The sublime art of Allah reigns in all living things. In the Qur’an, Allah calls on people to reflect on and examine the proofs of Creation around them. Scientific research constitutes a significant source of information for us to obey this command of Allah’s in the Qur’an. Through this research we can better understand the infinite intelligence, knowledge and might of Allah.
And mankind and beasts and livestock are likewise of varying colors. Only those of His servants with knowledge have fear of Allah. Allah is Almighty, Ever-Forgiving. (Surat al-Fatir, 28)
The research recently conducted into the golden frogs that live in Central and South America is one example of this. Although they are very attractive in appearance, gold frogs are very dangerous animals because of the poison they produce. The source of that poison is a chemical substance called alkaloid secreted from beneath the skin. The poison produced by a single golden frog is strong enough to kill 10 human beings. Researchers discovered that golden frogs obtain this poison thanks to “careful food selection.” They established that golden frogs manufacture alkaloid thanks to feeding patterns that include large quantities of “ants.” Valerie Clarck of Columbia University and the American Museum of Natural History in New York and her colleagues analyzed poisons obtained from three different species of frog living in Madagascar and determined that the frogs release toxic secretions thanks to the ants they consume. These frogs use ants both as food and also for the purpose of manufacturing the poison that allows them to defend themselves. (Researchers Pinpoint Source of Poison Frogs' Deadly Defenses) How do golden frogs know that they need to produce poison to defend themselves?
How do frogs with no knowledge of chemistry know that they can manufacture poison by eating ants? How is it that the ants that make the manufacture of this poison, powerful enough to kill 10 people, do not harm the frogs themselves?
How do frogs with no laboratories or means of performing tests know that the ants they eat will not harm them?
It is of course impossible for these two life forms, with no reason or consciousness, to decide and take action for themselves. These superior characteristics in the frogs are powerful evidence of Allah’s infinite Creation. Allah reveals this in another verse of the Qur’an:
The creation of the heavens and the Earth, and the alternation of night and day, there are signs for people with intelligence. (Surah Al ‘Imran, 190)