Page 48 - Allah is Known through Reason

exist outside and that they could fall a prey to them, that the sand is
scorching because of the sun, that this could harm them, and that they
must rush to the sea. So, how does this conscious conduct come about?
The only answer to this question is that these hatchlings have been
somehow 'programmed' to behave in this way, which means that their
Creator has inspired in them the instinct that helps them protect their lives.

Bombardier Beetle
The bombardier beetle is an insect on which an enormous amount of
research has been done. The trait that renders this insect so popular is that
it uses chemical methods to protect itself from its enemies.
In moments of danger, the insect squirts hydrogen peroxide and
hydroquinone stored in its body towards the enemy to protect itself. Prior
to battle, specialised structures called secretory lobes make a very concen-
trated mixture of these two chemicals. The mixture is stored in a separate
compartment called the storage
chamber. This compartment is
connected to a second one
called the explosion chamber.
The two compartments are kept
separate from one another by a
sphincter muscle. The moment
the insect senses danger, it
squeezes the muscles surround-
ing the storage chamber while
Hydroquinone
simultaneously relaxing the
sphincter muscle, and the chem-
ical in the storage chamber is
transferred to the explosion
chamber. A large quantity of Hydrogen
Peroxide Explosion
heat is released and a vaporisa-
Chamber
tion occurs. The released vapour The dis-
charge of the
and the oxygen gas exert pres- chemical at
0
sure on the walls of the explo- 100 C.

48 Allah is Known Through Reason