DID YOU KNOW ABOUT LUMINESCENT CREATURES?

Have you ever seen lights moving in trees at night? The source of these lights, which may sometimes be so many that a tree may be suffused with them all over, is fireflies. Fireflies are the best known of luminescent living creatures. These creatures, which emit light and illuminate trees in the darkness of the night, are among those that scientists have studied most. Soon we will examine why, but first let's see how these creatures use light. 

Scientists have tried for years to imitate the light that fireflies emit, yet have not been successful. This is among the evidence that Allah created fireflies with a perfect design.

Fireflies produce green-yellow lights in their bodies. Light is the means of communication for fireflies. As well as giving mating signals, this light is also used for defence from enemies. By means of light, their enemies understand that fireflies are not tasty and thus decide not to feed on them.

The main characteristic of these beetles is that they make the most of light and they virtually do not waste any energy. Therefore fireflies have become a subject for investigation by scientists for years. However, despite all the research that has been carried out, humans have not yet produced a light as prolific as that of fireflies. 

It is amazing how a living creature produces light, yet is not adversely affected by its heat. You must have noticed that lamps produce heat as well as illumination. If you touch a source of light, for example, a light bulb, the heat burns your hand. So you might wonder how the firefly is not injured by the heat it produces. In fact, that's what is so amazing about luminescent creatures: the heat they produce does not affect them. That is because the light produced by these creatures is completely different from what we use as a medium of illumination. This light is called "cold light", and heat is not emitted during the production of this type of light. Therefore production of this type of light is very effective and scientists have tried for years to imitate this type of light. 

As well as fireflies, various underwater creatures, insects and other species also produce their own light. Each has a different way to produce its light, different fields in which to use the light and different durations and types of light. And each on its own is a wonder. 

Obviously, it was not the creatures who equipped themselves with the systems to produce light and who ensure the continuance of these systems. A system that produces light in a living creature's body cannot possibly come into existence as a result of coincidences. Moreover, a structure so perfect that does not cause any damage to the body could not have possibly emerged during the production process. All luminescent creatures are evidence of Allah's artistry in excellent creation. Allah shows us the evidence of His eternal knowledge, intelligence and power in the creatures He creates. He also reminds mankind that no matter how hard man tries, he cannot bring the flawless mechanisms in nature into existence unless our Lord wills. 

LUMINESCENT UNDERWATER CREATURES

Many underwater creatures, like the ones shown in the pictures, possess systems as fireflies do for producing light. They generally use their light to stupefy or frighten their enemies. Almost all of them have series of cells along their backs like seams of a fabric and these cells can produce light. Now let's have a look at the general characteristics of these creatures.

One of these species is an animal that looks like a jellyfish. They generally feed on small marine animals and plants that are invisible to the naked eye. Some seize their prey by use of their sticky tentacles, which move in water like a fishing line. Members of another species have such large mouths that they can open them wide and swallow many creatures. They have series of thin hairs on their bodies, which they use to propel themselves forward in the water. 

Luminescent creatures have some other extraordinary traits. For example, some red species shine when they are struck, and can leave glitteringly illuminated particles in the water. This is a way to confuse, and thus to escape from, their enemies.

Creatures like starfish, sea urchins and feather stars are "spiny": Many of these creatures are covered with spines, which are used as a means of defence. They live on seashores, in coral reefs and on the seabed. These creatures also produce their own light to protect themselves against their enemies. Having luminous arms or spines, they can also produce clouds of light in the water when they are attacked.

Everyone in the heavens and earth belongs to Him. All are submissive to Him. It is He Who originated creation and then regenerates it. That is very easy for Him. His is the most exalted designation in the heavens and the earth. He is the Almighty, the All-Wise. (Surat ar-Rum: 26-27)

The most interesting feature of luminescent marine creatures is probably the fact that they use their light to mislead others. A starfish species is a good example of this. This starfish species lives about 1,000 metres (3,280 feet) deep in the sea. It emits bright green-blue light from the tip of its arms. This gleaming warning notifies its enemies that it is not tasty. Another starfish species starts flashing when it is attacked and detaches and throws one of its arms towards the enemy to divert it. The attention of its enemy is distracted by the torn arm, which still emits white light. In the meantime the starfish finds the time to flee.

As we have seen in the few examples given above, the mechanisms in living creatures that enable them to produce light demonstrate to us the perfect creation of Allah. What have been mentioned here are creatures that live underwater, the dominant component of whose bodies is usually water - as in our own bodies - and that cannot possibly have intelligence like that of human beings. Yet each possesses such wonderful features that it astonishes us to know about them. This reveals that Allah originates things matchlessly. These examples are in order to make us comprehend that there is no other god besides Allah, the Creator of everything. One who understands this will comprehend Allah's infinite might and will strive only to earn Allah's good pleasure. 

Remember that Allah informs us in a verse that those who dare to associate other gods with Allah will be forsaken: 

Do not set up any other god together with Allah and so sit there reviled and forsaken. (Surat al-Isra': 22)

 

THE SLEEPING BAG OF THE PARROTFISH

The sleeping bag that protects the parrotfish is seen in the picture below.

The fish shown in the picture is called the parrotfish since it resembles a parrot as you may have noticed. This colourful fish employs quite an unusual method to protect itself against its enemies. Especially at night, it covers its entire body with a gelatine-like substance that it itself produces. Before answering the question "why?", let's see how this substance is produced and used. 

This gelatinous sheath of the parrotfish is secreted from the upper side of the gill cavity. The fish secretes the substance while it breathes. After a while this sheath covers the entire body of the fish. By doing so the fish places itself within a kind of sleeping bag and becomes protected from external danger at night. This substance also enables the fish to conceal itself by camouflage. As a vital function, the transparent sleeping bag protects the fish from moray eels, one of its bitter enemies. The moray eels have an excellent sense of smell and can find their prey with it. However, the protective sheath of the parrotfish prevents the moray from perceiving its scent. The moray cannot notice the fish in the sheath even if it bumps into it while passing by. 

This being the case, one should ask the following questions: How did parrotfish obtain this protective sheath that they use at night? How do they know that their leading enemy hunts by means of its sense of smell? How did they discover a substance, so essential in obstructing the moray's sense of smell so enabling them to spend the night in safety? 

Obviously, one cannot expect a fish to decide to produce a chemical in its body and then to cover itself with this substance. Nor could such a thing have developed spontaneously through time. Parrotfish shown in the picture could not consciously plan to produce such a substance and could not make up such a system in their bodies of their own volition; neither could a parrotfish that lived 1,000 or 10,000 years ago. 

It is a clever method of camouflage that the body of the fish is covered with gelatine, which is quite suitable for protecting the fish from its enemy. It is obvious that such a feature could come into existence only as a result of intelligent design. This intelligence is not the fish's or somebody else's, but Allah's, Who created all creatures. 

THE SKILFUL CAMOUFLAGE OF SCORPION FISH 

The appearance of a scorpion fish is very colourful. These fish have the same colour as the coral among which they live. As you can see in the picture, the red-and-white striped scorpion fish can conceal itself by camouflage among the coral, which are virtually the same colours. That way it escapes the attentions of predators and reduces the risk of becoming prey. Again thanks to this coloration, it can easily draw near to its own prey. 

Take a careful look at the scorpion fish - seen in the picture below and the picture on the back page - and you will realise how hard it really is to notice their presence in their environments. 

Like scorpion fish, many other marine creatures cannot be distinguished from their environments. Their presence is only noticed when they move. These perfectly camouflaged creatures use their coloration to enable them to hunt, to reproduce and to give various signals to other creatures. But how did this harmony come about? Who made the body of a fish the same colour as the reefs in which it lives, and made it look even more like the reefs by giving it a projecting shape? 

Thanks to their particular coloration, scorpion fish conceal themselves easily among the rocks.

 

Neither chance nor the action of some other fish can possibly give a creature the same colour as the environment in which it lives. A fish, shrimp or crab can neither have the knowledge of colour nor be able to produce systems in their own bodies to change their colour. Such systems could only be designed and placed in the animal's body by a superior and powerful Being. 

This almighty Being is Allah. Allah created all creatures together with the attributes they possess and in harmony with the environments in which they live. Allah has informed us in the Qur'an that He has knowledge of all creatures He created: 

Does He Who created not then know? He is the All-Pervading, the All-Aware. It is He Who made the earth submissive to you, so walk its broad trails and eat what it provides. The Resurrection is to Him. (Surat al-Mulk: 14-15)

INTERESTING FEATURES OF SEA HORSES 

Male sea horse and its young

You may have seen sea horses on television or in books. Their unusual horse-like appearance and their wavering pattern of swimming might have attracted your attention. Did you know that, contrary to what one might suppose, these animals are very small? Sea horses, which are 4 to 30 centimetres (1,5 to 12 inches) in size, generally live among seaweed and other plants close to the shore. The bony armour of the sea horse protects it against dangers. This armour is so tough that it is virtually impossible to crush a dried sea horse using your hands. 

The sea horse's head is at a right angle to its body, which is not seen in any other fish. Consequently, sea horses swim with their bodies upright and can move their heads up and down. However, they cannot turn their heads to the side. Now let's think about the problems that other living creatures would suffer if they could not turn their heads to the right or to the left; they would be susceptible to all sorts of physical dangers. However, thanks to their special body designs, sea horses do not experience such problems. Each eye of a sea horse can move individually and freely in all directions. That's how sea horses see around themselves easily although they cannot turn their heads to the side. 

The movements of these fish in the water are also worth consideration because they swim thanks to a quite unique system. Each sea horse has a nuumber of swim bladders. Making necessary modifications in the amount of the gas filling these bladders, a sea horse can swim upwards and downwards. If these bladders are damaged and even a minor amount of gas is lost, the sea horse sinks deep down in the sea, which means death for it. One point should be noted here: the amount of gas filling the swim bladders has been arranged exactly. Therefore any change could result in the death of the animal. 

What this exact arrangement reveals to us is of great importance. If sea horses can survive only with a certain amount of gas in the bladders, then they must have possessed the current features they have today when they too first emerged. In other words, sea horses have not attained their features in time as claimed by evolutionists. They were created together with all their features and characteristics out of nothing and all at once. Like all creatures in the universe, Allah created sea horses complete and perfect. 

The design in sea horses, which is merely one of the numerous marine species, is an example of Allah's infinite power and endless knowledge. 

DRAGONFLIES: FLIGHT MACHINES

It is possible to see dragonflies many places where water exists. If you know this insect, you might have already seen that it moves very fast and that it can make very sudden and sharp manoeuvres. But for those who are not familiar with it, let's have a look at this insect. 

The appearance of a dragonfly resembles a helicopter. This insect has such a perfect talent for flight that regardless of the speed and direction it is flying in, it can suddenly stop and fly in just the opposite direction, to such an extent that it may remain suspended in the air and wait in the proper position to attack its prey. This is thanks to its wings, which it can flap very fast. When it is in this position, it can make a swift turn and head towards its prey. In fact, these are merely a few facets of its manoeuvrability that have been sources of inspiration for mankind in the construction of helicopters that are the products of today's advanced technology. 

The body of a dragonfly has a ringed structure that gives the impression of its being covered with metal. A dragonfly, whose colour may vary from ice blue to claret red, has two pairs of wings on its back, one being at the front and the other at the rear. While flying, the two front wings move up as the two rear wings move down. 

Sikorsky helicopters were produced in today's technology by taking this particular form of the wings of the dragonfly as model. First the picture of a dragonfly was loaded onto a computer. Considering the dragonfly's manoeuvres in the air, 2,000 special drawings were made. At the end of this study, Sikorsky came up with its new and very strong model with its advanced mobility, meant for transporting soldiers and supplies. 

Have you ever noticed dragonfly's eyes? Dragonflies have perfect vision. The eyes of the dragonfly are considered the best insect eyes by scientists. A dragonfly has a pair of eyes, each one of which contains about 30,000 lenses. These eyes, which look like two hemispheres and cover half of the insect's head, provide a broad field of view. Consequently, even its back is virtually within the dragonfly's range of vision. 

These are merely a few of the features of dragonflies, described very briefly. Suppose that any one of these features of the dragonfly, say the particular type of wings, did not exist. Could this insect then make sudden manoeuvres and catch its prey? Or, if it did not have eyes that enabled it to see in every direction, could it manage to escape from its enemies?

The absence of any of the systems that a dragonfly possesses will give rise to a dysfunction of other systems. Yet, the dragonfly was created completely with all of its systems. Allah created the dragonfly perfect, like all other creatures, and it is thanks to Allah's creation that this insect lives at ease. 

SECRET SHELTERS IN THE SEAS: CORALS

You may think at first sight that a coral reef is merely a heap of colourful stones. Yet, you would be mistaken because corals are living creatures. Billions of corals live together, attach themselves to others with special secretions and bring this stone-like structure into existence. 

Remnants of dead corals become calcified and these residues become coral nests in time where many creatures live together. Every fish species living in a coral reef has particular characteristics. For example, fish that hunt in the daytime, such as angelfish, hide in quiet and secluded sections and cracks of the reef as the sun sets. 

Patterns of behaviour of fish that live in the coral reefs are diverse. For example, some fish, like the parrotfish we mentioned earlier, sleep deeply at nights in their sleeping bags. Some fish species, such as sticklebacks, on the other hand, are half-awake while they rest. Red mullet and some others use very bright colours in daytime and turn their skin colour pale at nights. 

Sponges, corals and some fish that lay eggs also live in dead coral residues. Besides these, small crabs and shrimps climb onto coral reefs to feed on microscopic plants and animals. Fish such as sharks and moray eels that live in coral reefs use their strong sense of smell to find food in the dark. 

Many different creatures that Allah created in the seas and their unique designs with miraculous features manifest our Lord's matchless artistry and infinite knowledge. In Surat an-Nahl, Allah gives some examples of the creatures He created. In the same surah He states that people should be thankful for them: 

And also the things of varying colours He has created for you in the earth. There is certainly a Sign in that for people who pay heed. It is He Who made the sea subservient to you so that you can eat fresh flesh from it and bring out from it ornaments to wear. And you see the ships cleaving through it so that you can seek His bounty, and so that hopefully you will show thanks. (Surat an-Nahl: 13-14)

LIFE IN THE DESERT

Extreme heat that reaches up to 50-60^oC (122-140^oF) in the daytime, freezing cold at night, drought that can last for weeks even months, and very little amount of food. You might think it impossible to live in such a place. These tough places are deserts and, contrary to what you might think, many creatures live in the desert. Below we mention some of these creatures.

One desert animal is the cream coloured fox, which is the smallest of all fox species (on the next page). The ears of this fox species are bigger than those of others. These wide ears are very useful for the fox, which lives in the sandy deserts of Africa and Arabia. For example, the fox can easily determine its prey's location thanks to its sensitive ears. Preventing excessive heating, these ears also help the animal remain cool. 

Another creature that lives in the deserts is the shovel-snouted lizard (below). To cool its tail and feet, this creature moves on hot sands as if it were dancing. Supported by its tail, it raises one of its front and one of its back legs transversely. A few seconds later, it is the turn of the other two legs. With its peculiarly shaped nose and body, the lizard moves in the mounds of sand as if swimming. Its big feet enable it to run fast on the sand without being hurt by the heat. 

The desert frogs that live in Australia are like water tanks. A desert frog fills the pouches in its body with water when it rains. Then it buries itself in the sand and begins to wait for the next rain. Thanks to the water they store in their pouches, desert frogs can survive in the desert. 

Have you noticed the common characteristics of desert creatures, of which we have given a few examples here? Their body structures are remarkably designed for living in the desert and they have characteristics quite distinct from other creatures. Also, these animals apparently know very well how they should act for protection from the desert heat and to cope with thirst. How could a frog or a lizard have such knowledge? How could they possess the exact body structure that they require?

Certainly animals could not know these things by themselves. They could neither create water tanks in their bodies nor generate big ears to protect themselves from the heat. In order to survive in the desert, these creatures must have had these characteristics since they came into being. Otherwise, they would soon become extinct from excessive heat, thirst or hunger. However, this does not happen. Moreover, all desert creatures on earth have the capacity to endure desert conditions. Each species has unique characteristics that enable it to survive in the desert. 

All these lead us to one truth. The One Who created desert creatures together with the features they have today is Allah. Allah has power to do whatever He likes at any time He likes. In a verse of the Qur'an, Allah informs us that everything is easy for Him: 

The Originator of the heavens and earth. When He decides on something, He just says to it, "Be!" and it is. (Surat al-Baqara: 117)

THE SPECIAL COOLING SYSTEM OF GAZELLES

Air conditioners protect us from cold in winter and from heat in summer. Yet, humans are not the first to discover cooling systems. Many creatures already have in their bodies cooling systems that function like air conditioners. 

We may give the fast running gazelles of Africa as an example. Like many others, this animal, too, has to run away from its enemies to survive because it does not have any other defence mechanism. Yet, this fast running increases its body heat excessively, which is very dangerous for the gazelle because as the body heat increases, so does the gazelle's brain heat. However, in order for the gazelle to survive, its brain heat needs to be cooler than that of the body. So you may wonder how it is that gazelles don't die.

The answer to this question leads us to the fact of creation. 

The brain of a gazelle is cooled by a special cooling system located on the right side of its head. Gazelles and other fast-running animals have breathing canals. Hundreds of small blood veins spread in the large blood accumulations behind these canals. The air the gazelle inhales cools this area and hence the blood that passes through these small blood veins. These small veins then unite in a single blood vessel that conveys blood to the brain. Thanks to this system, the gazelle is not affected by the sharp increase in its body heat while running. 

You must have already concluded that such a perfect system could not have come into existence spontaneously over time. That is because the lack of this system, which is required for cooling the brain, would mean the death of the gazelle during its very first run. 

As seen in the cooling system of gazelles, there is perfect design in living creatures. In other words, the body structure and the organs of a living thing cannot possibly come into existence over time as claimed by evolutionists. 

All creatures have body structures consisting of systems that would not work even if one of the components were missing, such as the cooling system of gazelles. This proves that living creatures did not come into existence over time as a result of coincidences as evolutionists claim, but Allah created them. It is crystal clear to those who can take heed and use their intellect. Allah commands in a verse: 

..."The Lord of the East and the West and everything between them if you used your intellect." (Surat ash-Shu'ara': 28)

THE STRENGTH OF WOODPECKERS

Woodpeckers make their nests and food stores by pecking holes in trees. The speed at which a woodpecker bores into a tree with its bill is approximately 40 km/hour (25 miles/hour). This, in fact, is an extraordinary speed that could have damaged the woodpecker. However, there is a special locking system in the bird's beak so that it does not sustain injury. If this special system did not exist, the woodpecker's beak would crack in two because of the high speed. Besides, if the impact of the stroke went directly to the brain, then the bird would lose consciousness. Yet, such a thing never happens since Allah created the bird together with what it needs. The woodpecker's brain is placed at the same level as its beak. Muscles on the lower part of the beak act like "shock absorbers" and reduce the shock that occurs while boring into the tree. 

What we have mentioned so far are only a few of the general characteristics of woodpeckers. Apart from those mentioned, every woodpecker species has many characteristics peculiar to itself. Now let's consider a kind of woodpecker that hides acorns in trees.

Throughout summer, the acorn woodpecker bores "holes" in a dead tree trunk because at the end of the summer it will fill these holes with acorns, on which it will feed during winter. Acting like a hammer, it drives one acorn in each hole. This takes a great deal of the woodpecker's time because it tries to find the acorn that fits exactly into the hole it has bored. If the hole is big and the acorn is small, then the loose acorn will easily be taken by other birds. If the hole is smaller than the acorn, then the acorn will be damaged while it is being forced into the hole. Therefore, it takes some time for the woodpecker to place acorns by trial and error. 

A woodpecker that stores acorns in the holes in the trunk of an oak (top left) and another woodpecker species (right).

Yet there is even more that a woodpecker needs to do. As acorns dry over time they become smaller. This means that the woodpecker should replace dry acorns with fresh ones.

It should also be noted that the woodpecker does not merely store 5 to 10 acorns; an acorn woodpecker can stock approximately 50,000 acorns in a big tree. 

Reflecting upon these interesting characteristics, we understand that there is a superior Power Who teaches all these things to woodpeckers. This power is Allah. Allah created the beaks of woodpeckers strong enough to drill bark. It is Allah Who taught them everything they do. There is no other god and creator besides Allah. Allah informs us that He created everything: 

That is Allah, your Lord. There is no god but Him, the Creator of everything. So worship Him. He is responsible for everything. (Surat al-An'am: 102)

CUTE SQUIRRELS WITH BIG CHEEKS

The squirrel you see in the picture below is the ground squirrel, also called the squirrel with cheek pouches. What distinguishes this squirrel species from others is that it carries the food that it does not consume right away in the pouches in its cheeks. The squirrel stocks this food for future use.

These cheek pouchess are actually loose folds of skin. The interior lining of these folds is bare but not humid, therefore food can be stored in these pouches for a long time without spoiling. These pouches extend to the sides. 

To fill these pouches, the squirrel takes a walnut between its paws and cuts off the pointy parts on both ends with its teeth. Then it puts the walnut in one of the pouches and the next walnut in the other. Pouches are filled in this way one after the other. The animal can place four walnuts in each pouch. So, the face of the squirrel alters so that we think it is interesting and cute. 

 

THE BIRD WITH THE LONGEST WINGS OF THE WORLD: THE ALBATROSS

On land, albatrosses walk with a waddle and appear to be very clumsy, but in the air, they are among the most graceful of sea birds. Albatrosses are oceanic birds with very large wing spans, which are about 3.5 metres (11,5 feet). They spend 92% of their lives at sea and come to land only to breed. The most important characteristic of these birds is that they can fly for a very long time without stopping. They perform this difficult task by means of their style of flight.  In order to fly, it is enough for an albatross to open its wings wide open against the wind. In this way, it can fly for hours without flapping its wings at all. The bird does this by extending its wings as wide as possible, and the span of its wings reaches up to 3.5 meters (11,5 feet). This is the largest wing span among bird species. Making use of ascending air currents and winds, the albatross moves in their direction. It proceeds in zigzags in the wind and passes from the top of one current to another. So, the albatross flies over the sea for hours without flapping its wings. But how can it perform this quite difficult task? What makes this bird so strong? First of all, a great amount of energy is needed to keep these giant wings steadily wide open. To have a better understanding of the difficult task albatrosses carry out, let's compare albatrosses with humans. It is difficult for a man even to keep his arms open in the air for a brief time. Soon his muscles begin to ache and he lowers his arms. However, albatrosses can fly suspended in the air for hours with their wings wide open.  There is a locking system inside the wing bones of albatrosses that enables them to keep their wings open. By means of this locking system, they don't use any muscular strength. This makes flight much easier for the bird. Thanks to this special system, it can fly without stopping for days, weeks, or even for months expending only a very little amount of energy.  One merely needs to reflect for a moment to grasp that these features could not have come into existence by chance. We see the mercy and compassion of Allah upon these birds, which fly over the seas for long periods. It is Allah Who granted albatrosses all the features they need to stay alive. Allah, Who has power over all things, protects and gives albatrosses all their needs like all other creatures. Allah refers to birds in a verse:  Do they not see the birds suspended in mid-air up in the sky? Nothing holds them there except Allah. There are certainly Signs in that for people who believe. (Surat an-Nahl: 79) ADORNMENT ARTISTS: BOWERBIRDS Did you know that there are birds that adorn their nests? Just like humans who decorate the place in which they live, some bird species adorn their nests too. The behaviours of these birds is certainly amazing; sometimes they embellish their nests with the decorative objects they collect or paint the walls of their nests with pink fruits.  The bowerbird, which is one of the birds that paint their nests, is a real "master of architecture". The size of a male bowerbird is like that of a pigeon. While building its nest, it arranges hundreds of thin branches in two lines each facing one another, as seen in the picture. This way it builds a bower. It piles up all the stuff it picks from the environment in front of this bower. This may even be a butterfly's wing, a bird's feather, a car key or some wrapping paper. This bird is particularly interested in blue objects. As you can see in the picture, it has gathered all the blue objects it could find in its nest.  In addition to this, it uses some other means of decoration as well. The bowerbird also paints the walls of its nest. What is more, it prepares the paint itself. Do you want to know how? It gathers plants in different colours and paints the walls by using their extracts. Sometimes it uses coal, which it mixes with its saliva. It also paints the nest's walls, which are made up of branches, with a piece of bark it chews in its mouth.  Allah is the Creator of all bird species, including those we don't ever see like bowerbirds and those that we frequently see like pigeons and gulls. Allah the All-Glorious teaches a little bird how to build and decorate its nest. What we should do is to reflect thoroughly on such characteristics of animals to have a better understanding of Allah's boundless power. Allah states in a verse: And He has made everything in the heavens and everything on the earth subservient to you. It is all from Him. There are certainly Signs in that for people who reflect. (Surat al-Jathiyya: 13) BIRDS WHICH LAY FOUNDATIONS FOR THEIR YOUNG Megapodes live in Australia and build very special nests for their eggs. The male megapode digs a large hole and fills it with wet, decaying plant matter. The bird has a very important and specific reason to do so. Bacteria in the decaying plant matter produce heat and thus warm the nest. In order to keep the temperature steady, the male makes ventilation openings and continuously checks the temperature of the nest by sticking its beak through these openings. It also makes a funnel shaped opening on the surface of the heap of vegetation. This opening lets rainwater leak into the heap during winter and thus keeps it moist. Once the nest is ready, the female comes along and lays its eggs in the hole. However, the temperature of the nest increases continuously during the summer, upon which the male megapode covers the nest with sand. This way, it tries to prevent transmission of heat to the nest.  Now, let us ask a question. Before you read these paragraphs, did you know that heat is released by decaying plants? It is natural for you not to know about this unless you have already read a relevant book. Many people do not know. Yet, megapodes have this knowledge. What is more, they make use of this knowledge for the benefit of their young.  Well then, but how could a bird do such delicate calculations and sensitive measurements? How could it take technical precautions according to the results it achieves? Why does it bear such a troublesome task for its young? In order to do all these, a bird needs to have technical knowledge like that of an engineer and the intellectual function of a healthy human being. Certainly, a bird does not have the reason and the brain to act like an intelligent and learned person. There is a Power Who directs and makes the megapode carry out these tasks, which require intellect. This power is Allah, Who created everything in the most beautiful way.  As you read this book, you immediately see that these creatures cannot do all these wonderful things by themselves and you understand that Allah created all of them. Yet, there are some people who refuse to accept this fact, which you have understood at once. Allah has informs us of these people in the Qur'an. In Surat ar-Rad, Allah states:  Say: "Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth?'" Say: "Allah." Say: "So why have you taken protectors apart from Him who possess no power to help or harm themselves?" Say: "Are the blind and seeing equal? Or are darkness and light the same? Or have they assigned partners to Allah Who create as He creates, so that all creating seems the same to them?" Say: "Allah is the Creator of everything. He is the One, the All-Conquering." (Surat ar-Ra'd: 16) THE POWERFUL MEMORY OF JAYS Jays gather acorns and bury them in the ground for future use. Sometimes they bury up to a thousand acorns in a day. Everything in a forest looks alike. This is why it is difficult even for man to find a certain place in a forest. So how can jays find the places where they have hidden their acorns? They act intelligently and mark these places using tree branches or pieces of stone. Still, it is quite difficult to find something buried in a forest. However experiments have revealed that these birds can find their acorns even nine months later. It is a miracle of creation that these birds have such a powerful memory that they can mark the places where they hide their food and then remember these places.  It is certainly not possible to explain the decision of a jay, which does not have intellect as we understand it, to hide acorns by burying them in the ground or marking these secret places to find them in the future as occurring by coincidence. Burying a thousand acorns and marking their places with stones and branches in an orderly way is certainly something that a bird cannot achieve on its own. It is very natural for a bird to eat an acorn as soon as it finds it. However, only an intelligent being can save it for future use, mark the place where it is hidden and know this mark later.  A bird cannot do any of these by itself. Therefore, we understand that there is a Being Who possesses endless wisdom, has power over all things and makes jays do all the things they do. This superior wisdom belongs to Allah, Who created everything perfectly in an order and rules them all. This bird hides its food only because Allah wills so, and can find it only if Allah wills. As in every creation of Allah, we witness the signs of His perfect creation in this bird too.  THE ARMOURED TANKS OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM These animals of South America, which are called armadillos, have a very interesting appearance because of the armour covering their bodies. These creatures feed on insects and usually search for food by digging in the ground. Armadillos have a keen sense of smell. Perceiving the scent of food, the armadillo embeds its nose in the ground and delves into it in haste as if it is afraid of losing the scent. One might be surprised to see how the armadillo manages to breathe while doing this. However, armadillos do not breathe at that moment. Indeed, they are capable of holding their breath for up to six minutes. This prevents them from choking while digging into the ground.  Thanks to this ability to hold their breath for a long time, which Allah bestowed on them, armadillos can dig into the ground and find their food. This example manifests Allah's mercy and compassion towards the living creatures that He created. In a verse, Allah introduces Himself to us:  Truly your Lord is the Almighty, the Most Merciful. (Surat ash-Shu'ara': 9) MIGRATORY BIRDS THAT CAN FLY EVEN IN THE DARK OF THE NIGHT Many bird species travel thousands of kilometres every year to regions where they can find rich sources of food and where they can lay their eggs and raise their offspring. Allah refers to the flight of birds in a verse:  Have they not looked at the birds above them, with wings outspread and folded back? Nothing holds them up but the All-Merciful. He sees all things. (Surat al-Mulk: 19)  Many aquatic birds successfully make long distance flights. This is thanks to their strong body structure and to the communication between them. Aquatic birds communicate with each other while flying by means of singing and producing different sounds. This holds every member of the flock together even in the dark of the night no matter how large they are in number. Every member of the flock knows where the others are. Scientists suppose that water birds use the sun to reckon their location. Once they are close to their destination, they recognise certain marks. This is similar to your using certain streets and buildings to find your way home. Likewise, aquatic birds follow rivers, mountains and other landmarks. Some aquatic birds can fly without stopping night and day during their migration. The skill in finding direction is peculiar to human beings who have intellect. Man can find direction by using some technical instruments or by the help of the sky. But, how do birds find their direction? How can they make use of the sun's position or of some other signs? It is Allah the Almighty Who bestowed this wonderful skill upon birds, and created a special communication system among them. Allah manifests His artistry in creation with all the characteristics and features He creates in living things. In the verse "Have they not looked at the birds above them, with wings outspread and folded back?" Allah draws our attention to birds' flight. He wants us to reflect on these abilities He has bestowed upon birds. Thinking this way, we come across intelligent behaviour and perfect bodily systems that creatures cannot possibly develop on their own. Reflecting on what we see, we understand that Allah teaches them what to do.  Then certainly reflect upon such facts and share your thoughts with other people. Make sure they grasp Allah's exaltedness and that it is Allah Who created everything.  CLEANING WORKERS OF THE SEAS What occurs to you if you see a small fish that is about to enter the mouth of a big fish? You think that the big fish will swallow the small fish, and you wonder why the small fish comes so close to it. It is undoubtedly unusual that the big fish lets the small fish swim around it, does not attack it and does not care about its swimming in its mouth or through its gills. It is, however, possible to see such scenes in the oceans a lot. It is not only some small fish that fearlessly swim around the big fish. Sometimes shrimps, too, may be seen near the mouths of big fish. These are cleaner shrimps whose job is to clean some of the big fish.  There are many kinds of cleaner shrimps. The one seen in the picture is one of them. The red and white stripes of the shrimp make it visible like a lighthouse and help the fish which is in need of cleaning find the shrimp. When the shrimp, with its two long white antennae, settle in on the fish, the fish begins to wait patiently for the shrimp to eat the parasites on its skin or on a wound. The cleaner shrimp can even enter the fish's mouth to remove disturbing parasites. In this way, it finds its own nourishment. The shrimp keeps working until it makes sure that the fish is clean all over. When the job is done, the big fish does not do the slightest harm to the shrimp, which in fact could be a lavish meal. The shrimp acts without worrying whether the big fish will attack or not. As seen in the picture on the previous page, these two creatures get along very well.  Concepts like "getting along well", "giving guarantee" are peculiar to humans who have intellect and intelligence, and therefore cannot be valid for these creatures. Yet, Allah, Who has control and power over all things, taught these creatures to behave so, to trust and co-operate with each other. So, they lead their lives easily.  THE NOISY CICADA The cicada is a noisy insect. It produces ticks, buzzes and whines by means of a system in its body. There are a pair of membranous organs at the base of the insect's abdomen. The cicada produces that well-known sound by vibrating these drumlike membranes. When these membranes are pulled and released by the muscles to which they are attached, a sound similar to that of an empty tin is produced. The insect repeats this pull-and-release process 500 times a second. Considering that you can only close and reopen your eyes once in a second, you can readily see how difficult it is to perform this task 500 times a second.  With the opening and closing of the extended part that exists on the lower part of the insect's thorax, the sound level may be increased and decreased. The human ear cannot perceive these openings and closings, which occur in a tenth of a second, so we do not notice that the sound is interrupted and we think that the buzzing song of the cicada is continuous.  CLEANER BIRDS The birds you see in the pictures are cleaner birds, which are called oxpeckers. These birds feed on the parasites that live on the hides of animals such as rhinoceroses, elephants and zebras. For this reason, these birds' perching upon them, even upon their heads does not bother such animals.  This partnership benefits both sides a lot. This way, the animals get rid of the bothersome parasites and are also warned by the birds, which screech in case of danger. In return, the birds obtain food and even hair to cover the inside of their nests.  Allah created this mutually beneficial relationship between animals. Allah created all these creatures along with the creatures that meet their needs.  POND SKATERS THAT WALK ON WATER It is impossible for human beings to walk on the surface of the water. Yet, some creatures can do so by means of the special body structures that Allah has given to them. For example, an insect species called the pond skater walks on water by pressing its thin, long legs into a kind of elastic skin on the surface of the water. As the legs of the insect push the water, a small hole is formed on the surface. This way the insect spreads its body weight over quite a wide area. Observation and examination reveal that the legs of the pond skater do not break the surface of the water. In other words, its feet do not enter the water. Therefore, the pond skater is able to walk on the surface while other creatures cannot. TENACIOUS SUCKERFISH What is special about suckerfish is that they use vessels to get around the ocean. For this, they may use sharks or ships. The dorsal fin of the fish is like an oval sucking disc. It can move along with anything it attaches itself to, whether animate or inanimate. Whatever the creature to which it is attached does or no matter how fast it swims, the suckerfish does not become detached from it. In the picture above, suckerfish that are attached to the underside of a shark are seen. Allah knows where every creature is and what it does. In a verse, Allah states: What is in the heavens and in the earth belongs to Allah. Allah encompasses all things. (Surat an-Nisa: 126)   WALKING FISH WITH RED LIPS The batfish with red lips is the only fish in the world that walks on its four fins. Fins that are designed so as to enable walking, a weird looking nose and big red lips make the appearance of this fish quite unusual. What enables the batfish to walk on the sea floor like a human being is its pectoral and pelvic fins. Using these fins, the batfish can easily stand on the sea floor and walk on the tips of its fins. Apart from this ability, the batfish with red lips has another interesting feature. It has small appendages below its nose, which it uses as a fishing line to deceive other fish. Batfish are carnivorous. Using their fishing lines, they prey upon other fish, crabs, larvae and cockles.  The complex design in these little fish that live at the bottom of the sea shows us one of the examples of Allah's artistry.  COLOURFUL HERONS Herons can be seen at almost any place where water exists. The big blue heron seen in the picture is the tallest wild bird that lives in North America. Blue herons, whose colour attracts attention, live alone other than when they make their nests.  The nesting places where herons congregate are usually in remote hidden areas that are hard for humans to reach. Hank herons, another heron species, have various colours during spring. New colours appear around the colourful beaks of the adults only during the time of nesting.  Allah created birds in very different colours. We enjoy looking at the eye-catching colours in a bird's feathers. This wide variety of colours in birds is one of the evidences of Allah's marvellous creation. In the Qur'an, Allah relates that it is He Who creates the colours:  Do you not see that Allah sends down water from the sky and by it We bring forth fruits of varying colours? And in the mountains there are streaks of white and red, of varying shades, and rocks of deep jet black. And mankind and beasts and livestock are likewise of varying colours. Only those of His slaves with knowledge have fear of Allah. Allah is Almighty, Ever-Forgiving. (Surah Fatir: 27-28)            ---------------Chapters---------------- Introduction Blind Termites Building Skyscrapers How do Fish Live in Water? Did you know about Luminescent Creatures? Life in the Desert The Bird with the Longest Wings of the World: The Albatross Parakeets that can Survive a Month without Water Conclusion