 
Chitin: A Perfect Coating Substance
 Insects are
among the most widespread and resilient creatures on Earth.
The reason for this is that they have been created so as to
be very resistant to many unfavorable conditions. One thing
that makes them so strong is the chitin substance which covers
their bodies.
Chitin is a very light, thin substance. For this reason, insects
have no difficulty in carrying it. Although this substance
covers an insect's body on the outside, it is so strong that
it could also serve the function of a skeleton and, at the
same time, is outstandingly flexible. It can move as the muscles
with ends connected to the insect's body from inside contract
and relax. This not only improves the rapid movement of the
insects but also buffers the impact of external blows. The
chitin layer is waterproof because of a special exterior coating.
It also prevents body liquids from leaking out. It is not
affected by the most difficult conditions, high temperature
or even radiation. Another property of this layer is that
it has a color, examples of which can be seen in the pictures,
that is the most suitable for the insect's environment. In
this way, the insect can live and avoid being noticed by its
enemies. Sometimes, the colors of this layer are so lively
that they even deter predators in the surrounding area.
This chitin, which constitutes the outer shell of most insects,
is a perfect material in terms of its strength, elasticity
and insulation properties. A substance possessing such remarkable
characteristics cannot but make one wonder, if airplanes and
spaceships were made from a substance possessing the characteristics
of chitin, what would they be like? In fact, the structure
of this substance is the stuff of aeronautical engineers'
dreams. Yet, mankind has never been able to match such an
advanced design, in spite of our technological developments.
Chitin, an equivalent of which is being sought after using
twentyfirst century technology, has existed ever since insects
came into being. This material, as mentioned above, is the
most ideal coating substance an insect can ever possess. It
is obviously impossible for this substance possessing the
ability to protect the creature against any kind of danger
to have come into existence by chance. No insect could have
produced such a protective material by using its own will.
Allah created this substance, which has a unique design, along
with the extraordinary attributes of the insects that it covers.
In the Qur'an, Allah draws our attention to His creations
in this way:
Among His Signs is the creation of
the heavens and earth and all the creatures He has spread
about in them. And He has the power to gather them together
whenever He wills. (Surat ash-Shura: 29)
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