THE BLOOD’S JOURNEY THROUGH THE VEINS

In previous chapters we referred to a gigantic network of nerves running right through our bodies. There is another such miraculous network. This consists of blood vessels. Like the network of nerves, blood vessels, too, circulate through the body. They are so long that their total length would be about 100,000 kilometres (62,000 miles) if they were spread over a flat surface. In fact, it is not hard at all to understand that there are blood vessels all around our body. Even a small scrape on any part of our body would start to bleed immediately. This proves that blood circulates all through our body. It is vital that we have blood vessels at every point because, as mentioned in the previous chapter, the nourishment required by the body cells is conveyed through the blood vessels. Oxygen that cells need for proper functioning is also carried to cells by the blood flowing through our veins. Transportation of the nourishment in the blood vessels may be compared to transporting freight by ship. Prior to shipment, first of all goods are placed upon the ship at the port. Goods should be properly packaged and placed. After all are loaded, the ship sets out and heads for the port of its destination. When it arrives at the port, all packages are unloaded and distributed to the concerned sections. In the blood vessels, nourishment is similarly transported to cells, just as ships transport cargo across the ocean. Oxygen, fats and amino acids flow in the bloodstream in packages and are unloaded at the target cells. This transportation schedule never fails. Proper amounts of required substances are conveyed to relevant cells just on time. Otherwise, for instance, if a cell that needed oxygen received fats instead, this cell would die. It should be noted that even the slightest mistake in this system could result in serious harm. Such mistakes never happen except in unusual cases, however, because none of these came into existence by chance. Allah, the Creator, created this system perfectly for our service. As blood circulates all through the body, it fulfills many tasks. Now let's have a brief look at these tasks.

TRANSPORTING CARGO

All the kinds of substances that our body needs are conveyed to the concerned organs by blood. In the meantime, blood cells collect waste matters, like carbon dioxide, and make sure that they are discharged from the body. In a way, blood acts like a garbage grinder. Stopping by each of 100 trillion cells again and again throughout the day, it leaves the cells what they require and at the same time collect what is not needed. Blood, which is merely a fluid, can faultlessly perform a task demanding such attention and responsibility. It knows each of the substances it carries, what it will be used for and to where it should be delivered. For instance, it does not mistakenly convey to a cell the carbon dioxide it has taken from another cell as a waste product. It always supplies cells with oxygen and removes carbon dioxide. Blood performs this task with no mistakes or fatigue, because it is a part of the perfect plan that Allah created in the human body. As they unconditionally surrender to the system created by our Lord, all blood cells perform their tasks without making any mistakes.

SOLDIERS IN THE BLOOD

Everyday our bodies struggle against many bacteria, viruses and microbes. Some are prevented from entering the body, while some manage to enter. But there are special defence cells in our bodies to fight against them that are called immune cells. These cells, which are like soldiers fighting against the enemy and protecting our bodies from dangers, move in the bloodstream. Whenever there is an enemy attack, they can reach the related part of the body through the blood vessels and easily fight against the enemy. Immune cells have not learnt their missions on their own. They have known them since they came into being. They start performing their duty and protecting the body the minute a baby born. This is an excellent detail in Allah's creation. Our Lord has taught cells which cannot be seen with the naked eye very important knowledge and placed them at our service.

COMMUNICATION

Blood also serves as a means of communication in the body. There are messengers in the blood taking messages from one part of the body to another. These messengers, known as hormones, transport messages to the relevant organs like a postman delivering mails. Many significant processes, including the growth of the body, thirst, perspiration and control of blood sugar levels are thanks to such precisely delivered messages.

BLOOD THAT HEALS WOUNDS

You must have observed that a slight skin wound stops bleeding spontaneously after a little while. This, in fact, is quite thought provoking since, under normal conditions, a liquid flowing from a hole cannot possibly stop flowing of its own accord. To have a better understanding of this fact, suppose that you have a balloon filled with water. If you make a little hole in this balloon using a needle, water will leak out of the balloon. Will it stop leaking after a while with no intervention of yours? Of course not. All the water will keep leaking until the balloon runs out of water. This applies to all liquids in closed spaces. Blood moves through a closed circuit of veins and leaks out in case of even a slight cut. However, it is of great importance for our health to stop its flow. You may have heard of people who die of excessive blood loss in accidents or operations. Well then, what causes blood to stop flowing a little while after a wound starts to bleed? This is called blood clotting, which is one of the automatic security systems in our bodies. Some substances existing in the blood stop and close the wound. Thanks to the clotting ability of blood, excessive bleeding is prevented. As shown in the illustration on the right, some cells in the blood are informed of the damaged vein and head for that site at once. First they align themselves along the wound and obstruct the flow of blood by weaving a web. This web stiffens in time and forms what we call a scar. Now let's think together. Can this planned series of actions take place by chance? How is it that some blood cells are informed of damage somewhere in the blood vessels, which is like a gigantic world in relation to their size? Why do they strive to prevent the flow of blood? How do they know that they should close the wound in order to stop loss of blood? Who taught these cells that they should close the wound? Cells could neither have learnt all these things by chance nor could they have accomplished them on their own. Even human beings, who have intelligence, cannot possibly originate such a detailed system and teach cells what to do. Certainly, the intelligence demonstrated by these cells does not belong to them. Allah inspires them and they act according to a perfect plan. Allah informs us of the excellence in His creation as follows:
He created the seven heavens in layers. You will not find any flaw in the creation of the All-Merciful. Look again—do you see any gaps? Then look again and again. Your sight will return to you dazzled and exhausted! (Surat al-Mulk: 3-4)

A MIRACULOUS FLUID WITH NO REPRODUCIBLE EQUALS: BLOOD

Scientists have conducted many studies in order to produce a fluid similar to blood. However, having failed to do so, they gave up trying to imitate blood and focused on research in other fields.Scientists cannot imitate blood because blood samples withdrawn from a blood vessel clot at once and the structure of the blood becomes unfit for examination. It does not work to preserve the samples in glass test tubes either, because blood cells do not completely survive in tubes. Therefore, scientists had to separate cells in the blood and examine them individually. Undoubtedly, it is one of the most unreasonable and illogical explanations in the world to claim that such a perfect substance, which cannot even be imitated with all the information human beings have gathered for years, came into existence spontaneously and by chance. Allah created blood as a matchless substance. A blood cell that has many amazing abilities is merely one of the manifestations of Allah's infinite wisdom in the human body.