Signs & Science: The Example of The Fly

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يٰۤـاَيُّهَا النَّاسُ ضُرِبَ مَثَلٌ فَاسۡتَمِعُوۡا لَهٗ ؕ اِنَّ الَّذِيۡنَ تَدۡعُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰهِ لَنۡ يَّخۡلُقُوۡا ذُبَابًا وَّلَوِ اجۡتَمَعُوۡا لَهٗ ؕ وَاِنۡ يَّسۡلُبۡهُمُ الذُّبَابُ شَيۡــًٔـا لَّا يَسۡتَـنۡـقِذُوۡهُ مِنۡهُ ؕ ضَعُفَ الطَّالِبُ وَالۡمَطۡلُوۡبُ‏ ٧٣

O men! Here is a parable set forth! listen to it! Those on whom, besides Allah, ye call, cannot create (even) a fly, if they all met together for the purpose! and if the fly should snatch away anything from them, they would have no power to release it from the fly. Feeble are those who petition and those whom they petition!

— A. Yusuf Ali

اے لوگو ! ایک مثال بیان کی جاتی ہے پس اسے ذرا توجہّ سے سنو یقیناً (تمہارے وہ معبود) جنہیں تم اللہ کے سوا پکارتے ہو ایک مکھی بھی تخلیق نہیں کرسکتے اگرچہ وہ سب اس کے لیے اکٹھے ہوجائیں اور اگر مکھی ان سے کوئی چیز چھین لے جائے تو یہ اس سے وہ چیز چھڑا نہیں سکتے کس قدر کمزور ہے طالب بھی اور مطلوب بھی

(بیان القرآن (ڈاکٹر اسرار احمد —

[Al-Quran, Surah alHajj, ayat 73]

The Quran presents the example of the fly:

this example is presented towards the conclusion of Surah alHajj (the pilgrimage)
the surah mentions Allah's ancient house (the Kaaba in Makkah)
the surah mentions sacrifice of the cattle Allah has especially sent for humans
the surah begins with the warning of the great earthquake of The Hour, such that:

every female will stop nursing
every pregnant female will deliver
humans will seem intoxicated, even though they won't be intoxicated
the torment of Allah will be severe

the surah details the stages of human development from dust to spermdrop to death
and draws attention to the water being sent to give vegetative life to dead land
Allah is the Reality, He gives life to the dead, and He has control over all things
The Hour is coming, and so is Resurrection
this has been sent down (Quran):

containing clear signs, and
Allah guides whom He Wills

don't you see that everyone prostates to Allah ...
forbids polytheism
commanded Abraham purification of the House for those circumambulating, for those standing, and bowing-prostrating
announce Hajj, people will come from everywhere
for every ummah a rite of sacrifice has been appointed to pronounce the Name of Allah upon the sacrificial cattle He has provided for them, you have only One God, so submit to Him, and give good news to those who humble themselves
those whose hearts tremble at the remembrance of Allah, and who patiently endure whatever befalls them, and they establish prayer, and from whatever we have provided for them, they spend (يُنۡفِقُوۡنَ‏)

The Pilgrimage (22:36)

وَٱلْبُدْنَ جَعَلْنَـٰهَا لَكُم مِّن شَعَـٰٓئِرِ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ فِيهَا خَيْرٌۭ ۖ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا صَوَآفَّ ۖ فَإِذَا وَجَبَتْ جُنُوبُهَا فَكُلُوا۟ مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا۟ ٱلْقَانِعَ وَٱلْمُعْتَرَّ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ سَخَّرْنَـٰهَا لَكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ٣٦

The sacrificial camels we have made for you as among the symbols from Allah: in them is (much) good for you: then pronounce the name of Allah over them as they line up (for sacrifice): when they are down on their sides (after slaughter), eat ye thereof, and feed such as (beg not but) live in contentment, and such as beg with due humility: thus have We made animals subject to you, that ye may be grateful.

— A. Yusuf Ali

اور قربانی کے اونٹوں کو ہم نے تمہارے لیے شعائر اللہ میں سے بنایا ہے تمہارے لیے ان میں بھلائی ہے تو تم ان پر اللہ کا نام لو انہیں صفوں میں کھڑا کر کے تو جب ان کے پہلو زمین پر ٹک جائیں تو اب اس میں سے خود بھی کھاؤ اور قناعت سے بیٹھ رہنے والے اور سوال کرنے والے کو بھی کھلاؤ اسی طرح ہم نے ان کو تمہارے لیے ّ مسخر کردیا ہے تاکہ تم شکر ادا کرو

(بیان القرآن (ڈاکٹر اسرار احمد) —

[Al-Quran, Surah alHajj, Ayat 36]

Cattle and The Camels (وَٱلْبُدْنَ) have been especially tamed for humans. We could not have done it, had Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى not subjugated them for us. They have been humbled for us. We should humble ourselves.

and in the ayat about the fly, it states:

listen carefully
Those on whom, besides Allah, ye call, cannot create (even) a fly, if they all met together for the purpose
and if the fly should snatch away anything from them, they would have no power to release it from the fly
Feeble are those who petition and those whom they petition

... اِنَّ الَّذِيۡنَ تَدۡعُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰهِ لَنۡ يَّخۡلُقُوۡا ذُبَابًا وَّلَوِ اجۡتَمَعُوۡا لَهٗ ...

... Those on whom, besides Allah, ye call, cannot create (even) a fly (ذُبَابًا), if they all met together for the purpose ...

There are many studies being conducted to understand the fly. This tiny creature, with all its simplicity and complexity, is a wonder of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى 's creation.

There is the house fly, the fruit flies, and several more types of true flies, classified as Order Diptera. It is one of the largest insect orders with more than a hundred thousand species. However this classification includes mosquitoes, whereas The Quran presents the example of the mosquito (بَعُوۡضَةً) separately.

Then, there are robber flies.

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... وَاِنۡ يَّسۡلُبۡهُمُ الذُّبَابُ شَيۡــًٔـا لَّا يَسۡتَـنۡـقِذُوۡهُ مِنۡهُ ...

... and if the fly should snatch away anything from them, they would have no power to release it from the fly ...

Flies, particularly house flies, are notoriously difficult to catch. The reason being that they see slower, much slower, and move faster, much faster. Allah has given them this ability to see in slow motion, such that they can process each movement of the opponent in detail, rapidly, and move away accordingly.

For example, when a fan is on, we cannot put our hands through it without the risk of being harmed. However, if we could see it in slow-motion, and move much faster than we can, we might be able to pass through its rotating blades without touching them.

So, flies experience time differently, much slower than us. Scientists theorise that it is perhaps because of their tiny size. Now, that is something that needs to be understood, before we can even begin comprehending the different worlds of different creatures. This means they can gather more information per second than larger creatures. This helps them make good decisions very quickly, which is essential for their survival.

The eyes of flies are biologically different from human eyes. It is a different system altogether. This is an image of a fruit fly's eye and part of its brain:

Attribution: Eye on the Fly

A study conducted on urban and desert species of fruit flies found that they employ different navigation tactics. They have been found to have super resolution stereo vision. In spite of their tiny size and simplicity, they have a complex symphony of vision. Colour-vision, motion-vision, the integration and successful processing of the information is crucial and remarkable. Observations have revealed that there exist also eyeless fruit flies. Furthermore, genetic research and experimentations has led to eyes popping up on the flies' legs, wings and other parts of their body. Legs have grown in place of antennae. What a mess! Human efforts to tinker with creation simply results in corruption of creation. The trouble with us humans is that we don't know where to stop. It is one thing appreciating the diversity and complexity of nature, while giving credit to Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى the Creator who gives everything its form, and it is another thing to tinker with and ruin creation. We may be able to stop and/or reverse the mess we induce in other creatures, but who will correct us if/when we mutate ourselves? The Deen-e-Qayimah specifically forbids change in Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى 's creation (Q30:30).

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Fly hearing is another wonder. Recent researches have discovered that they have an acute sense of hearing, and can probably hear better than humans.

Flies have been found to intelligently choose / avoid stimuli that please / annoy them. That is, they also have preferences.

Studies have found that flies can experience chronic pain, which involves the nervous system.

Flies have also been demonstrated to learn from experience, and consequently learn pain relief.

Flies have been observed to try to rescue their fellow fly from the clutch of a predator.

Flies cleanse themselves by rubbing their 'hands' and legs. It is crucial for them to keep themselves clean.

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The robber fly preys on the fruit fly and other small insects, just about anything it can catch:

Robber fly (Promachus leoninus) with honeybee prey

Attribution: Wikipedia By Charles J. Sharp - Own work, from Sharp Photography, sharpphotography.co.uk, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=122473893

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ضَعُفَ الطَّالِبُ وَالۡمَطۡلُوۡبُ ...

... Feeble are those who petition and those whom they petition!

Both the seeker and the sought, the petitioner and the petitioned, are weak.

The example of the fly is mentioned in Surah al-Hajj, which means 'The Pilgrimage' to Kaaba, the ancient house, that Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى asked Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام) to announce pilgrimage to. Historically, a huge army of elephants was being led towards the Kaaba to destroy it. The Quran, Surah al-Fil (The Elephants) mentions how the army was annihilated. See Surah al-Fil and its tafsir.

Even the huge elephants, worshipped in some cultures, hopelessly try to swat flies with their feeble tail. Polytheists worship a variety of representations of what they consider divine. For example, the photo in this news from India dated 10 January 2023.

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After presenting the example of the tiny fly, Surah alHajj goes on to state:

they haven't made a just estimate of Allah as He deserves

He is Qawi (Powerful) Aziz (Mighty)

Allah has chosen messengers from angels, and from humans

Indeed, Allah is Sami (Hearer), Baseer (Seer)

He knows what is before and what is behind them

and to Allah are all matters returned

O you Believers, bow and prostrate, and worship your Rabb (Lord-Sustainer), and do good

so that you prosper

and strive for Allah as is His Right to be striven for ...

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱرْكَعُوا۟ وَٱسْجُدُوا۟ وَٱعْبُدُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ وَٱفْعَلُوا۟ ٱلْخَيْرَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ۩ ٧٧

O believers! Bow down, prostrate yourselves, worship your Lord, and do ˹what is˺ good so that you may be successful.

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran

O ye who believe! bow down, prostrate yourselves, and adore your Lord; and do good; that ye may prosper.

— A. Yusuf Ali

اے ایمان کے دعوے دارو ! جھک جاؤ اور سر بسجود ہوجاؤ اور اپنے رب کی بندگی کرو اور نیک کام کرو تاکہ تم فلاح پاؤ

( بیان القرآن (ڈاکٹر اسرار احمد —

وَجَـٰهِدُوا۟ فِى ٱللَّهِ حَقَّ جِهَادِهِۦ ۚ هُوَ ٱجْتَبَىٰكُمْ وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِى ٱلدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍۢ ۚ مِّلَّةَ أَبِيكُمْ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ۚ هُوَ سَمَّىٰكُمُ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ مِن قَبْلُ وَفِى هَـٰذَا لِيَكُونَ ٱلرَّسُولُ شَهِيدًا عَلَيْكُمْ وَتَكُونُوا۟ شُهَدَآءَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ ۚ فَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱعْتَصِمُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ هُوَ مَوْلَىٰكُمْ ۖ فَنِعْمَ ٱلْمَوْلَىٰ وَنِعْمَ ٱلنَّصِيرُ ٧٨

Strive for ˹the cause of˺ Allah in the way He deserves, for ˹it is˺ He ˹Who˺ has chosen you, and laid upon you no hardship in the religion—the way of your forefather Abraham. ˹It is Allah˺ Who named you ‘the ones who submit’1 ˹in the˺ earlier ˹Scriptures˺ and in this ˹Quran˺, so that the Messenger may be a witness over you, and that you may be witnesses over humanity. So establish prayer, pay alms-tax, and hold fast to Allah. He ˹alone˺ is your Guardian. What an excellent Guardian, and what an excellent Helper!

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran

[1] i.e., Muslims.

And strive in His cause as ye ought to strive, (with sincerity and under discipline). He has chosen you, and has imposed no difficulties on you in religion; it is the cult of your father Abraham. It is He Who has named you Muslims, both before and in this (Revelation); that the Messenger may be a witness for you, and ye be witnesses for mankind! So establish regular Prayer, give regular Charity, and hold fast to Allah! He is your Protector - the Best to protect and the Best to help!

— A. Yusuf Ali

اور جہاد کرو اللہ کے لیے جیسا کہ اس کے لیے جہاد کا حق ہے اس نے تمہیں چن لیا ہے اور دین کے معاملے میں تم پر کوئی تنگی نہیں رکھی تمہارے جدّ امجد ابراہیم ؑ کی ملت اسی نے تمہارا نام مسلم رکھا ہے اس سے پہلے بھی (تمہارا یہی نام تھا) اور اس (کتاب) میں بھی ہے تاکہ پیغمبر تم پر گواہ ہو اور تم لوگوں پر گواہ ہو پس نماز قائم کرو اور زکوٰۃ ادا کرو اور اللہ کے ساتھ چمٹ جاؤ وہ تمہارا مولیٰ ہے تو کیا ہی اچھا ہے وہ مولیٰ اور کیا ہی اچھا ہے مددگار

( بیان القرآن (ڈاکٹر اسرار احمد —

[Al-Quran, Surah alHajj, ayaat 77-78]

The tiny fly contributes in diverse ways to the planet. It has the potential to harm, it has the potential to contaminate, yet it also pollinates plants, decomposes waste and dead matter, and contributes hugely to the ecosystem of the planet. It has its strength and its weaknesses.

We humans, and especially Adam عليه السلام and the progeny of Adam عليه السلام , have be created for 'khilafat'. We have a much larger role in the grand scheme of things. We also have the potential for good and evil. We have the example of Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام) as to what it means to be true to Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى . We need to try and live up to our role.

Also read:

Eight Pairs of Cattle

Related Web Links:

Britannica list of flies

BBC Why is it so hard to swat a fly?

hhmi Eye on the Fly

The Rockefeller University Fruit flies move their retinas much like humans move their eyes

UCLA Study discovers that fruit flies’ visual navigation tactics differ by environment

University of Sheffield Fruit flies have super resolution stereo vision

Max-Plank-G... Fruit fly's complex symphony of vision

ScienceDirect The photoreceptor array of the dipteran retina

ScienceDirect Mechanisms of vision in the fruit fly