Assalam u alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuhu,
Another interesting article that I hope shall increase our faith. There are
scientific explainations for everything that Allah required us to do though
sometimes hidden to our limited understanding.
Fi amanAllah,
maryam
He that does good for good's sake seeks neither paradise nor reward, but he is
sure of both in the end.
----- Original Message -----
From: Erooth Mohamed
Fasting of Spiders
By Dr. Abd Al-Hakam Abd Al-Latif As-Sa`idi
Lecturer of Entomology Faculty of Agriculture Al-Azhar University
There are many types of spiders in the world. Spiders have eight legs,
mandibles converted into poison fangs, two feelers, and a large unsegmented
abdomen bearing several spinnerets that produce the silk used to make nests,
cocoons, or webs for trapping insects. Spiders have six or eight eyes on the
back of the cephalothorax, the upper part of their body.
There is a Surah in the Noble Quran called "Al-Ankabout", meaning "The
Spider". There Allah says: "The likeness of those who choose other patrons than
Allah is as the likeness of the spider when she taketh unto herself a house,
and lo! The frailest of all houses is the spider's house, if they but knew."
[Al-Ankabout 41]
Spiders played a great role in hiding the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon
him) and his Companion Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) when they were
in the Cave of Thawr on the way to Al-Madinah during the course of the Hijrah
(the Prophet's emmigration from Makkah to Madinah). Spiders spun a great web
across the entrance of the cave, and this misled the polytheists who were
seeking Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companion.
They thought that the spiders had spun their web years before Prophet Muhammad
(peace and blessings be upon him) was born.
Spiders fast during the period of laying eggs and incubating them. At that time
they do not have any sort of food. Female spiders spin nests and coccoons and
lay their eggs. Then they remain there all the time to protect the eggs till
the young emerge. The length of incubating varies from one species of spider to
another. But in all cases, this term is spent without any food, which makes the
spiders very weak.
>From specific glands the spiders release some liquids that are necessary for
>feeding the young, who are not able to seek their food by themselves until
>they grow up. So they take these juices until they are able to hunt their food
>from the surrounding environment.
At that time mother spiders break their fast and return back to their normal
life. This is another demonstration of Allah's Power manifest in His creatures.
Chance has nothing to do with such demonstrations of Allah's Might. Rather it
is the ultimate truth of creation.
+++
Fasting of Ground Squirrels
There are many types of squirrels in the world. Some live in trees, while
others live in underground burrows. The ground squirrels fast for days at a
time in winter.
Squirrels are vegetarian animals. Squirrels that live in places with cold
winters are very active in the autumn. They gather nuts, pinecones, and seeds
and hide them in various places to eat during the winter.
While tree squirrels do not hibernate, ground squirrels do. Their length of
hibernation depends on where they live. In some areas they may remain dormant
as long as eight months of the year. During hibernation, they are in a state of
near suspended animation. Their heart rate slows to only a fraction of its
normal rate, and they might breathe only once every couple of minutes. However,
they wake up for a short period every four or five days to eat from their
stored food.
When the warm weather begins in spring, the squirrels become fully awake and
active. They hapily seek fresh provision that Allah has provided them.
+++
Fasting of Salmon
The aquatic environment introduces to us various patterns of fish species that
fast. Here we present the fasting of the red salmon whose natural fasting is
considered one of Allah's signs and an image of the wondrous biological
diversity.
In the early stages of life, these species inhabit fresh water. Before long
they migrate to salt water in the seas and oceans.
Characteristically, red salmon spend one part of their life, extending from
about four to seven years, in the high seas. When they are about to mature
sexually and prepare to reproduce, they gather together in the ocean via an
arduous journey of from four to five thousand kilometers. Afterwards, each
species heads for its native land, and they continue their journey to reach the
mouth of the river in which they were hatched.
Wonderfully, these fish start their fasting as soon as they leave salt water
swimming to fresh water. This journey lasts for several months. Obviously, they
make use of the sensitive feeling generated by the long period of fasting to
recognize the proper location. Each fish swims upstream in the river in which
it was hatched to reproduce in the same place from which it originated. When
they are guided to the fitting place, the salmon start to dig holes for eggs.
Generally speaking, both parents share in this work. The females lay eggs, then
the males cover them with their sperm to fertilize them externally, as is the
case with most great fish.
Following this process, the females are motivated by instinct to cover the eggs
with an appropriate layer of soil from the riverbed. They stay behind the eggs
until they incubate and the young red salmon come out of their holes and shake
off their dust. Both parents cast a final look on the young and realize that
they have successfully concluded their mission. Then they pass away in a state
of fasting in the same location, leaving behind a new generation of the young
that prepare themselves for another cycle of suffering that is experienced by
all creatures. When those young grow up and become sexually mature, they will
start their fasting and then pass away in a state of fasting in their and their
fathers' birthplace.
[Verily in this is a Message for any that has a heart and understanding or who
gives ear and earnestly witnesses (the truth).]
+++
Fasting of Snails
Snails are small, snail-like gastropod mollusks. Some live in water, others on
land. They have a slow-moving elongated body with a shell to protect them from
danger.
Ground snails prefer damp areas. They bury themselves under the surface layer
of the earth during broad daylight and become active at night and on cloudy
days. They do so to avoid the heat and light of the sun so that their skin
won't dry.
Snails get their nutrition from plants and from organic substances in the soil.
They are so greedy while eating that their bodies acquire extra fat.
Where winters are cold, snails hibernate like many other animals, fasting
through the cold weather. But they also fast in hot weather.
Allah Almighty has provided theses creatures with the ability to secrete a
mucus cover for themselves to protect their bodies from drying out. During hot,
dry periods, snails are threatened with dehydration. So they seal themselves
off with a parchmentlike membrane, and often attach themselves to tree trunks,
fences or walls. During this time they fast until cooler, wetter weather comes.
Both males and females do this.
When the cooler weather comes, snails come out of their shelters to seek their
nutrition, declaring the end of their fast. At that time they have lost their
extra fat and returned to their vitality.
Almighty Allah gives His slaves many examples of the variety of life and proofs
of the oneness of the Creator.
+++
Fasting of the Spiny Anteater
The echidna, or spiny anteater, is one of several nocturnal, burrowing,
egg-laying mammals. It lives in Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. It is
toothless and covered with spines. It has a slender snout and an extensible
sticky tongue used for catching insects, such as ants and termites.
The spiny anteater prefers to live on mountains and high places over 200 meters
above sea level. It likes to stay in uninhabited places and shadowed forests.
This is due to its feeding habits, for it feeds on ants. When the spiny
anteater extends its long sticky tongue inside an ant tunnel, hundreds of ants
cling to it, forming a delicious meal for the anteater.
It is an aspect of Allah's Wisdom that is manifest in His creation that the
echidna has thick skin to protect it from the ants' stings. Another interesting
phenomenon is that the echidna mixes the insects with dust, sand and dry herbs,
which help to digest the insects.
The echidna can abstain from food for a period that may exceed a whole month
without it having the least effect on its vitality. Lack of food does not
weaken it. The secret behind this may be that the echidna eats greedily,
filling its body with extra fat that burdens it. When food decreases due to an
increase in their numbers or during their migration, echidnas involuntarily
fast. Hence they lose extra weight and restore their activity. This is one of
the manifestations of Allah's Power and Wisdom in His Creation.
+++
Fasting of Plover
Plover is one of wading and migrating birds. Canada is its homeland and it
usually emigrates from Canada to America doing a long and arduous journey.
Actually, flocks of plover cover this journey incessantly; the thing which
makes this journey of more than 3000 miles more difficult, in addition to
passing through the Pacific Ocean; this makes the journey more arduous.
Naturally, men or animals, when traveling long distances, are obliged to take a
rest and get their breath back. Moreover, they can have some food and drink or
light meals fitting to such circumstances. In contrast to that, we find these
birds enter some kind of obligatory and incessant fasting by Day and Night, for
they have no way but continuing the journey incessantly along with fasting.
This reminds us of the saying of a Muslim leader to his soldiers when they got
in confrontation with the enemy: "The enemy is before you and the sea is behind
you (meaning that they have no way but to confront the enemy seriously until
they achieve victory; otherwise they will be defeated or drowned in the sea to
the last man)."
Likewise, these birds have no way but to gird their loins for continuing the
journey because if they intend to take rest they will inevitably perish in the
Ocean's water. So, we see these birds beseeching Allah's help to grant them
success to continue the journey as if they look at their images on the surface
of water from the horizon thinking that they are birds overtaken by drowning.
Accordingly, they think that their case is better off and are motivated by this
scene to fly higher than the surface of water. Actually, they continue fasting
and flying for thirteen days which means that they observe non-stop fasting,
the thing that's prohibited for Muslims, save the Prophet, blessings and peace
of Allah be upon him, who said in this regard, "
As for me, I sleep in the
presence of my Lord enjoying food and drink by a butler." Thus, although Allah,
Most High, has predestined this arduous journey on these birds, He provides
them with the necessary energy that will enable them to carry out this hard
mission.
No doubt, these birds' form of fasting gives us great indications on the
Omnipotence of Allah, Exalted and Glorified be He. It, moreover, adds another
dimension of the forms of fasting adopted by people and living species. In
another location we have previously mentioned that eels observe fasting for two
or three years whether it be the first fasting which is the fasting of the
young or the latter fasting which is the fasting of the old. Likewise, plover
observes fasting but while flying in the sky. The moment it reaches its resting
location, it reposes for some time and then proceeds to have food delightfully
in larger amounts than its needs to save some food in the form of fatty
substances, taking into consideration the returning journey in the same road.
+++
Fasting of Penguin
Penguin is one of the sea birds that live in the cold regions. In fact, there
are 17 species of these birds in the entire world. Only one of these species
inhabits the North Pole territories while the remaining species are distributed
widely in the Southern Hemisphere, extending along south Australia, Africa and
America.
These species differ totally in their way of laying and hatching eggs. As for
those living in the Southern Hemisphere, they spend the winter therein. With
the coming of spring, they return in groups to their native land in the North
Pole, covering (a distance of) hundreds of miles until they reach their
destination and proper location for reproduction. Upon arriving there, they
start immediately building their nests out of stone pieces. Following three
weeks from their arrival, they will have completed building these nests and the
process of procreation. In the usual course of things, the female lays two
white eggs mixed with blue color. The male penguin undertakes the task of
brooding eggs instead of the female penguin, which is engrossed in seeking food
in the deep-water seas. On the other hand, the male penguin goes on in a state
of fasting for two weeks until the chicks (the young penguins) develop. When
this happens, the male penguin rushes at maximum speed into the sea to drink
some of the seawater and to eat from Allah's provisions. It eats this food in a
state of merriment whereas the female penguin (the mother) comes back in order
to feed the flourishing young penguins.
Unlike all species of penguins, there is another kind called "the Emperor"
which does not build nests for the young. Actually, it spends winter in the
North Frozen Zone wherein it lays its eggs; the mother lays the eggs, not on
snow, but on its hind feet. Sometimes, the male penguin (the father) may
relieve her and they remain in a state of fasting throughout the winter season.
With the advent of spring, the ice melts and the eggs are incubated reproducing
those young penguins. The secret behind this strict kind of fasting is that the
(penguin's) eggs require this specific degree of coldness. Practically, when
the young penguins grow up, they start observing fasting through abstaining
from food until their down falls out and their bodies are covered with
feathers. At this very moment, they rush into water declaring the end of this
fasting through having food and drink.
As for the old penguins, they also observe fasting for another period that is
sufficient to replace their old feathers with another which is more glowing and
flourishing. They throw themselves into the sea merrily as if they imitate the
human beings when they wear new clothes on the coming of the `Eid that comes
after fasting in Ramadan or as if the human beings imitate these wondrous
creatures. More accurately, we can say, "It is a recurring Sunnah in Allah's
creation."
Allah, Most High, says,
[
That is the decree of (Him), the Exalted in Might, the All-Knowing]
+++
Fasting Insects on Peaks of Mountains
Wonderfully, in the world of insects beetles tend to spend the winter season on
peaks of mountains, with their freezing temperature. As soon as they feel the
coldness of air and the approach of the winter season, they hasten to peaks of
mountains as if they call their species to swim against the current.
It is well known that peaks of mountains and lofty locations in the European
countries are very cold to the extent that they are covered with snow and
consequently the (degree of) temperature lowers to thirty degrees centigrade
below zero. No doubt, such a freezing temperature will have effect on these
insects, in the sense of making them in dire need of extra amount of energy,
though their bodies are filled with fatty substances on which they can depend
throughout the hibernation and fasting period; that extra energy will provide
them with warmness, especially in the latter days of the winter season, when
alimentary canal normally runs out of its reserves. A question arises here:
What about those insects whose time of breaking fast isn't due yet? Do they
give in to such critical condition or Allah Almighty grants them a proper means
to overcome it?
Of course, Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, Who has fashioned all His
creatures in a very beautiful manner and perfection, has bestowed on each
creature the proper means to lead a satisfied life. So, Allah does not let
these insects or other creatures down. Actually, an important process happens
within bodies of these insects during their migration to mountains' peaks.
During this period, they eat voraciously and store the extra amounts in the
form of fats.
At the same time, they abstain from drinking water. Hence, the ratio of water
diminishes in their bodies and the free water existing in their bodies takes
another form, i.e. bounded water. This kind of water dissolves some alimentary
ingredients and turns them into a high-condensed shape of water. This process
is of paramount importance for these insects which, thereby, gain the ability
to endure the low degrees of temperature. Consequently, water in their bodies
does not freeze when (the degree of) temperature becomes below zero.
If the temperature diminishes severely to an unprecedented degree that cannot
be endured, Allah's mercy with these creatures provides them with another
important characteristic, which enables them to get a wondrous thermal energy
through the water reserved in their bodies, and it's normally within the
inherent temperature of water. If the air temperature lowers to thirty degrees
centigrade below zero, the insects will release water's energy and thus the
temperature of their bodies will rise to zero.
+++
Fasting of Silkworms
By Dr. `Abd Al-Hakam `Abd Al-Latif As-Sa`idi
Lecturer of Entomology Faculty of Agriculture Al-Azhar University
The world of insects introduces us patterns of fasting that indicate Allah's
Omnipotence and Wonder in His creation. Although it is well known that food is
among the factors of growth for living organisms, silkworms prove that fasting
and abstaining absolutely from food and drink do not impair the body. Rather,
it reforms these creatures in a captivating and wondrous way. In order to grasp
the secrets of this fasting, firstly we should delve into some facts about the
lifecycle of this creature; this can be shown as follows:
In the beginning of spring, the eggs incubate small gluttonous larvae. The
newly hatched larvae do not take long before they feed on mulberry leaves for
five days. Their bodies, thereby, grow up too quickly to the extent that their
skin cannot bear this rapid development and thus be replaced by another
spacious one. Thus, they are obliged to observe fasting for one or two days
until their bodies are physiologically adapted to cast away the old skin. This
process recurs five times during the earliest stage before the completion of
this metamorphosis in a period amounting to thirty days. Eventually, they will
have completed the stage of development and reached a remarkable bulk.
When the larva reaches this bulk, it inevitably enters into another kind of
fasting that extends for about six days. Thus, it takes shelter in a quiet
location to spin a covering for their pupal stage. Truly speaking, it's very
captivating to know that the larva spins only one thread of fine, strong,
lustrous fiber whose length ranges from 400 to 1200 meters. This covering is
called cocoons, which are the source of commercial silk that souls yearn to
wear garments made of it but for Allah, Most High, has prohibited it (silky
clothes) to men and made it lawful for women. At this very moment, we can say
that the worm has entered into the no-feeding stage (between the larva and
adult in the metamorphosis of holometabolous insects), during which the larva
typically undergoes complete transformation within a protective cocoon. The
pupal stage needs complete quietness for it is not actually one of the stages
of development or hibernation however it seems as such. Rather, it resembles an
important stage in the life of this wondrous insect, which is subject to
various kinds of sequent and rapid transformations. This stage prepares these
insects to transform and reshape into another following stage.
Eventually, the dormant fasting worm turns into a rebellious giant that
destroys fetters to get out into the spacious world. It secretes a caustic
liquid that dissolves a part of this cocoon to raise the covering, producing a
beautiful organism called the silkworm moth, which lays its eggs after
fertilization. It spends the remaining five days of its life in a state of
fasting after it lays its fertilized eggs, which will be hatched in the coming
spring to restart the cycle once again. Glory be to Allah, the Originator, the
Restorer!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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