- Among beings, which has the ability to imitate a friend?
- How does a tree species that purifies water make this happen?
- What are the systems in the foot structures of different species?
A Close Friend of a Master of Imitation Swimming in the Seas of Indonesia: The Jawfish
Many living things can conceal themselves by taking the color of its surroundings by means of its camouflage abilities. However, to impersonate a different species by changing color and shape and to perfectly imitate them is a new type of behavior, discovered by scientists only recently. As it is known, the octopus has tens of thousands of sacs called “chromatophores” on its body. The ctopus can shrink and loosen these sacs to look like any background color or image. However, the mimic octopus also changes its appearance to imitate other animals. It can color itself with the colors of a lionfish, then it bravely swims away after enlarging its eight arms around its body to resemble the poisonous thorns of the lion fish. Or it can place its head and seven arms like triangle shape of a tortonese's stingray and moves along the sea surface by dragging its eighth arm like its tail. Or it jumps into a sand hill to look like a poisonous sea anemone and holds its arms in a zigzag mode. Not having a hard interior and outer skeleton gives this being a body structure ideal for imitation. This behavior displayed by the octopus is of course very interesting and a result of our Lord’s control over living beings. However, what is more interesting is the existence of a fish, which takes advantage of an octopus that runs away from its hunters by imitating the fish. This fish, called the jawfish, swims around the octopus and tries to take advantage of its strategy of protection.
It is of course very interesting that an octopus with no wisdom and consciousness imitates a fish to defend itself, but what is more interesting is the existence of a fish, which knows and takes advantage of this characteristic of the octopus. Our Lord reminds us once more the perfect creation of His Self with these examples, which require wisdom. In one verse it is revealed as such:
"Allah is the Creator of everything and He is Guardian over everything.." (Surat az-Zumar, 62)
A Carnivorous Plant Species: Philcoxia Minensis
A new carnivorous plant species was discovered in Brasil . This plant, called “Philcoxia Minensis”, uses its sticky leaves underground by secreting a gum-like substance and traps worms. Researchers note that these plants that generally live under difficult conditions have a carnivorous type of nutrition and that they are quite rare in nature. It is understood that some species even hunt large-sized creatures like ruminant mammals due to a general lack of food. The purpose behind the plant being carnivorous is to supply itself for the need of protein. However, while the plant supplies for this need, it also breaks down dead beings and increases the soil’s fertility. No doubt, there is a matchless plan in the hunting process of this plant and after. Here Allah shows these flawless evidences of creation to people. Allah reveals His control over and matchless creation of living things in one verse as such:
“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)
Strong Mechanisms in Rhino Feet
The rhinocerous is the largest living mammal after elephants. Rhinos can run 45 kilometers per hour and change their directions suddenly with an agility most unexpected from its large body. One of the most interesting characteristics of these beings, which are typically three to five tons in weight and almost two meters long is that their short and rather small feet can carry all this weight of many tons. Now scientists are planning to solve the foot structure of rhinos and build land vehicles that can lift and carry very heavy objects while moving. Rhinos use this mechanism, which scientists cannot understand yet, since the first day they were created. This truth, where Allah’s infinite might of creation is displayed, is revealed in one verse as such:
“The keys of the Unseen are in His possession. No one knows them but Him. He knows everything in the land and sea. No leaf falls without His knowing it. There is no seed in the darkness of the earth, and nothing moist or dry which is not in a Clear Book.” (Surat Al-An‘am,59)
Mechanism That Prevents Husky Dogs From Freezing
Husky dogs that live in Alaska are a canine species that can run very fast and thanks to this quality they are frequently used in pulling a sled. One of the most interesting characteristics of these beings, which can live at minus 60 degrees temperature due to their thick fur, is that their feet are not affected and not frozen when walking in this cold. When scientists examine the foot structure of these dogs, they discovered that there is a unique temperature change system in their veins. Also this system not only transfers the heat to their feet, but also makes sure that the blood that will return to the heart is at the appropriate temperature.
There is no doubt that this structure is only one of the works of Allah’s infinite wisdom and matchless creation. In one verse it is revealed as such:
"Say: ‘To whom does everything in the heavens and earth belong?’ Say: ‘To Allah.’ He has made mercy incumbent on Himself. He will gather you to the Day of Rising about which there is no doubt. As for those who have lost their own selves, they have no iman." (Surat Al-An‘am, 12)
The Fish That Walks on Four Fins
The red-lipped batfish is the only fish that walks on its four fins. This fish has a very strange appearance with its fins created to walk, its nose with a peculiar shape and big red lips.
The batfish can walk on the sand like a man using their chest fins. Using these fins, the batfish can easily stand on the ocean floor and walk on the tips of their fins. As with the angler fish, the batfish also has small skin parts, which they use as a fishhook, underneath their nose to trick other fish.
As in every living being, Allah is the One Who creates these beings with interesting features compatible with their needs.
“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)
Sticky Hairs of the Gecko Fish
The gecko fish, which is a small fish species found on the North Pacific coasts, are specialized in holding onto the rocks while searching for food, by sticking. This is because our Lord created a sticking technique on the fins of these fish like the gecko fish. There are tiny hairs on these fins. Thanks to this, they can hold onto hard surfaces at an atomic degree. Thanks to this sticky surface, the fish can also carry 180 times its own weight. No doubt, the fins, which Almighty Allah granted to this fish as a blessing, are a perfect system for this creature to feed. These characteristics, which are examples of Allah’s infinite knowledge and matchless art, are revealed in the Qur’an as such:
“In the heavens and earth there are certainly Signs for the faithful. And in your creation and all the creatures He has spread about there are Signs for people with certainty.” (Surat al-Jathiyya, 3-4)
A Fast Runner Lizard: Basilisk
The basilisk is a lizard species that can run very fast by standing up. This lizard is so fast that it runs on water by taking up to 20 steps per second. As its feet touch the water, every toe shortens to increase the foot’s surface area and thus push the water easily. In this way, its feet easily balance the body weight. When the lizard’s feet push against the water, it forms an air bubble to get extra support and buys time for the other foot to complete its turn and touch the water. As the weight is transferred to the second foot, the lizard pulls its first foot away from the water before the bubble disappears. The air bubble is very important, because if the foot directly touches the water, the lizard could fall into the water.
When the movement of the lizard is compared to human beings, a human would need to run at a speed of 30 meters per second and its muscles would need to flex 15 times more than normal in order to do this movement; this is of course impossible.
Scientists examine the movement strategies of this being and aim to develop systems that can prevent the elderly from falling down. Of course, the basilisk walking on water is a result of Allah’s control over all beings on earth. In one verse it is revealed as such:
“Do you not know that Allah is He to Whom the kingdom of the heavens and the earth belongs and that, besides Allah, you have no protector and no helper?” (Surat al-Baqara, 107)
The Miracle Tree That Purifies Water: Moringa Oleifera
A tree species named “moringa oleifera” that is widespread in Africa, India and Indonesia not only supplies food and fuel needs but also purifies the water. When the crushed seeds of this plant known as the “miracle tree” are put into muddy water, it makes the particles in water clog and so sinks to the bottom and removes the muddiness. In addition to this it kills many microbes and bacteria as it sinks to the bottom because our Lord created a protein with antibacterial features inside the seeds of this tree. Scientists plan to tie this protein to the soil and clean the bacteria and organic compounds inside the soil. However, for now, the only problem is to ensure the sustainability of this cleanliness, because if the appropriate techniques are not used, organic compounds could return to water again. No doubt, using this method to purify water would prevent the residues that contain many bacteria and viruses which cause environmental pollution. This special structure of the plant is only one of the details of Allah’s art of creation. Allah’s control over and matchless creation of living things is revealed in one verse:
“That is Allah, your Lord; there is on god but He, the Creator of all things, so worship Him. And He is Disposer of all things." (Surah al-An'am, 102)
Almighty Allah granted living things a variety of qualities to survive, maintain their existence and continue their species. These living beings have the ability to struggle against many problems, which are incomparable to human beings, and very difficult conditions. These beings, which are the unique examples of our Lord’s art of creation and knowledge, can hunt, defend their own by running away from their enemies ,and protect their offspring thanks to these amazing qualities. Almighty Allah revealed that He created very different animals in one verse of the Qur’an:
“Have they not seen how We created for them, by Our own handiwork, livestock which are under their control?” (Surah Ya Sin, 71)
Allah created all living things together with the superior qualities they must have for their livelihood. All of these qualities, which amaze us when we learn of them, are only some of the examples of Allah’s unique creation and infinite might and that He controls everything.
What people need to do is to be able to see the amazing creation evidences in animals and thus appreciate Allah’s might and praise Him with glory. In one verse, our Lord’s knowledge of creation is revealed as follows:
“Allah created every animal from water. Some of them go on their bellies, some of them on two legs, and some on four. Allah creates whatever He wills. Allah has power over all things.” (Surat an-Nur, 45)
