  
The Striking Features Of Butterflies
 Look over
the butterflies' wings in the picture on the right as if you
were seeing them for the first time. Surely you will be filled
with admiration for such an aesthetic display, a symmetry
that is without the slightest flaw, the dazzling colors and
patterns. Now think of a piece of cloth. Assume that it is
a very beautiful piece of cloth of good quality that has been
woven with the inspiration of these butterflies' patterns.
What would you think if you saw such a piece of cloth in a
shop-window? Probably, the existence of an artist, who has
drawn the patterns of this cloth, taking the wings of a butterfly
as an inspiration while drawing them, springs into your mind,
and you appreciate his artistry. In this situation, you should
also appreciate this fact: the artistry you admire doesn't
belong to the person who draws the cloth pattern, taking butterflies
as his example, but to Allah, Who is the originator of the
patterns and colors of butterfly wings. The colorful wings
of butterflies with their wonderfully varied patterns are
magnificent manifestations of Allah's artistry in color. Just
as a pattern on a piece of cloth does not come into being
by chance, so is the color and pattern symmetry in the wings
so perfect that they could not have come into being coincidentally.
Moreover, the splendid wings are not the only striking features
of butterflies. The body design of butterflies is also perfect
in every respect. The butterflies take in nourishment by sucking
up nectar from flowers. Most butterflies have a long organ
called a proboscis which they use to reach a liquid that is
at some depth. A proboscis is a long tongue used to drink
water or to suck up nectar from flowers. The butterfly rolls
up its long tongue inwards when it isn't using it. This tongue
can be three times the length of a butterfly's body when unrolled.
Like other insects, the butterflies also have a skeleton that
covers the outer surface of their bodies. This outer or exoskeleton
is composed of hard plates connected by soft tissue, looking
like some sort of armor. The hard material is called "chitin."
The formation of this layer comes about through a very interesting
process. As is commonly known, caterpillars pass through a
rather complex process called metamorphosis. The caterpillar
first becomes a pupa and then turns into a butterfly. Throughout
this process of metamorphosis, slight changes occur in the
wings, antennae, legs and other body parts. Also, the cells
in different key areas such as the flight muscles and wings
re-organize themselves through every phase of metamorphosis.
Furthermore, along with these changes, almost all systems
in the body -the digestive system, excretory system, respiratory
system etc.- go through a process of immense change.
This diversity in design that butterflies have, as much as
their wings, belongs to Allah, the All-Powerful. Allah is
the One Who bestows every creature with the characteristics
it needs.
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