Kamal and the Glow-Worm

On summer evenings Kamal and his family used to eat their evening meals in the garden. One summer evening, as they were getting up from the table, Kamal saw a light going on and off amongst the trees at the edge of the garden. He went over to the trees to see what was going on, and he noticed an insect flitting about. But this insect was very different from those he was used to seeing in the daytime. It was giving off light as it flew.

The insect stopped flying for a moment, and came up to Kamal. "Hello," it said. "You look very surprised. You've been watching me for a long time. My name's Glow-Worm, what's yours?"

"My name's Kamal. You're right, I've never seen an insect that flickered with light in the way you do before. Yellowish green rays are coming from your body. I remember that once when I touched a light bulb it burned my hand. Doesn't having this light coming from your body hurt you?"

The glow-worm nodded. "You're right, Kamal, when you say that lamps are really very hot while giving off light. Light bulbs use electrical energy to produce light, and some of that energy turns into heat. That causes the bulb to become hot. But we do not take energy from outside for the light that our bodies give off."

Kamal thought he understood. "So does that mean you don't get hot?" he asked.

"That's right," agreed the glow-worm. "We produce energy ourselves and we use this energy very carefully. That means that none of our energy is wasted and it doesn't produce heat which would damage our bodies."

Kamal considered for a moment, "That's a really well thought out system."

"Yes, it is," agreed his friend. "When Allah created us He planned everything we need in the best possible way. When we're flying we beat our wings very quickly. Of course, that's a job which needs a lot of energy. But because our light doesn't use up much of our energy we have no problem with it."

Kamal had something else he wanted to ask, "What do you use the light you give off for?"

His friend explained: "We use it both to pass messages amongst ourselves and to defend ourselves. When we want to say something to one another we talk by flickering our lights. At other times we use it to frighten our enemies and keep them away from us."

Kamal was very impressed by what his friend had been telling him: "So everything you need is inside your own bodies, and there's no need to tire yourselves out!"

"That's right," the glow-worm agreed. "Despite all their best efforts, scientists have been unable to develop a system quite like ours. As I said before, Allah created us in the most beautiful way and in the way most suited to our needs, just like all other living things."

Kamal smiled. "Thank you. What you have told me is very interesting. I now realize what the verse I read yesterday means, 'Is He Who creates like him who does not create? So will you not pay heed?' (Surat an-Nahl: 17) When you think of all the living things Allah created and ourselves, there are plenty of examples to take heed of!!"

"Yes Kamal, every living thing is a proof of the superior creative art of Allah. Now, whenever you look at anything, you will be able to see this. Now I should go. But don't forget what we have been talking about!"

Kamal waved his friend goodbye: "It was nice to have met you. Hope to see you again..."

On the way to home, reflecting on the amazing signs of creation in the glow-worm, Kamal was eager to tell his family about his conversation with his little friend.