from dust." This refers to the creation of Adam. "Then from a sperm-drop"—meaning, the offspring of Adam—"then from a clinging clot, then from a lump of flesh, shaped and unshaped." Mujahid's interpretation is: both of them refer to a miscarriage, whether formed or unformed.

Muhammad said: The meaning of "shaped and unshaped" is that among those created, there are those whose lump of flesh completes the formation of limbs, and there are those whose creation Allah does not complete. "That We may make clear to you"—meaning, your creation—"and We settle in the wombs"—the wombs of women—"what We will for a specified term," meaning the time of birth.

Muhammad said: It is read in the nominative case (raf') as an independent clause [separated from what precedes it].

Yahya narrated from a companion of his, from al-A'mash, from Abu Wa'il, from Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "The creation of one of you is gathered in his mother's womb as a sperm-drop for forty days, then he becomes a clinging clot for forty days, then he becomes a lump of flesh for forty days. Then the angel is ordered—or he said: the angel comes and is ordered—to write down four things: his provision, his deed, his lifespan, and whether he is wretched or blessed."