Author: Dr. Noor Mohammad Mohibi
The Quran: A Miracle Beyond Time- A Study of Its Miraculous Nature (part 97)
From the Invisible Armies of Allah Almighty to the Astonishing Precision of the System of Creation
The Noble Qur’an, as a book of guidance and reflection, does not merely call humanity to worship and moral excellence; rather, it opens profound horizons of knowledge concerning the universe of creation. In this heavenly Book, numerous creatures are mentioned which, at first glance, may appear small, insignificant, or even trivial. Yet in reality, each of them is a great sign of divine power, wisdom, and governance.
Insects, despite their delicate structure and small size, possess some of the most complex biological systems. The Noble Qur’an, with purposeful insight, calls humanity to contemplate these creations.
In this section, three outstanding examples of this divine manifestation are examined: the armies of locusts, the house of the spider, and the sensory antennae of insects.
The Armies of Locusts: A Manifestation of the Unknown Soldiers of Allah
Allah Almighty says: “وَمَا يَعلَمُ جُنُودَ رَبِّكَ إِلَّا هُوَ” [1] Translation: “And none knows the armies of your Lord except He.”
This noble verse clearly states that the armies of Allah are not limited to what humans recognize. Only Allah Almighty has complete knowledge of their number, nature, and function.
One of the clearest manifestations of these divine armies is the vast swarms of locusts. In common perception, a locust appears weak and defenseless; yet collectively, they possess destructive power capable of threatening the livelihood of entire nations.
From a scientific perspective, the locust is among the most dangerous natural pests. Scientists state that each locust consumes approximately its own body weight in food per day. If a swarm weighs approximately eighty thousand tons, it can consume eighty thousand tons of vegetation in a single day.
Statistical observations indicate that in one square kilometer of a locust swarm, there may be between one hundred to two hundred million locusts. Some swarms extend for more than four hundred kilometers in length, spanning distances equal to that between major cities. Certain reports estimate that some swarms may consist of more than forty billion locusts.
Such figures guide humanity to recognize that true power lies not in physical size, but in divine orchestration.
The House of the Spider: A Parable of Structural and Moral Weakness
Allah Almighty says: “مَثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُواْ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَولِيَآءَ كَمَثَلِ ٱلعَنكَبُوتِ ٱتَّخَذَت بَيتاً وَإِنَّ أَوهَنَ ٱلبُيُوتِ لَبَيتُ ٱلعَنكَبُوتِ لَو كَانُواْ يَعلَمُونَ” [2] Translation: “The example of those who take protectors other than Allah is like that of the spider who builds a house; and indeed, the weakest of houses is the house of the spider, if they but knew.”
In this verse, the Qur’an emphasizes through strong grammatical forms that the house of the spider is the weakest of houses. The use of inna (indeed) and the emphatic lam in “la-bayt” reinforces the certainty of this weakness.
Classical exegesis explains that the spider’s web does not protect from heat, cold, rain, or wind; therefore, it is the weakest form of shelter. However, the scientific dimension of the verse extends further.
A prominent professor of entomology at the Faculty of Science, Cairo University, observed a remarkable detail: in the phrase “ittakhadhat baytan” (she built a house), the verb appears in the feminine form. Modern scientific findings confirm that the builder of the spider’s web is the female spider, not the male. This linguistic precision, articulated at a time when no biological knowledge of insects existed, is a striking indication of the Qur’an’s depth.
Moreover, the weakness of the spider’s house is not merely structural; it is also relational. In many species, the female spider kills and consumes the male after mating. Sometimes she may even consume her own offspring if they do not escape. Cannibalistic behavior may also occur among the young. Thus, material weakness is accompanied by weakness in internal relations—producing a compounded fragility.
After presenting this parable, the Qur’an states: “وَتِلكَ ٱلأَمثَٰلُ نَضرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ وَمَا يَعقِلُهَآ إِلَّا ٱلعَٰلِمُونَ” [3] Translation: “And these examples We present to the people, but none understand them except those of knowledge.”
This indicates that understanding the depth of such parables requires knowledge and reflection. As human knowledge advances, new dimensions of Qur’anic insight continue to unfold.
The Sensory Antennae of Insects and Their Astonishing Capabilities
Human beings have constructed instruments to observe stars, detect motion, and monitor environmental changes. Yet who would imagine that tiny insects possess sensory antennae capable of performing tasks beyond human ability?
Many insects possess highly specialized sensory systems comparable to advanced human-made devices.
Scientists explain that in some insects, antennae contain chemical receptors capable of detecting odors and chemical compositions in the environment. These receptors guide insects in locating food sources.
Other insects possess mechanical receptors, which detect sound vibrations and air movement, as observed in certain fly species. Mechanical receptors respond to motion, while chemical receptors respond to chemical composition.
Some insects can instantly detect sweet substances the moment they appear in their surroundings—through these chemical receptors.
A remarkable example is how large flies are drawn to specific locations. They detect the odor of decaying organic matter and navigate directly toward its source through chemical sensing.
Among the most astonishing capabilities is the ability of certain insects to detect infrared radiation. This system enables them to identify heat sources. If the infrared signal is continuous, the insect moves directly toward it; if interrupted, it adjusts its path until it precisely locates the source.
This system is clearly observed in mosquitoes. If two individuals are sleeping and one suffers from fever with elevated body temperature, a mosquito can detect the warmer individual—even from several meters away—and move directly toward that person. This ability is not accidental; it reflects deliberate and wise design.
Conclusion
The examples discussed here represent only a small glimpse of the vast realm of divine signs manifested in seemingly small creatures.
The locust, with its collective destructive power; the spider, with its profound Qur’anic parable of weakness; and insects, with their astonishing sensory systems—all testify that the greatness of Allah Almighty is manifest even in His smallest creations.
The Noble Qur’an directs humanity to reflect upon these signs, cultivating humility and returning to the true source of power—the One who said: “وَمَا يَعلَمُ جُنُودَ رَبِّكَ إِلَّا هُوَ” [4] Translation: “And none knows the armies of your Lord except He.” [5]
Continues…
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References:
[1] Al-Muddaththir 74:31.
[2] Al-‘Ankabut 29:41.
[3] Al-‘Ankabut 29:43.
[4] Al-Muddaththir 74:31.
[5] Summarized from: Mawsuʿat al-Iʿjaz al-ʿIlmi fi al-Qur’an wa al-Sunnah, Vol. 2, pp. 227–235.
