Page 38 - Allah's Artistry in Colour

36 Allah's Artistry In Colour

n previous chapters, we mentioned that because of the different atom-
ic properties of the pigmentary molecules, objects reflect light rays dif-
I ferently; hence, different shades of colour are produced. Have another
look around you. The different colours in your range of vision indicate the
existence of a similar number of pigments, because the colour of everything
we see in our surroundings depends on the pigments present in the compo-
sition of that matter. The green colour of plants, the colour of skin, the
colours of animals, in short all colours stem from the structural characteris-
tics of the pigments contained in those objects or living things.

What is Pigment?
Pigments, existing both in our eyes and in the outer surface of objects,
are special molecules that bring about colour. A certain energy is needed for
pigment molecules to be activated. Certainly, just as in all other stages in the
formation of colour, there is again perfect harmony between pigments and
light. "The invisible light" reaching the earth has been specially designed for
the "pigment" molecules, which are known as colour molecules, in living
things.
Moreover, human eyes also have a structure compatible to this purpose.
The reason why the cone cells that lie in the retina of our eye perceive three
main colours – red, green, and blue – is because of the special pigment mol-
ecules they contain. The most crucial task these pigments perform so that we
see a coloured world is convert the energy of "colour" in light into nerve
impulses. This means that everything we know as colour is an end-result of
these pigments transmitting the wavelength of light reaching to them to the
brain as nerve impulses. 11
The energy levels of visible light correspond to some of the energy lev-
els needed for activating pigment molecules that are found in the skins of liv-
ing beings, or in the scales, feathers, or furs covering their skins, and thus
their colours are formed.
As seen, pigments, which are present both in the vision centres and in
the bodies of living beings, are in perfect harmony with other bodily systems.
Absence of a particular kind of pigment molecule or its presence in an
amount less than required in the vision centre of a living being causes it to be
unable to distinguish colours in its environment.