Creatures found in soil and their importance:
The incredible thing about the Earth’s soil is that one cubic meter of the soil that we use for farming contains more than 200,000 spider-worms, 100,000 insects, 300 usual soil-worms, and thousands of millions of germs and other microscopic creatures. Another incredible thing is that one gram of soil contains several billions of bacteria that are microscopic creatures of different shapes: flat, round, screw, some of which need Oxygen while sh3er do not, some of which are bare while sh3er are covered with fringes that enable them to move. Such a factory is in constant action and performs functions that still remain very much of a mystery. But what are the functions of such tiny creatures?
In fact, scientists know only a few of these functions, while a great many functions are still very much of a mystery. Moreover, this constantly moving factory does jobs that are most important and useful for man. Even if mankind were exterminated, life would still continue to exist on the Earth; but if these tiny creatures were exterminated, life on the Earth would be impossible. Therefore, the existence of such creatures is more serious that that of mankind. Everything that we eat comes, in one way or another, from plants. Even meat comes from plants, since all grass-eating animals feed on the different kinds of plants. In this context, Allah, All-Mighty, says,
“It is He (Allah) Who produces for you, out of the green trees, fire when, behold, you kindle therewith.”
[XXXVI; 80]
How did scholars interpret the word green:
Religious scholars were confused by Allah’s Word “green” in the above Quranic Verse: How is it possible that trees are green yet they are used for burning fire?! Trees do not burn unless they are dried up, so why does Allah, All-High, say,
“out of the green trees”?!
Some scholars, however, say that the word “green” refers to the scientific fact that trees do not become trees without their green leaves, which are the essence of their existence. Moreover, the growth of plants is based on a process called “photosynthesis”. Without sunlight or water it would be impossible for plants to exist. In other words sunlight, water and carbon dioxide, with which Allah, Most Gracious, provides the Earth’s atmosphere, are necessary for the growth of plants; and leaves of trees are real factories wherein are made the basic elements of plants as well as all other organic substances.
In Autumn, leaves fall off trees and are scattered by the wind all over the soil of the Earth and are devoured by billions of microscopic creatures, which, in turn become food for other more developed creatures, namely bacteria. This three-stage process needs air; but how does air get into the Earth’s soil? This is the job of worms and other creatures, such as rodents and snakes that live in the Earth’s soil! If such creatures were exterminated, no plants would exist on the Earth!
Worms devour soil and produce fertilizers; and Allah, Alone, knows how many tons of fertilizers worms produce in one single hectare or square kilometer!
It is indeed a marvelous universe; it is really an All-Mighty Creator; and it is a Religion of utmost wisdom! So where shall we go?! What diverts us from our Lord, Allah, Glory to Him, and His Religion of Islamic Monotheism?! Such are only a few magnificent cosmic facts, but there are still too many sh3er, for Allah, All-Mighty, says,
“And of knowledge, you (mankind) have been given only a little.”
[XVII; 85]
and,
“And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills.”
[II; 255]
In one single gram of soil there are several billions of bacteria! What happens inside the Earth’s soil?! No one but Allah, Alone, knows! Marvelous factories, creatures, processes, and functions are in constant action in the Earth’s soil, while we are heedless of their occurrence. All we have to do is to pluck the fruits, reap the harvests and eat them, while Allah, Most Merciful, disposes with our affairs for our own benefit:
“And if you count the blessings of Allah, never will you be able to count them.”
[XIV; 34]
Beyond a shadow of doubt, Allah, Most Gracious, created the Earth and all the things existing on, in, and above it so that we may get to know Him. Once we have known Him, we accomplish the ultimate goal for which we have been created! But if we fail to know Him, what a great loss! To this effect, Allah, Most Merciful, says,
“Lest a person should say: ‘Alas! My grief that I was undutiful to Allah!’”
[XXXIX; 56]
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of Creations