Part 37

The blood albumin plays a vital part in preserving water in the blood; it strongly attracts water inside the blood vessels. If albumin decreases in the blood, water diffuses out of the vessels and is trapped between cells and blood. This condition causes swelling of the body and can start several other diseases. At times of wars and famines, this condition is the main reason for the swollen bellies or other parts of the human body.

The body suffers very much if it loses large amounts of water for any reason. The first danger is the drying up of water stored between blood and cells. Then, the blood gradually dries up. The greatest danger, however, comes later when the cells begin to dry up. When this happens, extreme thirst and dryness of skin occur. Often, it is accompanied by vomiting that further increases dryness and causes the eyes to sink.

When people die of cholera, the cholera microbe is not the fatal factor; it is rather and an excessive loss of body liquid, a condition usually called dehydration. If the body is supplied water in time, it shows a miraculous recovery. Supplied water the proper amount of saline is sometimes almost like injecting new life in the body.

Since dehydration or the severe loss of body liquid can be fatal, good hospitals have separate sections or units to regulate water in the body. In fact, a special science in medicine, the science of water scale, has appeared.

Fortunately, the human body is quite adept in controlling any imbalance in its substances. If, for any reason, a particular substance gets out of control, its excess or shortage can become a killing poison for the body. And water, that is the source of life, is no exception.

In normal conditions, the body is not poisoned by water, because a number of organs and glands guard it from any such accident. Yet, poisoning by water can occur in some cases. For example, it can occur if someone has taken in a huge amount of water alongwith food having high quantities of salt in it. The first symptom in such a case will be acute head and muscular cramps. These are, then, followed by vomiting and diarrhea. Thus the body tries to reduce the excess of water by its own regulatory mechanisms. The distribution of water in the body may also be disturbed, and the result of any such disturbance is not less serious than that of imbalance in quantity. In this condition, cells are distended with water while dryness spreads around them, This dryness may even destroy the cells while they are flooded with the surrounding water, water that is at their door but cannot offer them any help.

So glory be to Him Who set the balance in your body, a balance that operates without your being conscious of it! This is not the place to elaborate these topics. The point here is to realize that one’s life depends on a little bit of water that may not be of any worth in comparison to another amenity. It is to appreciate the extent of Allah’s mercy, when He willed that right amounts of water and air are available to every living thing. It is another of His blessings that the most vital thing is the most available and is the cheapest. Allah Says:

“And we made from the water every living thing.” (21:30)

The stability of the earth

Reflect also on the earth, how it is held stable, from the day the Lord created it, so that it forms a habitation and settlingplace for animals, plants and objects. It is by this that animals and men are enabled to move about on it, pursuing whatever they like of their interests and needs; taking rest when they like, and going to sleep on it, getting refreshment enough to resume their endeavours. If it were unstable or swaying they would not be able to find peace or comfort upon its surface; no building would stand on it, and no industry or commerce could be performed; agriculture or craft would not be possible. How could humans lead a happy life with the ground swaying beneath their feet? You may take an inkling of what such a state can cause by observing the devastation caused by earthquakes, despite the brevity of time they last. You see how, when this happens, humans are forced to desert their homes and flee from them. In this context the Qur’an says:

“And He has cast into the earth firm hills that it quake not with you,” (16: 15);

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“Allah it is Who appointed for you the mA fora dwelling-place,” (40: 64);

[or sab] €.. BRIE SE lp “Who has appointed the earth as a bed,” (20: 53). Instead of ‘bed’, (1: Lai] 44%} (78: 6) Allah says it is ‘an expanse’ in another chapter.

There is also a tradition of the Prophet # reported by Al-Tirmidhi, among others. In it, Anas reports the Prophet ¥ as saying:

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“When Allah created the earth it started to sway, and so he created the mountains, and mounted them on its surface, and so it was stabilized. The angels were amazed at the firmness of mountains, and so they asked: ‘Is there any of Your creations firmer than mountains, O Lord?’ ‘Yes,’ He said: ‘iron.’ ‘And is there any of Your creation firmer than iron?’ they asked. ‘Yes,’ He said: ‘fire.’ ‘And is there any of Your creation firmer than fire, O Lord?’ they asked. ‘Yes,’ He said, ‘wind.’ ‘And is there any of Your creation firmer than wind, O Lord?’ ‘Yes,’ He said: ‘A human who gives a charity with his right hand, hiding it from his left hand.’ ”'

Think also of the great wisdom embodied in the earth’s being soft and solid at the same time. If it were too soft, sloppy like mud, no structure could be built, and no animal could walk on its surface; it would cease to be habitable. If it were too hard, like a stone, it would not be suitable for cultivation or planting; it would not be possible to plow it and sow it; it would not be possible to bore wells in it or to erect structures on its surface. It is

‘ Reported by Ahamd and Al-Tirmidhi. Rated by Al-Albanee as of ‘weak’ authenticity.

neither hard like stones, nor sloppy like mud. By the wisdom of its Creator, it is perfectly balanced, a convenient place for animals, in a moderate state between softness and hardness, in a way that realizes all interests.

The diversity of climates

Reflect also on the great wisdom of the Lord when He willed that the blowing of winds is higher in the north than it is in the south, so that water should flow on the surface of land, irrigating and watering; and then it overflows and pours into the sea. It is as a builder, when he builds a roof, raises one side of it, and lowers the opposite side, to let water run in the direction of the lower side. If it were level, water would stay still on it and would ruin the roof. And so it is with the blowing of wind in every territory — it is higher in the north than it is in the south. Had it not been so, water would stay still on the surface of land, impeding men’s striving to produce and seek their interests, blocking ways and paths, and causing harm to people. Is it right in the mind of any thinking human that such arrangement is the result of coincidence, without the designing of the Most Mighty, the Wise, Who did carefully all that He did?

Think now of the mountains, an amazing marvel which the ignorant take to be useless masses in the earth not serving any function — indeed they have so many benefits that no one _ but their Creator and Raiser can reckon. This reminds one of a tradition in which Dammam bin Tha‘labah asked the Prophet # on the day he entered the faith: ‘I ask you, by the name of the One who raised the mountains and endowed them with benefits, is it Allah who commanded you to do so and so?’

ed AUD ‘Oh Allah, yes,’ he answered.

Some of their benefits and uses are the following:

1. Snow falls on them, and stays at their peaks, supplying men with drinking water until it expires. It melts slowly, forming gushing streams, rivers and brooks. From this, a variety of plants, fruits and medical crops grow in hills and lawns that are different from the plants of planes and deserts. If there were no mountains, snow would fall on level ground, melting there in a short time, serving no benefit. Besides, it would cause torrential floods which would destroy everything in their way. This would cause great hardships for people, and a_ lot of bad consequences that could not be averted.

2. Caves, depressions and supports in their peaks and crests serve as castles and strongholds. They also are used as shelters for humans and animals.

3. Stones are hewn from mountains and chiseled for various buildings and structures, and for grinding.

4. Minerals and precious stones are hidden beneath them, varying from gold, silver, copper, iron and lead to aquamarine, emerald and many other minerals which no human can count in full. Some minerals are so precious that a handful of them is more valuable than many times their equivalent in gold. They are of such great benefits that no one but the Creator, glorified be His name, can reckon.

5. Mountains break the rage of violent winds, soften their sharpness, and prevent them from lashing on the areas beyond them with their full force. Therefore, you find the dwellers in their shade sheltered from violent, harmful winds.

6. They divert floods descending in their beds, directing them to the right or to the left. Otherwise, floods would have destroyed all in their way. Mountains, in this case, are functioning like ramparts and safeguards.

7. They work as landmarks that indicate ways. They do the functions of man-made signs that direct travellers. They have indeed been called landmarks in the Qur’an, in the following verse:

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“And of His portents are the ships, like mountains,

In the above verse, ‘jawaree’ are ships, and ‘a‘lam’ are mountains. The word is used here in the sense used by the poetess Al-Khansa’ when she says, lamenting her deaced brother, Sakhr: