Science in the Glorious Quran: Bones then Muscles

“فَخَلَقْنَا الْمُضْغَةَ عِظَامًا فَكَسَوْنَا الْعِظَامَ لَحْمًا” (المؤمنون:14).

“And then We made out of the mudghah bones, then we clothed the bones with flesh (muscles).” (Qur’an, 23:12-14)

Science has revealed that the bone structures of the embryo develop before the muscles.

• Mesenchyme first forms cartilage tissues which ossify into bones (Fig. A).
• Muscle cells then come together and wrap around the bones (Fig B).

• A the condensation of mesenchyme at the base of the limb bud.
• B. The formation of the dorsal (extensor) and ventral (flexor) muscular components of the limb around the bone after its formation.

The cartilage tissues of the embryo are first formed and ossify. Then the muscle cells are wrapped around the bones.