Page 46 - Allah's Artistry in Colour

44 Allah's Artistry In Colour
J ust as colours are important for people in making sense of their sur-

roundings, so are they indispensable for other living beings to survive.

Living beings have a "colour language" that works according to the light
and the systems of perception they possess. Different colours bear different
meanings for every living being. In order to survive, every living being has to
know the language of colours used in its habitat, because vital functions can
only be controlled by acknowledgement of this language.
So, how do living beings use this colour language?
First, the majority of living beings need the help of colours in order to
find food. Second, the colours that exist on formations such as skin, scales and
fur play an important role in the continuity of life due to their characteristics
of absorbing or diffusing heat. In addition, living things use their colourings
to protect themselves from their enemies. Owing to colours that harmonise
with their habitat, they can camouflage themselves and hide from their ene-
mies. Alternatively, their colourings and patterning may pose a discouraging
image for their enemies. Colours also help animals to recognise their mates
and chicks. A mother bird, for example, understands whether her chicks need
food or not from the colours of their gapes. Similarly, the chick recognises its
mother in this way and understands that the food has arrived. 16 As seen in
these examples in na-
ture, living beings
need to know the
meaning of colours in
order to survive. In
order to attain this
knowledge correctly
they need to possess
proper systems of
perception.

Mother birds feed their
chicks according to the
colours of their gapes.