Scientific Errors in the Quran: Difference between revisions

The word [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume1/00000257.pdf butun] (بطن) means belly/abdomen/midriff, though some translators like to use the more specific word "womb". Tafsirs interpreted the "three darknesses" as the placenta, womb (uterus) and belly. There are in fact many more layers in the human body such as the endometrium, myometrium, perimetrium, peritoneum, besides the cervix uteri, corpus uteri, abdomen (with walls), and placenta (with layers). The idea of three membranes around the fetus ([[w:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chorion|chorion]], [[w:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allantois|allantois]], and [[w:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amnion|amnion]]) was taught by the highly influential Greek physician, Galen. Perhaps the Qur'anic author is simply repeating this idea, which applies only to the embryonic membranes.

The allantois is a sac-like structure which becomes part of the umbilical cord, hardly a 'a darkness' for the embryo. The other two membranes, the chorion and amnion, together form the [[w:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amniotic_sac|amniotic sac]], which is quite thin and transparent.