Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge & Truth — Page 469
NATURAL SELECTION AND SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST. Let us begin with the Quranic account of a mosquito which is so different from that of all other animals. It is the only animal which is mentioned with an emphatic denial that its creation could present any cause for embarrassment to its Creator. Thus declares the Quran: إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَسْتَحْيَ أَنْ يُضرِبَ مَثَلًا مَّا بَعُوضَةً فَمَا فَوْقَهَا 2:27. Allah does not feel shy (or embarrassed) at mentioning the example of a mosquito because of what is carried above it . . . ". Here the word ( 5 ) fauq literally means ‘above”. *. Yet other translators have not employed its literal meaning. . The evident reason why they did not do so is because they had no knowledge that mosquitoes do carry things above them. . The following are some of the questions which stir the reader's mind. At least the author has always been intrigued by the implied message of this verse. . The very first question which stirs the mind is why should God deny any cause to be ashamed of for creating mosquitoes. Nowhere else in the Quran is such a denial made in relation to any other creation; everywhere it is mentioned with pride. Is the exceptional treatment of the mosquito's creation, as found in this verse, indicative of the fact that the Quran draws the attention of the reader to the apparent worthlessness of the mosquito? The denial of an element of shame or embarrassment related to the creation of a worthless thing is in fact a denial of worthlessness itself. The denial invites the attention of man to reconsider 452 *. See Al-Munjad and Al-Mufradāt Lil-Raghib