The Quran: A Miracle Beyond Time- A Study of Its Miraculous Nature (Part 53)
The Pancreas and Diabetes
Diabetes, or the “sugar disease,” is a common and widespread illness, the origin of which lies in the function of a gland called the pancreas. This small and astonishing gland inside the human body carries out a vital and complex role in regulating the metabolism of food.
The Role of the Pancreas in Digestion and Blood Sugar Regulation
When food enters the stomach, it combines with digestive juices and becomes acidic. This acidic state is detected by nerves that Allah the Almighty has placed in the walls of the intestines, and this information is sent to the nerve centers in the brain. The brain then commands the pancreas to secrete substances that reduce and neutralize the acidity of the food, turning it into an alkaline state. This is the first and most important function of the pancreas.
The second duty of the pancreas is to convert the sugar stored in the liver and muscles from its storage form into a usable and burnable form for the body. Sugar exists in two states: storage sugar and usable sugar. The hormone secreted by the pancreas enables this transformation.
But the most important function of the pancreas is the secretion of the hormone insulin, which plays a fundamental role in burning and using sugar in the body. When the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin, sugar appears in the urine, and its combustion in the body is significantly reduced. This leads to the onset of diabetes.
The Importance of the Pancreas in Human Health
This small gland, which may seem insignificant, is responsible for one of the most vital processes in the body—a process in which we can witness the endless wisdom and knowledge of the Great Creator. Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran: (1)“وَفِی أَنفُسِكُم أَفَلَا تُبصِرُونَ” Translation: “And (There are signs) in your own selves—can you not, see?”
In summary, within the human body are signs and wonders, which if we spent our entire lives contemplating and reflecting upon, would never come to an end. Endless praise and thanks be to the Lord of all worlds, who created mankind, fashioned him in the best form, and perfected His creation. (2)
The Spleen
The spleen is an astonishing system and a vital organ, such that if its function stops or becomes excessive, a person’s life is put at risk and may even come to an end.
The spleen is an organ or gland that weighs no more than two hundred grams. It is dark red in color and is connected to the bloodstream through large blood vessels, including the splenic artery and vein. Inside the spleen, there are partitions and walls that divide it into sections and compartments. Muscles also surround the spleen, and with their contractions, they release the blood stored within it.
This organ produces a large number of white blood cells, which form the body’s defensive army. AIDS, the disease that has alarmed the world, is essentially the destruction of this defensive army, causing the immune system to weaken, allowing even the smallest microbe to overpower the body.
Along with the liver, the spleen is responsible for producing white blood cells during fetal development. These white blood cells are in fact the body’s defensive army that protects its health.
The spleen is also the graveyard of dead red blood cells, which arrive here and are broken down by a substance that the spleen secretes. In this process, iron is released and sent to the factories of blood cell production in the bone marrow, and hemoglobin is sent to the liver where bile is produced. Therefore, the spleen is the site where red blood cells are broken down into their basic components so they can be reused iron becomes part of new blood cells, and hemoglobin turns into bile, which plays a role in digestion.
Is this not an economic planning? Is this not Divine guidance and order? Wastefulness and the squandering of resources do not align with human perfection.
The third function of the spleen is the production of red blood cells; however, this role is that of a backup or reserve factory. If the bone marrow factories fail to produce red blood cells, the spleen steps in and begins producing them to preserve human life.
The fourth function of the spleen is the storage of red blood cells; that is, it acts as a blood warehouse, releasing these cells into the bloodstream when necessary.
Thus, the spleen is known for four important roles:
A storehouse for red blood cells,
A backup factory for red blood cell production,
A factory for white blood cell production,
And a graveyard for dead red blood cells.
If the spleen becomes overactive and begins destroying living red blood cells, a person may die or develop a specific type of anemia. If its function weakens, the immune system becomes fragile, and the person becomes vulnerable to diseases—a problem the world is facing today.
Perhaps when you buy spleen from a sandwich vendor, you do not realize that this small organ is a living, active world. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (3)“أُحِلَّتْ لَكُم مَيْتَتَانِ وَدَمَانِ، فَأَمَّا الْمَيْتَتَانِ فَالْحُوتُ وَالْجَرَادُ، وَأَمَّا الدَّمَانِ فَالْكَبِدُ وَالطِّحَالُ.” Translation: “Two dead animals and two types of blood have been permitted for us: the two dead are fish and locusts, and the two types of blood are the liver and the spleen.”
Composition of Saliva and Its Functions
Every human being has a fluid in their mouth known as saliva; this saliva is liquid, clear, and is secreted by the glands beneath the jaw, under the tongue, and around the ears. The exact number and structure of these glands may not be of great importance, but what truly matters is the composition of this saliva and its numerous functions.
It may be hard to believe that the composition of saliva includes mineral ions such as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, bicarbonate, phosphate, iodine, and nitrogen. Saliva also contains proteins, sugars, antibiotics, and enzymes that have specific duties. This question arises: Who created this saliva, and who arranged its astonishing composition?
From a functional perspective, scientists have discovered that saliva plays a very vital and wide-ranging role on several levels:
First function: It keeps the inner surface of the mouth moist. Without saliva, this surface would become dry and cracked, creating an environment suitable for harmful bacterial activity. Therefore, saliva prevents the tongue and oral tissues from drying out.
Second: Saliva moistens and softens the food morsel, which makes chewing and swallowing easier.
Third: Saliva acts as the initial extract of digestion in the mouth. Whoever keeps a piece of bread in their mouth for some time senses a sweet taste, which indicates the presence of enzymes in the saliva that convert starch into sugar.
Fourth: Saliva also plays a role in speech; because pronouncing each letter requires the participation of approximately seventeen muscles, and the tongue—being the primary tool of speech—cannot function properly without the presence of saliva.
Fifth: Saliva helps clean the mouth from remaining food particles, although this function may often go unnoticed.
Sixth: When consuming acidic or highly concentrated drinks, the amount of saliva secretion increases. This increase serves to dilute and neutralize the acids so that the tissues of the mouth are not harmed.
Saliva also helps regulate the temperature of the food morsel; it warms cold food and cools hot food, allowing the morsel to move more comfortably within the mouth.
And finally—and perhaps most importantly—saliva contains substances that prevent tooth decay and fight bacteria. Since the mouth is open and exposed to air, it becomes a suitable environment for microbial growth. The presence of moisture and a suitable temperature are conditions in which microbes multiply rapidly. Therefore, the antibacterial components in saliva help control this microbial population and prevent its growth from the beginning.
So, in summary, the functions of saliva include:
Repairing and moisturizing the surface of the mouth,
Softening the food morsel and facilitating its movement,
Initial digestion of food,
Aiding speech,
Cleaning the mouth,
Diluting edible substances,
Regulating the temperature of food,
And protecting against tooth decay and oral infections.
If we look at these processes, we realize that such a precise and intelligent system can only be based on wisdom and planning, just as Allah Almighty says in the Holy Qur’an:
(4) «وَفِی أَنفُسِكُم أَفَلَا تُبصِرُونَ. » Translation: “And (There are signs) in your own selves—can you not see?”
This saliva, which people may not even notice, has a complex and precise structure. It includes cells and glands with diverse and harmonized duties that together ensure a healthy and complete life for the human being. (5)
Encyclopedia of Scientific Miracles in the Qur’an and Sunnah, vol. 1, p. 154–155.
Al-Qazwini, Ibn Mājah Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Yazid (1431 AH), As-Sunan, Book of Foods, Chapter: Liver and Spleen, Hadith no. 3314, vol. 2, p. 1102, edited by ‘Abdul-Baqi.
Dhāriyāt: 21.
Encyclopedia of Scientific Miracles in the Qur’an and Sunnah, vol. 1, p. 155–157.
