as a new creation. So Blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators. (23:14) This transformation into "another creation" highlights the distinction between the embryonic and fetal stages. By the end of the eighth week, the physical form of the fetus is complete, signifying the end of its initial development phase. Embryologists recognize this shift as the conclusion of embryogenesis, after which the fetus primarily grows in size and complexity. The Qur'an's mention of successive creation stages, followed by transformation into "another creation," aligns with this significant developmental transition, a milestone in fetal formation as described by modern science.
