Conclusion

In the previous pages we looked at many amazing, even miraculous events that occur inside living cells. Every one revealed that just even one single cell or one protein possesses a highly complex, planned structure. It's not possible for either of them to have formed as a result of coincidence, as evolutionists claim. Coincidence can only result in chaos, disruption, disorder, error and freaks of nature. The magnificent harmony, order, balance, success and aesthetic nature of the cell and other living things show that they are all the product of a knowledgeable and faultless creation.

In short, what we've examined brings the theory of evolution to its knees, unarguably, and proves that the "origin of species" came about through creation.

Yet there is more to this truth than we explained before.

If the cell or any other stage of life were immobile or constant, then we would not be able to advance any further than the point made above. However, when we examine all of the different components of cells-DNA, ribosomes, mitochondria, viruses, enzymes and hormones-they are all highly active and carry out amazing processes very successfully. They seem to possess what we would describe as intention and intelligence, that is, the abilities to think, analyze and make decisions. What's more, this intelligence is much more fascinating than that attributed to human beings. Just the organelle of a cell during protein synthesis displays a level of intelligence that human beings will not easily reach.

But it's not logical to say that this intelligence is actually a property of the cell itself, because the components of the cell that display such apparent knowledge are nothing more than a group of molecules. Given the acts they carry out, they should all be able to think in a sophisticated manner, but they do not actually possess a brain. In fact, they don't have eyes, ears, feelings of touch, or a nervous system. They are really nothing more than just a series of chains of amino acids arranged in a particular order.

But these chemical compounds-which are deprived of seeing, hearing, feeling, thinking and making decisions-display magnificent feats of intelligence.

Thus we need to ask: What is the source of this intelligence?

The Unseen Source of Intelligence

Earlier, we used the example of a remote-control car. The car's apparently conscious maneuvers were really a product of an intelligent person in control of the car, but some narrow-minded people had difficulty understanding this. Because they couldn't see the car's controller, they didn't accept his existence, and so developed various theories to explain the car's "intelligent" movements.

If they were to report about the car, probably they'd write something like this: "This car successfully controls its speed and direction, and carries out functions such as turning corners, avoiding potholes, and following the road in a most ideal manner."

But when considered carefully, this explanation is superficial and very insufficient. The following is more accurate: "Whoever is controlling the car is able to successfully control its speed and direction. Since he does not leave the controls for even one instant, he is able to carry out functions such as turning corners, avoiding potholes, and following the road."

Clearly, both explanations describe the exact same events. However, the first one uses a very simplistic, superficial, and very shallow outlook. The second is written by an observer who perceives the inner reality of the events before him.

The intelligence displayed by the cell or any other component of nature did not come about by itself. All creatures carry out the duties given them by God, and the intelligence they display in these acts is the intelligence of God.

A verse about honeybees shows an important point about this:

Your Lord revealed to the bees: "Build dwellings in the mountains and the trees, and also in the structures which men erect. Then eat from every kind of fruit and travel the paths of your Lord, which have been made easy for you to follow." From inside them comes a drink of varying colors, containing healing for humanity. There is certainly a sign in that for people who reflect. (Qur'an, 16:68-69)

Like the organelles of cells, honeybees also display intelligence in the acts they carry out, such as informing each other of the location of the flowers they have found to make honey, and the way they build their hives. But the source of this intelligence, as explained in the above verse, is that God has inspired the bees. That is, He has imparted them some of His own knowledge, thereby giving them the ability to carry out their complex acts. The resulting intelligence does not belong to the bees, but to God. He is ar-Razzak, the Provider, and through the inspiration He gives to the bees, presents us with the great bounty such as honey.

Obviously this principle does not apply to bees alone, because nature is full of mindless creatures that constantly display intelligence. All of them, from the tiniest insect to the largest organism, act by the inspiration given to them by God, Who has inspired them all with their duties and the knowledge to carry them out. They, in return, have submitted to God and carry out these duties:

Everyone in the heavens and earth belongs to Him. All are submissive to Him. (Qur'an, 30:26)

Another verse tells man:

Don't you see that everyone in the heavens and everyone on the Earth prostrates to God, and the Sun and Moon and stars and the mountains, trees and beasts and many of humanity?... (Qur'an, 22:18)

An Eye that Sees

To understand this topic more clearly, we can use an example from a great Muslim scholar.

Imagine a person watching the sea on a sunny day, from a balcony covered by an awning. Because of the awning, he cannot see the sun, only its reflections on the sea, in the form of millions of tiny sparkles. The sparkles possess a beauty that is, in a word, dazzling.

The person wondering about the source of the beauty in these sparkles has two choices. Either he must assume that each sparkle formed by itself on the water independently of the rest, or accept that each is a reflection of the Sun on the water. Water does not possess the ability to make light. Light only comes from the Sun, and the rays falling over the water form millions of reflections.

Everything in the universe is similar to this example.

The universe, with all of its tiniest detail, was created by God and shaped by His attributes. Everything comes from Him. All of the beauty that we see is just a reflection of His beauty. All of the intelligence that exists is only a manifestation of His intelligence.

God gives life to everything in the universe for a determined period, with His attribute of al-Hayy (the Living). These display a small reflection of God's intelligence, beauty, and knowledge, and then die-again at the time determined by God.

Human beings are like this too. We come from the earth, and live a particular length of time as God has determined, then die and return to the earth. During the short time that we live, we can also reflect some of those attributes of God, as He wills. A human being, who begins as a single fertilized cell in his mother's womb, grows up to possess a face reflecting the great artistry of God, then grows old and is decayed under the earth.

The properties about the cell recounted in this book, and of all the living and inanimate objects in the universe are all manifestations of God's intelligence. A cell, which is in reality nothing more than a speck of protoplasm, comes to possess intelligence, knowledge and consciousness through the will of God. And then, again through the will of God, dies.

Any mind that can perceive will see this. There is nothing in the universe other than manifestations of God. Everything is from Him. Everything indicates Him. Everything describes Him and submits to Him:

God, there is no deity but Him, the Living, the Self-Sustaining. He is not subject to drowsiness or sleep. Everything in the heavens and the Earth belongs to Him. Who can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them but they cannot grasp any of His knowledge save what He wills. His Footstool encompasses the heavens and the Earth and their preservation does not tire Him. He is the Most High, the Magnificent. (Qur'an, 2:255)