Al-Nūr (The Light): (45-46) And Allah created every...

Know that this is the third type of evidence for the Oneness (of God). After first using the states of the heavens and the earth as proof, and secondly the celestial phenomena, He now uses the states of animals as proof.

Regarding this verse, there are several questions:

Angels are the most numerous of creatures, and they are created from light. Jinn are created from fire. Allah created Adam from dust, according to {He created him from dust} (Al 'Imran: 59). Allah created Jesus from wind, according to {We breathed into him of Our Spirit} (Al-Tahrim: 12). Furthermore, we see that many animals are generated without semen (nutfah).

The Answer is in several aspects:

1. The Best View (Al-Qaffal's opinion): The phrase {from water} is related to every moving creature (kullu dābbah), not to the act of creation (khalq). The meaning is: Every moving creature that originates from water is created by Allah.
2. The Origin of All Things: It is narrated that water is the origin of all created things (The first thing Allah created was a jewel; He looked upon it with awe, and it became water. From that water, fire, air, and light were created). Since the purpose of this verse is to state the origin of creation, and the first origin was water, it is mentioned in this manner.
3. Limitation to Terrestrial Creatures: The term dābbah (moving creature) here refers to those that crawl upon the face of the earth and reside there, excluding angels and jinn. Since the vast majority of these terrestrial animals are created from water (either by being generated from semen or by needing water for survival), the word kull (every) is used to encompass the dominant reality.

Here, it is indefinite because the meaning is that Allah created every moving creature from a type of water specific to that creature. In the verse {And We made from water every living thing}, it is definite because the intent there is to establish that they are created from this substance (water as a genus), whereas here, the intent is to show that this genus is divided into many species.

Allah mentioned non-rational beings alongside rational ones (angels, humans, and jinn). The language appropriate for rational beings prevails because it is better to make the noble element the basis and the lesser element subordinate, rather than the reverse. It is common in speech to ask, "Who are the two approaching?" when referring to a man and a camel.

This is metaphorical, just as one says, "This matter has proceeded/walked" (masha) to mean it has been continuously implemented. Or, it is done through mushākalah (conformity/analogy), treating the crawler alongside the walkers.

The mentioned categories are rare, almost non-existent. Furthermore, philosophers agree that creatures with many legs rely on four points of contact when moving, making it as if they walk on four. Finally, the phrase {Allah creates what He wills} serves as an indication of all other categories.

The most astonishing is mentioned first: walking without limbs (i.e., crawling/slithering), then walking on two legs, and then walking on four legs.

Know that {Allah creates what He wills} indicates that just as animals differ in their manner of walking, they also differ in other aspects. We will mention some classifications here:

First Classification: Differences in Anatomy

Animals may share organs or differ in them.

• Sharing: Humans and horses share flesh, sinew, and bone.
• Difference: This difference is either in the organ itself or in its attribute.
  • Difference in the Organ Itself:
    1. The organ is not present in the other, even if its components are. For example, a horse has a tail, and a human does not, but the tail is composed only of bone, sinew, flesh, skin, and hair—all of which a human possesses.
    2. The organ is not present in the other, neither in essence nor in its components. For example, a tortoise has a shell, which a human lacks. Fish have scales, and hedgehogs have spines, none of which humans possess.
  • Difference in the Organ's Attribute: This relates to quantity, quality, position, function, or reaction.
    • Quantity: Related to size (the owl's eye is large, the eagle's is small) or number (some spiders have six legs, others eight or ten).
    • Quality: Differences in color, shape, hardness, or softness.
    • Position: The position of the elephant's breast (near the chest) differs from the horse's (near the navel).
    • Function: The elephant's ear is capable of fanning (in addition to hearing), which is not the case for humans. Its nose is an instrument for grasping, unlike others.
    • Reaction: The bat's eye is quickly dazzled by light, while the swallow's eye is not.

Second Classification: Habitat and Respiration

Animals are either aquatic (original habitat is water), terrestrial, or amphibious (aquatic then terrestrial).

Aquatic Animals: Their conditions vary in several ways:

1. Respiration: Some have aquatic habitat, food, and breath; they inhale water and expel it without living if separated from it (like all fish). Some have aquatic habitat and food but breathe air (like the aquatic turtle). Some have aquatic habitat and food but neither breathe nor inhale water (like certain types of shellfish that do not expose themselves to air or draw water inward).
2. Location: Some inhabit flowing rivers, some stagnant pools (like frogs), and some the sea.
3. Bottom Type: Some live in the deep sea (lujiyyah), some near the shore (shaṭṭiyyah), some in mud (ṭīniyyah), and some on rocks (ṣakhrīyyah).
4. Locomotion in Water: Some rely on their head for diving and fins for swimming (fish). Some rely on their legs (frogs). Some walk on the bottom (crabs). Some crawl (certain fish without fins, and worms).

Terrestrial Animals: Their conditions vary in two ways:

1. Respiration: Some breathe through one passage (mouth/nostrils), while others breathe through pores or other means (like wasps and bees).
2. Shelter: Some have known shelters, while others settle wherever they land, staying only long enough for nursing. Shelters include holes, burrows, mounds, or the surface of the earth.
3. Flight: Every bird with wings walks on its legs. For some, walking is difficult (like the large black swift and the bat). Those with membranous wings may be legless (like a type of Abyssinian snake that flies).
4. Social Behavior: Some birds live communally (like cranes), while others prefer solitude (like eagles and all birds of prey that compete for food). Some live in pairs, while others gather sometimes and separate at other times. Solitary animals can be urban, purely wild, or garden-dwelling. Humans are unique in that they cannot live alone; their means of life and sustenance require civic partnership. Bees, ants, and some cranes share this sociability, but bees and cranes obey one leader, while ants gather without a single leader.
5. Diet: Some birds are carnivorous, some gather seeds, and some eat grass. Some have a specific diet (bees feed on nectar, spiders on flies). Some share a common diet.

Amphibious Animals: These are animals that live in the sea and then emerge onto the land and remain there.

Third Classification: Sociability

Some animals are naturally sociable (insī) like humans. Some become sociable through upbringing (mawlid) like cats and horses. Some are forced into sociability (qasr) like the cheetah. Some are never tame (lā ya’nas) like the tiger. Those tamed by force may become tame quickly and remain so (like the elephant), or slowly (like the lion). It seems every species has a sociable type and a wild type, even among humans.

Fourth Classification: Vocalization

Some animals are vocal, and some are silent. Every vocal animal becomes louder when aroused by sexual desire, except for humans. Some animals have constant lust (like roosters), while others have it only at specific times.

Fifth Classification: Morals/Temperament

Some animals are calm and rarely angry (like the cow). Some are extremely ignorant and fiercely angry (like the wild boar). Some are patient and deceitful (like the camel). Some have poor movements and are treacherous (like the snake). Some are brave, strong, noble-spirited, and generous (like the lion). Some are strong, treacherous, and savage (like the wolf). Some are cunning, deceitful, and poorly moving (like the fox). Some are wrathful, intensely angry, and foolish, yet affectionate and friendly (like the dog). Some are highly intelligent and tame (like the elephant and monkey). Some are envious and vain about their beauty (like the peacock). Some are extremely cautious (like the camel and donkey).

Sixth Classification: Reproduction

Some animals reproduce by the female giving birth to live young. Some reproduce by the female laying larvae (like bees and spiders), whose limbs develop later. Some reproduce by the female laying eggs.

Know that human intellects are incapable of fully grasping the conditions of even the smallest animals. The evidence for the Creator from this is clear: If the arrangement of the four humors were responsible for everything equally, then the specialization of each animal in its organs, powers, body size, lifespan, and temperament must be due to the planning of an Overpowering, Wise Planner, exalted is He above what the deniers claim.

The best statement here is His saying: {Allah creates what He wills. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent.} For He is competent over everything and knowledgeable of everything, aware of the conditions of these animals—what intellect can grasp them, or what thought can reach a speck of their secrets? Rather, He creates what He wills, and nothing prevents or repels Him.

Regarding {Indeed, We have sent down clear verses}, it is best to interpret this as referring to all evidence and admonitions. Since the Qur'an encompasses all of this, it is appropriate that it is what is intended.

As for {And Allah guides whom He wills to a straight path}, our scholars use this as evidence as previously mentioned. The Judge responded that this means guiding those who have reached the age of accountability, or those who obey Him and deserve reward, guiding them to Paradise, as discussed in similar contexts. Our response to this is also as previously stated in similar contexts. And Allah knows best.