From: "Kader Sumiyyah-CSA046" To: "'dakwah'" Subject: [Dakwah] FW: The Mosquito and Its Extraordinary Adventure Date: Thursday, 09 November, 2000 16:27 Assalamualaikum, > The Mosquito and Its Extraordinary Adventure > > by Harun Yahya > > "Surely Allah is not ashamed to set forth any parable-- (that of) a gnat or > any thing above that;" (Al-Baqara (The Cow), 26) > > As people are invited to contemplate on their own creation, the Qur'an > frequently calls people to investigate the nature and to see the signs of > Allah therein. Since the whole universe, with all its living and non-living > elements, consists of the signs revealing that they have been 'created'. And > they exist just in order to demonstrate the power, knowledge and art of > their 'Creator'. And mankind is responsible to know these signs and > appreciate the Creator of all, Allah. All living things possess these signs, > yet there are some specifically mentioned animals in the Qur'an. Mosquito is > one of these. This is referred to in the Qur'an in the below verse: > > "Surely Allah is not ashamed to set forth any parable-- (that of) a gnat or > any thing above that; then as for those who believe, they know that it is > the truth from their Lord, and as for those who disbelieve, they say: What > is it that Allah means by this parable: He causes many to err by it and many > He leads aright by it! but He does not cause to err by it (any) except the > transgressors," (Al-Baqara (The Cow), 26) > > When considering the life of the mosquito, we can say that it has a very > extraordinary adventure. What is generally known about mosquitoes is that > they absorb and feed on blood. Yet, this is not completely true. Because not > all the mosquitoes, but only the female ones absorb blood. And their need > for blood is not related to feeding at all. Actually, both male and female > mosquitoes feed on nectar of flowers. The only reason that females, unlike > males, do absorb blood is for their eggs which need to mature with the > proteins contained in the blood. In other words, female mosquito absorbs > blood just to ensure the survival of the new generation. > The point to be stressed here is that the verse of the Qur'an points out > only the 'female' mosquito. As previously mentioned, it is only the female > mosquito which has the superior capabilities that will be detailed here. So, > it is surely quite expressive that female mosquitoes are particularly > emphasized in the Qur'an. Besides, it is a remarkable fact to point out that > at the time of the revelation of the Qur'an, this knowledge was completely > unknown to mankind. > > The development process and its phases, is one of the most amazing aspects > of the mosquito. This animal converts from a larva into a mosquito after > passing through completely different phases. Let us see this adventurous > story of the mosquito briefly. > > The mosquito eggs which are fed with blood are laid on damp leaves or dried > ponds for maturation by the female mosquito, during summer or fall. But > prior to this, the mother initially examines the ground thoroughly by using > a receptor placed under her abdomen, functioning as a humidity and > temperature sensor. She aims at finding a convenient place for her eggs. > When the most suitable area is found, she starts to lay her eggs. These > eggs, which have a length of less than 1 mm, are arranged in a line either > in groups or one by one. Some species lay their eggs joined to each other > forming a raft, some of which may contain up to 300 eggs. > > The carefully placed white eggs soon start to change their colour. This > takes only about a few hours after they are laid down, and they become > completely black in colour. With this change, they attain an excellent > protection against birds and insects. Their dark colour can not be > recognized by these organisms. > It takes a winter for the incubation period to complete. Since eggs are > created with such a structure to resist a long and cold winter, they survive > until spring when their incubation period ends. When the incubation period> > is complete, the larvae start getting out of their eggs, all about the same > time. The first egg is immediately followed by the others. As soon as they > get out of the eggs, they start to swim in water. Now, the underwater days > start for the mosquitoes. > > The continuously fed larvae grow with great speed. Soon the skin covering > their body gets too small to let them grow any further. This is the time for > their first skin change. The hard and brittle skin gets easily broken. Until > this developmental cycle is completed as a whole, the mosquito larvae will > change its skin two more times. > > Since the life of the mosquito initializes in water, the system designed for > feeding of the larvae is rather impressive. The larvae empowers whirlpools > in the water with its feathered prolongations located at the two sides of > its mouth, which lead bacteria and other micro-organisms for feeding. And a > solution also exists for its respiration: each larva has an innate diving > equipment. They breathe via respiratory tubes at their back while standing > upside down in water. This system may be resembled to "snorkels" used by the > divers. During the employment of this method, the larva secrete a sticky > secretion from their body in order to prevent water from leaking inside, > through the respiratory openings. Shortly, the animal lives with the help of > the combined harmony of all these delicate balances. > If it did not have a respiratory tube, it would not survive; if it did not > have a sticky secretion, its respiratory tube would be choked. > > As the time goes by, most of the larvae change their skin once more. The > last skin change is rather different from the others. With this last change, > larvae pass onto the final phase of their maturation, the "pupa phase", and > they are ready to become a real mosquito at the end. So, the time has come > for the mature pupa to get out of the sheath covering its body. > > However, the creature that gets out of the sheath is so different from the > earlier phases, that it seems unbelievable for them to be just two > developmental phases of the same being. And this metamorphoses is too > complicated and delicate to be designed by the larva itself, nor by its > mother, or any other thing. > > During this last transition period, there is a threat for the creature, > since the respiratory openings above the water may get closed with the > leaking of water inside. This will naturally mean that the pupa will be out > of breath, and die. But from then on, respiration will not be done via these > holes. There emerge two new air tubes on the head of the pupa. Therefore, > before the pupa gets ready for the last skin change, firstly these two tubes > rise on the water. This will be its new method for respiration. During the > three or four days of the pupa phase, there will be no nutrition for the > coming mosquito. > > Now, the mosquito within the pupa cocoon is mature enough and ready to fly > with all its organs and organelles like antennas, trunks, feet, chest, > wings, abdomen and large eyes covering most part of its head. Then, the pupa > cocoon is torn at the top. This stage where a complete mosquito will emerge > is the most dangerous stage of all. The greatest risk is water leakage into > cocoon. However, the torn top is covered with a sticky liquid preventing the > head from contacting water. The mosquito must get out of water without > having any direct contact with water, so only its feet touch the water > surface. This instant is extremely important; even a light wind may cause > its death. Finally, the mosquito leaves for its first flight after a rest of > about half an hour. > > It should be noted once again: The animal has got out of water without even > touching the water... At this point, the question that should come to mind > is, how the first mosquito has attained such an 'ability'? Might be that a> > larva has de> cided to transform into a mosquito after changing skin three > times? Absolutely, these are impossible. This tiny animal which Allah gives > as an example, has specifically been created as it is. This leads the > Muslims to ponder on the creation of Allah and think that Allah has not > created all these for nothing, they fear Allah and act totally to comply > with His Will. > > Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, and lying down on > their sides, and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heavens and > the earth, (With the thought): "Our Lord! not for naught Hast Thou created > (all) this! Glory to Thee! Give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire. > Wassalam. -------------------------- eGroups Sponsor -------------------------~-~> Create your business web site your way now at Bigstep.com. It's the fast, easy way to get online, to promote your business, and to sell your products and services. 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