Surah Al-Muminoon (23) — Ayah 14

14. Then We made the drop into a clot, then We made the clot into a lump, then We made the lump into bones, then We clothed the bones with flesh [13], then We developed him into another creation [14]. So blessed is Allah, the best of creators [15].

[13] The stages that occur during the development of the drop of fluid in the mother's womb have already been explained under verse 5 of Surah Al-Hajj.

[14]
The Inner Universe of Man:

That is, from a drop of fluid and a lifeless lump of flesh, a living, conscious, and intelligent human being is created and brought into existence. Every single organ, vein, and fiber of his body is fulfilling multiple purposes, and not a single part of it has been created in vain. Now, if we reflect on the internal structure of man, it becomes clear that man is a collection of various automatic levers and machines: somewhere there is a mill, somewhere a sieve, somewhere a grinding lever, somewhere a pounding one, somewhere a breaking one, somewhere an absorbing one, somewhere one that expels waste, somewhere one that propels, and somewhere one that lowers. These automatic machines are working in such a strong, coordinated, and organized manner that, upon studying them, a person is filled with admiration for the powers and wisdoms of Allah Almighty and is also lost in astonishment. When the stomach becomes empty, a person automatically feels hunger and thirst and is compelled to eat and drink. And when food reaches the stomach, all these automatic machines begin their respective functions. If any of these mechanisms malfunctions, the person becomes ill, and if the malfunction is not corrected but rather increases, the person dies. This was the story of the internal structure of the body; now look at its faculties. When a child is born, he possesses nothing except the basic characteristics of life—no hearing, no sight, no speech, no ability to walk or sit, no intellect or wisdom, nor any other quality. But after coming out of the mother's womb, he begins to become something entirely different, which bears no resemblance to the fetus in the womb. In a short time, he becomes a hearing, seeing, and speaking child.

The Meaning of Man Becoming Something Else:

Now he acquires some knowledge from the environment and some from his own personal experience and observation. As soon as he develops some intellect, the skill of competing with others or surpassing them emerges in him. This awakening and selfhood in him make him try to assert his dominance and impose his will over everything he can control, and this very awakening and selfhood increasingly highlight and enhance the quality of "becoming something else" in him. Then, as he grows into youth and maturity, all his faculties, powers, and abilities also increase, and a time comes when the notion of "there is none like me" begins to develop in him. At times, some people even perform such astonishing feats that are beyond the capacity of ordinary humans.

[15] Now, if a person reflects even a little on how his life began from a humble drop of water, and after passing through various stages, how Allah Almighty transformed him from one state to another, then these words spontaneously come to his lips: ﴿فَتَبٰرَكَ اللّٰهُ اَحْسَنُ الْخٰلِقِيْنَ﴾ That is, how blessed, full of goodness, wisdom, and power is the sacred Being of Allah Almighty, who began the creation of man from clay or a drop of fluid, then, after passing him through various stages, by astonishing means, made him into a conscious and human being with will and choice. It should be noted that the word "Tabarak" is generally specific to Allah Almighty and is used in connection with those good deeds that are exclusive to Allah alone.