Page 74 - Magnificence Everywhere

EYES OF SCALLOPS,
ONE OF THE MOLLUSKS

The creature seen in the picture on the right is a mollusk called a scallop. Now,
have a careful look at the picture. Have you noticed the little bright blue points
lined along the edges of the creature that has the shape of a seashell? Would you be
surprised if we told you that in fact each one of these blue points is an eye?
No matter how astonishing it is, each one of the blue points is a real eye belong-
ing to the creature shown in the picture. These eyes, whose size is only 1 mm (0.04
inches), allow the creature to escape from its enemies. 21
Every one of these tiny eyes of the scallop has its own lens and retina. The lenses
of these eyes are for collecting and focusing light. Yet, these creatures lack a visual
center in their brains. In other words, the images focused by their eyes are not per-
ceived in the creature's brain in the way normal eyes see. Scientists studying the
scallops' eyes hypothesize that these eyes probably cannot form vision. What, then,
are these amazing eyes for?
Scallops use these eyes to discriminate light from dark, thus enabling them to
move from sandy areas towards grass flats. Furthermore, their millimeter-sized
eyes are sensitive enough to allow the scallops to sense movements taking place
around them. Using this valuable ability, the scallop can make an escape from its
predators.
The eyes of the scallop have characteristics which meet its needs in its environ-
ment, and there is an obvious design in the formation of these eyes. The eyes are
lined up on the outer part of the shell in a way that enables the creature to perceive
the outer world. The harmony, order and plan which surround the whole universe
from undersea crustaceans to birds, from the systems in trees to stars, are certainly
the work of a planner, a designer. Allah introduces Himself to us with the detailed
designs that He created in the creatures. What people who are wise perceive is the
boundless power of Allah that manifests itself everywhere, from atoms to galaxies,
and that they must turn towards Allah only. In the Qur'an, people are reminded of
Magnificence Everywhere Do not call on any other god along with Allah. There is no god but
this in the following way:

Him. All things are passing except His Face. Judgement belongs to
Him. You will be returned to Him. (Surat al-Qasas: 88)

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