The Qur’an provides descriptions of early fetal development that align closely with modern scientific understanding. It refers to the initial stages of human formation as proceeding from a "drop of mixed fluid" (referred to as nutfah amshaj), emphasizing the combination of male and female contributions. The Qur’an then describes the development of the embryo with terms like ‘alaqah, meaning “something that clings” or “a clot of blood,” which resonates with the embryo’s early attachment to the uterine wall and its appearance.

The Qur’anic term ‘alaqah reflects the embryo’s leech-like form and its role as a clinging substance embedded in the uterus, dependent on the mother for nutrients, similar to a leech. This stage also aligns with the formation of primitive blood vessels, where blood is stationary and enclosed, resembling clotted blood. As the embryo further transforms, the Qur’an mentions its progression into a "lump of flesh" (referred to as mudghah), symbolizing the next stage in its rapid development. The specific transitions mentioned in the Qur’an are conveyed through different conjunctions, highlighting both the sequence and the quickness of these changes. Furthermore, the Qur’an references the initial formation of the embryo in the region near the coccyx, which reflects embryology's finding that early cellular development in the coccyx area gives rise to bodily tissues. A prophetic saying (hadith) also notes that the tailbone is the origin of human formation and remains even after death, aligning with the coccyx's known developmental significance.

Modern embryology reveals that the fetus transitions from a "clot" stage to a "lump of flesh" stage, termed mudghah in the Qur’an, between days 24 and 26 of development. In this stage, the fetus begins forming segmented structures known as somites, which resemble ridged, chewed gum due to the development of cells that will later form the spinal vertebrae and skeletal muscle. The appearance of these somites makes the embryo look like it has indentations similar to the marks of teeth on chewed meat, accurately described by the Arabic term mudghah, meaning “chewed substance.” During the mudghah stage, the embryo rapidly develops, with distinct body parts starting to form. This stage has two phases: one where the "lump of flesh" is unshaped and indistinct, and another where the body begins to form identifiable structures. Around the fourth week, features like eyes and tongue buds appear, followed by the lips in the fifth week. The Qur’an also describes this process, highlighting the step-by-step transformation and development within the womb:

Further, another verse mentions that the "lump of flesh" is “formed and unformed,” which corresponds to the two phases of mudghah in modern embryology, as seen in Surah Al-Hajj 22:5. This description is notable because it indicates the transition from an indistinct mass of cells to one with more defined structure, a process that culminates around the sixth week. The prophetic narration reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim further corroborates this developmental timeline. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, explained that a human is first created as a drop, then a clot, then a piece of flesh within successive forty-day periods. The accurate depiction of these stages, particularly in an era devoid of advanced medical tools, is seen as an indication of Divine knowledge imparted to the Prophet. Finally, the Qur’an’s order in mentioning the eyes before the lips reflects the actual order in which these features develop. In Surah Al-Balad, the Qur’an states:

These Qur’anic descriptions highlight not only the physical transformations within the womb but also suggest that such knowledge, accessible only with advanced scientific insight, was conveyed through Divine revelation. This depth of description in embryology is understood by Muslims as evidence of the Qur’an's alignment with scientific facts revealed long after its time.