Love is one of the greatest blessings Allah has bestowed on humanity. Allah has created human nature in such a way that a person will take pleasure from loving and being loved, from friendship and from intimacy. Being with people who live by the moral values of the Qur’an, enjoying love and friendship with them, brings a believer greater pleasure than many other blessings. Therefore, the Paradise that Allah has promised to His servants whom He loves and with whom He is well pleased is a place of extraordinary beauty in which true love, friendship and intimacy will be experienced with enormous joy for ever. The information Allah provides about the life of Paradise in the Qur’an, always refers to joy, friendship, love, conversation, pleasing words and peace. Everything that might prove an obstacle to love and friendship has been kept far removed from the people of Paradise. In one verse, for example, Allah has revealed that He will strip away any rancour in the hearts of the companions of Paradise (Surat al-A‘raf, 43). All vices that might represent an obstacle to love and friendship, such as jealousy, enmity, rivalry, anger, discord and touchiness, will be excluded from Paradise.
One of the main characteristics of Muslims, who have been given the glad tidings of Paradise, is that they love all Muslims who abide by Allah’s messengers, prophets and approval, in this world too. This bond of love and friendship between believers is revealed in these terms in the Qur’an:
Your friend is only Allah and His Messenger and those who believe: those who perform prayer and give the alms, and bow. (Surat al-Ma’ida, 55)
The faithful feel a closeness to all devout believers who strive to earn Allah’s approval, and adopt them as their friends and guardians. They take great pleasure from being with them under all conditions. They are bound to all Muslims with great loyalty and devotion. This love is not based on any interest, or lineage or race. Money, rank, culture or material values are of no importance to them. They approve of the people of whom they expect Allah to approve; devout believers on the path of Allah are some of His most beloved servants. For that reason, believers also have great love and consideration for one another. Many verses of the Qur’an refer to the love, attachment, compassion and consideration that believers have for one another. Some of these verses read:
Hold fast to the rope of Allah all together, and do not separate. Remember Allah’s blessing to you when you were enemies and He joined your hearts together so that you became brothers by His blessing. You were on the very brink of a pit of the Fire and He rescued you from it. In this way Allah makes His Signs clear to you, so that hopefully you will be guided. (Surah al ‘Imran, 103)
The believers are brothers, so make peace between your brothers and heed Allah so that hopefully you will gain mercy. (Surat al-Hujurat, 10)
Allah loves those who fight in His Way in ranks like well-built walls. (Surat as-Saff, 4)
I
n another verse Allah reveals this love among believers thus:
Those who were already settled in the abode [Madina], and in faith, before they came, love those who have migrated to them and do not find in their hearts any need for what they have been given and prefer them to themselves even if they themselves are needy. It is the people who are safe-guarded from the avarice of their own selves who are successful. (Surat al-Hashr, 9)
Believers regard all the faithful as their brothers. They do not hesitate to make any sacrifice for the good of another believer or to ensure his or her comfort. This conception of love possessed by believers can only be acquired through faith and living by the moral values of the Qur’an. Allah reveals in one verse that He will bestow love on those who believe and do devout works:
As for those who believe and do right actions, the All-Merciful will bestow His love on them. (Surah Maryam, 96)
Our Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) has expressed the importance of love and the superior nature of believers who live by true love in one of his hadiths:
"Allah (subhanahu wa ta`ala) said: 'Those who love one another for My glory, will have minbars of light, and the Prophets and martyrs will wish that they had the same." (Reported by Tirmidhi, 4/24, Bab ma ja'a fi al-hubb fi-Allah)
The true source of this love that believers have for one another is their deep love of Allah. Believers whose purpose in the life of this world is to attain the approval, mercy and Paradise of Allah spend their entire lives for Him. As is revealed in the verse “Say: ‘My prayer and my rites, my living and my dying, are for Allah alone, the Lord of all the worlds,’” (Surat al-An‘am, 162) they aim at attaining His approval in their every deed, in all their behaviour. The love of believers, who devote all they have to attaining the good pleasure of Allah, is again for Allah alone. The love of Allah of a believer who knows Allah by all His names, who witnesses His might and greatness at every moment, who feels His mercy, love and compassion throughout his life, is incomparably greater than any other love. Believers’ love for other believers is similarly powerful and deep because it is based on the love of Allah, and they love in order to attain the approval of Allah. Another reason why this love is strong and permanent is because they know that the friendship with the faithful will last for ever in the Hereafter.
In the Qur’an Allah has given the moral values of the Prophet Yahya (peace be upon him) as an example of this sensitivity of believers regarding love:
[We said:] “Yahya, take hold of the Book with vigour.” We gave him judgement while still a child, and affection and purity from Us—he guarded against evil... (Surah Maryam, 12-13)
In the hadiths, our Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) has recalled that the love believers feel for one another is for the approval of Allah:
Whoever loves for Allah's sake, hates for Allah's sake, gives for Allah’s sake and withholds for God's sake has a perfect faith. (Abu Dawud)
There are three qualities whosoever has them will taste the sweetness of Iman: loving Allah and His Messenger above all else, loving someone solely for the sake of Allah, and hating to return to disbelief after Allah has rescued him from it, as much as he would hate being thrown into Hellfire.” (Sahih Bukhari).
Believers who have great love of Allah, fear Allah, and make sincere endeavours so that He might approve of them, are auspicious individuals who bring beauty to the world. Due to these superior moral values, they also love the things that Allah has created, feel affection and compassion for them, and wish to protect them and bring them goodness and beauty. Allah has given the glad tidings that in return for this pleasing love stemming from the faith in believers’ hearts and their fear of Allah, and for their sincere loyalty to Him, He will reward them with Paradise, the most beautiful sphere of love and faithfulness.
It is an important religious observance for the faithful to remind one another of the importance of loving Allah and believers. Every believer must strive to live by the love to be experienced in Paradise while still in this world, and they must bind themselves to Allah, our only friend and guardian, and to other believers, with love and devotion.
THE SPIRITUAL STRENGTH THAT COMES FROM BELIEVERS’ LOVE AND SOLIDARITY
What lies behind the attachment of people who do not believe in Allah and the Hereafter is generally the importance imputed to worldly values and expectations directed towards worldly interests. By coming together, these people in one sense make a mutual agreement of interests; the parties support one another and thus seek to achieve mutual advantages. The people in that alliance know that their togetherness is not based on trust or friendship, and that, even though this is not openly stated, the alliance is dependent on a number of conditions. When the element of either party that provides the other with these advantages is eliminated, the alliance also falls apart. Whether this leaves the other person in difficulties or needing support is of no interest to other. That is because the alliance formed has stemmed solely from a joining of forces and an expectation of benefits. For that reason, when these expectations are removed, it is perfectly natural that the alliance should also fall apart. As revealed by Allah in the verse “Their hostility towards each other is intense. You consider them united but their hearts are scattered wide. That is because they are people who do not use their intellect,” (Surat al-Hashr, 14) no matter how much those who do not believe may appear to enjoy unity and solidarity, fundamentally they cannot actually be united.
The only force on Earth that can establish true friendship and alliance among human beings is “faith.” With their friendships, believers who fear the Day of Judgement have laid the foundations of a sound alliance that begins in this world and that will continue for ever in the Hereafter. They love one another with no expectation of benefit or advantage, out of pure intentions and solely for Allah’s approval, and are one another’s friends for that approval. It is impossible for this bond, based on love of Allah and fear of Allah, to be loosed unless Allah so wills.
WORDS OF OUR PROPHET (MAY ALLAH BLESS HIM AND GRANT HIM PEACE) RECOMMENDING LOVE
When a man loves his brother for sake of Allah, he should tell him that he loves him. (Abu Dawud)
Give gifts to each other, as this will make you love one another. (Sahih Muslim)
Give one another gifts and love one another. Give one another food. This will produce breadth in your daily bread.(Al Hafiz ibn al-Dayba al-
Shaybani, Taysir al-'usul ilaJami al-'usul, vol. 16, p. 239)
The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:“One who is the best of you in good conduct is nearest to me. A believer loves and is loved. There is no good in one who does not love and is not loved.“ (Imam Ghazzali, vol. 2 , p. 95)
Two brother are like two hands one of which clears the dust of the other. (Imam Ghazzali, vol.2, p.95)
Do not be angry with each other and do not envy each other and do not turn away from each other, and be slaves of Allah, brothers. (Muwatta, narrated by Anas ibn Malik)
Allah's Messenger (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, "A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim, so he should not oppress him, nor should he hand him over to an oppressor. Whoever fulfilled the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfill his needs; whoever brought his (Muslim) brother out of a discomfort, Allah will bring him out of the discomforts of the Day of Resurrection, and whoever screened a Muslim, Allah will screen him on the Day of Resurrection." (Narrated by Abdullah bin Umar, Vol 3: #622)
The faithful constitute a great spiritual force with the strength their love for one another for Allah’s approval gives them. As revealed in the words of one verse, “But those who were sure that they were going to meet Allah said, ‘How many a small force has triumphed over a much greater one by Allah’s permission! Allah is with the steadfast,” (Surat al-Baqara, 249), even if they are few in number, with the faith in their hearts they acquire great enthusiasm and will with which to overcome terrible difficulties and troubles. They obtain the assistance and support of Allah because of the moral values they display. As Allah has revealed in the verse, “You shall be uppermost if you are believers,” (Surah Al ‘Imran, 139), they constitute such a spiritual force that nobody can turn them against one another, and that nobody can break.
Since they sincerely seek Allah’s approval, they never engage in any confusion, disagreement or dispute among themselves. That is because the word of Allah is one; the verses of the Qur’an are clear. Since all believers abide unconditionally by the Qur’an and always act with a view to gaining as much approval from Allah as possible, a great harmony and order ensues. All matters can be easily resolved within a harmonious order. A powerful solidarity is formed because they behave in the light of the moral values of the Qur’an and the interests of believers, even when they conflict with their own interests, and hold their brothers’ desires above their own.
Since believers intend to be one another’s eternal friends in the Hereafter they are bound to one another with a deep love, respect and loyalty. Therefore, they know no rivalry, disagreement or dispute. Due to their fear of and sincere faith in Allah, no matter what difficulties or troubles they may encounter they never fall into defeatism, moral relativism or lack of will. If there is a flaw in one of them, the others will support him with proper moral values and encourage him towards goodness. Since they constantly command one another to perform what is good and to avoid evil, their faith and strength constantly grow. This spiritual strength possessed by believers, whose objectives, endeavours and prayers are always the same, which stems from faith and love, has been described by Bediuzzaman Said Nursi with the following example: “For just as one of man’s hands cannot compete with the other, neither can one of his eyes criticize the other, nor his tongue object to his ear, nor his heart see his spirit’s faults. Each of his members completes the deficiencies of the others, veils their faults, assists their needs, and helps them out in their duties. Otherwise man’s life would be extinguished, his spirit flee, and his body be dispersed. Similarly, the components of machinery in a factory cannot compete with one another in rivalry, take precedence over each other, or dominate each other. They cannot spy out one another’s faults and criticize each other, destroy the other’s eagerness for work, and cause them to become idle. They rather assist each other’s motions with all their capacity in order to achieve the common goal; they march towards the aim of their creation in true solidarity and unity. Should even the slightest aggression or desire to dominate interfere, it would throw the factory into confusion, causing it to be without product or result. Then the factory’s owner would demolish the factory entirely.” (Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, Risale-i Nur Collection, TheTwenty-First Flash)
This example given by Bediuzzaman is of great importance with regard to being able to comprehend the union and unity stemming from the love among believers. On account of the sincere love and devotion that stem from their faith, in the same way that the machinery in a factory comes together to constitute a great force, so they acquire an unshakable spiritual strength with their mutual love and devotion.
Your friend is only Allah and His Messenger and those who believe: those who perform prayer and give the alms, and bow. (Surat al Ma’ida, 55)
Allah loves those who fight in His way in ranks like well-built walls. (Surat as-Saff, 4)
Thursday, June 5, 2008
BEFORE YOU REGRET
Occasionally a person faces various physical and spiritual sorrows and troubles in the world. Amongst these are feelings so intense that they cannot be compared with any other physical pain. This feeling that causes such great distress in the human soul is a feeling called 'regret'.
There are two completely different forms of regret, however. The regret felt by people of faith and the regret that non-believers experience.
Believers are the people who have an absolute faith in the fact that events take place by God's Will, and whatever befalls them does so by God's Will. This explains their all-important distinctive attribute of putting their unyielding trust in God, at good times, in trouble or when they make a mistake. Upon making a mistake, a believer immediately repents with sincerity and hopes for God's forgiveness. As a result, he does not suffer from a distressful and long-lived feeling of regret. The regret felt by believers urges them to ask for repentance, to purify themselves and prevents them from repeating this error. It helps them rectify their errors and prevents them from plunging into a distressful and pessimistic mood. Moreover, this regret does not reduce their enthusiasm, devotion, or religious zeal nor does it drag them downward into a spiral of apprehension and depression.
Regret felt by disbelievers, on the other hand, is very distressing and constant, as they do not put their trust in God when they encounter a difficulty or commit a transgression. Throughout their lives, they often use phrases like "I wish I had not done this..." "I wish I had never said this...", and so on.
More importantly, they are subject to a much greater regret in the Hereafter. Those who lived a life apart from the religion (deen) in this world will regret every moment of their lives. They were warned before and invited to the straight path. They had enough time to contemplate and embrace the right way. Yet they did not listen when they were warned, ignoring the Hereafter as if they would never die. Then in the Hereafter, they will have no chance to get back to this world and correct their errors. In the Qur'an, their regretful expressions are related as follows:
We have warned you of an imminent punishment on the Day when a man will see what he has done, and the disbeliever will say, 'Oh, if only I were dust!' (Surat an-Naba': 40)
If only you could see when they are standing before the Fire and saying, 'Oh! If only we could be sent back again, we would not deny the Signs of our Lord and we would be among the believers.' (Surat al-An'am: 27)
They will say:
They will say, 'If only we had really listened and used our intellect, we would not have been Companions of the Blaze.' (Surat al-Mulk: 10)
Keep in mind that that day no one's regret will save him from God's wrath. The only way to avoid this regret is to submit to God while there is still time and to comply with the commands of God.
Respond to your Lord before a Day comes from God which cannot be turned back. On that Day you will have no hiding-place and no means of denial. (Surat ash-Shura: 49)
A WHALE FANTASY FROM NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
National Geographic is popularly regarded as an important scientific magazine that carries out research all over the planet and shares the results with its readers. The magazine is a major source of information in a great number of important areas, yet few readers are aware of the extent to which it passes this information through an ideological 'filter' before handing it on to its readers, and sometimes even twists the data according to the demands of this ideology and builds-up completely imaginary stories.
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The ideology in question in National Geographic is a blend of philosophical naturalism and the current brand of evolutionism, known as Neo-Darwinism. In the name of defending that theory, it generally presents prejudiced views of discoveries, and even opens the door to scientific falsehoods. For example, there was the falsehood of the Archaeoraptor fossil, which was presented by National Geographic in 1998 as an infallible evidence that birds evolved from dinosaurs, but which later proved to have been 'hand made.'
Even scientists who support the theory criticize the magazine for the blind propaganda it carries. According Dr. Storrs Olson, the Curator of Birds at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, "National Geographic has reached an all-time low for engaging in sensationalistic, unsubstantiated, tabloid journalism." (1)
One instance of National Geographic's 'sensational, unsubstantiated and tabloid' evolutionist propaganda was its 'Evolution of Whales' article carried in the issue of November, 2001. The article maintained that a string of fossil discoveries had proved the evolution of whales thesis, and even quoted paleontologist Hans Thewissen as arguing that whales were one of the best examples of evolution. The pictures, reconstructions and diagrams plastered all over the 14-page article were intended to visually reinforce the same claim in readers' minds.
However, the 'evolution of whales' scenario, so fiercely defended by National Geographic, was-and is-nothing but a fairy tale, devoid of any scientific evidence.
The parade of reconstructions on pages 66-69 in National Geographic's November 2001 issue were meant to sum up the magazine's claim regarding the origin of whales. A whole string of creatures were lined up one after the other and described as transitional forms in the evolution of the whale. According to the magazine, the order of these creatures, according to the geological periods they lived in, was as follows:
* Pakicetus (50 million years ago)* Ambulocetus (49 million years ago)* Rodhocetus (46.5 million years ago)* Procetus (45 million years ago)* Kutchicetus (43-46 million years ago)* Durodon (37 million years ago)* Basilosaurus (37 million years ago)* Aeticetus (24-26 million years ago)
National Geographic's list continued, but included known categories of dolphins and whales.
There are very misleading features in this list. Let us consider the most fundamental of these. According to National Geographic, the first two creatures in the list, Pakicetus and Ambulocetus , were both 'walking whales,' yet the claim that these two terrestrial creatures were 'whales' is totally fictitious, even ridiculous.
Let us first consider Pakicetus .Pakicetus inachus: A QuadrupedalForced to be the 'Ancestor of the Whale'
Fossil remains of the extinct mammal Pakicetus inachus, to give it its proper name, first came onto the agenda in 1983. P. D. Gingerich and his assistants, who found the fossil, had no hesitation in immediately claiming that it was a 'primitive whale,' even though they actually only found a skull.
Yet the fossil has absolutely no connection with the whale. Its skeleton turned out to be a four-footed structure, similar to that of common wolves. It was found in a region full of iron ore, and containing fossils of such terrestrial creatures as snails, tortoises or crocodiles. In other words, it was part of a land stratum, not an aquatic one.
So, why was a quadrupedal land dweller announced to be a 'primitive whale' and why is it still presented as such by National Geographic? The magazine gives the following reply:
What causes scientists to declare the creature a whale? Subtle clues in combination-the arrangement of cups on the molar teeth, a folding in a bone of the middle ear, and the positioning of the ear bones within the skull-are absent in other land mammals but a signature of later Eocene whales. (2)
In other words, based on some details in its teeth and ear bones, National Geographic felt able to describe this quadrupedal, wolf-like land dweller as a 'walking whale.' Just one look at the reconstruction of Pakicetus by the evolutionist illustrator Carl Buell will reveal the absurdity in terming it a 'walking whale.'
| Distortions in The Reconstructions of National Geographic | ||
 Pakicetus reconstruction by National Geographic |
The features of the details discussed by National Geographic, "the arrangement of cups on the molar teeth, a folding in a bone of the middle ear, and the positioning of the ear bones within the skull" are no compelling evidence on which to base a link between Pakicetus and the whale
As National Geographic also indirectly stated while writing "subtle clues in combination", some of these features are actually found terrestrial animals as well. None of the features in question are any evidence of an evolutionary relationship. Even evolutionists admit that most of the theoretical relationships built on the basis of anatomical similarities between animals are completely untrustworthy. If the marsupial Tasmanian wolf and the common placental wolf had both been extinct for a long time, then it is no doubt that evolutionists would picture them in the same taxon and define them as very close relatives. However, we know that these two different animals, although strikingly similar in their anatomy, are very far from each other in the supposed evolutionary tree of life. (In fact their similarity indicates common design-not common descent.) Pakicetus , which National Geographic declared to be a 'walking whale,' was a unique species harboring different features in its body. In fact, Carroll, an authority on vertebrate paleontology, describes the Mesonychid family, of which Pakicetus should be a member, as "exhibiting an odd combination of characters." (3) Such prominent evolutionists as Gould accept that 'mosaic creatures' of this type cannot be considered as transitional forms. In short, describing Pakicetus , which is clearly a land dweller, as 'walking whale' simply on the structural features in its ear bones and molars, is nothing but another example of National Geographic's tradition of 'sensational, unsubstantiated, tabloid journalism.' In his article 'The Overselling of Whale Evolution,' the creationist writer Ashby L. Camp reveals the total invalidity of the claim that the Mesonychid class, which should include land mammals such as Pakicetus , could have been the ancestors of Archaeocetea , or extinct whales, in these words:
Ambulocetus natans: A False Whale with 'Webbed' Claws The second fossil creature after Pakicetus in National Geographic's imaginary sequence is Ambulocetus natans. This fossil was first brought to the world's attention in 1984 in an article in Science magazine. It is actually a land creature that evolutionists have insisted on 'turning into a whale.' The name Ambulocetus natans comes from the Latin words 'ambulare' (to walk), 'cetus' (whale) and 'natans' (swimming), and means 'a walking and swimming whale.' It is obvious the animal used to walk because it had four legs, like all other mammals, and even wide claws on its feet and hooves on its hind legs. Apart from evolutionists' prejudice however, there is absolutely no basis for the claim that it swam in water, or that it lived on land and in water (like an amphibian). In order to see the border between science and wishful imagination on this subject, let us have a look at National Geographic's reconstruction of Ambulocetus . This is how it is portrayed in the magazine: National Geographic's little manipulations: Imaginary webs added to claws, and rear legs made to look like fins. If you look at it carefully you can easily see the two little visual manipulations that have been employed to 'turn the land-dwelling Ambulocetus into a whale:  The animal's rear legs are shown not with feet that would help it to walk, but as fins that would assist it to swim. However, Carroll, who examines the animal's leg bones, says that it possessed the ability to move powerfully on land. (5) In order to present an impression of adaptation for water, webbing has been drawn on its front feet. Yet it is impossible to draw any such conclusion from a study of Ambulocetus fossils. In the fossil record it is next to impossible to find soft tissues such as these. So reconstructions based on features beyond those of the skeleton are always speculative. That offers evolutionists a wide-ranging empty space of speculation to use their propaganda tools. With the same kind of evolutionists touching up that has been applied to the Ambulocetus drawing, it is possible to make any animal look like any other. You could even take a monkey skeleton, draw fins on its back and webbing between its fingers and present it as the 'primate ancestor of whales.' The invalidity of the deception carried out on the basis of the Ambulocetus fossil can be seen from the drawing below, based on real paleontological data:  The real Ambulocetus : The legs are real legs, not 'fins,' and there are no imaginary webs between its toes such as National Geographic had added. (Picture from Carroll, Patterns and Process of Vertebrate Evolution, p. 335) In publishing the picture of the animal's skeleton, National Geographic had to take a step back from the retouching it had carried out to the reconstruction picture which made it seem more like a whale. As the skeleton clearly shows, the animal's feet were designed to carry it on land. There was no sign of the imaginary webs. The Myth of the Walking Whale In fact, there is no evidence that Pakicetus and Ambulocetus are ancestors of whales. They are merely described as 'possible ancestors' by evolutionists keen to find a terrestrial ancestor for marine mammals in the light of their theory. There is no evidence linking these creatures with the marine mammals that emerge in the fossil record at a very similar geological time. After Pakicetus and Ambulocetus , the National Geographic plan moves on to so-called sea mammals and sets out (extinct whale) species such as Procetus , Rodhocetus and Archaeocetea . The animals in question were mammals that lived in the sea and which are now extinct. (We shall be touching on this matter later). However, there are considerable anatomical differences between these and Pakicetus and Ambulocetus . No matter how much National Geographic tried to reduce these to a minimum by slight touches of the brush, when we look at the fossils it is clear they are not 'transitional forms' linking each other:
Other scientists accept that the animals that evolutionist publications such as National Geographic try to portray as 'walking whales' actually have nothing to do with true whales, but are a separate living group. Although he is an evolutionist, the famous Russian whale expert G. A. Mchedlidze does not support the description of Pakicetus , Ambulocetus natans and similar four-legged creatures as 'possible ancestors of the whale,' and describes them instead as a completely isolated group. (8) Problems With National Geographic's Superficial Sequences Visual effects (plans and drawings) play a major role in the imposition of Darwinism on society. Yet these are sometimes completely unscientific, and at other are scientific discoveries interpreted in a biased manner. National Geographic's time scale diagram (pages 64-77) of mammals that become increasingly more 'whale-like' through time is an example of these deceptive tools. We have so far been considering small, but misleading adjustments to the reconstructions of the animals in the diagram. Alongside this, the dates ascribed to them by National Geographic have been selected in line with Darwinist prejudices. The animals are shown as following each other in a geological line, whereas these are questionable. Ashby L. Camp clarifies the situation, based on paleontological data:
In brief, there are two different views of when the animals that National Geographic chronologically sets out one after the other really lived. If the second view is accepted, then Pakicetus and Ambulocetus , which National Geographic portrays as 'the walking whale,' are of the same age as, or even younger than true whales. In other words, no 'evolutionary line' is possible. National Geographic has totally ignored the problem and has only used views that correspond to its own thesis. This is a method of propaganda, not of science. Tales About Ears and Noses Any evolutionary scenario between land and sea mammals has to explain the different ear and nose structures between the two groups. By means of the showy graphics it used, National Geographic has tried to give the impression that the question has been resolved. Yet that impression is a false one. Let us first consider the ear structure. Like us, land mammals trap sounds in the outside world in the outer ear, amplify them with the bones in the middle ear, and turn them into signals in the inner ear. Marine mammals have no outer ear. They hear sounds by means of vibration-sensitive receptors in their lower jaws. National Geographic claims that the second system evolved from the first. This is made clear on Page 71 in the diagram headed 'hearing aids.' This diagram has been drawn in such a way as to give the reader the impression that hearing organs evolved in stages. However, there is no evolution by stages here. A look at the text used by National Geographic will suffice to make this clear: " Pakicetus ... This walking whale lacked the fat pad extending to the middle ear that modern ceteans have, a clue that it had kept terrestrial attributes. In later whales, the jawbone, with the fat pad, adapted to receive sounds." We have already seen that Pakicetus was a typical land mammal, and that it is ridiculous to call it a 'walking whale.' The logic employed by National Geographic is no less ridiculous: It first describes the land-dwelling Pakicetus as a 'walking whale' and then says that the animal kept terrestrial attributes. That is like calling the cow a 'walking bat' and then saying, 'It has no wings, it keeps its terrestrial attributes.' That is one aspect of the matter. The aspect that concerns us here is the clear difference between Pakicetus and whale ears. After the National Geographic extract above, we must naturally look to see if there is a transitional form between the two. After Pakicetus in the family tree comes Ambulocetus , which evolutionists call a 'walking-swimming whale' but which was actually a land mammal. National Geographic uses the following words about Ambulocetus : "Though more aquatic than Pakicetus , Ambulocetus still heard directly through its ear." In other words, there is no evolution towards a whale ear in Ambulocetus . When we come to the third animal in the National Geographic list, we suddenly meet an enormous change. The above extract continues: Sounds were transmitted to the middle ears of Basilosaurus as vibrations from the lower jaw. In other words, Basilosaurus possesses a typical whale ear. It was a creature that perceived sounds around it not through an outer ear but by vibrations reaching its jaw. And there is no transitional form between Basilosaurus ' ear and that of Pakicetus and Ambulocetus , which National Geographic put before it in its scheme. When the subject is examined theoretically, it can be seen that in any case such a transitional form would have no chance of surviving. Any evolution by stages between one perfect aural system to a completely different one is impossible. The transitional phases would not be advantageous. An animal that slowly loses its ability to hear with its ears, but has still not developed the ability to hear through its jaw is at a disadvantage. The question of how such a 'development' could come about is an insoluble dilemma for evolutionists. The mechanisms evolutionists put forward are mutations and these have never been seen to add unequivocally new and meaningful information to animals' genetic information. It is unreasonable to suggest that the complex hearing system in sea mammals could have emerged as the result of mutations. A similar situation applies to National Geographic's account of the 'sliding nose.' The magazine set out three skulls from Pakicetus , Rodhocetus and a Grey Whale from our own time above one another and claimed that these represented an evolutionary process. Whereas the three fossils' nasal structures, especially those of Rodhocetus and the Grey Whale are so different that it is impossible to accept them as transitional forms in the same series. Furthermore, the movement of the nostrils to the forehead would require a 'new design' in the anatomy of the animals in question, and believing that this could happen as the result of mutations is nothing but fantasy. National Geographic's Lamarckian Tales Actually, National Geographic's writers and most of the evolutionist community share a basic superstition about the origin of living things, and that is the real problem. This superstition is the magical 'natural force' that allows living things to acquire the organs, biological changes or anatomical features that they need. Let us have a look at a few interesting passages from National Geographic's article 'Evolution of Whales:'
On close inspection, in this whole account the evolutionist mentality says that living things feel changing needs according to the changing environment they live in, and this need is perceived as an 'evolutionary mechanism.' According to this logic, less needed organs disappear, and needed organs appear of their own accord! Anyone with the slightest knowledge of biology will know that our needs do not shape our organs. Ever since Lamarck's theory of the transfer of acquired characteristics to subsequent generations was disproved, in other words for a century or so, that has been a known fact. Yet when one looks at evolutionist publications, they still seem to be thinking along Lamarckian lines. If you object, they will say: 'No, we do not believe in Lamarck. What we say is that natural conditions put evolutionary pressure on living things, and that as a result of this, appropriate traits are selected, and in this way species evolve.' Yet here lies the critical point: What evolutionists call 'evolutionary pressure' cannot lead to living things acquiring new characteristics according to their needs. That is because the two so-called evolutionary mechanisms that supposedly respond to this pressure, natural selection and mutation, cannot provide new organs for animals: Natural selection can only select characteristics that already exist, it cannot create new ones. Mutations cannot add to the genetic information, they can only destroy the existing one. No mutation that adds unequivocally new, meaningful information to the genome (and which thus forms a new organ or new biochemical structure) has ever been observed. If we look at the myth of National Geographic's awkwardly moving whales one more time in the light of this fact, we see that they are actually engaging in a rather primitive Lamarckism. On close inspection, National Geographic writer Douglas H. Chadwick "visualizes" that "Each whale in the sequence was a little more streamlined than earlier models." How could a morphological change happen in a species over generations in one particular direction? In order for that to happen, representatives of that species in every "sequence" would have to undergo mutations to shorten their legs, that mutation would have to cause the animals no harm, those thus mutants would have to enjoy an advantage over normal ones, the next generations, by a great coincidence, would have to undergo the same mutation at the same point in its genes, this would have to carry on unchanged for many generations, and all of the above would have to happen by coincidence and quite flawlessly. If the National Geographic writers believe that, then they will also believe someone who says: 'My family enjoys flying. My son underwent a mutation and a few structures like bird feathers developed under his arms. My grandson will undergo the same mutation and the feathers will increase. This will go on for generations, and eventually my descendants will have wings and be able to fly.' Both stories are equally ridiculous. As we mentioned at the beginning, evolutionists display the superstition that living things' needs can be met by a magical force in nature. Ascribing consciousness to nature, a belief encountered in animist cultures, is interestingly rising up before our eyes in the 21st century under a 'scientific' cloak. The well-known French biologist Paul Pierre Grassé, the former president of the French Academy of Sciences and a foremost critic of Darwinism, has once made it clear that this faith is just daydreaming:
More recently, Henry Gee, the science editor for the Nature magazine and an undisputedly prominent evolutionist, pointed to the same fact and admitted that explaining the origin of an organ by its necessity is like saying;
Another scenario which National Geographic is trying to impose, without too much discussion, concerns the body surface of the animals in question. Like other mammals, Pakicetus and Ambulocetus , which are accepted as land mammals, are generally agreed to have had fur-covered bodies. And they are both shown as covered in thick fur in National Geographic. Yet when we move on to later animals (true marine mammals), all the fur disappears. The evolutionist explanation of this is no different from the fantastical Lamarckian-type scenarios we have seen above. The truth of the matter is that all the animals in question were designed in the most appropriate manner for their environments. It is irrational to try to account for this design by means of mutation or facile Lamarck-type stories. Like all design in life, the design in these creatures is evidence for creation. The Marine Mammal Scenario Itself We have so far examined the evolutionist scenario that marine mammals evolved from terrestrial ones. Scientific evidence show no relationship between the two terrestrial mammals ( Pakicetus and Ambulocetus ) that National Geographic put at the beginning of the story. So what about the rest of the scenario? The theory of evolution is again in a great difficulty here. The theory tries to establish a phylogenetic link between Archaeocetea (archaic whales), sea mammals known to be extinct, and living whales and dolphins. National Geographic set the claim out in a very simplified form (Pages 156-159). However, many experts think rather differently. The evolutionary paleontologist Barbara J. Stahl writes: "The serpentine form of the body and the peculiar serrated cheek teeth make it plain that these archaeocetes could not possibly have been ancestral to any of the modern whales." (13) The evolutionist account of the origin of marine mammals faces a huge impasse in the form of discoveries in the field of molecular biology. The classical evolutionist scenario assumes that they two major whale groups, the toothed whale (Odontoceti) and the baleen whale (Mysticeti), evolved from a common ancestor. Yet Michel Milinkovitch of the University of Brussels has opposed this view with a new theory. He stresses that this assumption, based on anatomical similarities, is disproved by molecular discoveries:
In short, marine mammals defy the evolutionary scenarios for which they are being forced to be subjects. Conclusion Contrary to the claims of the paleontologist Hans Thewissen, who assumes a major role in evolutionist propaganda on the subject of the origin of marine mammals, and is one of National Geographic's most important sources of information, we are dealing not with an evolutionary process backed up by empirical evidence, but by evidence coerced to fit a presupposed evolutionary family tree, despite the many contradictions between the two. What emerges, if the evidence is looked at more objectively, is that different living groups emerged independently of each other in the past. This is compelling empirical evidence for accepting that God created all of these creatures. Loud evolutionist propaganda about marine mammals, however, resembles the 'horse series' that was once put forward in the same way, but which evolutionists then admitted was invalid. A number of extinct mammals that lived at different times were lined up behind one another, and the evolutionists of the time tried to impose this as 'firm evidence.' Yet the truth emerged over time, and it was realized that these animals could not be each others' ancestors, that they had emerged in different periods, and that they were actually independent extinct species. Dr. Niles Eldredge, a curator at the American Museum in New York, , where "evolution of the horse" diagrams were on public display at that time on the ground floor of the museum, said the following about the exhibition:
The evolution of whales fairy story, so fiercely defended by National Geographic, is another of these fantasies of natural history. Like its predecessors, it too will soon find itself in the waste bin of science. ____________________________________________ (1) Open Letter to National Geographic by Storrs L. Olson, Curator of Birds, National Museum of Natural History Smithsonian Institution ( 2) National Geographic, "Evolution of Whales", November 2001, p. 68 (3) Robert L. Carroll, Patterns and Process of Vertebrate Evolution, Cambridge University Press, 1998, p.329 (4) Ashby L. Camp, "The Overselling of Whale Evolution", Creation Matters, a newsletter published by the Creation Research Society, May/June 1998 (5) Robert L. Carroll, Patterns and Process of Vertebrate Evolution, Cambridge University Press, 1998, p.333 (6) National Geographic, "Evolution of Whales", November 2001, p. 73 (7) Robert L. Carroll, Patterns and Processes of Vertebrate Evolution, Cambridge University Press, 1998, 329 (8) G. A. Mchedlidze, General Features of the Paleobiological Evolution of Cetacea, trans. from Russian (Rotterdam: A. A. Balkema, 1986), 91. (9) Ashby L. Camp, "The Overselling of Whale Evolution", Creation Matters, a newsletter published by the Creation Research Society, May/June 1998 (10) National Geographic, "Evolution of Whales", November 2001, p. 69 (11) Pierre-P Grassé, Evolution of Living Organisms, New York: Academic Press, 1977, p. 103 (12) Henry Gee, In Search Of Deep Time: Beyond The Fossil Record To A New Hýstory Of Life, The Free Press, A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc., 1999, p. 103 (13) B.J. Stahl, Vertebrate History: Problems in Evolution, Dover Publications, Inc., 1985, p. 489. (14) Michel C. Milinkovitch, "Molecular phylogeny of cetaceans prompts revision of morphological transformations," Trends in Ecology and Evolution 10 (August 1995): 328-334. (15) Niles Eldgridge, quoted in Darwin's Enigma by Luther D. Sunderland (Santee, CA, Master Books, 1988), page 78.) |
ARE THE TEXTS GIVEN TO PROPHET IBRAHIM (AS) HIDDEN ON MOUNT NIMROD?
Who could have a better religion than someone who submits himself completely to Allah and is a good-doer, and follows the religion of Ibrahim, a man of pure natural belief? (Qur’an, 4:125)
Prophet Ibrahim (as) is a servant honored with the prophethood by Allah at a young age, and one possessed of superior qualities. Allah chose him from among his people, who ascribed partners to Him, and entrusted him with the duty of communicating the message of His religion. Allah sets out His revelations to the prophet in this verse:
In the above verse it is revealed that the “Book and Wisdom” have been given to the Ibrahim family, in other words to Prophet Ibrahim (as) and his descendants. In other verses, our Lord reveals that He has given “texts” to Prophet Ibrahim (as) as follows:
It can clearly be seen in these verses that Allah revealed “texts” to Prophet Ibrahim (as) before the revelation of the Torah to Prophet Musa (as). These texts contain a pure religion based on Prophet Ibrahim’s submission to Allah. Our Prophet (saas) had this to say on the subject:
Prophet Ibrahim (as) Was a Pure Muslim
Throughout history people have debated what religion Prophet Ibrahim (as) actually belonged to. Jews regard him as one of the Jewish prophets and maintain that they are following his path. Christians also regard him as a Jewish prophet, but differ from the Jews in claiming that he is subject to Prophet ‘Isa (as), who was to come after him.
The fact is, however, that in the Qur’an Allah states that those who discuss the religion of Prophet Ibrahim (as) and his descendants have no information on the subject. In addition, Allah also reveals in verses that the debate over whether Prophet Ibrahim (as) was Christian or Jewish is an irrational one:
The Qur’an is the source of reference that gives us the most accurate information regarding Prophet Ibrahim (as). That is because the Qur’an is the only one of Allah’s Books that has not been corrupted. One certain fact about the religion of Prophet Ibrahim (as) is revealed thus in one verse:
The debates over the religion of Prophet Ibrahim (as) will be definitively resolved when the originals of the texts Allah revealed to him are uncovered. As revealed in the verses above, it is revealed that Prophet Ibrahim (as) is a Muslim who believes in Allah as the “One and Only god.” The realization of this with the emergence of the texts will be a means whereby members of various religions come to turn to Islam.
Prophet Ibrahim (as) was born in this region. He also communicated his message to the pagan tribe in this region. His struggle against Nimrod, the leader of that tribe, also took place in that region.
It is believed that the originals of these texts are inside the 2500-year-old remains on Mount Nimrod, in the province of Adiyaman in South-East Turkey.
Parts of the region that have still not yet been reached should contain his tomb, relief inscriptions, treasure and considerable information about that period. There is also a strong likelihood that the texts of Prophet Ibrahim (as), regarded as a criminal element by the rulers of the time, are there. A very excellent system was probably established to conceal this very important scripture and information in the deepest and most inaccessible locations, where it is protected against falling into the wrong hands. In fact, due to the difficulties and dangers of access, these protected areas have still not been explored. However, it may well be that scrupulous research conducted using the latest technology will allow this most important information to be brought to light. The opening up of these enormous masses of stone will be very difficult.
Mount Nimrod and the Secret of the Tomb
The Mount Nimrod temple, which, according to historical sources, dates back to 3,000 years after the time of Prophet Ibrahim (as), is regarded as one of the world’s most important cultural treasures by a great many international organizations, including UNESCO. It has been the subject of archaeological excavations since it was first brought to light in the 19th century, with Turkish and foreign archaeologists investigating it. The top of Mount Nimrod was cleared by human hand during the construction of the remains, only a part of which have still been unearthed, and 6-ton blocks of stone were dragged from kilometers away and erected on the summit.
There is another very important point on which Turkish, German and American archaeologists working on Mount Nimrod are agreed. A second area has been prepared and carved out inside the mountain. It is thought that this is a tomb chamber. Countless tunnels have been dug since Roman times up to the present in order to locate these chambers. Yet none of these initiatives has had any success. The fact that it has been so well concealed makes scientists think that this region is very important and contains highly significant information. Archaeological excavations in the region must continue in the light of this. This discovery, which will cast light on the history of religions, alter members’ of different religions perspective towards Islam and, most important of all, that will show Prophet Ibrahim’s (as) true religion as compatible with his legacy, must be made, and the work must be accelerated.
Prophet Ibrahim (as) Was a “Community in Himself”
Prophet Ibrahim (as) held Allah above all things, sought only His approval, was sincerely devoted to Him, and feared and trusted only Him.
All believers must adopt these superior moral values of Prophet Ibrahim (as) for themselves and, even if they are all alone, they must still be courageous, determined, true, submissive and strong-willed like him. What they need to do in order to do this is to genuinely submit to our one and only Lord, fear only Him and take Him as their only friend. That is because even if a believer finds himself totally isolated in a community of unbelievers, his enthusiasm and strong desire to attain the good pleasure of Allah will encourage him to always behave in an auspicious manner, to live according to religious moral values and to preach these to others as a requirement of Qur’anic moral values. He always acts with the strength imparted by the knowledge that Allah is always by his side, and always protects and supports him. Whoever exhibits the same moral values as Prophet Ibrahim (as), who binds himself to Allah with the same devotion and submission, may hope, like Prophet Ibrahim (as), to be given the strength of being a “community in himself.”
Prophet Ibrahim (as) is a servant honored with the prophethood by Allah at a young age, and one possessed of superior qualities. Allah chose him from among his people, who ascribed partners to Him, and entrusted him with the duty of communicating the message of His religion. Allah sets out His revelations to the prophet in this verse:
Or do they in fact envy other people for the bounty Allah has granted them? We gave the family of Ibrahim the Book and Wisdom, and We gave them an immense kingdom. (Qur’an, 4:54)
In the above verse it is revealed that the “Book and Wisdom” have been given to the Ibrahim family, in other words to Prophet Ibrahim (as) and his descendants. In other verses, our Lord reveals that He has given “texts” to Prophet Ibrahim (as) as follows:
… the Hereafter is better and longer lasting. This is certainly in the earlier texts, the texts of Ibrahim and Musa. (Qur’an, 87:17-19)
It can clearly be seen in these verses that Allah revealed “texts” to Prophet Ibrahim (as) before the revelation of the Torah to Prophet Musa (as). These texts contain a pure religion based on Prophet Ibrahim’s submission to Allah. Our Prophet (saas) had this to say on the subject:
- [Abu Dharr] asked: "O Messenger of Allah, has anything from the pages of Prophet Ibrahim (as) and Prophet Musa (as) been sent down to you?" He replied: "O Abu Dharr," ["Yes," he said, "such verses were revealed," and began to read them:] "Everyone who cleans himself well, recalls the name of the Lord, and performs the prayers has achieved his hopes. Perhaps you hold the life of this world to be superior. But the Hereafter is more auspicious and more constant. These [truths] also exist in previous pages, the pages of Ibrahim (as) and Musa (as). (Al-Hafiz ibn al-Dayba ` al-Shaybani, Taysir al-'usul ila Jami` al-'usul, 860)
Prophet Ibrahim (as) Was a Pure Muslim
Throughout history people have debated what religion Prophet Ibrahim (as) actually belonged to. Jews regard him as one of the Jewish prophets and maintain that they are following his path. Christians also regard him as a Jewish prophet, but differ from the Jews in claiming that he is subject to Prophet ‘Isa (as), who was to come after him.
The fact is, however, that in the Qur’an Allah states that those who discuss the religion of Prophet Ibrahim (as) and his descendants have no information on the subject. In addition, Allah also reveals in verses that the debate over whether Prophet Ibrahim (as) was Christian or Jewish is an irrational one:
People of the Book! Why do you argue concerning Ibrahim when the Torah and Gospel were only sent down after him? Why do you not use your intellect? You are people arguing about something of which you have some knowledge. Why then do you argue about something of which you have no knowledge? Allah knows; you do not know. (Qur’an, 3:65-66)
The Qur’an is the source of reference that gives us the most accurate information regarding Prophet Ibrahim (as). That is because the Qur’an is the only one of Allah’s Books that has not been corrupted. One certain fact about the religion of Prophet Ibrahim (as) is revealed thus in one verse:
Ibrahim was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but a man of pure natural belief – a Muslim. He was not one of the associaters. (Qur’an, 3:67)
The debates over the religion of Prophet Ibrahim (as) will be definitively resolved when the originals of the texts Allah revealed to him are uncovered. As revealed in the verses above, it is revealed that Prophet Ibrahim (as) is a Muslim who believes in Allah as the “One and Only god.” The realization of this with the emergence of the texts will be a means whereby members of various religions come to turn to Islam.
Prophet Ibrahim (as) was born in this region. He also communicated his message to the pagan tribe in this region. His struggle against Nimrod, the leader of that tribe, also took place in that region.
It is believed that the originals of these texts are inside the 2500-year-old remains on Mount Nimrod, in the province of Adiyaman in South-East Turkey.
Parts of the region that have still not yet been reached should contain his tomb, relief inscriptions, treasure and considerable information about that period. There is also a strong likelihood that the texts of Prophet Ibrahim (as), regarded as a criminal element by the rulers of the time, are there. A very excellent system was probably established to conceal this very important scripture and information in the deepest and most inaccessible locations, where it is protected against falling into the wrong hands. In fact, due to the difficulties and dangers of access, these protected areas have still not been explored. However, it may well be that scrupulous research conducted using the latest technology will allow this most important information to be brought to light. The opening up of these enormous masses of stone will be very difficult.
Therefore, a special system needs to be established, and the opening up of the mountain must be commenced from end parts. A retaining wall needs to be constructed to protect against rockfalls, and partial evacuation may need to be carried out to prevent a possible disaster in the region. In addition, those who placed this very important information and scripture there may have considered the fact that the region could not be conquered during years of attacks due to its geographical location. For example, despite being very small, the Commagene Kingdom resisted Persian and Roman attacks for years, and was never overthrown. This is another manifestation of the credible nature of the region.
Mount Nimrod and the Secret of the Tomb
The Mount Nimrod temple, which, according to historical sources, dates back to 3,000 years after the time of Prophet Ibrahim (as), is regarded as one of the world’s most important cultural treasures by a great many international organizations, including UNESCO. It has been the subject of archaeological excavations since it was first brought to light in the 19th century, with Turkish and foreign archaeologists investigating it. The top of Mount Nimrod was cleared by human hand during the construction of the remains, only a part of which have still been unearthed, and 6-ton blocks of stone were dragged from kilometers away and erected on the summit.
There is another very important point on which Turkish, German and American archaeologists working on Mount Nimrod are agreed. A second area has been prepared and carved out inside the mountain. It is thought that this is a tomb chamber. Countless tunnels have been dug since Roman times up to the present in order to locate these chambers. Yet none of these initiatives has had any success. The fact that it has been so well concealed makes scientists think that this region is very important and contains highly significant information. Archaeological excavations in the region must continue in the light of this. This discovery, which will cast light on the history of religions, alter members’ of different religions perspective towards Islam and, most important of all, that will show Prophet Ibrahim’s (as) true religion as compatible with his legacy, must be made, and the work must be accelerated.
Prophet Ibrahim (as) Was a “Community in Himself”
Ibrahim was a community in himself, exemplary, obedient to Allah, a man of pure natural belief. He was not one of the associaters. (Qur’an, 16:120)
Prophet Ibrahim (as) held Allah above all things, sought only His approval, was sincerely devoted to Him, and feared and trusted only Him.
Although opposed by many people, who wished to kill him or even cast him into the flames, he remained determined in his struggle to make the religion of Allah prevail, thanks to his courage and submission, which stemmed from his faith.
All believers must adopt these superior moral values of Prophet Ibrahim (as) for themselves and, even if they are all alone, they must still be courageous, determined, true, submissive and strong-willed like him. What they need to do in order to do this is to genuinely submit to our one and only Lord, fear only Him and take Him as their only friend. That is because even if a believer finds himself totally isolated in a community of unbelievers, his enthusiasm and strong desire to attain the good pleasure of Allah will encourage him to always behave in an auspicious manner, to live according to religious moral values and to preach these to others as a requirement of Qur’anic moral values. He always acts with the strength imparted by the knowledge that Allah is always by his side, and always protects and supports him. Whoever exhibits the same moral values as Prophet Ibrahim (as), who binds himself to Allah with the same devotion and submission, may hope, like Prophet Ibrahim (as), to be given the strength of being a “community in himself.”
AN UNCONVENTIONAL HUNTER: THE VENUS PLANT
In the sixth ayah of Surah Hud, Allah states that Allah gives the "sustenance" of all living things, that is, all the provisions that provide for their subsistence:
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)
One can easily recognize how Allah "gives sustenance" to all living things once one looks around oneself conscientiously and with wisdom.
How does a tree bring about such a yield? Why is it so useful to the human body? Why do all fruits contain essential vitamins appropriate to the seasons in which they grow? Why are they so tasty and not bitter? Why are they so fragrant and do not stink?
Certainly a tree is just a bulk of wood and it is out of the question for it to produce a fruit on its own and equip it with features essential for human use. Just as Allah sustains human beings, so does He sustain the animals.
It is by no means difficult for one to understand the might and omnipotence of Allah if one conscientiously examines, within the boundaries of wisdom and logic, the systems with which animals are endowed to get their food.
AN UNCONVENTIONAL HUNTER: THE VENUS PLANT
Besides the predators we have mentioned so far, there are also some plants which "hunt" by using amazing methods. One of these is the "Venus" plant, which catches and feeds on insects that visit it.
The hunting system of this plant works as follows: a fly looking for food among the plants suddenly comes across one which is very attractive: the Venus plant. What makes this plant, which resembles a pair of hands holding a bowl, attractive, is its charming red color and, more
The swiftness of the plant in catching the fly is remarkable. The speed of the plant in closing is faster than the fastest closing speed of the hands of a human (if you try to catch a fly sitting on your palm, you most probably would not succeed, but the plant does). How, then, can this plant, which has no muscles or bones, make such an abrupt move?
Research has shown that there exists an electrical system inside the Venus plant. The system works as follows: the strokes of the fly on the hairs of the plant are transmitted to the receptors under the hairs. If this mechanical push is strong enough, these receptors will send electrical signals along the petal, just like waves in a pool. These signals are carried to the motor cells that cause the petals to make sudden moves, and finally the mechanism is activated to swallow the fly.
In addition to the stimulus system of the plant, the mechanical system by which the trap is closed also is created perfectly. As soon as the cells inside the plant receive electrical stimulation, they change the concentration of water within themselves. The cells inside the trap release water from their bodies. This event is like the dying of a deflated balloon. The cells outside the trap, on the other hand, take in excess water and swell. Thus, the trap is closed in the same way as when a person, in order to move his arm, needs to have one muscle contract and one relax. The fly trapped inside the plant actually touches the hairy strands repeatedly, causing the propulsive electrical force to discharge again, and making the trap more tightly closed. Meanwhile, the digestive glands in the trap are also activated. As a result of stimulation, these glands kill the insect and start slowly dissolving it. Thus, the plant feeds on digestive fluids that have turned into a bowl of soup enriched by plant proteins. At the end of the digestion, the mechanism that makes the trap close works conversely to open it.
This system has yet another interesting feature: in order to activate the trap, the hairs have to be touched twice in succession. The first touch generates a static electric charge but the trap is not closed. The trap is only closed with a second touch after the static charge reaches a certain point and discharges. Due to this dual action mechanism, the flytrap is never closed without purpose. For instance, the trap does not become activated as soon as a raindrop falls on it.
Now, let us contemplate this striking system. The whole system has to exist at the same time for the plant to catch its prey and digest it properly. The absence of only one element would mean death for the plant. For instance, if there were no hairs inside the leaf, the plant would not close, as the reaction would never start although the insect would walk all over and inside the plant. If the closing system were there, but if the plant were devoid of secretions to digest the insect, the whole system would be useless. In brief, any element lacking in the system would mean the death of the plant.
The most important point is that this proficient hunter does not have the capacity to think. If this living being were not a plant but an animal, then the advocates of evolution would possibly claim that the animal had progressed by itself with the estimable contributions (!) of "nature".
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)
One can easily recognize how Allah "gives sustenance" to all living things once one looks around oneself conscientiously and with wisdom.
All our food and drink are things that are "made" and "created". The water we drink, the bread, fruits and vegetables we eat are all the results of a special creation. Take a fruit, an orange for instance.... This fruit is originally formed on the branch of a tree, which is, in fact, a mass of wood.
The tree absorbs minerals and water from the soil and combines them with the energy it obtains from the sun. The result it yields is extremely useful for the human body, extremely tasty and fragrant when consumed by humans. Moreover, it is in a very healthy and aesthetically pleasing wrapping.
How does a tree bring about such a yield? Why is it so useful to the human body? Why do all fruits contain essential vitamins appropriate to the seasons in which they grow? Why are they so tasty and not bitter? Why are they so fragrant and do not stink?
Certainly a tree is just a bulk of wood and it is out of the question for it to produce a fruit on its own and equip it with features essential for human use. Just as Allah sustains human beings, so does He sustain the animals.
It is by no means difficult for one to understand the might and omnipotence of Allah if one conscientiously examines, within the boundaries of wisdom and logic, the systems with which animals are endowed to get their food.
AN UNCONVENTIONAL HUNTER: THE VENUS PLANT
Besides the predators we have mentioned so far, there are also some plants which "hunt" by using amazing methods. One of these is the "Venus" plant, which catches and feeds on insects that visit it.
The hunting system of this plant works as follows: a fly looking for food among the plants suddenly comes across one which is very attractive: the Venus plant. What makes this plant, which resembles a pair of hands holding a bowl, attractive, is its charming red color and, more
importantly, the sweet scent secreted by the glands surrounding its petals. The fly is charmed by this irresistible smell and lands on the plant without hesitation. While moving towards the origin of the food, it inevitably touches the seemingly harmless hair over the plant. After a short while, the plant suddenly snaps its petals shut. The fly is left tightly compressed between two petals. The Venus plant starts to secrete a "flesh dissolving" liquid, which causes the fly to turn into a jelly-like substance, and then the plant consumes the fly by absorbing it.
The swiftness of the plant in catching the fly is remarkable. The speed of the plant in closing is faster than the fastest closing speed of the hands of a human (if you try to catch a fly sitting on your palm, you most probably would not succeed, but the plant does). How, then, can this plant, which has no muscles or bones, make such an abrupt move?
Research has shown that there exists an electrical system inside the Venus plant. The system works as follows: the strokes of the fly on the hairs of the plant are transmitted to the receptors under the hairs. If this mechanical push is strong enough, these receptors will send electrical signals along the petal, just like waves in a pool. These signals are carried to the motor cells that cause the petals to make sudden moves, and finally the mechanism is activated to swallow the fly.
A few hairs inside the petals of the plant activate the trapping mechanism of the flower. |
In addition to the stimulus system of the plant, the mechanical system by which the trap is closed also is created perfectly. As soon as the cells inside the plant receive electrical stimulation, they change the concentration of water within themselves. The cells inside the trap release water from their bodies. This event is like the dying of a deflated balloon. The cells outside the trap, on the other hand, take in excess water and swell. Thus, the trap is closed in the same way as when a person, in order to move his arm, needs to have one muscle contract and one relax. The fly trapped inside the plant actually touches the hairy strands repeatedly, causing the propulsive electrical force to discharge again, and making the trap more tightly closed. Meanwhile, the digestive glands in the trap are also activated. As a result of stimulation, these glands kill the insect and start slowly dissolving it. Thus, the plant feeds on digestive fluids that have turned into a bowl of soup enriched by plant proteins. At the end of the digestion, the mechanism that makes the trap close works conversely to open it.
This system has yet another interesting feature: in order to activate the trap, the hairs have to be touched twice in succession. The first touch generates a static electric charge but the trap is not closed. The trap is only closed with a second touch after the static charge reaches a certain point and discharges. Due to this dual action mechanism, the flytrap is never closed without purpose. For instance, the trap does not become activated as soon as a raindrop falls on it.
Now, let us contemplate this striking system. The whole system has to exist at the same time for the plant to catch its prey and digest it properly. The absence of only one element would mean death for the plant. For instance, if there were no hairs inside the leaf, the plant would not close, as the reaction would never start although the insect would walk all over and inside the plant. If the closing system were there, but if the plant were devoid of secretions to digest the insect, the whole system would be useless. In brief, any element lacking in the system would mean the death of the plant.
This plant, since the moment it was created, must have always possessed the features we refer to here. The plant, no doubt, did not suddenly transform into a hunter. It is certainly not the "magical spell of coincidences" that has made the plant such a professional hunter.
The most important point is that this proficient hunter does not have the capacity to think. If this living being were not a plant but an animal, then the advocates of evolution would possibly claim that the animal had progressed by itself with the estimable contributions (!) of "nature".
What we are talking about here is that this system is found in a plant, a being with no brain or similar structure, and which is certainly unconscious. The plant is not even aware that it is hunting. It, too, is already created with a system by which it can feed itself without any effort just like all other plants.
A MIRACLE OF THE LIVING WORLD: COMMUNICATION AND SIGNALING IN THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS
Scientific research has revealed that throughout the living world, communication is just as important as it is to human beings. Countless living things lack the capacity for human speech, yet they employ entirely different methods in order to communicate with each other—and even with other species. Some of the most dramatic examples of this is displayed by birds. The astonishing behavior and ability to communicate that birds exhibit also totally invalidates the claims of the theory of evolution.
All forms of life on Earth have been created with miraculous properties and astonishing abilities. The examination of just one single species is enough to reveal hundreds of proofs of God’s magnificent creation.
In one verse of the Qur’an, Allah reveals that:
There is no creature crawling on the earth or flying creature, flying on its wings, who are not communities just like yourselves—We have not omitted anything from the Book—then they will be gathered to their Lord. (Qur’an, 6: 38)
The birds to which this verse draws our attention notice are one of the living communities that we need to examine and reflect upon.
There are roughly some 10,000 species of bird in the world, each of which possesses its own miraculous features. Wherever you may live, you can see a great number of these feathered creatures and can observe different and extraordinary properties in each and every one. With their attractive appearances, flawless flight mechanisms, expertise on the routes and timing of migrations, ability to build nests and altruistic behavior toward their young and to one another, birds possess countless proofs of the fact of creation. Their ability to communicate is another of these.
Birds' Sense of Hearing
For birds to display their talents in communicating by sound, song—and in the case of some birds, words— they require excellent hearing. At critical times in their lives, their sense of hearing becomes particularly important. Experiments have shown that in order for birds to learn the distinctive song of their own species, they need an auditory feedback system. Thanks to this system, young birds learn to compare the sounds they produce themselves with the patterns of a song they have memorized. If they were deaf, it wouldn't normally be possible for them to sing recognizable songs. (1)
Birds' ears are well equipped for hearing, but they hear in a different way from us. For them to recognize a tune, they have to hear it in always the same octave (a series of seven notes), whereas we humans can recognize a tune even if we hear it in a different octave. Birds cannot, but can instead recognize timbre—a fundamental note combined with harmonies. The ability to recognize timbre and harmonic variations lets birds hear and reply to many diverse sounds, and sometimes even reproduce them.
Birds can also hear shorter notes than we can. Humans process sounds in bytes in about 1/20th of a second (2), whereas birds can distinguish these sounds in 1/200th of a second (3). This means that birds are superior at differentiating sounds that arrive in very rapid succession.(4) In other words, a bird's capacity to perceive sound is approximately ten times greater than ours; and in every note heard by a human, it can hear ten.(5) Moreover, some birds are also able to hear lower-frequency sounds than we are. Their hearing sensitivity is so finely tuned that they can even tell the difference between pieces by such famous composers as Bach and Stravinsky.
Birds' extremely sensitive hearing functions perfectly. Clearly, each of this sense's components is created by special design, for if any one failed to work properly, the bird would not be able to hear any sounds at all. This point also disproves the theory that hearing evolved or emerged gradually, as a result of coincidental influences.
Communication and Signaling in Birds
Birds produce meaningful communications by their facial expressions, beak movements, feather ruffling, elongating their necks, crouching, bouncing, and flapping their wings. Although each species has its own body language, many different species interpret movements in the same way. For example, various species interpret an upward thrust of the beak as expressing the intention to fly, and the lowering of the breast as a warning of danger. Also, several species perceive raising the tail feathers as a threat, or displaying bright colors atop of the head as a declaration of the intent to attack. Via facial expression, birds can convey a variety of messages to those around them-negative feelings such as dislike and resentment, as well as positive ones like pleasure, enthusiasm and curiosity. (6)
Bird’s Facial Expressions
Birds produce different facial expressions by movements of the beak, or by positioning the feathers above the beak, on the chin, or atop the head. In some species, the feathers above the eye can also move independently. Moreover, many species make a display by opening their beaks. For example, the tawny frogmouth opens its beak to reveal its large, bright green oral cavity, emphasizing the size of its beak and making it appear more intimidating. Some other species open their beaks as a form of threatening behavior, usually silently, but sometimes enhance the performance with hissing or loud breathing. (7)
Besides communicating by means of body language, birds produce a great variety of sounds to communicate with other members of their flock, neighbors, or family members. These range from short, simple calls to songs that are surprisingly long and complex. Sometimes birds such as the green woodpecker use different instruments or, like the American woodpecker, use special feathers to produce sound.
Birds also communicate through scents, although since their sense of smell is poor, their communication is based mainly on sound and sight. At times of poor visibility, as at night or in dense foliage, sound is most advantageous, and is also the ideal method for long-distance communication. If conditions are right, birdsong can be heard for up to a few kilometers.
In addition to song, birds also have conceptualization and communication skills. In certain circumstances, they demonstrate talents equivalent to those of children of primary-school age, learning series of words and other means of human communication through social interaction.
When alone, these parrots play vocalization games and when in the company of people, they join vocalizations together to produce new assemblages from existing sequences of speech. God, the Creator of everything on Earth and in the skies, equips them with the talents and characteristics that set them apart. Accordingly, our praises for the supreme beauty of our environment is praise that belongs to God.
The Language of Calls and Songs
To call to one another, birds produce sounds of extremely high frequency and strength. Only a few species such as pelicans, storks, and certain vultures are mute and have no call. The acoustic calls used by birds amongst themselves form a language of sorts. Their songs, which are longer and generally related to courtship, consist of a series of notes and usually contain melodies.
Birdsong is usually heard in spring, whereas the calls, much simpler than songs, are used by both sexes and heard throughout the year. Birdcalls allow swift communication via simple messages without a great expenditure of energy. (8) These calls’ main functions can be listed as follows:
- To establish a bird’s species
- To indicate its bird's gender
- To reveal its location
- To demarcate and defend its territory
- To announce and advertise a source of food
- To let young birds recognize their own parents
- To keep the flock together when traveling
- To warn of the presence of an enemy
- To intimidate an enemy
- For courtship
- To indicate its bird's gender
- To reveal its location
- To demarcate and defend its territory
- To announce and advertise a source of food
- To let young birds recognize their own parents
- To keep the flock together when traveling
- To warn of the presence of an enemy
- To intimidate an enemy
- For courtship
To mark the changeover of responsibility for nesting duties such as incubating or feeding
To practice and perfect their songs
Bird Sounds Are Not Haphazard
Usually, birdsong is not composed of randomly produced sounds. Songs are exceptionally diverse melodies of specific meaning, sung for a purpose, and are much more complex than the calls used for signaling. They are generally used by males to advertise and defend a territory, or in courtship. It is also believed that songs serve a social function. When a pair is building their nest, they also establish communication by song. Experiments on caged birds have also demonstrated that birds find it easier to learn songs if another bird is present, but out of sight, in another cage. (9)
Male and female songbirds have different brain structures, particularly in the regions related to sound production. With many songbird species, the males can sing, but the females cannot. The males use "song" to call their mates or designate a tree, pole, or electrical cable as a place to perch. Each species sings a song with its own characteristics, but any given species' songs display variations according to age, sex, particular time of year, and geographical location-appropriate for the environment in which they live. For example, birds that live in meadows use "songs of flight." Similarly, ones that live in the dense foliage of rain forests or reed thickets have loud voices to compensate for reduced visibility.
God’s Miracle of Inspiration
As we have explained, birds employ the most suitable methods of communication for their habitats and objectives. There is no question of every bird being able to know which song it should sing under which circumstances, or to calculate on its own the meaning and purpose of the song it will sing. According to the Darwinist way of thinking, however, all the birds and other living creatures that we see around us, , all the abilities that they exhibit and all the beauty that they display, are the products of blind chance. Yet obviously, the consciousness and design that pervade life and living things at every moment cannot be explained in terms of a series of mere coincidences.
Living things devoid of reason and judgment can exhibit such behavior because such intelligence and consideration of the future are inspired in them by God. God creates every living thing with the characteristics it requires and inspires its appropriately intelligent behavior. All living things perform only those functions that God inspires in them, serving as a means whereby we are able to witness His might. In one verse of the Qur’an, God reveals:
Do you not see that everyone in the heavens and Earth glorifies God, as do the birds with their outspread wings? Each one knows its prayer and glorification. God knows what they do. (Qur’an, 24:41)
References:
1- http://instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/courses/bionb424/students/mdr17/
neurophysiology.htm
2- http://www.earthlife.net/birds/hearing.html
3- http://www.earthlife.net/birds/hearing.html
4- Theodore Xenophon Barber, Ph. d., The Human Nature of Birds, USA, 1993, p. 36.
5- Ibid., p. 37.
6- Ibid., , p. 34.
7- Lesley J. Rogers & Gisela Kaplan, Songs, Roars and Rituals: Communication In Birds,
Mammals and Other Animals, USA, 2000, pp. 78-79.
8- http://whalonlab.msu.edu/Student_ Webpages/Bird_song/page
9- http://whalonlab.msu.edu/Student_ Webpages/Bird_song/page
A LETTER TO THE MUSLIM, CHRISTIAN AND JEWISH BELIEVERS
Muslim, Christian and Jewish believers,
Let’s Act All Together for Love, Peace and Brotherhood and Respect the Faiths.
All prophets are very beautiful people.
Their disposition, morals and attitudes are excellent. They are exemplary people, who are most respected and loved.
Any inappropriate language directed towards them disturbs all believers. It is unreasonable to explain away any such contrary attitudes by the excuses of “democracy” or “tolerance.”
From the Qur’an, as well as the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, we know that throughout history, unbelievers seemed to mock and slander God’s blessed messengers. However, the Qur’an foretells the miserable end of those who try to ridicule God’s messengers, with these words:
“Messengers before you were also mocked, but those who jeered were engulfed by what they mocked.” (Qur’an, 6: 10)
“Messengers before you were also mocked, but those who jeered were engulfed by what they mocked.” (Qur’an, 6: 10)
Jesus (peace be upon him) is also one of the Islamic prophets highly praised in the Qur’an. In one verse, the Qur’an states that people also attempted to mock Jesus (pbuh) in the time of our Prophet (may God bless him and grant him peace):
When an example is made of the son of Mary [Jesus], your people laugh uproariously. (Qur’an, 43: 57)
From the Hebrew Bible, the holy book of the Jews, we learn that Prophets Elijah, Moses, Job and many other prophets (peace be upon them all) met similar attitudes from the people they addressed. As it is stated:
But they mocked God's messengers, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against His people and there was no
remedy. (2 Chronicles 36: 16)
remedy. (2 Chronicles 36: 16)
Whom are you mocking? At whom do you sneer and stick out your tongue?
. . . In the light of these things, should I relent? (Isaiah 57: 4, 6)
Likewise, the hostile manner of the unbelievers to God's blessed messenger Jesus (pbuh) is related in the New Testament in these terms:
He [Jesus] will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him... (Luke 18: 32)
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