Page 174 - Allah's Miracles in the Qur'an

Allah's Miracles in the Qur'an

Curse man for his ingratitude! From what thing did He create him?
From a drop of sperm He created him and proportioned him. Then He
eases the way for him. (Qur'an, 80:17-20)
The foetus is fully formed at the end of the sixth month. The womb
then enters the incubation period. All the baby's bodily organs and sys-

tems develop fully during that time, and the womb accelerates this
growth by providing nourishment for the foetus. This period continues
until the baby emerges from the mother's womb.
The birth canal is normally very narrow and it is difficult for the
foetus to pass through it. During birth, however, a number of physio-
logical changes take place in the mother's body. These changes allow
the foetus to move easily through the birth canal. Some of these
changes include: the expansion of the joints in the pelvic bones in order
to widen the birth canal, the relaxation of the muscles to further widen
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the canal and the lubrication of the canal with amniotic fluid. These
pre-birth changes are described in one scientific source in these terms:

As birth approaches, the amniotic fluid embarks on those activities that
will be necessary to facilitate that birth. This fluid comprises sacs, which
will enlarge the mouth of the womb, thus allowing the womb to assume
the dimensions to allow the baby to pass. These sacs also prevent the foe-
tus from being crushed in the womb during birth. Furthermore, when the
sacs burst and release their fluid at the commencement of birth, the path
to be taken by the foetus is both lubricated and sterilised. In this way,
birth takes place easier and in a manner naturally free of germs. 97
This series of occurrences is openly indicated in the verse of the
Qur'an, "Then He eases the way for him." (Qur'an, 80:20) However, it
has been possible today to determine these physiological changes-
which Allah informed us of 1,400 years ago-only with the use of a num-

ber of technological devices.

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