In this, the first sign (āyah) illustrates the creation of humans and their propagation. It is stated: “And from among His signs is this also that He has created you from clay; then before long you grow into human beings and spread out.” This means that if humans reflect upon their creation, it will be evident that their existence is formed from the lifeless elements found in dust. Allah transformed these lifeless particles into living cells, and by instilling a soul within them, He made them a living, conscious human being. And not only did He create the individual, but He also made his existence a means for the appearance of hundreds, thousands, and millions of humans.
Imam Amin Ahsan Islahi, while explaining this sign, writes:
This means that the realities you are being invited to believe in are entirely based on the power and wisdom of your Creator. So why do you demand any external proof for the evidence of His power and wisdom? The greatest evidence of this is present within your own creation. He created you from lifeless clay, and then you became living beings endowed with intellect and awareness, spreading across the entire surface of the earth... Consider what relation is there between dry clay and a living human being? Before your eyes, God’s power populated a whole world from that very clay! (Tadabbur-e-Qur’an 6/84-85)