The Qur'an describes human development in distinct phases, beginning with the creation of man from a single person, Adam, and then from Adam, his wife, Hawwa (Eve). Allah says that human beings are created in the wombs of their mothers in "three veils of darkness," referring to the layers of the abdomen, uterine wall, and amniotic sac. These stages of creation are outlined in detail in the Qur'an, indicating that human development is not a singular event, but a process occurring over time. This concept is not only in the Qur'an but also deeply rooted in modern science, showing how the stages of human development were described with extraordinary accuracy long before the advent of modern scientific tools.

The Qur'an mentions the stages of human development in two key verses:

Surah Az-Zumar (39:6): Allah says, 'He created you ˹all˺ from a single soul, then from it He made its mate. And He produced for you four pairs of cattle. He creates you in the wombs of your mothers ˹in stages˺, one development after another, in three layers of darkness. That is Allah—your Lord! All authority belongs to Him. There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Him. How can you then be turned away?' This verse describes the creation of man in stages, which includes the stages in the womb as well as the process of human development in three veils of darkness (the abdomen, the uterine wall, and the amniotic sac), signifying the mystery and complexity of human creation.

Surah Nooh (71:13-14): 'What is the matter with you that you are not in awe of the Majesty of Allah, when He truly created you in stages ˹of development˺?' This verse reiterates that human creation is not a singular event but occurs in different stages over time.

When the Qur'anic mention of human development in phases was presented to Professor Marshall Johnson, his initial response was one of disbelief. However, after a thoughtful discussion, he acknowledged that this could not have been a coincidence, especially considering the detailed nature of the Qur'anic description of fetal development, which includes multiple stages of creation. The professor offered three possible explanations for how this knowledge could have reached Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): The Possession of a Microscope: He speculated that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) could have had access to advanced microscopes to observe human creation, which he dismissed as improbable because the necessary technology, such as lenses and glass, was not available at that time. Additionally, the electronic microscope, which would have been required to view such microscopic details, was only invented centuries later. Coincidence: He wondered if the knowledge of fetal development being described in the Qur'an might be coincidental. Upon hearing further details from the Qur'an about the different stages of fetal development, he concluded that this could not be mere chance—it was too detailed and specific. Revelation from Allah: After contemplating the other possibilities, the professor was forced to admit that the most plausible explanation was that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was indeed receiving revelation from Allah, who alone could have provided such detailed knowledge.

The Qur'an gives precise details of the stages of human development from the zygote stage to the fully formed fetus. The following stages are mentioned: Nutfah (The Drop): The initial stage of human creation begins with the fertilization of the egg by a sperm cell, forming a zygote. The term "Nutfah" in Arabic means "a drop," which refers to the male and female fluid merging during fertilisation.

Allah says in Surah Al-Mu’minoon (23:12-13): 'And indeed, We created humankind from an extract of clay, then placed each ˹human˺ as a sperm-drop in a secure place'

Nutfah (again) in Surah Abasa (80:17-19): Condemned are ˹disbelieving˺ humans! How ungrateful they are ˹to Allah˺! From what substance did He create them? He created them from a sperm-drop, and ordained their development. The stage of Nutfah is where the DNA that will determine every physical characteristic of the human being—including sex—has already been established. The Qur'an reveals that at this point, the creation of whether the individual will be male or female has already been determined. The concept of gender determination at the zygote stage was completely unknown to people during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), as it was only discovered much later in the 20th century with the advent of modern science, including the understanding of X and Y chromosomes. The Qur'an’s reference to this knowledge centuries ago is a profound scientific miracle.

Male and Female Creation: The Qur'an explains that Allah creates male and female from the Nutfah—the sperm and egg. In Soorah An-Najm (53:45-46), Allah says: 'And He created the pairs—males and females— from a sperm-drop when it is emitted.' This is a reference to the chromosomal distinction that determines the sex of the offspring, a fact that modern science later confirmed, but was documented clearly in the Qur'an more than 1,400 years ago.

The detailed description of the human development process, starting from the zygote to the later stages of pregnancy, presented in the Qur'an could not have been known to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) without divine revelation. This includes the determination of sex in the zygote, which was unknown to the world until the 20th century. The acknowledgment by Professor Marshall Johnson that this knowledge could only be the result of revelation from Allah underscores the miraculous nature of the Qur'an. It is a reminder to humanity that such profound knowledge could only have been imparted by the Creator of all that exists. This serves as a clear sign of prophethood and the truth of Islam, encouraging believers to recognize the Qur'an as a divinely inspired text containing eternal truths that align with modern scientific discoveries.