Reasoning:

Some embryologists and writers inferred to the above-mentioned Hadiths asserting that this Prophetic Sunnah represent clear scientific miracle, as they have dealt fourteen centuries ago with the facts were only discovered by embryology in the present era. Those points were compiled as follows:

1 – The Hadith has outlined that every fetus passes through the stages of sperm, clinging clot and then a little piece of flesh. These stages aren’t just a growth in size and weight. And this has been seen visually in the embryology today.

The Hadith of Ibn Mas`ud was held as evidence for this issue by both Dr. /Ahmad Ken`an and Muhammad Kamal Shawsharah in their book (The First Creation) (1) and by Dr./Mahmud Nazim An-Nasimy in his book (Prophetic Medicine and Modern Science). (2) While, the Hadith of Anas was quoted by Dr./Muhammad `Ali Al-Barr on the this issue. (3)

2 - The words of Hadith with their linguistic denotations coincide accurately with the facts discovered by embryology. Those points are explained as follows:

A – Al `Alaqah (The clinging clot) (4):

They said about the word of Al `Alaqah.

1 – This Arabic word was derived from the origin of Al `Alaq that denotes clinging and sticking to something.

2 – A kind of aquatic worm that sticks to animals and lives on their blood is also called ‘Al `Alaqah’.

3 – The word also denotes blood, especially, the blood having dark red color as well as rigid and thick or wet blood is also called ‘Al `Alaq’. All these three positions happen to the sperm during the period of clinging clot. The detail is as follows:

 It is notable that the sound and healthy sperm sticks to the wall of uterus at the beginning of the process of implantation during the period of blastocyst. It happens at the sixth day of implantation then it grafts perfectly and this process takes more than one week. Then it sticks to the primitive placenta through a joining thread that develops into the umbilical cord. This condition coincides with the first meaning of this word that is to stick.

During the growth of sperm inside the wall of the uterus it loses its round shape at the end of clinging clot and gets ready to take the shape of a rectangle similar to the shape of a leech that lives in the water. (5)

The fetus during this period begins to be nourished from mother’s blood, as the leech the known worm does but the worm is nourished by the blood of other animals. As well as the fetus is surrounded by sticky fetal fluid just as the aquatic worm is surrounded by water. And this is the second meaning of the word Al `Alaqah.

Also, we find that the external appearance of the embryo and its bags resembles the curdled, solid and thick blood; because the first origin of heart of the fetus and the bag of placenta and some blood vessels appear at this stage. However the blood remains immobile in the blood vessels despite having flowing nature. It does not begin circulating until the end of the third week. This causes the fetus to appear like inactive or thick blood while in fact it is wet. And this phenomenon coincides with the third meaning of the word Al `Alaqah.

Do you not think after all these interpretations that the description of Al `Alaqah is more suited, proper and appropriate for the nature of this stage of fetus? Yes, of course (6).

B – ‘Al Mudhghah’ (A little chewable piece of flesh (7).

‘Al Mudhghah’ in Arabic language has many and different meanings, including:

1 - Something that was chewed by teeth.

2 – Arabs say: ‘Mudhagh Al Umur’ (Tiny things).

3 - Some commentators have mentioned that every thing that has a little size and could be chewed is called ‘Al Mudhghah’. 

When choosing terms for the description of the stages of the fetal developments, it is appropriate for the term to be coinciding with external and interior shapes and structures of the fetus. Based on this, the usage of the word of ‘Mudhghah’ (chewable) for the description of stages of the fetus in fact actualized the linguistic meanings of the word ‘Mudhghah’.

The modern Embryology has unveiled this accuracy in the selection of the word ‘Mudhghah’ for the description of the fetus during this period. It was found that after the creation of the fetus and appearance of placenta at this stage, the fetus begins receiving its nutrients and energy, so the process of growth increases quickly and the physical blocs of body begin to develop that produce the bones and muscles.

Due to the presence of cotyledons (physical blocks) the fetus looks like a chewed article that has clear biting signs and that is ‘Mudhghah’.

The term of ‘Mudhghah’ (something chewed) is proper to describe the ongoing developments at this stage that could be perceived during this period. These points are outlined in the following lines:

1 - The emergence of cotyledons gives the fetus a look like the signs of bites and causes to appear like a chewed material. As they change constantly  like the chewed materials having signs of bites change  quickly during chewing act . This denotes the rapid changes in the shape of the fetus and the effects or signs of chewing continue with it. However, the external shape of the fetus continues to change and develop but the combinations consisting of cotyledons remain same and similar to the material that was chewed and bit. And it has crinkles (8) and bulges and swells just as the fetus has those (9).

2 - The conditions of the fetus change as a result of shifts in the center of gravity by the formation of new tissues that leads fetus to resemble the status and shape of material that is chewed and bit.

3 - As the chewed article turns round before it is swallowed the fetus also appears bending and becomes arched semi-round similar to the character (C) (10).

4 - The length of the embryo remains at the end of this stage about (1 cm) and it is identical to the second meaning of the word ‘Al Mudhghah’(a little thing that could be chewed or bit) and this meaning coincides with the small size of the fetus; as all human parts are developed during this stage of ‘Al Mudhghah’ but in the shape of small buds (11).

The third meaning, which was mentioned by some commentators regarding the word ‘Al Mudhghah’ (anything in small size that could be chewed) also coincides with the size of the fetus as  its length at the end of this period remains(1 cm) and this is almost smallest size of a substance that could be chewed.

However, the previous stage of clinging clot was small in size of (3.5) mm in length that never could be chewed. The stage of ‘Al Mudhghah’ ends by the end of the sixth week (12).

This is about the external appearance of the fetus, but there is a fact more amazing than that as we find inside the fetus that it is divided into small blocks, known as: (Metameres) or (Segments) (13).

Thus the usage of ‘Al Mudhghah’ for the description of fetus is the truest, most accurate, most coinciding and most proper description of fetus according to the definitions of embryologists who describe this stage as: (Stage of Physical Blocs or SOMITES). Furthermore, we see that this description includes physical segments and pharyngeal arches and even interior pieces of (Metameres). Undoubtedly, it is very precise, comprehensive and brief description.(14).

Moreover, the Hadith of Ibn Mas`ud was quoted on this issue by Sheikh `Abdul Majid Al Zindani and his followers (15) as well as this was quoted by Dr./Muhammad `Ali Al Barr in his book (The Brief about the Qur’anic Embryology) alongside the Hadith of Anas. (16).

3 - The creation of fetus is collected within forty days since pollination:

Sheikh `Abdul Majid Al Zindani inferred to the Hadith of Ibn Mas`ud and concluded that the Hadith of the Prophet (may  the peace and the blessings of Allah be upon him): "Each one of you is collected in the womb of his mother for forty days.” agrees and coincides with the revelations of embryology as the shape of the fetus is perfected and completed as its parts are gathered and branched out during this forty days.

He said: "The apparent meaning of Hadith asserts that the creation of human is collected during the forty days and the embryologists also concluded after a long journey of their studies and anatomy of embryos in the first forty days, that the main parts of human body develop one after the other as the first forty days don’t pass until all parts have been created but they remain during this period in the form of small buds not bigger than a centimeter.

It is worth mentioning that the fetus remains wrapped in the shape of an arc or similar to the character (C)."(17) End of quote.

________________

(1) The First Creation. (1/222).

(2) Prophetic Medicine and Modern Science. (3/328).

(3) The Creation of Man between Medicine and Al Qur’an. (243, 262, 263)

(4) See the definition in the beginning of this section.

(5) See: Embryology in the Light of Qur’an and Sunnah, p (69-75) and The Creation of Man between Medicine and Al-Qur’an. (211 - 223).

(7) See the definition in the first section.

(8) The Arabic word ‘Al Ghusn’ or ‘Al Ghusan’ denotes fold, bend or twist on a garment or skin or shield. Al Qamus. (3/401).

(9) That refers to the smallest size of human-being with all existed organs, so the description of ‘Mudhghah’ (small thing) is true as the fetus in this period remains in the length of (1 cm) and has all existed tiny parts. Thus was explained in the footnote of the book: Embryology in the Light of Al Qur’an and Sunnah. (82) And the Arabic word Al Bur`um, Al Bur`oom, Al Bur`umah or Al Bur`oomah denotes an undeveloped plant or flower before it blossoms. (Lisan Al `Arab, 1/260).

(10) Embryology in the Light of Al Qur’an and Sunnah. (80-82).

(11) The Brief about Qur’anic Embryology, p (41, 42).