The human body is one of the clearest manifestations of God's infinite knowledge, might and wisdom. Every detail, from its cells to its organs and from its nervous system to its circulatory network, has been created within an exceedingly delicate order. As science advances, these extraordinary systems in the human body are becoming more closely known, and the delicate balance in creation is being seen more clearly.
In the Qur'an, Almighty God reveals, "And in yourselves as well. Do you not then see?" (Surat adh-Dhariyat, 21)
Indeed, even when a person carefully examines only his own body, he encounters countless proofs displaying God's artistry in creation.
Remarkable Facts About the Human Body
• An adult human body contains approximately 100 trillion cells. Every cell possesses an exceedingly complex structure that performs its own particular duties.
• The human brain contains approximately 86 billion nerve cells (neurons). There are more than 100 trillion connections (synapses) between these neurons. This enormous network of the brain enables a person to think, learn, remember and feel.
• The DNA found in every cell is an extraordinary databank consisting of approximately 3 billion letters (base pairs). If all the DNA were laid end to end, it would reach a length of approximately 2 meters, and if all the DNA in the body were combined, the resulting distance would be even longer than the distance between the Sun and Earth.
• The heart beats an average of 100,000 times a day and pumps approximately 7,000-8,000 liters of blood.
• The total length of all the blood vessels in the body is approximately 100,000 kilometers. This distance is long enough to circle Earth two and a half times.
• The skin of an adult human covers an area of approximately 2 square meters and constitutes approximately 16% of body weight. The skin is completely renewed every 28 days.
• An adult human has 206 bones. In babies, this number is approximately 270; some bones fuse together as they grow.
• There are approximately 600 muscles in the body. The smallest muscle is the Stapedius muscle located in the middle ear, while the largest muscle is the buttock muscle (gluteus maximus).
• The human eye can perceive an image equivalent to a resolution of approximately 576 megapixels. The eye muscles move approximately 100,000 times a day.
• A person breathes an average of 20,000 times a day and inhales and exhales approximately 7 million times a year.
• Approximately 2 trillion immune cells (lymphocytes) constantly perform their duties to protect the body.
• Hair grows an average of 1 centimeter a month, while nails grow approximately 3 millimeters. There are an average of 100,000 strands of hair on the scalp.
Each one of these figures reveals only a small part of the extraordinary organization in the human body. The basis of this miraculous system consists of cells that are invisibly small, yet inspire admiration with their functions. Let us now examine this perfect order more closely, beginning with the smallest building block of the human body:
The Flawless Order Extending From Cells to Organs
The human body is an exceedingly complex structure consisting of approximately 100 trillion cells, each of which functions like a separate factory. Every cell contains a biological archive of information called DNA, consisting of approximately 3 billion letters. All the information necessary for the development of the human body, the formation of organs and cells to perform their duties is stored here.
The fact that the DNA in a single cell carries enough information to fill a 900-volume encyclopedia reveals God's infinite artistry, wisdom and knowledge in creation.
Every cell in our body functions like a city in itself, containing power plants, databanks, communication systems and protection mechanisms. This flawless order is too perfect to be explained by coincidences.
Every cell is a proof that our Lord is the One “Who creates everything in the finest manner.”
The Sense Organs and Nervous System: A Unique Communication Network
A person sees his surroundings with his eyes, hears with his ears, perceives odors with his nose, distinguishes tastes with his tongue and feels the touch with his skin. All this information is transmitted to the brain through the nervous system within milliseconds. The brain evaluates millions of incoming signals and perceives them as a single meaningful image, sound or sensation. This communication network is one of the most complex systems in the human body.
Consider how every time we open our eyes, we can instantly perceive colors, shapes and movements, hear sounds and distinguish odors. The fact that such complex processes take place continuously at every moment without any disruption is a manifestation of God's infinite might.
Every part of the system also shows us that God is the One “Who creates everything according to a measure.”
The Heart and Circulatory System: A Perfect Design for the Continuation of Life
The heart is a unique organ that works without stopping throughout a person's life.
By beating approximately 100,000 times a day, it carries blood through the blood vessels to every point in the body. While this blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the cells, it also enables the waste substances produced to be removed. Together with a vascular network approximately 100,000 kilometers long, the circulatory system provides uninterrupted service to every point in our body. A person continues his life, most of the time without even being aware of this.
Every part of this system reminds us that our Lord is the One “Who gives life and causes death.”
Reflecting with every breath that our heart works without ever stopping and that blood constantly flows through our vessels enables us to better understand God's mercy and might over us.
The Immune System: An Intelligent and Dynamic Army of Defense
Our body encounters millions of bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms every day. The immune system acts like an intelligent army, recognizes them, establishes the appropriate defense and neutralizes most of them before they cause disease.
The way immune cells communicate with one another, form memories and act in coordination when necessary is one of the most remarkable systems in the human body. This extraordinary order is a manifestation of God's mercy that protects His servants.
It is impossible for such a complex and conscious system to have come into being by chance.
The Digestive System: A Perfect Transformation Mechanism
The food we eat undergoes exceedingly delicate processes in the stomach and intestines, beginning in the mouth. Enzymes, hormones and digestive organs perform their duties at precisely the right time, transforming nutrients into a form the cells can use.
Most of the time, without being aware of it, a person benefits with every morsel from the blessings God has bestowed on him.
This wonderful system reminds us that God is “The best Provider.”
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The Skin: A Protective Shield
The skin is not merely a layer covering our body. It is one of our body's most important organs of defense. It provides protection against microbes, regulates body temperature and makes the sense of touch possible. Moreover, the skin constantly renews itself. Thanks to this renewal, the body always remains healthy and resilient.
It is possible to see in this miraculous system that God is “Every day engaged in some affair.”
The Brain and Memory
The brain, consisting of approximately 86 billion nerve cells, is the center of thought, learning, speech, movement, memory and emotions. Through our brain, we can remember an event we experienced years ago, learn new information and use it when necessary.
Scientists have still not been able to fully decipher all the principles by which the brain functions. This reveals what an awe-inspiring creation the human brain possesses.
The Hormonal System
Hormones produced by the endocrine glands perform duties in the regulation of growth, metabolism, reproduction, sleep, stress and mood. Although secreted in very small amounts, these molecules, which can affect the whole body, maintain the delicate balance in the human body.
A hormone weighing only a few milligrams regulates countless vital functions, from growth to sleep and from stress to happiness. The secretion of hormones at precisely the right time and in the correct amounts plays a vital role in maintaining the body's balance. This delicate balance is an enormous proof that God is the One “Who creates everything according to a measure.”
Reflecting on the fact that millions of chemical reactions take place within our body in perfect harmony, without our awareness, enables us to comprehend God's infinite might and wisdom more deeply.
The Muscular and Skeletal System
Approximately 600 muscles and 206 bones work together to enable us to move. Walking, running, writing and even smiling are made possible by dozens of muscles working together in harmony at the same time.
This entire system shows us that God is the One “Who has created all things in the best possible way.”
Reflecting while taking a step on how dozens of muscles and bones work simultaneously in flawless order leaves a person in admiration of the artistry in God's creation. Being able to move, run and walk is a great blessing bestowed on us by God. Most of the time, a person can only understand the value of these blessings when he loses them.
The Respiratory System: The Breath That Gives Life
A person breathes approximately 20,000 times every day.
While the lungs transfer oxygen to the blood, they expel carbon dioxide. This process continues flawlessly, night and day, without stopping throughout life. This perfect functioning of the respiratory system is a manifestation of God's attribute of “The Living, the All-Sustaining.”
Every breath is one of the greatest blessings God has bestowed on man.
In the Qur'an, Almighty God reveals:
“It is He Who has created hearing, sight and hearts for you. What little thanks you show!” (Surat al-Mu`minun, 78)
Conclusion: The Human Body Is a Unique Proof of God's Creation
The human body possesses an awe-inspiring creation in every respect, from its cells to its organs and from its neural networks to its circulatory system. As science advances, new details in the human body are discovered, and the delicate balance in creation is better understood.
For a believer, these discoveries are a means of becoming more closely acquainted with God's artistry in creation. That is because every organ, every cell and every system in our body is one of the countless proofs displaying our Lord's knowledge, might and mercy.
As revealed in the Qur'an, “He Who has created all things in the best possible way. He commenced the creation of man from clay.” (Surah As-Sajdah, 7)
In another verse, Almighty God reveals:
"In the heavens and earth there are certainly Signs for the believers. And in your creation and all the creatures He has spread about there are Signs for people with certainty." (Surah Al-Jathiyah, 3-4)
When a person reflects on this flawless order functioning within his own body, he better understands the countless blessings God has bestowed on him and more deeply comprehends His greatness, wisdom and mercy. Every breath, every heartbeat and every cell is a Sign reminding us of our Lord's infinite might.
