Horses are but one sign of the signs of Allah in this world. These creatures that Allah mentions in the holy Qur’an are considered weird creatures that are worthy of meditation and we’re going to live with a new invention about the air-conditioned heads of horses…
Scientific News
Canadian scientists say that the heads of horseshave air conditioning systems that operate when their body temperature rises while running fast. According to a report of Canadian researchers that was published in the Nature Journal, horses have a special anatomy system at the bottom of the skull; this system cools the blood that gets to the brain. The head temperature of sport animals such as horses must remain less than forty degrees Celsius when exercising to the max otherwise they will suffer form brain damage.
The method through which horses perform this task remained a mystery for horses seemed to lack the normal thermoregulatory systems of other animals, but nowDr. Keith Baptiste and his colleagues at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada believe that they have solved that mystery. These researchers have discovered that carotid arteries that transits blood to the brain are surrounded by two boughs that contain some air (around 300-500 Mg of air) which comes from the respiratory system. Hence, when horses exercise and sweat, blood heat turns into these boughs.
Such guttural boughs were found in other animals that resemble horses such as zebra and monkeysas well as some kinds of bats and even in American forest mouse. Guttural boughs were first discovered in the heads of horses in 1756 and since then many theories attempted to know their functions.
Dr. Keith Baptiste says that in the eighteenth century some thought that these boughs help horses in swimming through carrying their heads above water and he asserts that these animals haven’t developed anatomically to master swimming for horses don’t swim well. It’s hard to imagine, therefore, that these boughs developed to carry out this function. These boughs must have a useful function because they endanger the health of horses for they are likely to be infected with bacteria and parasites that might be fatal. Thus, they must have a certain purpose.
The research team used sensors to measure temperature changes at three different positions, when the blood moves in the arteries and then through the guttural boughs and when it reaches the brain. These sensors were implanted in four horses and then these horses were exposed to a series of variant exercises. This experiment showed that the temperature has fallen after the blood passed though the guttural boughs. Dr. Keith Baptiste says that this discovery will force many to change their ideas about horse anatomy system.
Horses are considered as one of the most significant means of transportation that Allah has subjected to man over the years. Scientists confirm that if it weren’t for this developed air conditioning system in the heads of horses,they could have never been able to run fast. Allah, therefore, swears by the steeds, horses that walk and run fast. Allah has even revealed one complete surah about horses in the holy Qur’an, Adiyat as a way of honoring horses and to get us to realize his great graces so that we may praise him for them; Allah, the exalted says:
“By the (Steeds) that run, with panting (breath) (1) and strike sparks of fire (2) and push home the charge in the morning (3) and raise the dust in clouds the while (4) and penetrate forthwith into the midst (of the foe) En masse (5) truly Man is to his Lord, ungrateful (6) and to that (fact) he bears witness (By his deeds) (7) And violent is he in his love of wealth (8) Does he not know,—when that which is in the graves is scattered abroad (9) and that which is (Locked up) in (human) breasts is made manifest (10) that their Lord had been well-acquainted with them, (Even to) that Day?“Adiyat (1- 11)
Comment
Horses’ developed vital systems that are discovered by scientists contradict the theory that nature created itself for nature could never realize the needs of horses for such systems. The only explanation, accordingly, for the air-conditionedheads of horsesthat protect them from brain damage due to hyperthermia while running fast is that it’s a practical tangible evidence that Allah the creator who created these horses has known in advance the services horses would provide to man and that’s why he supplied them with such systems to guarantee that they won’t become extinct and so that they could function at peak efficiency. That’s why Allah says:
“And (He has created) horses, mules, and donkeys, for you to ride and use for show; and He has created (other) things of which ye have no knowledge.”Nahl or the Bees: 8
Man has used horses in battles and transportation and they were a reason for the spread of Islam; Allah says:
“Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies, of God and your enemies, and others besides, whom
ye may not know, but whom god doth know. Whatever ye shall spend in the Cause of God, shall be repaid unto you, and ye shall not be treated unjustly.”Anfal: 60
We should also remember that Prophet Mohammad told us that the good will remain (as a permanent quality)in the foreheads of horses. Hence, any scientific invention should be looked at from a scientific perspective and a faith perspective. The scientific look at it helps people know the inventions of scientists to make use of them in this world and the faith look aims at seeing Allah’s creatures and the mightof the creator through his creation and be aware of the graces of Allah about which he says:
“ And He giveth you of all that ye ask for but if ye count the favours of God, never will ye be able to number them verily, man is given up to injustice and ingratitude” Abraham: 34 (Ibid)
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By: Abduldaem Al-Kaheel
References:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/arabic/news/newsid_621000/621361.stm
