At the beginning of the book we gave the example of a man who had been “suddenly” created. We described how this person would inspect his own being and his environment with great admiration and amazement. It was also pointed out that our own situation is not a bit different from this man’s; however, because of the behaviour and habits acquired from society, we have forgotten how to be amazed, astonished or even affected in any way by the excellence that exists around us. In other words, we have lost our ability to realize the miracles lying right in front of our eyes.
One of the most important subjects covered in the verses of the Qur’an is the need for breaking this indifference that has developed because of these habits and flawed thinking. While some verses of the Qur’an describe people going astray when awaiting miracles or other proof of Allah before they accept Him, other verses refer to a source of reality in miraculous phenomena which are already in existence everywhere.
According to the Qur’an, all living things constitute evidence of the existence and omnipotence of Allah. The reason for this is that every creation of Allah is characteristic of the designation of a Creator. Actually, displaying Allah’s precise and gentle work of art and infinite intelligence is the impetus for their creation.
We are now going to reflect on specific examples of animals that are given in the Qur’an.
“And in the creation of yourselves and the fact that animals are scattered over the earth, are Signs for those of assured Faith.” (Al-Jathiya, 4)
The Honey Bee
“And your Lord taught the Bee” “And your Lord taught the Bee to build its cells in hills, on trees, and in men’s habitations; then to eat of all the produce (of the earth), and find with skill the spacious paths of its Lord: there issues from within their bodies a drink of varying colours, wherein is healing for men: truly in this is a Sign for those who give thought.” (Nahl, 68-69)
The above verse of the Qur’an, in the chapter named “An-Nahl” or “honeybee”, informs us that this tiny animal has many mysteries of creation within itself. Do you yourself ever remember thinking about the complex story of that delicious food, honey, and its producer, the honeybee?
In fact, bees store this wonderful food named honey in preparation for the winter months when it is going to be hard for them to find flowers. Normally, animals do not trouble to store food exceeding the actual amount they can consume. However, bees produce honey in quantities, several times greater than their actual needs. This is just the same as the hen unnecessarily laying eggs daily or the cow producing milk more than its newborn would ever need.
Certainly, the first question that comes to mind is; Why has this “excess production” lasting for tens of thousands of years not terminated? The answer to this question lies in the above verse that explains how the bee is taught to produce honey.
The lives of bees in the hive and their honey production are very interesting in their processes. Without going into too much detail, let us discover more about the primary properties of the bees’ “social life”.
Regulation of humidity: The temperature in the hive has to be 32 degrees Celsius for 10 months of the year during the brooding period. Humidity, which principally causes honey to attain its protective quality, must be kept within a certain limit in the hive. If this limit is exceeded, the honey is spoiled and loses its protective and nutritious qualities. In order to constantly maintain the temperature and humidity in the hive within these exact limits, a special “ventilation group” is appointed solely for this important task.
Air conditioning: Bees ventilate the hive to make it cool and produce honey with the right humidity level. The same ventilation system is used to safeguard the hive from smoke and air pollution.
During a hot day, it is easy to observe the bees ventilating the hive. They round into the entrance and by clamping on to the wooden floor, they use their wings to fan the hive. In a standard hive, the incoming air is forced to leave from the other side. Extra ventilators in the hive also allow the air to be pushed in four different directions.
Now another question comes to mind, how do the bees “plan” and “carry out” the operations for the regulation of humidity and air conditioning? These operations need immense “intelligence” and “consciousness”. We already know that it is not possible for these animals to possess these abilities. Then, the real source of this intelligence and consciousness must be found.
Health system: The efforts of the bees to preserve the quality of the honey are not confined to humidity regulation and air conditioning. A wonderful health system functions in the hive to control all events that may result in the origination of bacteria. This system firstly aims at destroying all places that may possibly result in the production of bacteria. The basic principle of this health system is to prevent foreign objects from entering the hive. Because of this, there are always two guardians at the hive’s entrance. If a foreign substance or insect enters the hive despite this prevention, all bees get into action to keep it out of the hive.
For the bigger foreign objects that cannot be carried outside, another prevention mechanism is started. Bees produce a substance called “propolis, or bee resin” for these kinds of situations. They formulate it by gathering resin from trees like pine, poplar and acacia, then combine it with some special secretions. The basic utility of propolis is its resistance to bacterial invasion. Dangerous sorts of substances are therefore, covered with 1.5 mm thick propolis, and isolated from the hive.
Interestingly, this same bee resin is used to patch any cracks in the hive. This resin reacts with the air and forms a hard surface after drying in a very short time. Even though we assume that bees secrete this substance “consciously” to cover foreign particles, etc., how can we explain the bees giving an antibacterial quality to this secretion? Do you, who have a more developed intelligence than the bee, possess the ability to give an antibacterial quality to any of the secretions of your own body?
It is very evident that the system bees implement when protecting the hive again needs great consciousness and intelligence.
Finally, it is abundantly clear that the bee’s body and its secretions are precisely “designed” and created.
Cleaning: Bees never leave their feces inside the hive; they excrete when flying or far away from the hive.
Cells: Honeybees shape small beeswax cells and construct a hive in which 30.000 bees live and work together.
The hive is made up of beeswax-walled honeycombs with many tiny cells on their surfaces. All the cells forming the honeycomb have exactly the same dimensions. This engineering miracle is multiplied by the collective functioning of thousands of bees. Bees use these cells for food storage and maintenance of the young bees.
Bees have used the hexagonal structure in the formation of the honeycomb for millions of years. Why have they chosen the hexagonal formation rather than octagonal, spherical or pentagonal structures? Mathematicians have spent a great deal of effort on finding the answer to this question. Calculations proved that the hexagonal structure was the most suitable and convenient geometric form to gain maximum benefit from the unit area in the honeycomb. If the honeycomb cells were formed in another structure, then there would be spare places left out of use; thus less honey would be stored. Also the population of the bees using the hive would be less. Another advantage of the hexagonal cell is that while containing the maximum amount of honey; it needs the minimum amount of wax for construction.
The honeycomb as an architectural miracle: The construction of the honeycomb is started from the upper side of the hive and continued simultaneously in two or three separate rows downward. While a single honeycomb expands in two opposite directions, the lower ends of its two rows must join. This job is realized with remarkable cooperation and organization. So, it is never possible to tell that the honeycomb was originally constituted by a process involving three separate parts. The pieces of honeycomb produced from separate starting points are combined with such skill that, although there are hundreds of different angles in its structure, it seems like one uniform piece.
The cells combining these two rows also have a perfect hexagonal structure and the same dimensions as all the others. Not even one cell is different from the others. Scientists are deeply surprised at how the work of thousands of bees is marked by such precise calculation.
Determination of direction: Honeybees usually have to fly long distances and trace out large territories to find food. They gather flower dust and honey constituents within a range of 800 meters from their hive. The bee, which finds the flowers, flies back to the hive to inform the others about their location. But, how will this bee describe this place to its friends?
The bee returning to the hive starts to perform a kind of a dance. This dance is a way of explaining the location of the flower source to the other bees. This dance, repeated many times by the bee, includes information about the direction, distance and other details to enable the other bees to reach the target. This dance of the bee is actually performed by drawing figure of 8 in the air. The bee forms the middle part of the eight by shaking its tail and making zig-zags. The angle between the zig-zags and the line between the sun-hive, gives the exact direction of the food source.
However, knowing only the direction of the food source is not enough. Worker bees should also possess information regarding the distance of the hive from the source before going there. So, the bee returning from the flower source shakes its body several times to tell the distance. For example, in order to express a distance of 250 m., it shakes the bottom part of its body 5 times in half a minute. In this way, the exact is defined in terms of both distance and angle.
If the journey from the hive to the source is taking a long time, a new problem arises for the bee. The sun moves 1 degree every four minutes. Eventually, while describing the location of the food source, the bee will possibly make an error of one degree for each four minutes he spends on his way back to the hive.
Yet, the bee does not actually have any problem at all! The bee’s eye is formed of many small hexagonal lenses. Each lens focuses on a narrow area just like a telescope. When the bee flies towards the sun during the day, it can find its exact position all the time. Scientists say that the bee does this by judging the time of day by the brightness of the sun. It accordingly modifies its directions to the other bees so that there is no margin of error.
Honey Miracle
Your Lord inspired the bee, saying: ....“eat of all the produce of the earth, and find with skill the spacious paths of your Lord: there issues from within their bodies a drink of varying colours, wherein is healing for men: surely in this there is a Sign for those who would give thought.” (An-Nahl, 69)
It has become possible only in the last few years, with the improvements in research techniques, to analyze the content of the honey and its significance as a food source. Many international magazines have used honey as a cover page story, while others have even gone further and prepared additional issues for this precious natural food. Now let us look into the details of this unbelievable nutrient produced by this very small animal that Allah has created:
Honey is composed of sugars like glucose, fructose and minerals like magnesium, calcium, sodium, chlorine, sulfur, iron and phosphate. In addition to these, honey includes Vitamins B1, B2, C, B6, B5 and B3, their concentration differing according to the pollen and nectar sources. Copper, iodine, iron and zinc also exist in it in small quantities, plus, several kinds of hormones.
“During the World Apiculture Conference held on 20-26 September, 1993, in China, treatments with honey derivatives were discussed. American scientists stressed that honey, royal jelly, pollen and “propolis” (bee resin) had the capability of curing many illnesses. One Romanian doctor stated that he used honey for the treatment of patients with cataracts, and 2002 of his 2094 patients recovered completely. Polish doctors also gave information about bee resin’s curative properties for diseases like hemorrhoids, skin problems, women’s illnesses and many others. Nowadays, apiculture and bee products are the object of research in developed countries.” (Hurriyet Newspaper, October 19, 1993)Scientists agree upon the fact that even a spoonful of honey is absolutely beneficial to the body, because the sugar molecules in the honey can turn into other types of sugar (fructose to glucose) and despite its high acid concentration, it is easily digested even by the most sensitive stomachs. It also helps the kidneys to function better. Another interesting aspect of honey is that, when it is compared with the same amount of sugar, it gives 40% less calories to the body. This quality of the honey prevents weight-gain. Rapidly fuses with the blood: Honey enters the circulatory system in 7 minutes when taken with tepid water and in 20 minutes when taken with cold water. The free sugar molecules in it make it easier for the brain to function.
Promotes production of blood: Honey functions as the energy store for new blood formation and helps anemic people by speeding up this process. It helps in the purification and nourishment of the blood. Blood circulation is regulated by it. It also has positive effects on capillary problems.
Friend of the stomach: Honey does not result in acidose or alcoholic fermentation because of its fast digestion. The free radicals within it make it easier for the fats to be digested. It makes up for the absence of iron in the milk of mothers and cows. While improving intestinal functions, it gives inner comfort, and increases the appetite.
Royal jelly: Royal jelly is the white fluid produced by worker bees inside the beehive. In this nutritious substance, there is sugar, protein, fat and many vitamins. It is used when the body is left weak and in problems that occur because of tissue aging.
Bacteria killing property: The bacteria-killing property of the honey is called the “inhibition effect”. Experiments carried out on honey showed that its bacteria-killing effect doubled when diluted with water. It is very interesting to observe that the newborn bees are also fed with diluted honey by the nurse bees responsible for taking care of them.
The Camel
“Do not they look at the camel; how it is created?" (Al-Gashiya, 17)
This 17th verse of Al-Gashiya chapter tells us that the camel is an animal that has to be carefully examined. The first things that come to the mind when one thinks of the camel is hot weather, drought and deserts. The toughness of the desert conditions where the camel serves people, gives rise to questions which need clear answers. These are:
- Thirst
- Too high temperatures during day time
- Too low temperatures during night time
- Need for food
- Barrenness of the land
- Natural events like storms and whirlwinds
- Energy requirements, etc.
The camel is created in such a way as to resolve all of the above questions, making it eminently suitable to meet the needs of human comfort and convenience.
Now, let us take a quick glance at its abilities and characteristics:
Resistance to thirst and hunger: Camels can live without food or water for 8 days in 50-degree celcius temperatures.
Improved water utilization unit: In a mere 10 minutes, camels can consume 130 liters of water, which is around one third of their body weight. Camels also have a curvy mucus structure in their nose that has a 100 times larger area than the human’s nose. With this structure, camels can have the benefit of about 66% of the moisture in the air.
Maximum benefit from food and water: Most animals die when the accumulated urea in their bodies mixes with the blood in the circulatory system. Yet, camels use this urea by passing it through the liver continuously in order to use it as a protein and water source. The hump is another aid to the camel. One fifth of the camel’s body is stored in the form of fat in its hump. The storage of the body fat in only one part of the camel’s body prevents it from using water all through its body. This allows its body to use the minimum amount of water.
Although a camel with humps can take in 30-50 kg of food in a day, it is able to live for one month on only 2 kg. of grass. Camels have very strong rubber-like lips, which permit them to eat thorns sharp enough to pierce leather. Moreover, they possess such a strong digestive system that they can eat everything in sight, like plastic plates, copper wire and reeds. The four-chambered stomach of this wonderful animal is designed to cater for non-food substances as well, which increases its chances of obtaining energy from sources other than food. This adaptability is definitely helpful in surviving in an arid region.
Protection against whirlwinds and storms: The eyes of camels have two rows of eyelashes. The structure of the eyelashes is like two different combs clamping together which protect the eyes from severe sandstorms. Another advantage of this design is the protection of the eyes from strong sunrays. Remarkably, camels can close the openings of their noses in these kinds of storms.
Protection against burning and freezing weather conditions: Thick hair on the camel’s body prevents the burning sunlight from penetrating its skin. This helps the animal to keep cool which in turn increases water-retention and reduces dehydration by lessening the risk of sweating profusely. This thick hair on the skin also protects the animal against very cold weather. While desert camels are not affected by high temperatures up to 70 degrees Celsius, double-humped camels can survive in cold weather with temperatures going down to -52 degrees Celsius. This kind of camel can survive even in high mountains 4000 m. above sea level.
Protection from burning hot sand: The feet of the camel, being very large in proportion to its body, helps the animal not to get stuck in the sand because of its weight. The special thick skin on the soles of the camel‘s feet acts as a protection from not desert sand.
The Camel as a Beast of Burden
“And they carry your heavy loads to lands that you could not otherwise reach except with souls distressed: for your Lord is indeed Most Kind, Most Merciful” (Nahl Sura, 7)
Camels are very strong animals. They can travel a distance of 40 kilometers with a load of 250 kilograms, and without any load, they can travel for 300 kilometers. Because of this capability, camels are called the “ships of the desert”. Has the camel adapted its body to suit desert conditions? Has it formed its own nose mucus or the hump on its back?
The rhetorical question in the Qur’an: “Do they not look at the camel, how it is created?” Suggests the awe we should feel at this excellent example of Allah’s creativity.
The Gnat
“Allah does not disdain to give a parable about a gnat, or a larger creative.”
As proof of His magnificence and power, Allah indiscriminately provides examples of all animals, whether as massive as a camel or as small as a bee, for they all serve extremely important purposes. “Not without purpose did We create heaven and earth and all between!” Even the whole universe is given as an example for human beings to learn from.
“Allah does not disdain to give a parable about gnat, or a larger creature. Those who believe know that it is truth from their Lord; but those who reject Faith say: ‘What does Allah mean by this parable?’ By it He causes many to stray, and many He leads to the right path; but He causes none to stray, except those who forsake the right path” (Al-Baqara, 26)
Contrary to common belief, gnats, which we frequently encounter, are indeed very complex creatures.
Gnats see the creatures around them in different colours according to their body temperatures. Because their sensing of the temperature is not dependent on daylight, they see the warm- blooded capillaries as dark-red even in a dark room. This is why gnats never have any problem in finding a food source. These sensitive sensory receptors of the gnat can easily identify a change in the temperature , even by a fraction of a degree.
Here we have mentioned only a few examples. Yet, the perfect creation of Allah can easily be observed in nature. The real purpose of nature’s existence is a tangible proof of the perfect creation and intelligence of Allah. The only way to realize this is to make a sincere evaluation of everything with a “seeing” eye and a “thinking” mind. Thus, the detailed and marvellous order existing in the universe will be observed much better.
“He created the seven heavens one above another: no want of proportion will you see in the Creation of Allah the Most Merciful. Then look once more and yet again: your eyes will in the end grow dim and weary.” Again turn thy vision a second time: (thy) vision will come back to thee dull and discomfited, in a state worn out.” (Al-Mulk, 3-4)
“Do they not travel through the land, so that their hearts and minds may thus learn wisdom and their ears may thus learn to hear? Truly, it is not their eyes that are blind, but their hearts which are in their breasts.” (Al-Hajj 46)
“Do you not see that Allah has subjected to your use all things in the heavens and on earth, and lavished upon you his favours, both seen and unseen? Yet there are among men those who dispute about Allah, without knowledge and without guidance, and without a Book to enlighten them! “ (Luqman, 20)
“Say: ‘Travel through the earth and see how Allah originated creation; so then Allah will produce a later creation: for Allah has power over all things.’” (Al-Ankaboot, 20)
“Not without purpose did We create heaven and earth and all between! That is the fancy of the unbelievers! But woe to the unbelievers when they are cast into the Fire of Hell!” (Sad, 27)
“He has subjected to you, as from Him, all that is in the heavens and on earth: Surely, these are Signs in this for those who reflect.” (Al-Jathiya, 13)
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