The Miraculous Camel: Islamic Insights on Creation and Divine Wisdom

Camel:

There is no doubt that all creatures, with their abilities, demonstrate the limitless power and knowledge of their Creator. The Most Forbearing reveals this in various verses of the Quran, indicating that everything He created is indeed a sign, a symbol, and a reminder.

In Surah Al-Ghaashiyah, verse 17, The Most Forbearing refers to a creature that we should study and contemplate carefully, that is the camel.

In this section, we will study the living creature that The Most Forbearing presents in the expression of the Quran.

What makes the camel a "special living being" is its body structure, which remains unaffected by even the harshest natural conditions. Its body has several unique features that enable the camel to survive for days without water and food, and it can carry loads of hundreds of kilograms for days.

The characteristics of the camel, which we will explore in detail in the following pages, prove that this animal was created specifically for arid climate conditions and was provided to serve humans. These are clear signs of creation for those who reflect.

Protected Head from Sand:

Its eyelashes have a hooking system. In danger, these lashes automatically close. The interlocked eyelashes prevent dust particles from entering the eyes.

The nose and ears are covered with long hair to protect them from dust and sand.

Its long neck allows it to reach and eat leaves that are 3 meters above the ground.

Adaptable Feet for All Types of Terrain:

Its feet have two toes connected by elastic pads. This structure, which enables the camel to grip the ground tightly, consists of four fatty pads. It's well-suited for various types of terrain.

Its hooves protect the feet from potential impact damage.

Its knees are covered with calluses, which are formed from tough, thickened skin. When the camel lies down on hot sand, these calluses protect it from injuries caused by the scorching ground surface.

Camel Hump as Food Reserve:

The camel's hump, which is a mound of fat, provides a nutritional reserve for the animal periodically when it faces food scarcity and hunger. With this system, a camel can survive up to three weeks without water. During this time, the camel loses about 33% of its body weight. In the same conditions, a human would lose 8% of their body weight and could die within 36 hours, losing all their body's water.

Thick Fur that Shields from Heat:

This thick fur consists of dense and coarse hair that not only protects the camel's body from both cold and hot weather conditions but also reduces water loss from its body. A Dromedary camel can slow down water evaporation by increasing its body temperature up to 41°C. This way, it prevents water loss.

With its thick fur, the camel can survive temperatures of up to 50°C in the summer and down to -50°C in the winter.

They Can Even Eat Thorns:

Dromedary camels can survive at temperatures as low as -52°C in the highest regions of Central Asia.

Extraordinary Endurance Against Hunger and Thirst:

Camels can endure without food and water for eight days at a temperature of 50°C. During this time, they lose about 22% of their total body weight. While a human would be near death if they lose water equivalent to 12% of their body weight, a skinny camel can survive even after losing water equivalent to 40% of its total body weight. Another reason for its endurance against thirst is a mechanism that allows the camel to raise its internal body temperature up to 41°C. As a result, it can minimize water loss in the extreme hot desert climate during the daytime. Camels can also lower their internal body temperature down to 30°C during cold nights in the desert.

Efficient Water Usage:

Camels can drink up to 30 liters of water, about one-third of their body weight, in less than 10 minutes. Additionally, camels have a mucous membrane structure in their noses that is a hundred times larger than that of humans. With this large and curved mucous membrane, camels can absorb 66% of the moisture present in the air.

Maximizing Food and Water Utilization:

Most animals die from poisoning when urea that accumulates in the kidneys diffuses into the blood. However, camels maximize their use of water and food by repeatedly passing urea through their livers. The blood and cell structure of camels are designed to enable them to live for a long time without water in desert conditions.

The cell walls of these animals have a specialized structure that prevents excessive water loss. Additionally, the blood composition prevents the slowdown of blood circulation, even when the amount of water in a camel's body decreases to the minimum limit. Furthermore, camel blood contains more albumin enzymes that enhance resistance to thirst compared to the blood of other creatures.

The hump is another support for the camel. One-fifth of the camel's total body weight is stored as fat in the hump. Storing body fat in only one part of the body prevents water loss from the entire body—associated with fat. This enables camels to use water minimally.

Although capable of consuming 30-50 kg of food a day, in harsh conditions, camels can survive for a month on just 2 kg of grass per day. Camels have strong, rubber-like lips that allow them to eat thorns sharp enough to penetrate their thick skin. Additionally, camels have a four-chambered stomach and a very strong digestive system capable of breaking down anything they eat. They can even consume substances like rubber, which can't be considered food. The importance of this quality in such dry climates is evident.

Protection Against Tornado Winds:

A camel's eye has two layers of eyelashes. These eyelashes interlock like traps and protect its eyes from strong sandstorms. Additionally, camels can close their nostrils, preventing sand from entering.

Protection Against Harsh Heat and Freezing Weather:

The impenetrable thick fur on a camel's body prevents the scorching desert sun from reaching its skin. This fur also keeps the camel warm in freezing weather conditions. Desert camels are unaffected by temperatures up to 50°C, and Bactrian camels with two humps can survive temperatures as low as -50°C. These camels can survive even in highland valleys, 4000 meters above sea level.

Protection Against Burning Sand:

Camel's feet, which are disproportionately large for their legs, are specially "designed" and widened to help them walk on sand without sinking. Their feet have broad, bulbous soles. Furthermore, the thick skin under their feet acts as protection against scorching sand.

Let's ponder upon this information: Did it adapt to the desert conditions on its own? Did it form the mucous layer in its nose or the hump on its back on its own? Did it independently design its nose and eye structure to protect itself from tornado winds and storms? Did it design its own blood and cell structure based on water-saving principles? Did it choose the type of fur that covers its body? Did it transform itself into a "desert ship"?

Like other living creatures, a camel clearly cannot do any of these things on its own and make itself useful to humans. The verse in the Quran  directs our attention to the remarkable creation of this animal in the best form. Like other creatures, camels are endowed with many exceptional qualities and placed on Earth as signs of the greatness of the Creator.

Camels were created with these extraordinary physical characteristics to serve humanity. Humans themselves are obligated to observe the creation throughout the universe and submit to the Creator of all beings: The Most Forbearing.