Author: Dr. Noor Mohammad Mohibi
The Quran: A Miracle Beyond Time- A Study of Its Miraculous Nature (Part 54)
The Wonders of Creation in the Jaw, Tongue, and Digestive System of the Human Being
Reflecting on the creation of the heavens and the earth and contemplating the existence of the human being himself—which is the closest thing to him—is among the vastest and deepest gateways to knowing the Lord and finding the path to Him. Allah the Exalted says in the Noble Qur’an: [1]“سَنُرِیهِمْ آيَاتِنَا فِي الْآفَاقِ وَفِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ” Translation: “We shall show them Our signs in the horizons (of the heavens and the earth, which form the greater world) and within themselves (which form the smaller world), until it becomes clear to them that it (Islam and the Qur’an) is the truth.”
One of the most prominent divine signs within the human being is the complex and wondrous system of the jaw, tongue, and digestive apparatus, which operate in perfect harmony to perform vital functions necessary for human survival. This precise system is not only astonishing from a biological perspective, but it is also a clear manifestation of the infinite wisdom and power of Allah the Exalted.
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The Jaw: A Remarkable Tool of Movement and Chewing
In the human mouth, the movable jaw (especially the lower jaw) is designed in such a way that it allows for diverse, multi-directional movements. This jaw has:
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Six muscles for downward movement,
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Six muscles for upward movement,
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Two muscles for right and left movement,
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And four muscles for forward and backward movement.
This combination of muscles enables the jaw to move in six primary directions: upward, downward, right, left, forward, and backward. The result of this coordination is that a human being can completely chew food and prepare it for swallowing. It is estimated that on average, a person performs around 2,400 chewing and swallowing movements per day.
In addition to this, the mouth is equipped with an extremely precise system for swallowing, such that around one hundred thousand cells in the mouth are regenerated every minute to preserve the health and proper functioning of this vital organ.
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The Tongue: The Center of Coordination and Control of Food
The tongue is a powerful and highly mobile organ in the oral cavity that, with seventeen active muscles, has the ability to move in all directions. These multidimensional movements help food to be fully repositioned in the mouth and mixed with saliva. If the jaw is compared to a dough-kneading machine, the tongue is like the paddles of a mixer, combining the materials together so that a proper morsel is formed for swallowing.
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The Remarkable Process of Swallowing
Swallowing is one of the most complex and precise processes in the human body, involving multiple organs. During swallowing:
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The uvula (a piece of soft tissue at the end of the palate) closes the nasal cavity so food does not enter it.
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The epiglottis closes the route to the larynx and trachea so that food does not enter the respiratory system.
Even when a person is asleep and saliva accumulates in the mouth, the nervous system automatically—without the person being aware—manages this process: nerve signals travel from the mouth to the medulla oblongata in the brainstem, where the necessary command is issued to the epiglottis and uvula to close the passages properly and direct saliva toward the esophagus.
Control of this complex process lies in the seventh, ninth, eleventh, and twelfth cranial nerves, all of which pass through the brainstem. If this nerve center is damaged, food may be redirected toward the nasal cavity or larynx and then to the lungs, causing choking and instant death.
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The Esophagus and the Mechanism of Food Transport
The esophagus is a muscular tube about 50 centimeters long that transfers food from the mouth to the stomach. This transfer does not occur through gravity, but rather through sequential contractions of circular muscles. For this reason, even if a person is lying down or upside down, the morsel still moves toward the stomach.
At the end of the esophagus is a valve called the cardiac sphincter (fū’ād), which acts like a strong gate to prevent the return of stomach acid into the esophagus. Stomach acid is mainly hydrochloric acid (HCl), and if it returns to the esophagus, it causes a severe burning sensation. For the morsel to pass through this valve, the pressure during swallowing must be four times higher than the usual pressure in the esophagus. All of these precise adjustments are signs of divine wisdom: [2]“لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الإِنسَانَ فِي أَحْسَنِ تَقْوِيمٍ” Translation: “We have indeed created man in the best form and structure.”
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The Epiglottis: A Fundamental Guardian of Life
One of the most important components of this complex system is the epiglottis—an organ that works continuously and tirelessly from the formation of the fetus until the moment of death. This organ is tasked with making decisions and exercising precise control at the intersection of two vital pathways: the airway (from the nose to the trachea and lungs) and the food pathway (from the mouth to the esophagus).
If even half a glass of water mistakenly enters the trachea, a person may die within a few minutes due to choking and oxygen deprivation to the brain. Therefore, during swallowing, the epiglottis closes the path of the trachea and opens the passage to the esophagus to prevent food from entering the respiratory system. During breathing, it keeps the trachea open.
Even during sleep, this organ works without interruption: when saliva gathers in the mouth, the epiglottis opens the passage to the esophagus so that the saliva can be swallowed, and then it reopens the airway for breathing.
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Astonishing Defensive Mechanisms
To protect the respiratory system, the trachea (windpipe) is covered with moving cilia, which constantly move upward to expel foreign particles and substances. These particles collect in the larynx and are expelled in the form of phlegm. However, habits such as smoking paralyze these cilia, paving the way for lung diseases.
In contrast, the esophagus is equipped with successive circular muscles that push food toward the stomach, even against the force of gravity. This precise design is neither the result of coincidence nor a product of blind natural processes; rather, it is a clear sign of the conscious creation of the Lord: [3] “وَفِي خَلْقِكُمْ وَمَا يَبُثُّ مِن دَابَّةٍ آيَاتٌ لِّقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ” Translation: “And in your own creation (with its beautiful structure, complex internal systems, mysterious networks of nerves, veins, capillaries, brain, cells, blood circulation, unique qualities, and the diversity of outward and inward nature among individuals), and in the creation of the creatures He spreads throughout the earth (from microscopic beings to giant animals, with different traits, structures, colors, and forms), there are great signs and strong proofs (for recognizing the One Creator) for people who are certain.”
[4] “وَفِي أَنفُسِكُمْ أَفَلَا تُبْصِرُونَ” Translation: “And (There are signs) in your own selves—can you not see?”
In summary, every cell and every movement within the human system of chewing, swallowing, and digestion is a sign of endless wisdom and divine planning. From the coordination of the jaw and tongue muscles to the precise function of the epiglottis and esophagus—everything has been designed with a specific purpose so that the human being can eat, breathe, sleep, and live with ease.
Reflecting on these clear signs is a means of understanding the greatness of the Creator and attaining certainty. Allah the Exalted calls mankind to contemplate within themselves and observe the signs of creation in their own bodies: [5] “سَنُرِيهِمْ آيَاتِنَا فِي الْآفَاقِ وَفِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ” Translation: “We shall show them Our signs in the horizons (of the heavens and the earth, which form the greater world) and within themselves (which form the smaller world), until it becomes clear to them that it (Islam and the Qur’an) is the truth.”
The creation of the jaw, tongue, epiglottis, and digestive system is not only scientific evidence of precision and order within the human body, but also a clear proof of the existence, knowledge, and power of the Almighty Lord. [6]
To be continued…
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References:
[1]. Fussilat: 53
[2]. At-Tin: 4
[3]. Al-Jathiyah: 4
[4]. Adh-Dhariyat: 21
[5]. Fussilat: 53
[6]. Summary extracted from: Mawsu‘at al-I‘jaz al-‘Ilmi fi al-Qur’an wa al-Sunnah, Vol. 1, pp. 158–162.
