Page 120 - For Men of Understanding

ance that for millions of years, millions of species have been feeding on other
species, yet none of them have disappeared. If one of the important species
within the hunting chain became extinct, a great discord would be aroused. For
instance, if the anteater species became extinct, then ants would invade vast
areas in a very short time.
This predator-prey relationship between living things is carried out in great
harmony unless human beings intervene. The most important elements in the
system that maintains the perpetuity of this balance are the hunting and
defence mechanisms of these animals. In previous chapters, we saw that some
animals are created with very extraordinary hunting skills and thus are "pro-
vided". If nature were full of living beings equipped with such aggressive sys-
tems, then they would excessively devour those animals on which they prey
and cause them to be extinct. When those animals were exterminated, those
who feed on them would starve and nature would end in total destruction.
However, this problem is already settled within the system Allah estab-
lished. As "hunter" animals are equipped with perfect attack systems, prospec-

tive preys are also equipped with perfect defence systems. The skills of both
sides balance each other. In addition, these extraordinary skills give man the
opportunity to come to know the infinite might, wisdom and knowledge of
Allah, the Creator of all these skills.
Every living being is brought into being with distinct skills to defend itself.
Some are very swift; they can save themselves by running away. Some cannot
move but are covered with strong armour. Some have amazing "fear-creating"
skills like the caterpillar described earlier. Some pour poisonous, burning or
stinking gasses on their enemies. Still others are endowed with the ability to
pretend they are dead. There are yet others created with bodies that are extra-
ordinarily suitable for camouflage.
In the following pages, we will examine some of the most amazing and
striking examples of these defence systems. Needless to say, however, that
these are only specific examples and other living beings are endowed with
thousands of interesting systems that we cannot possibly mention here, some
of which even are not yet discovered by mankind. All of these systems reveal
that there is no "want of proportion" in the universe Allah created and that His
power, wisdom and knowledge are boundless, as Allah mentions in Surat al-
Mulk:
He Who created the seven heavens in layers. You will not find any
flaw in the creation of the All-Merciful. Look again - do you see any
gaps? Then look again and again. Your sight will return to you daz-
zled and exhausted! (Surat al-Mulk: 3-4)

118 For Men of Understanding