Is the word "'alaqah" in the Qur'an – which means a blood clot – used to describe the aesthetic appearance of the fetus, and what is the evidence for that?
Allah created humankind from dust, then a drop of fluid (nutfah), then a clinging mass (alaqah), then a lump of flesh (mudghah). The term "alaqah" encompasses two meanings: first, that it is clotted blood; second, that it is something that clings to the womb. The fetus, in its developmental stages, is not devoid of being clinging blood. Some dictionaries have mentioned that "alaqah" in embryology is the first phase of the second stage of embryonic development, wherein the embryo takes the form of the aquatic animal that shares the same name, and it clings to the inner lining of the uterus. At this stage, its circulatory system begins to form, and blood vessels filled with stagnant blood multiply. The intention behind "alaqah" is not that the embryo at this stage is merely a piece of clotted blood; rather, it means that it has a structure at this stage, and an important, main part of its structure is blood and clinging.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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