Question: The average duration of human gestation in the womb is ten months. Verse 2:233 of the Quran states that the breastfeeding period is two years. Combining these two results in a total of thirty-four months. However, Verse 46:15 of the Quran states that the combined duration of gestation and breastfeeding is thirty months. This appears to be a contradiction. I request an explanation regarding this matter, which has been raised by both me and my friend.
– M.A. Fakeer Muhammad, Tenkasi.
Answer: Not only in Verse 2:233, but also in Verse 31:14, the Holy Quran states that the period for weaning (breastfeeding) is two years.
However, in Verse 46:15, when mentioning the breastfeeding period and the gestation period together, the Holy Quran states that the total duration is thirty months. If one subtracts the two-year (24-month) breastfeeding period mentioned by God from the total duration, the remaining time for gestation is six months. At no point in history has anyone claimed that a human pregnancy lasts only six months; just as modern society understands the duration to be approximately ten months, the people living at the time the Quran was revealed held the same understanding.
Given that everyone understands the gestation period to be ten months, if the Quran states it is six months, it does so deliberately; indeed, stating it this way is precisely appropriate in this context.
When one reflects on the fact that God intentionally states something contrary to the universally accepted norm—implying a deeper meaning—and then examines the development of the fetus, one witnesses a miracle that proves this verse is indeed the word of God.
Humans possess a distinct and unique form, just as other animal species have their own specific forms. A human begins as a drop of fluid deposited in the womb, attaches to the uterine wall, and grows, eventually becoming a lump of flesh. During these initial stages, the human does not yet take on its characteristic form; much like a lamb fetus in the womb—which resembles a mere piece of meat—the human fetus exists in a similar state, with no visible hands or legs.
At this stage of development, one cannot distinguish the lump of flesh as belonging to a human rather than another animal; even through scientific analysis and testing, no distinctly human features are detectable.
It is only after passing this stage that the cells migrate to their designated locations and the fetus begins to develop the organs and characteristics that define a human being.
The total duration spent growing in the womb—developing a human form and the unique attributes of a human—is exactly six months. In the preceding stage, what existed in the womb was merely a lump of flesh, devoid of any characteristics or identity that would define it as a human being.
In the verse you pointed out, God does not merely speak of "fetal development"; instead, He uses the specific term "Insan" (human being) and miraculously states, "She carries the Insan (human being) for six months."
ثُمَّ خَلَقْنَا النُّطْفَةَ عَلَقَةً فَخَلَقْنَا الْعَلَقَةَ مُضْغَةً فَخَلَقْنَا الْمُضْغَةَ عِظَامًا فَكَسَوْنَا الْعِظَامَ لَحْمًا ثُمَّ أَنْشَأْنَاهُ خَلْقًا آخَرَ فَتَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الْخَالِقِينَ (14)
Then We transformed the drop of semen into a clinging clot. Then We transformed the clinging clot into a lump of flesh. We fashioned the lump of flesh into bones and clothed the bones with flesh. Then We brought it forth as another creation. Blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators. (Holy Quran 23:14)
"Then We brought it forth as another creation"—what a magnificent phrase! Until this stage is reached, the embryo of every creature is essentially the same. It is only after this point that differentiation occurs—a goat becomes a goat, a cow becomes a cow, and a human becomes a human. Therefore, God refers to it as "another creation." This is precisely what is conveyed by the verse stating that a mother carries the human being for six months.
Since this profound truth is a simple matter for the Creator, He deliberately states that the mother carries the human being for six months—contrary to common public perception—rather than simply referring to the total duration of fetal development. Thus, there is no contradiction whatsoever.