[42:29] Among His proofs
is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the
creatures He spreads in them. He is able to summon
them, when He wills.
Each January, the people of Kundha Kulam, a parched farm town
in southern India, raise their eyes to the sky, searching for
signs of life-giving rain. But they are not looking for
clouds. They are watching instead for the birds ! These birds
arrive on the vanguard winds of the oncoming monsoon. At the
sight of the first flick of feather, the villagers breathe a
sigh of relief, knowing that their crops will soon get a
welcome drink ! "If the birds come, we know we will be
prosperous." says a resident of Kundha Kulam.
[25:48] He is the One who sends
the winds with good omens of His mercy, and we send
down from the sky pure water.
[25:49] With it, we
revive dead lands and provide drink
for our creations - multitudes of animals and humans.
The robin that is the harbinger of spring, or the lonely honk
of a migrating goose that signals the arrival of another
winter, the herons, ducks, and pelicans that swarm to the
flooded fields around Kundha Kulam are examples of the bird
community.
Animals and Birds: Submitting Creatures*
[6:38] All the creatures on earth,
and all the birds that fly with wings, are communities
like you. We did not leave anything out of this
book.** To their Lord, all these creatures will be
summoned.
[13:16] ..Have they found idols
besides GOD who created creations similar to His creations,
to the point of not distinguishing the two creations?
Say, "GOD is the Creator of all things, and He is the
One, the Supreme."
The gift of flight would seem reason enough for humanity's
fascination with birds. Bird's wings are naturally thin with
feathers creating a smooth surface. Nearly hollow bones
provide lightweight strength; large breast muscles power their
wings; and a super-efficient respiratory system supplies
plenty of oxygen to the cells during flight. Air travels
across the top and bottom of a wings simultaneously. Because
the bottom of a wings is flat and the top is curved, air
travels across them at different speeds. There is a larger
distance for air to travel over an arch shape than over a flat
surface. Therefore, the air on the top of the wing travels
faster. Both air flows meet at the wing tips simultaneously.
The faster moving air exerts less force than the slower air on
the bottom. This difference in pressure, low pressure above
and high pressure below, causes lift for the birds !
[16:79] Do they not see the
birds committed to fly in the atmosphere of the sky?
None holds them up in the air except GOD.
This should be (sufficient) proof for people who believe.
[59:24] He is the One GOD; the
Creator, the Initiator, the
Designer. To Him belong the most beautiful names.
Glorifying Him is everything in the heavens and the
earth. He is the Almighty, Most Wise.
Most birds do not fly faster or higher than necessary. It
takes too much energy to climb against gravity and higher air
means less oxygen to breathe and support the bird.
Maneuverability is another variable in flight. Some birds can
make sharp turns at top speed, others fly primarily in
straight lines. The difference is in the tail design. It is
used like a rudder. The tail feathers are broad and stiff and
can open and close like a fan, move up or down, or twist left
or right. Birds must bank as they turn. They tilt one wing
higher than the others to prevent sliding. Banking braces the
underside of the wings and body against the oncoming air and
reduces the skid. Banking is not the only method for turning.
Some birds beat one wing a little faster than the other. They
then turn in the direction of the slower moving wing. Steering
up and down is accomplished with the tail by moving it
opposite the desired direction. Turning while gliding and
soaring is accomplished by two different wing designs. Birds
that soar over land have broad, slotted wings, while those who
soar over water have long, narrow wings.
Almighty God
[6:59] With Him are the keys to
all secrets; none knows them except He. He knows
everything on land and in the sea. Not a leaf falls without
His knowledge. Nor is there a grain in the depths of the soil.
Nor is there anything wet or dry, that is not recorded in a
profound record.
Flocks of geese and pelicans fly in V-shaped formations to
reduce drag and save energy on long migrations. The bird in
the lead at the forward point of the "V" formation is working
the hardest. This bird breaks through the air, which is
offering resistance to its flight. Just as a boat leaves a
smoother water behind it, the lead bird creates a trail of air
turbulence that helps lift along the V-shaped a bit easier
for the other birds to fly in the wake of the lead bird. If we
watch a V-format, we notice that the lead bird does not stay
in that position for very long and will drop back in while
another, not-as-tired bird takes the lead, breaking through
the air first.
[67:19] Have they not seen the
birds above them lined up in columns and spreading their
wings? The Most Gracious is the One who holds them in
the air. He is Seer of all things.
People have forged an intimate links with birds. Abraham
reassured his heart by witnessing the revival of dead birds by
God's leave (Quran 2:260). Jesus
demonstrated miracle by giving life to a clay bird at the will
of God (Quran 3:49). Joseph predicted a
dream on birds by God's leave (Quran 12:36,12:41).
David was served by birds at the will of God (Quran
21:79). Solomon understood the language of birds
(Quran 27:16) A swarms of birds defeated the
people of elephant (Quran 105:3-5).
In a convent in New York state, Barbara Seaward has founded
the group Feathered Friends. She, along with others in her
community, conduct pet therapy sessions for those in nursing
and retirement homes. The residents agree that there is
nothing quite like a visit from a cockateil or a cockatoo to
lift the spirits ! And in the whitewater rafting canyons of
Colorado, guides use homing pigeons to safely deliver a
valuable commodity - photos of customers splashing their way
down the rapids - back to home base, so the keepsake are
waiting when the rafters return from their adventure. There
are also rat catching barn owls that protect farmers from
pests, and hummingbirds that show their prowess as
long-distance flyers. Solomon used bird as his messenger to
carry important messages (Quran
27:20-28). The Quran tells us a story of raven who
taught Adam's son a valuable lesson:
[5:31] GOD then sent a raven to scratch
the soil, to teach him how to bury his brother's corpse. He
said, "Woe to me; I failed to be as intelligent as
this raven, and bury my brother's corpse." He became
ridden with remorse.
People still adopt the ancient art of training falcons to
hunt. Steve Jones - Wyoming resident, is the editor of
AMERICAN FALCONRY magazine, and one of the roughly 5,000
licensed falconers in the United States. He gets out almost
every day during the hunting season in Wyoming, which is from
September to February. His birds hunt sharptail grouse,
partridge, and ducks, and sometimes sage grouse and pheasant.
"If they wanted to, they could fly away in a heartbeat. But
I've trained them and built trust with them. They've learned
that I am not a threat. In training, I've taught them that
when they catch the lure, there is always food. If it's a
falcon, I've trained them that if they are not successful in
the hunt, I will have a consolation prize for them, some food.
It's a partnership that benefits them. They are content."
Says Steve Jones.
[5:4] They consult you concerning what
is lawful for them; say, "Lawful for you are all good things,
including what trained dogs and falcons catch for
you." You train them according to GOD's teachings.
You may eat what they catch for you, and mention GOD's name
thereupon. You shall observe GOD. GOD is most efficient in
reckoning.
Birds sing beautiful and diversified songs. Scientists
think birds developed songs to spread their message. Bird
song comes from an organ in the throat called the syrinx,
which has two sides that vibrate. Scientist also believe
that birds know what to sing, which is partly instinct
and partly learned - when a young bird hears an adult singing
its species' song, something is triggered in its brain,
allowing the youngster to sing the same melody.
[24:41] Do you not realize that
everyone in the heavens and the earth glorifies GOD,
even the birds as they fly in a column? Each knows its prayer
and its glorification. GOD is fully aware of
everything they do.
The Quran educates us to reflect on the creations of God.
Unlike the human beings, all the birds glorify God (Quran
24:41)! There is not a single verse in the Quran
where God states that birds are idol worshipers, or
disbelievers, or unappreciative, or wicked or ignorant ! We
must ponder why the majority of human beings are idol
worshipers (Quran 12:106, 30:42),
disbelievers (Quran 16:83, 17:89, 25:50),
unappreciative (Quran 2:243, 7:17, 10:60,
12:38, 27:73, 40:61), wicked (Quran
3:110, 5:59, 7:17, 9:8) and ignorants (Quran
6:111) !?
Overwhelming Signs of
God
[2:164] In the creation of the
heavens and the earth, the alternation of night and day, the
ships that roam the ocean for the benefit of the people, the
water that GOD sends down from the sky to revive dead land and
to spread in it all kinds of creatures, the manipulation of
the winds, and the clouds that are placed between the sky and
the earth, there are sufficient proofs for people who
understand.
Can They Create a Fly?
[22:73] O people, here is a
parable that you must ponder carefully: the idols you set up
beside GOD can never create a fly, even if they banded
together to do so. Furthermore, if the fly steals anything
from them, they cannot recover it; weak is the pursuer and the
pursued.
The Majority of People Do Not
Believe
[12:103] Most people, no matter
what you do, will not believe.
[12:104] You are not asking
them for any money; you simply deliver this reminder for all
the people.
[12:105] So many proofs in the
heavens and the earth are given to them, but they pass by
them, heedlessly!
The Majority of Believers Destined
for Hell
[12:106] The majority of those
who believe in GOD do not do so without committing idol
worship.
Blessed Ramadan, peaceful Friday and salaam,
5. Quran - translated from original by Dr. Rashad
Khalifa
