Page 121 - The World of Animals

You may be familiar with what has been described so far. But, there

is another piece of information about fish which will astonish you.

Larger fish usually need tiny cleaner fish to cleanse them of
parasites. Sometimes, these cleaner fish readily enter the mouth of a
much bigger fish without fear. They clean the teeth and gills of the

host fish, a service in return for which the host causes them no harm.

Well, how can the cleaner fish be sure that the big fish will not
suddenly swallow it? How does it know that the big fish will not
cause it any harm? How can it trust it? It is as if they had an

agreement. Let's assume that there exists such an agreement; how

could the little fish be sure that the host fish would not violate this
agreement and eat it, once it renders its services?
The truth is that the cleaner fish is always vulnerable to its host, but, 119

because Allah has inspired

both of them to co-exist,
neither does the big fish
cause harm to the cleaner

fish nor does the little fish

feel fear of the larger one.
The large fish is cleaned
while the little fish feeds on

the parasites it cleans. By

Allah's inspiration to them,
both of them lead their lives
in harmony and co-

operation.