Introduction

There are innumerable kinds of living creatures on the face of the earth. From pets such as cats, which we come across every day, to animals inhabiting virgin forests, every species has wondrous features and amazing skills. For example we are surprised to see how bees can build such perfect honeycombs and can do calculations as if they were expert mathematicians. As we see how considerate a crocodile or a lion is to its young, we wonder how such wild animals can behave so affectionately. We seek an answer to the question how can little birds, which cover thousands of kilometers during a non-stop migration, perform this hard task. The more detailed information we get, the more amazed we become.

Every living being has a particular body structure. Some fly, others swim. For example the body structure of a fish is exactly as it needs for life underwater. It has the lungs, eyes and skin that enable it to live underwater. The lungs and feathers of birds have the structures that enable them to fly. There is no doubt that these living creatures did not by themselves obtain the skills or body structures with which they carry out extraordinary tasks. These creatures are not the ones who invented the tasks, each of which is more astonishing than another. They could not possibly have learnt the tasks they carry out by chance either. It is not possible for them to know all these things unless there is someone who taught them everything they do. Besides, there should be someone who created the structure they needed and placed it in their bodies. Allah gave them all the features they possess and is exalted in power and intelligence. Allah excellently created us and all other living things.

You may already know these facts, however there are some people who claim the opposite. Did you know that these people claim that living creatures obtained all the wonderful features they have by chance? And have you heard that they named these nonsensical claims "the theory of evolution"? Moreover, even though all branches of science have revealed the fallacy of the claims of the theory of evolution, these people do not give up maintaining this senseless claim.

In this book, we will examine the wondrous features of living creatures. By giving examples of the claims of evolutionists, we will also show how senseless the theory is. As you read the book, you will be surprised to see how mistaken professors, engineers and scientists who believe in the theory of evolution could be. (For further information about evolutionists see Wonders of Allah's Creation by Harun Yahya, Taha Publishers, London, 2002.)

In fact, factual information about living creatures is too abundant to be collected even in volumes of books. For this reason only some examples will be examined in this book. Yet, even with these few examples, you will be able to better comprehend the greatness of Allah, Who created these pretty creatures for us, and how much He loves us. You will reflect on what you'll learn and will be eager to tell it to others.

He is Allah – the Creator, the Maker, the Giver of Form. To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. Everything in the heavens and earth glorifies Him. He is the Almighty, the All-Wise. (Surat al-Hashr: 24)

Blind Termites Building Skyscrapers

Termites are insects as small as ants, and they are very skilful. The nests in the picture that look like tall towers are built by these little creatures. But make no mistake: these are not simple nests; termites build them according to a plan. Special chambers for the young, fungus production fields and the queen's chamber are only a few of the sections in a termite nest. More importantly, there is a special ventilation system. Termites, whose skins are very thin, need humid air. For that reason they need to keep the temperature and humidity of the nest at a certain level. Otherwise, the termites would die. They make the air circulate through the nest by means of special channels and use the water that comes from underground tunnels they have dug, and thus regulate the temperature and humidity.

Do you realize how hard this process is, and that termites have to act in a way marked by careful consideration of many things together? And yet what we have mentioned so far is merely a brief summary of the numerous things that termites do.

Another characteristic of termites is their defense of the nest, which may be up to seven meters high. Termites are alarmed whenever there is a hole in the walls of their nest. Hitting their heads against the walls, termites on watch give warning to all members of the colony. Following this warning, larvae are moved to securer places. The entrances of the chamber where the king and the queen live are blocked by quickly built walls. The damaged section is surrounded by soldier termites, which are followed by workers who carry the material to restore the wall. In a few hours, the destroyed area is covered with a heap. Then the inner compartments are constructed. Termites act following a prescribed plan, and each member of the colony carries out its task without causing any disorder.

That they can do all these things in quite a short time is evidence of perfect communication between termites. Yet there is something even more amazing about the termites that establish such order, build colonies like skyscrapers and take security precautions to protect their colonies: they are BLIND.

They see nothing while carrying out all these tasks. How can these creatures be so skilful and make such plans?

The answer that evolutionists provide to such questions is that they happen "by chance". However, this answer is not correct. Because even a single part of the order in a termite colony, say the ventilation channels, is sufficient to prove that such a system cannot come into existence by chance. No doubt blind termites cannot ensure this perfect order and cannot have all the work performed so faultlessly. Obviously they are taught what to do.

Allah has mentioned some animals in the Qur'an and urged us to reflect on these examples. For instance, the honeybee is given as an example in Surat an-Nahl. We are informed in the verse that bees that produce honey for us are taught what to do by our Lord. The verses are:

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 mankind. There is certainly a Sign in that for people who reflect. (Surat an-Nahl: 68-69)

Just like the bees referred to in the above verses, termites live in the way Allah teaches them and reveals to them. It is our Lord Who creates perfect communication between these sightless creatures, teaches them what to do and makes each one of the millions of termites in a colony perform its task.

Mankind! Remember Allah's blessing to you. Is there any creator other than Allah providing for you from heaven and earth? There is no god but Him. So how have you been perverted? (Surah Fatir: 3)

Security Measures of Animals

One of the miracles in nature is that living creatures take precautions to protect themselves. Many creatures have the capability to estimate potential hazards and to invent various security methods. For instance, the termites that we mentioned build the walls of their colonies so thick and hard that they can hardly be destroyed even with a pickaxe. Weaverbirds build the entrance of their nests in such a way as to prevent snakes, their main enemies, from entering. Some spiders have special chambers in their nests in which other animals that have somehow entered the nest are trapped.

The birds in the pictures build nests so as to prevent their enemies from entering them. Termite nests, such as the tower-like one to the side and the mushroom-like one above, are as strong as castles.

Even these examples are sufficient for us to understand that there is intelligence in the way living creatures act and that they employ very effective methods to protect themselves. Besides, you may have noted that the enemy of a species may be another species. However, all creatures know their enemies very well and take elaborate precautions against them. It is quite surprising that a termite or a bird, despite the fact that it lacks advanced intellectual functions, can know the features of another creature.

To grasp this matter better, think about yourself. Can you tell at first sight the characteristics of an animal that you do not know and have not seen before? Can you know what it feeds on, how it hunts and what it fears? Of course you cannot. You need a book to read and to get information about that creature or someone to tell you about its attributes. But how can animals have information about other creatures? Might they have found out who their enemies are and then conducted a study of their behavior and hunting methods, upon the basis of which they have developed suitable precautions? Certainly not. No animal has the intellectual capabilities and talent to do research. Besides, it would also be unreasonable and nonsensical to think that animals gathered information about their enemies by chance, because failing in the first attempt would mean death.

Building their dams in streams, beavers stop the flow of water and construct wonderful lodges for themselves.

Undoubtedly it is Allah Who determines the security measures that animals use and makes them act as necessary. The fact that not only the animals we see around us, but all living creatures in the world behave in the same intelligent way points to the infinite wisdom and power of our Lord.

The Compass in the Ant's Eye

We need guides to show us the way when we travel to another country or another city. In particular, when we do not know the place we are going to, we definitely must have a compass and a map. A map shows us where we are and the compass shows us which way to go. We find the way by using these tools and consulting other people so we do not get lost. Have you ever wondered how other creatures find their way? Have you ever thought how an ant seeking food in the desert returns to its nest?

Black desert ants inhabiting the Mediterranean coasts of Tunisia are among those creatures who build their nests in the desert. These ants are very good at finding their way in the vast desert and getting back to their nests without the help of a compass or a map.

As the sun rises, temperatures in the desert reach up to 70oC (158oF). The ant leaves its nest to find food in the heat of the day. Frequently halting and turning around itself, it follows a devious route within an area that may be 200meters (655 feet) away from the nest. You may see this route on the map. But do not think that the ant will get lost because of these zigzags. Once it finds a source of food, the ant follows a straight course and returns to the nest. With respect to their sizes, this journey by the ant may be compared to a man's returning to his starting point taking a straight course after wandering 35-40 kilometers (22-25 miles) away from that point in the desert. How is it that an ant successfully performs a task that is virtually impossible for a human?

1. The path the ant follows while looking for food 2. The nest 3. The way back to the nest
The little ant to the side uses no compass to find its way in the desert. The map above shows the path the ant has followed.

It cannot be that the ant finds its direction by looking at objects. Signs and road-marks such as trees, rocks, rivers or lakes which help one find the way are very rare in the desert. There is only sand all around. Even if there were such signs, it would not make any difference since it is not possible for an ant to keep these signs in mind, to memorize where they are and to use them while finding its way. Thinking about it this way, one can better understand the significance of the task that the ant performs. The ant can perform this difficult task by means of the special body structure it has been given.

There is a special navigational system in the ant's eyes. This system that Allah placed in the ant's eyes is more advanced than mechanical devices that determine direction. Being able to perceive some rays that we cannot, the ant can establish directions and know where north and south are. By means of this ability, it is not difficult at all for the ant to work out where its nest is and to return to it.

Human beings have only lately become aware of the characteristics of light. However the ant has known and used a characteristic of light, which was unknown to human beings, since it was born. Certainly such a perfect structure as the eye of this ant cannot be attributed to random coincidences. The eyes of the ant must have been so since it came into existence. Otherwise the ant could not return to the nest in the desert heat and could not survive. Indeed, eyes of all desert ants have been equipped with this system since the first day they came into existence. Allah, the All-Knowing, created these eyes for them.

(Do they) worship, instead of Allah, things that have no control over their provision from the heavens or earth in any way, and are themselves completely impotent? Do not try to make metaphors for Allah. Allah knows and you do not know. (Surat An-Nahl: 73-74)

The Marvelous Co-Operation of the Ant and the Bird

There are microbes everywhere that threaten our health and cause diseases. These microbes are a danger to other living creatures as well as human beings. Therefore these creatures, too, need to protect themselves just as we do. When living creatures are observed, we see that they use various methods to protect themselves against microbes. For instance, ants produce a kind of acidic substance that incapacitates microbes. They apply this acidic substance to their bodies and to the walls of their nest. In other words, they know that not only they themselves but also the nest they live in should be purified of microbes.

How is it that a little ant can know how to act so intelligently? There is no doubt that the ant's intellectual capacity is not up to that. An ant can know neither what a microbe is nor that it should protect itself from it. The ant should have first analyzed the microbe and then found the substance to render it harmless. But how could it have determined this substance?

Ants, which are very tiny creatures, are aware that microbes are harmful to them and take the appropriate precautions. They produce a kind of acid that deactivates microbes. Allah inspires ants to do this.

Let's think about it together.

People are inoculated against specific microbes, but these vaccines are prepared in laboratories as a result of much research and experiment. Moreover, experts perform this research, otherwise the vaccine would not be of any use and could even be harmful. Ants, on the other hand, do not have such knowledge and have not been trained either. They cannot possibly go to a laboratory and do research. It is unreasonable even to think such a thing. Obviously ants are born into the world knowing all these things that they do.

And in your creation and all the creatures He has spread about there are Signs for people with certainty. (Surat al-Jathiyya: 4)

This knowledge is taught to the ant by a superior Being: Allah, the Lord of all the worlds and the Creator of everything, reveals to the ant how to protect itself from microbes.

Now let's take birds as another example of living creatures that should be protected against microbes. Microbes attack birds too, but birds do not have a system in their bodies to produce protective substances as ants do. Consequently birds have found a different but equally practical solution to this problem. They go to and lie on an ant's nest, and wait for the ants to wander through their feathers. Ants that search for food stroll among the bird's feathers, and the substance that kills the microbes is smeared on the bird's feathers as they do so. Thus, the bird is purified of microbes. How do birds know that ants produce such a substance and that this substance will remove microbes from their bodies?

People only discovered that ants have such a protective system after much research. Many people without expert knowledge of animals are still not aware of it. Probably you, too, have just learnt about it here. Birds, however, have known this feature of ants from the moment they were born. Moreover, although there is nobody to teach them how to do it, they can use ants to be cleansed of microbes.

The fact that birds can know about a substance produced in an ant's body and can know how to make use of it leads us to a single fact: Allah teaches this information to both creatures. Allah has revealed that every being is under His command :

… No, everything in the heavens and earth belongs to Him. Everything is obedient to Him. (Surat al-Baqara: 116)

Little Engineering Birds

You certainly must have seen birds' nests built on trees or on tops of buildings, and sometimes on a corner of a balcony. These are merely the nests of the few bird species that you know. But so many bird species live in the world and they build so many different types of nests that one should really reflect on this.

All birds build their nests so that they blend in with their natural environments. Let us consider coastal birds. These birds build their nests on the surface of the water and the nest does not sink. The materials used and the shape of the nest are all particularly created. So, even if the water level rises, neither the nest nor the offspring are damaged. These animals have innate capabilities to build their nests and have no need of training. They could not have possibly learnt such a task over time; if they had tried to do it by trial and error, the nest would have sunk as the water rose. However such a thing never happens because all coastal birds have built their nests in the same way since the first day they were created.

Birds build their nests in safe places especially chosen by them.

Some birds living in swamps build the walls of their nests very high so that the eggs do not fall out because of the wind. How is it that a bird, which carefully protects its eggs, knows about the risk of eggs falling out and being broken? We see here that the bird takes a wise precaution.

Another bird species living in arid areas builds its nest among the bushes and not on the ground. The reason why it does so is the difference in temperature: the temperature among the bushes is ten degrees less than on the ground. Most of us do not know about the temperature difference between the ground and bushes, and that there is a difference between them. These birds, however, know it and protect themselves and their young from intense heat by building their nest in the coolest place.

Have you ever wondered how birds, which lack consciousness and intellect as we understand them, can consider such delicate details?

These behaviors of birds could be compared to those of engineers who have gone through years of education and training in their fields. While building a house, engineers consider details such as the strength of the building, materials to be used and location; only then can construction begin. As you have seen in the above examples, birds also build their nests according to a plan. But they do not need any tools or education. They act by the inspiration of Allah and easily carry out their tasks. These birds and what they perform are evidence of Allah's perfect creation. It is surely the All-Knowing Allah Who inspires them to do everything they do.

Everything in the heavens and everything in the earth belongs to Him. Allah is the Rich Beyond Need, the Praiseworthy. (Surat al-Hajj: 64)

The Heating System of the Winter Moth

When winter comes, many insect species inhabiting cold regions of the world die from cold or lack of food. That is because insects are delicate creatures, but there are some exceptions to this rule. For example, owl moths look like butterflies and at first sight seem very delicate. In reality, however, they are strong enough to survive tough winter conditions. Therefore these moths are also called "winter moths".

Like butterflies, a winter moth has two wings and a trunk to which these wings are joined. In order for this moth to fly, the temperature of its thorax to which its wings are joined should be 30oC (86oF). But the temperature where they live is usually 0oC (32oF) and even drops below zero degrees from time to time. How can winter moths survive such cold? What prevents them from freezing when they are motionless, and what enables them to fly in cold weather?

This moth species is created together with a special heating system that enables it to live under winter conditions. This system consists of several complementary features.

Before flight winter moths continuously tense the main muscles that are connected to the wings and make their wings vibrate. The rapid vibrating of the wings leads to an increase in the temperature of the insect's thorax. As a result of this increase, the temperature of the thorax may rise from 0oC (32oF) to 30oC (86oF) or even more. However, this is only one of the features that the moth needs to survive. In order to fly it is not sufficient for the winter moth merely to increase its body temperature. That is because the difference between the temperatures of the insect's body and of the atmosphere will result in loss of heat. In the same way as a glass of hot tea cools after a while, the moth's body will also cool. Therefore it will not help even if the moth keeps its wings vibrating. In order for the winter moth to fly and thus survive, another method is required to maintain the heat it has produced. This need is also met by a special structure that Allah created in the moth's body. Moths are covered with dense scales that reduce heat loss. Scientists have determined after research that a moth without scales cools twice as fast as those with scales.

These are some of the mechanisms in a winter moth that protect it from cold. The features mentioned above must have existed since this moth species came into being. Otherwise, the moth would have died of cold and this species would be extinct. One does not need to reflect at great length to understand that it is not a coincidence that only those species inhabiting cold regions possess these features that make them different from all other moths. Taking all kinds of measures to enable these creatures to survive in cold, Allah introduces Himself to us. In the Qur'an, Allah reveals that He knows where all creatures live:

There is no creature on the earth which is not dependent upon Allah for its provision. He knows where it lives and where it dies. They are all in a Clear Book. (Surah Hud: 6)

Such features in living creatures enable us to grasp Allah's power and artistry, and increase our faith in and love for our Lord. Communicating the amazing information you read to others, you may also be the means to increase other people's faith in Allah.

How Do Salmon Find Their Way?

You are mistaken if you think that migration is peculiar to birds. In fact, there are many migratory species on land and in sea. In this section, the adventure of salmon, a migratory fish species, will be examined.

Salmon are born into the world as they hatch from eggs the females of the species lay in the river. They grow and hunt in this place for several weeks after which they start to advance down the river. During this journey towards the sea, they encounter dams and polluted water, and try to avoid dangers such as bigger hunting fish. Having overcome all these and reached the sea, they spend several years there. Once they mature enough to spawn, they swim back to the fresh water.

The point at which salmon aim to arrive is the place they were born. But make no mistake: it's not just a short distance. The distance that the fish needs to cover to get to its destination may be up to 1,500 km (930 miles), which means a demanding journey of several months. There are many obstacles that the fish has to overcome during this journey.

The first, and maybe the most important problem that needs to be solved is to find where the river down which the fish swam during its first journey empties into the sea. Based on this, the fish will determine the return route to follow. Amazingly, none of the salmon makes a mistake and they all find the river's opening to the sea right first time.

Entering the stream, the salmon starts to steadfastly swim against the current. This time its task is harder because, whereas it could easily pass down waterfalls with the assistance of the current the first time, it has to climb up over them this time. What the salmon in the pictures in this chapter intends by leaping upriver is to reach the place where it was spawned. During this journey the salmon may need to swim through shallow waters that leave its upper fin above water. These shallow waters are full of birds, bears and many other wild predators.

The difficulties that the salmon has to overcome are not limited to these. Recall that it hatched from the egg in a branch of a river, in an internal part of the land. In order to reach that point, it has to go the correct way when the river forks into branches. Salmon do not make any mistake in these choices and they always follow the correct stream.

Now suppose that you were born and had grown up in a house in a city. Then one day you left your house, travelled for days and came to a place 1,500 km (930 miles) away from home. Years passed and you desired to return to your place of birth. Do you think that you could possibly remember streets that you passed only once? While no human being could, salmon can, and they always find their way completely accurately.

There have been various studies intended to establish how salmon make this exceptional journey. And it has been concluded that salmon find their way by use of "smell".

By means of its ingeniously structured nose, a salmon can follow a scent in the water to its source, just as a hound does. In fact, every current has its own distinctive smell. The young salmon records all the smells during its journey and returns home by recalling these smells.

How does this extraordinary thing happen? How can every salmon find its way correctly? Why do all salmon try to return to their place of birth, risking their lives, leaping waterfalls and confronting wild animals? What is more, they do not do all these things for themselves but simply in order to deposit their eggs in these waters.

There is only one answer to these questions: Allah, the All-Knowing, created the salmon and the systems that enable them to find their way. Like all creatures, salmon act by the inspiration they receive from Allah and they manifest the Lord's excellent creation.

Somon balıkları, 1500 km uzaklıktaki doğdukları yeri sadece koklayarak bulurlar. Üstelik bu yere ulaşmak için akıntının tersi yönde yüzerler.

Among the evidence that refutes the theory of evolution is the fact that salmon cover thousands of kilometers and risk their own lives to spawn.

Evolutionists claim that all creatures are always in a struggle with each other and that only the strong survive at the end of it. However, there is also co-operation among living creatures, contrary to evolutionists' assertions. Animals risk their own lives for their offspring. Besides, as you will see in the examples given in the following pages, there are different species that associate with and benefit each other. The salmon is merely one of the creatures that display self-sacrificing behavior for their offspring. Salmon that migrate and manage to reach the place to spawn, which are very small in number, will die soon after they produce their spawn. Yet they never give up their journey. Such self-sacrificing behavioral patterns cannot by any means be explained by the theory of evolution. The fact is evident. Allah created salmon and these creatures behave in the way that Allah inspires in them. People who use their intellect draw conclusions from such behavior of animals. Allah reminds us to do so in the Qur'an:

There is no creature He does not hold by the forelock… (Surah Hud: 56)

How Do Fish Live in Water?

You must have seen how fast and brisk fish are in water. In order to swim, a fish does not need to make any movement other than to flap its tail from side to side. This ease of movement that fish have in water is a result of their flexible backbones as well as some systems in their bodies.

In the creation of the heavens and earth, and the alternation of the night and day, and the ships which sail the seas to people's benefit, and the water which Allah sends down from the sky – by which He brings the earth to life when it was dead and scatters about in it creatures of every kind – and the varying direction of the winds, and the clouds subservient between heaven and earth, there are Signs for people who use their intellect. (Surat al-Baqara: 164)

A fish expends a large amount of energy while swimming. This is not because it swims fast for long times. Fish need considerable amounts of energy in order to reach high speeds from being stationary. It is vital for a fish to gain speed instantaneously because it needs to do so in order to escape from predators.

Moreover, fish move against the current most of the time. Consider how hard it is for you to move in water and how easy it is to move while you are walking on the street. Compare living underwater and living on the face of earth.

It is the special structure of the backbone and muscles of the fish that provide it such power. The backbone keeps the body straight and is connected to the fins and muscles. Otherwise, it would not be possible for the fish to move in the water. However, the particular shape of its backbone is not sufficient to enable it to swim. That is because fish not only move forward and backward, but also up and down in order to survive. This movement is made possible by another system in their bodies; air sacs. By emptying these sacs of air, fish can sink to the bottom of the sea, and by filling the sacs with air they can rise to the surface again.

Have you ever wondered how it is that fish are not damaged at all although they are always in the water? Our skin becomes affected if we stay in water for a while; if we stay for a longer time then it suffers injury. But this never happens to a fish. This is a result of a stiff bright layer in its outer skin. This layer prevents water from entering its body. If fish did not have this layer, their bodies would be damaged, and since water would enter the body the balance inside would be disturbed and they would eventually die. However, these things do not happen and all fish continue to live their underwater lives.

All fish species in the world possess these features. Species that lived long ago possessed them, too. Fish have had the same perfect structure for millions of years and have not gone through any change. It is possible to see this in the remnants of fish that lived millions of years ago. These remnants, namely fossils, clearly reveal that fish were the same as they are today and have not changed at all. This is evidence that fish came into existence at one point in time. In other words, they were created. It is Allah Who gave fish all the features they have and Who created everything in the universe. He knows the needs of all creatures.

How Do Macaws Know Chemistry?

You have read in this book that macaws feed on rocks that contain clay, as seen in the picture. If you had seen this picture before reading this book, the behaviour of this parrot species would have surprised you. Maybe you would not even have understood what they were doing. But now you know why macaws eat clay. Most importantly, you know that Allah teaches them to do so. Tell others about what you have learnt to enhance their faith in Allah as well.

Some plants have poisonous seeds. This is an effective method of protection against enemies that try to eat them. Yet one parrot species living in America can feed on these poisonous seeds. This is really surprising because while other creatures cannot approach these seeds, these birds that continually eat them are not affected by them at all. You are curious about how this happens, aren't you?

How this parrot species called the macaw is not poisoned has attracted the attention of scientists too. Scientists observed macaws and witnessed a quite extraordinary pattern of behavior.

Having eaten these nutritious but poisonous seeds, macaws fly towards a rocky place. There they gnaw on and swallow some clay-containing rocks. This is not random behavior. Indeed, rocks that contain clay absorb the poison of the seeds. This is how the macaw can digest the seeds without being harmed by them.

How has this bird acquired the medical knowledge to diagnose the poisonous effect of the seeds? How does it know how to get rid of this poisonous effect? Could it possibly have had an education in pharmacy to know that a substance that neutralizes the effects of the poison is available in rocks that contain clay? Of course, not.

A human being could not tell whether a seed is poisonous or not by its appearance. He could not work out how to neutralize the effects of the poison. In order to be able to do that, he would have needed training or to have consulted people with such knowledge. This being the case, it cannot be claimed that a bird with no intellectual faculties might have discovered such a thing after long chemical analyses and study. It is not possible for macaws to acquire this knowledge, which can be learnt by human beings only after years of special training, by chance. All-Knowing Allah, Who creates everything perfectly, teaches macaws this knowledge.

Have they not reflected within themselves? Allah did not create the heavens and the earth and everything between them except with truth and for a fixed term. Yet many people reject the meeting with their Lord. (Surat ar-Rum: 8)

Engineering in the Cobweb

Have you ever noticed the shapes of spider webs? Did you know that spiders produce their thread themselves and that this thread has some amazing characteristics? Or have you heard that the techniques used by garden spiders to spin a web are the same as those used by civil engineers today?

A spider needs two separate places in order to spin its web. Webs are generally spun in a corner where two walls join or between two branches. However, some spiders are so skilful that they spin their webs using a single surface. How a spider spins its web is spectacular. Now try to visualize what we will tell you here.

A spider first finds a flexible branch that is long enough to spin its web. It firmly fastens a thread to the end of the branch. Walking down the branch, it continues to secrete thread. Once it covers a certain distance, it stops and ceases to secrete. It pulls the thread it has secreted until the branch is bent like a bow. The spider sticks the other end of the thread, which is now as straight as a string, firmly to that point. Then it starts to spin its web inside this bow.

Now consider what you would do if you were to stretch a string two and a half meters long between two walls that are two meters apart from each other. While you are trying to find out how, let us explain how a species of garden spider has solved this problem.

Garden spiders sometimes spin their web between two distant branches. Since such webs are quite large, they are ideal for catching prey. Nevertheless, their large size results in a gradual decrease in the tautness of the web, which means a decrease in the ability to catch prey. So spiders need a solution to this. You might have thought that the spider would spin a new web once the web is not taut enough any more. But instead of replacing the web the spider does something amazing: It secretes a thread from the center of the web down to the ground, and fixes a small stone on to that end of the thread which is close to ground. Returning to the web and pulling the thread, it lifts the stone. Then it fastens the thread, at one end of which the stone swings in the air, once again on the centre of the web. Consequently, the web is tightened up again as the weight of the stone hanging from the web stretches it down.

You would probably not come up with such a solution, and neither would many people with no knowledge of construction techniques. Spiders, however, know and apply this technique. How does a spider know such an admirable technique and apply it so well? Moreover, every spider for millions of years has spun its web applying the same technique. There has to be a "Power" Who inspires the spider to use this technique, because the power to do it does not belong to the spider itself. This power belongs to the Almighty Allah, Possessor of everything, Who guides and inspires all living creatures with what they need to do.

An Interesting Creature: The Nautilus

You must have seen submarines on TV or in journals. These vessels, which are capable of operating far below the surface of the sea without being noticed, are used in ensuring national security and in some scientific research. How submarines operate is: As the special diving tanks in a submarine are filled with water, the vessel becomes heavier than water and sinks deep down in the ocean. If water in the tank is emptied and replaced by pressurized air, the submarine rises to the surface of the water again.

… My Lord encompasses all things in His knowledge so will you not pay heed? (Surat al-An'am: 80)

Now we will examine the nautilus, a very interesting creature that employs exactly the same method. The nautilus has a spiral, pearly-lined shell and dives in the way that submarines do. It has an organ shaped like a snail shell that is 19 cm (7.5 inches) in diameter, as shown in the picture. This organ contains 28 interconnected "diving chambers". These diving chambers operate in the same way as the tanks in a submarine do; in other words, the nautilus needs pressurized air. In submarines, this need is met by a special system installed by engineers in relevant places in the submarine. But how does the nautilus find the pressurized air necessary to expel the water?

You have noticed that there is no difference between the fossil of a nautilus that lived a long time ago (below) and the nautilus living today, haven't you?

The answer to this question introduces us to another amazing feature that Allah created. A special gas is produced in the nautilus' body. This gas is conveyed to the chambers through its bloodstream and eventually expels the water from the cells. So a nautilus can sink or float to protect itself against its enemies while hunting. In fact the diving capacity of the nautilus is much higher than that of a submarine. A submarine dives only to 400 meters (1310 feet) while it is so easy for a nautilus to dive to 4,000 meters (2.5 miles).

The special system of this interesting marine animal is created for us to reflect on. Now consider for a moment. Could a nautilus have attained this system by chance? Could it itself have acquired the bodily structure that enables gas production? Furthermore, this is not the only feature of the nautilus. The pressure underwater is quite intense. This is why you feel pressure in your ears when you dive deep. Nevertheless the pressure you experience is comparatively low; as one descends further in the water, the pressure increases and after a certain depth has deadly effects on living creatures. However, although it is a very small animal and has only an external shell to protect itself, the nautilus is not affected by this pressure, which can be extreme.

Obviously, all features that a nautilus has are created. This being cannot possibly on its own build the bodily structure to resist a pressure of tons underwater. Allah, Who originates everything perfectly, created this excellent structure. In a verse of the Qur'an, Allah invites people to be heedful:

Is He Who creates like him who does not create? So will you not pay heed?
(Surat an-Nahl: 17)