Some Muslim writers routinely respond to questions about the reliability of the Qur’an with claims that it contains ‘scientific miracles’. Quite how this ‘cancels out’ all the scientific errors in the same book is not explained. Still, it would be useful to examine the most famous of these claims to see if it can stand up to scrutiny.
Muslim apologists often claim that one of the most important scientific ‘miracle’ in the Qur’an is the fact that it accurately describes the the growth of an embryo when it discusses human development. They point to Qur’an 23:12-14 (see also 22:5) for confirmation of this:
And certainly did We create man from an extract of clay.
Then We placed him as a sperm-drop in a firm lodging [i.e., the womb].
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.
So how will we know if this description is indeed miraculous? I would suggest the following test. The ‘embryology’ verses in the Qur’an will have to be: 1) Scientifically accurate 2) Unique 3) Information that Muhammad could get from no other source than Allah.
Let us now examine these three areas. Firstly the question of whether the Qur’anic account is accurate.
1) Is the Qur’anic description of human embryonic development scientifically accurate?
When we examine these verses, we see that, according to Muhammad, humans develop through the following stages in the womb:
1) Sperm
2) Clot of blood
3) Embryonic lump
4) Grows bones
5) Covered with flesh
6) Fully formed
Some problems with this explanation immediately become apparent:
No mention at all is made of the female contribution (the 'egg' or ovum). It simply describes the sperm 'mutating' into a clot of blood.
There is no stage of development during which the embryo resembles a 'clot of blood'. The only time when an embryo will resemble a ‘clot of blood’ is when a miscarriage occurs.
There is no stage of embryonic development during which the embryo turns into bones or a skeleton around which flesh is subsequently grown. The bones of an embryo develop long after it is encased in flesh. The Qur'an therefore has it exactly the wrong way around.
So the 'embryology' found in the Qur'an too vague to be of any use and is totally unscientific. It therefore does not pass the test for accuracy.