No science teaches the harmonies of nature more clearly than mathematics. In arithmetic we explore a universe of figures by counting; in geometry we discover another universe by drawing lines and laying down definite directions in the conceptual field of the imagination; in algebra we produce magnitudes of a still more abstract nature that are expressed by letters. In all of these cases the first step is to establish the general conditions that lay down the rules which all further steps are subject to. Every one of these “universes” is dominated by a consistency that produces an excellent symmetry.

Certainly the world, the universe, and nature can be reliably understood using mathematics. In other words, we can say that nature is mathematics. For instance, the arrangement of seeds in a sunflower can be understood using Fibonacci numbers. Every number in the Fibonacci sequence equals the sum of the two previous except for the first two numbers. Sunflower heads, like other flowers, contain two families of interlaced spirals—one winding clockwise, the other counterclockwise. The shape assumed by a delicate spider web suspended from fixed points, or the cross section of sails bellying in the wind, is a catenary—a simple curve defined by a simple formula. Seashells, animal horns, and the cochlea of the ear are logarithmic spirals that can be generated using a mathematical constant known as the golden ratio. Mountains and the branching patterns of blood vessels and plants are fractals, a class of shapes that exhibit similar structures at different magnifications. Einstein’s E = mc² defines the fundamental relationship between energy, matter, and the speed of light. Additionally, a few simple constants—the gravitational constant, Planck’s constant, and the speed of light—are profound examples for better understanding our universe as a whole.

Magic squares are conspicuous instances of the intrinsic harmony of numbers. They are also noticeable instances of the inherent harmony of numbers that some consider as an interpreter of the cosmic order that dominates all existence. Can they? Maybe. Though they are a mere intellectual play, they not only illustrate the nature of mathematics but also, incidentally, the nature of reality dominated by mathematical regularity. This is incidental, because its discovery has a very extraordinary story. Magic Squares are square grids with a unique arrangement of numbers in them. These numbers are exceptional because every row, column, and diagonal adds up to the same number. They are understood from every part in their overall square shape, the sum of which gives the same number – the sum of rows, columns, and diagonals. Magic Squares, one of the Sudoku-style question types, may vary in the numbers to be placed in the square according to its size. For example, let’s say there is a 3×3 square and ask: how can you put the numbers 1 to 9 each in their own square so that all of the the rows, columns, and cross sums are always the same? I recommend you stop here for a while and work on the question. You can see that it is not as easy as it sounds. Otherwise, the answer is in Figure 1.

The historical development of magic squares is also very fascinating. The earliest record of magic squares is from China in about 2200 BC and is called Lo-Shu. It tells that the first magic square was incidentally discovered by the Chinese emperor Yu 4,200 years ago. Emperor Yu discovered a tortoise while sauntering along the Yellow River (Lo River). The tortoise’s shell had a magic square shape, and this square divided into grids contained dots instead of numbers. Imagine having the same quantity as spots instead of numbers (Figure 2).

According to the myth, Emperor Yu took the tortoise and kept caring for it as a valuable guest in his palace. Its fame spread all over the world and extends beyond time to today’s modern world. Perhaps, it deserves the title of the world’s most famous mathematical tortoise with an outstanding mark on him. After the tortoise, the magic squares have become a very significant mystical symbol in China and in the Karma philosophy. In Karma, it is said that the world is surrounded by four essential elements and this is symbolized with magic squares. If we consider the number 5 in the center as the world, the followers of this philosophy surrounded the world with numbers that were supposed to be the four elements of Yin Yang. 4 and 9 symbolize metal, 2 and 7 symbolize fire, 1 and 6 symbolize water, and 3 and 8 signify wood, as shown in Figure 3.

We see that magic squares have mystical meanings not only in China but also in many places. For example, in pre-Islamic Arabia, people hung magic squares in their homes as amulets that they believe protected their houses from evil spirits. One explanation to this superstition could be that Arab astrologers used magic squares to cast horoscopes.

Magic squares were introduced to the Western world in the work of Theon of Smyrna. Theon’s most important work is “Expositio rerum mathematicarum ad legendum Platonem utilium.” This work is a handbook for philosophy students to show how prime numbers, geometrical numbers such as squares, progressions, music, and astronomy are interrelated. Its rather curious title means that it was intended as an introduction to a study of the works of Plato, which sounds rather fanciful. In the section on numbers, Theon adopts a Pythagorean approach and writes about all kinds of numbers: odd, even, prime, composite, square, oblong, triangular, polygonal, circular, spherical, solid numbers with three factors, pyramidal, perfect, deficient, and abundant numbers. The work of the Greek mathematician Moschopoulos in 1300 AD helped to spread knowledge about magic squares. So here we are now, more than 700 years later, and teachers are using them in class for problem-solving and practicing addition.

In the 16^th century the Catholic physician, astrologer, and theologian Cornelius Agrippa (1486–1535) constructed squares of orders from 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 which he associated with the seven known astrological planets: Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, the Sun, Venus, Mercury, and the Moon (the Sun and Moon were considered to be planets at that time.) Agrippa had a colorful life that included various dangerous run-ins with the Church and jobs as an occult scholar, lawyer, and military strategist. Agrippa’s De Occulta Philosophia stimulated Renaissance study of magic and got his name into early Faust legends. Agrippa believed that a magic square containing the digit 1—which exhibits the magic constant of 1 in all directions—represented God’s eternal perfection.

I do not think that anyone goes beyond the Indian people in terms of expecting help from magic squares for healing diseases and even finding a spouse. They also took first place in producing magic squares known as the Jaina inscriptions. The first 4×4 square was discovered on a door in Khajuraho, India, around 1100 AD (Figure 4). Jainism is an Indian philosophy that was established in the 6th century BC, which may imply how important magic squares are for Indians who follow this tradition.

India brought the usage of these squares to daily life. One superstition still practiced today is to write a 3×3 magic square to find someone missing and hang it everywhere like a notice. Strangely, the name of the missing person is not in the notice! The magic square’s merits are not limited to this. It is believed that a couple can save their marriage if they can get a copy of a square that is drawn on a Wednesday or Friday.

For mathematicians, it makes sense if the sums of squares across each row, column, or diagonal are equal. But Indians have different expectations from the squares. For example, the square used by young girls to get married is shown in Figure 5. This square is painted on a plate with pastels. The plate is washed in the Ganges River. The girl who is seeking her desired husband drinks the pastel-colored water from the river. This tradition is still being practiced today.

There are also squares used by Muslims in the Islamic period. One of the most beautiful examples of these squares is one designed to express God’s name as shown in Figure 6. The square with 66 letters in total on each side evokes the sum of the Arabic word Allah in Abjad calculation (In Arabic, every letter is assigned a numerical value, and this calculation is called Abjad).

Throughout history, humanity has been influenced by mathematics and numbers and has tried to reveal the unknowns by investigating the mysteries of numbers. Humanity’s long-time fascination with mathematics has arisen because the universe is constructed from a mathematical fabric. In 1623, Galileo Galilei reinforced this belief by stating his credo: “Nature’s great book is written in mathematical symbols.” Plato’s doctrine was that God is a geometer, and Sir James Jeans believed God experimented with arithmetic. Newton supposed that the planets were originally thrown into orbit by God, but even after God decreed the law of gravitation, the planets required continual adjustments to their orbits. Likewise, magic squares have been one such mysterious dimension of mathematics that have influenced human life in various ways.

Figure 1 – 3×3 Magic Square

Figure 2 – Spots on the tortoise

Figure 3 – Five Elements in Magic Square

Figure 4. Magic square at the Parshvanatha temple, Khajuraho

Figure 5 — Magic Square Drawn on a Plate with Pastel Paint

Figure 6- The sum of Allah’s words with Abjad calculation is 66. The grid is formed by the letters in the word “Allah,” whose numerical value is also 66 (nineteenth century, Damascus).

A balanced lifestyle is a must for a healthy biological, mental, and spiritual life. We need balance in everything: eating, speaking, working, sleeping, discipline, and even in love. Working extra hours incessantly may cause a mental breakdown and weaken our family ties; sleeping too much (unless due to a health problem) may result in an unproductive daily schedule and a heavy head; speaking too much may cause us to say things that can hurt others. Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said, “It is enough falsehood for someone to speak of everything he hears.”

Conversely, not speaking at all, i.e., suppressing one’s worries and thoughts inside may cause other psychological problems. Or starving oneself to lose weight may lead to health disorders like anorexia nervosa. In short, a life that is experienced in the extremes, be it in diet or in social relations, is prone to be a very difficult one. In this article, we will focus on two digestion problems, one of the causes of which is imbalanced food consumption.

Gastrointestinal motility refers to the movement of food from the mouth through the throat, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, and out of the body. This system is responsible for digesting food, and it starts working the moment you look at the food.

Digestion is a complicated process, and when nerves or muscles in any portion of the digestive system do not function with their normal strength and coordination, a person develops symptoms related to motility problems.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea is a common problem, and its main symptom is passing loose, watery stools three or more times a day. Each year, an estimated 2 billion cases occur globally and around 1.9 million children under the age of five die from diarrhea every year, mostly in developing countries. This makes it the second leading cause of death in this age group (mostly after cardiovascular disease).

People with diarrhea may also have one or more of the following symptoms including an urgent need to use the bathroom, cramping, loss of control of bowel movements, nausea, and pain in the abdomen. People with diarrhea caused by some infections may also have symptoms such as bloody stools, fever and chills, light-headedness and dizziness, and vomiting.

The cause of diarrhea is generally not identified. The most common cause of diarrhea is a virus that infects the bowels. Other possible causes of diarrhea can include infection by bacteria, infections by other organisms and pre-formed toxins, eating foods that upset the digestive system, allergies and intolerances to certain foods (celiac disease or lactose intolerance), medications, radiation therapy, and poor absorption of food.

Antibiotics can change the balance of bacteria normally found in the intestines. When this happens, your colon can become overrun by bad bacteria causing inflammation of the colon’s lining. Antibiotic-associated diarrhea can begin any time while you’re taking the antibiotic or shortly thereafter.

Diarrhea may cause dehydration and malabsorption, which can be life-threatening if untreated. Dehydration is particularly dangerous in children, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems.

Although most cases of diarrhea are relatively brief and mild, sometimes diarrhea can lead to serious complications. Diarrhea can cause dehydration when your body loses large amounts of water, electrolyte imbalance (loss of sodium, potassium, and magnesium that play a key role in vital bodily functions), and kidney failure (not enough blood/fluid is supplied to the kidneys). When you have diarrhea, you lose water and electrolytes along with stool. You need to drink plenty of fluids to replace what’s lost. Dehydration can become serious if it is not addressed adequately.

Diarrhea can be prevented by avoiding infections with good hygiene habits such as regularly washing the hands with soap (especially before preparing food, eating, and after using the bathroom), having good sanitation systems (wastewater and sewage), getting vaccinations (rotavirus vaccine in childhood), storing food properly, and watching what you eat and drink when traveling.

When you have an acute case of diarrhea, you can often take care of it without needing any medication. Several things you can do to care for diarrhea include drinking plenty of water and other electrolyte balanced fluids (like diluted and pulp-free fruit juices, broths, sports drinks, and caffeine-free sodas), changing your diet (specifically eating potatoes, rice, noodles, banana, applesauce, white bread, etc.), and cutting back on caffeine.

Constipation

Constipation is when a person has uncomfortable or infrequent bowel movements. Constipation happens because the colon absorbs too much water from waste (stool), which dries out the stool, making it hard in consistency and difficult to push out of the body. About 4 million people in the United States have frequent constipation. Constipation is the most common gastrointestinal complaint, resulting in 2.5 million doctor visits annually in the US.

Symptoms of constipation include having fewer than three bowel movements a week, dry, hard and/or lumpy stool, difficulty or pain when passing stool, stomachache or cramps, feeling bloated and nauseous, and feeling that you haven’t completely emptied your bowels after a movement.

There are many causes of constipation because of lifestyle choices, medications, medical conditions, and pregnancy; these include eating foods low in fiber, not drinking enough water, lack of exercise, stress, ignoring the urge to have a bowel movement, medications (strong pain medicines, some antidepressants, antacids, etc.), medical and health conditions (underactive thyroid gland, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, intestinal obstruction), abuse of laxatives, and changes in habits or lifestyle, such as travel, pregnancy, and old age.

Most often, constipation can be treated through dietary and lifestyle changes, which relieve symptoms and help prevent the condition. Treatment may include diet modifications like having beans, whole grains, bran cereals, fresh fruits and vegetables to add fiber to the diet; and limiting foods such as ice cream, cheese, meat, and processed food, which contain little or no fiber, laxatives, and eliminating or changing medication. Drinking two-to-four extra glasses of water a day, trying warm liquids, especially in the morning, adding fruits and vegetables to your diet, eating prunes and bran cereal, exercising most days of the week, and not ignoring the urge to have a bowel movement are suggested treatments of constipation.

Constipation may be dangerous if it has lasted more than two weeks, there is blood in your stool, lose weight even though you’re not trying to, severe pain with bowel movements, or the size, shape, and consistency of your stool has changed dramatically.

Constipation on its own can be uncomfortable, but it typically is not life threatening. However, it can become a problem if it is a symptom of a more serious underlying condition, such as colorectal cancer, or if it starts to cause further damage. Damages that can arise as a result of severe constipation includes rectal bleeding after straining, anal fissure—which is a small tear around the anus—symptomatic hemorrhoids (piles, which are swollen, inflamed blood vessels in the anus), and fecal impaction (which occurs when dried stool stagnates and collects in the rectum and anus, potentially leading to a mechanical obstruction).

The human digestive system works in a fine balance. In cases where the digestive system works too quickly, diarrhea occurs, and we cannot benefit enough from the food that we eat. We lose water and electrolytes from the body, which causes the deterioration of our metabolism. On the contrary, if the digestive system does not work at a sufficient speed, constipation occurs and causes severe abdominal pain and bloating. In this case, toxic substances accumulating in the body can cause harm.

References

• https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/global/WASH.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fhealthywater%2Fglobal%2Fdiarrhea-burden.html
• https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/diarrhea
• https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4059-constipation
• Muslim, Muqaddima 5

Love is one of the few words in the human dictionary that has no clear definition. It is an ignorance of knowing and a force of feeling that keeps humans in a state of churning and longing, no matter what they encounter in the natural world. In universal and historical human experience, it has become painfully clear that love is not to be found in the physical, in direct contact with our senses. Love is frustratingly immaterial, and material things have failed time and time again to satisfy the spiritual and mental lust that have produced this “sacred” notion. Love has no business anywhere, except the transcendental and the a priori. But as it possesses physical beings, love must also have an attachment to the material world. For humans, love must be an attraction to a beauty of perfection that is beyond the physical but partly manifest in it. Apart from this point, which is agreed upon by many seekers of truth and wisdom, any further details have been unresolved.

Is love the end or is it just the means to an end? In Plato’s Symposium, love—or eros, as it is called—is discussed by several people who are unable to give a whole enough definition to satisfy Socrates, the final speaker. According to Plato, love in its true and best form goes beyond romantic and erotic love. It is not merely sexual attraction or the emotional bond in a human relationship, hence the popular term Platonic love. It has a higher, truer form than physical affection. In Socrates’s words, love is neither knowledge nor ignorance but something in between. It is neither poverty nor wealth but something in between. It represents the lack of something good and beautiful but at the same time, holds the wisdom and passion to attain it.

Humans can only feel love for things they do not have. The object of love has to be beauty—the greater the beauty, the greater the love. In order to feel and practice the best love, Socrates argues that one should look for higher forms of beauty; the highest beauties should be those that leave the physical and join the abstract and divine. He calls love or eros a daemon or a being of a nature between the divine and the natural. This indicates that love is a messenger between heaven and earth, a carrier that serves as the tether for humans to the abstract     and spiritual, to a beauty of perfection and to something higher and more meaningful than themselves and the world around them. Once this is realized, Socrates continues to explain that the object of love then needs to shift from beauty to the good. Love needs to become a desire for the good to be one’s own. Once love is directed at the perfect beauty, it needs to shift to the ultimate higher good for it to be complete and attain virtue. Love is the yearning for the true and divine form of Beauty, and its ultimate goal is the true and divine form of the Good, both of which exist in and of themselves, in accordance with the Platonic perception of forms. Socrates makes this point abundantly clear, as he argues that true love longs for an ultimate divine form of beauty and good.

Once Socrates explains the object and nature of love, he moves on to describe the act of love or eros. Love needs to lead to an action towards the object of its focus or desire. However, rather than possessing beauty, love is wanting to give birth in beauty. Love is the desire to engender or bring birth from what is beautiful. According to Socrates, experiencing and feeling beauty helps the lover give birth to something. In other terms, being in beauty or within the presence of beauty causes one to give birth to that which is the end result that love longs for.

In its most simple, crude form, this suggests intercourse with a physically beautiful body, thus giving birth to a child. But Socrates claims that there are higher forms of birth, just like there are higher forms of beauty, and the desire for one in the other arouses higher forms of love or eros. The object of love—beauty—becomes the means to a greater end, the birth. Giving birth grants a form of immortality, the highest form of existence, to the birth giver or the pregnant. Whenever the pregnant comes near beauty, they become glad, rejoice, dissolve, and produce offspring by giving birth. In a way, one who is beautiful releases the pregnant from labor pains through this divine act of love.

The offspring may come in many forms with ranging values and elevate the birth giver or the lover to a state of immortality, the level of which ranges according to the level of the offspring, the beauty, and the love. This indicates that the higher the love and beauty, the greater the offspring, and the greater the immortality. Therefore, the lover should always naturally look for the highest and best beloved in order to give birth to the best offspring and attain the highest attribute of immortality, something that all humans desire in a temporary, finite world. Once more, this shows how love always looks for something greater, higher, and outside of the physical world. Love is a desire for something it doesn’t possess. Ultimately, the only thing humans find themselves lacking or unable to have, is the divine perfection of good, something abstract and supernatural. As it is an impossibility in the physical, natural world, there exists a spirit of eros that knows wisely enough of this beauty but is too impoverished and worldly to reach it completely. This eros has nothing to do but possess the poor mortals and help them realize the true beauty.

Socrates gives a guide on how to do just that. He argues that a person needs to start by loving the beauty they are able to see around them, and, one by one, learn to recognize a higher level of beauty and redirect their love accordingly. To clarify, the lover needs to start feeling love for lesser beauties, and then pass on gradually to a love for higher beauties.

As this happens, one should naturally feel contempt for lesser beauty and aspire only for higher beauty. For example, a person should first feel love for a specific beautiful body, move up to love of all physical bodies, then move to a love of beautiful minds, then elevate to love the beauty of knowledge, then have a love for wisdom and continue on until the ultimate beauty and the ultimate good are reached. At each rung of this ladder of love, the lover should give birth to an offspring in the beloved, whether that is a child, a discovery of truth, or an idea in someone’s head. In the pursuit of love to behold the beautiful, a person should help the ones they behold, including themself, become more beautiful, so their love can magnify as beauty falls out of previous reach. In conclusion, Socrates explains this process of love to make the grand point that love in its entirety and true form, is a desire for the highest beauty and good, existing outside of the physical world. All other intermediate things are veils and stones, obstructing the way.

Love is the heart churning for what is higher and greater than what it possesses. It is a paradoxical state of neediness and fulfillment that drives the lover mad in the pursuit of the highest beloved. Just like Majnun, the true lover becomes insane as they wander in the desert, knowing and yearning for its Layla but never being able to possess it. According to Plato, humans are trapped in the desert of the physical and material while desiring the abstract and divine even though it is out of their reach. From this arises the origin of love. Socrates is just one in a long list of lovers in the painful pursuit of the highest and perfect beauty and good, existing outside of the natural realm, in a higher place that is divine, abstract, and spiritual. Love is what pulls us up, as our feet keep us down.

In daily parlance, feather is used in various idioms or phrases such as “light as a feather,” “feather-brained,” or “featherweight.” The word is often used in a diminutive effort to denote simple, easy, or unimportant things. However, a recent study has revealed that feathers play vital roles and are miraculous beyond perfection.

For survival, living beings are indebted to a number of skills and devices they are equipped with in advance by creation perfectly suited according to the troubles and difficulties a living being will face and what they will need. Similarly, feathers are perfectly designed for survival.

Structure of bird feathers

Bird feathers have diverse characteristics for different tasks such as flying, maintaining body temperature, and sensing through touch. Feathers are made of a sulfurous protein called keratin. Our nails and hair are made of the same substance. Keratin is synthesized as the cells in the dermis die during their upwards division and multiplication. Keratin is a very durable and flexible substance, and it is quite resistant against chemicals and corrosion. Therefore, it is the most convenient substance for feathers.

Seen through a microscope, the microanatomy of a feather looks like very finely embroidered lacework. A typical feather has a long and hard pipe called the rachis at the center, with hundreds of side branches (barbs) coming out of it, as well as side branches coming out of the barbs, called barbules. Finally, barbicels attach barbules to one another (Figure 1). Thanks to barbicels, barbules are interlocked just like a zipper, ensuring the integrity of the feather as a watertight surface. If the barbules are somehow unzipped and released from each other, the bird can just shake off or preen them with its beak in order to return them to their former state.

In order to survive, birds must always keep their feathers clean, well-maintained, and ready to use at any time. They use the oil sacs in their tails to care for their feathers. Using their beaks, they take some of this oil and distribute it through their feathers to preen and polish them. This oil prevents water from reaching the skin of swimming birds when they are in water or under rain. Moreover, birds fluff up their feathers so that air moves between them, preventing their body temperature from falling in cold weather. In contrast, they keep their bodies cool in hot weather by sticking their feathers to themselves and reducing the air in between.

Types of feathers

The feathers on different body parts have different characteristics and functions. Wing feathers, which are larger and have extensive surfaces, open up and expand their surfaces to generate a force for lift. Tail feathers, which have a similar structure, help to steer and brake during flight. As a bird flaps its wings on the downstroke, its feathers come closer to each other and prevent air from leaking between them. During the upstroke, the feathers are quite separated and positioned to allow air to pass between them. In order to maintain their ability to fly, birds undergo molting. Feathers that are worn-out or abraded are shed as they are unable to fully perform their duties.

There are three main types of feathers.

1. Contour Feathers

These feathers are large and long and found on the outside of the body, such as the wings or tail, and determine the bird’s body type and posture. These feathers, which help a bird to fly and steer, contain all the feather components mentioned above.

2. Plumules

Plumules lack barbicels in their structures. They are not interlocked and look tasselly. These feathers are created for thermal insulation, and they are located at the backs and lower parts of contour feathers and are abundant on the chest and abdomen. The bodies of young birds are generally covered with plumules.

3. Filoplumes

Filoplumes have a short calamus and few small barbs without barbicels near the tip of a thin, long rachis. In some birds, the filoplumes near the mouth and nose have sensory functions.

One can come across various types of feathers depending on age, season, gender, and breeding season.

Antarctic penguins have to endure some of the harshest conditions in the world. Emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri) spend six months in one of the coldest habitats on the planet during winter and breed in Antarctica, where temperatures drop below -40 degrees Celsius and winds sometimes reach speeds up to 100 kilometers per hour. Their feathers are the best gift allowing them to survive in Antarctica. To feed their young, penguins dive to depths exceeding 500 meters in waters measuring -1.8 degrees Celsius, going deeper and further than other waders. Emperor penguins rely on their special feathers to provide 80-90 percent of their insulation and maintain a core body temperature of 38 degrees Celsius. The insulative integrity of the feathers persists even at their maximum dive depth of 560 meters.

As the stiff outer layer of feathers protect the bird’s skin, the contour feathers provide an impenetrable and rigid waterproof cover. Not only is there no consensus of penguin feather density, but published values vary fourfold, from 11 to 46 feathers per square centimeter.

In a study conducted to see how emperor penguin feathers function as protection against the cold, penguin carcasses were examined. For this purpose, the carcasses were skinned before the contour feathers were removed from the excised skin sections. Then, the attached feathers were carefully removed, and the location of each was marked.

While the initial focus was on the body plumage, for the purpose of a broader orientation, a detailed feathergram was made for the head, body, wings, tail and legs, and it was seen that a thermal insulation system, which defies any explanation, was in place.

Feather distribution model

To calculate density, the feathers were cut carefully and photographed and then, using special software, algorithms of this distribution were identified and expressed in mathematical formulas. Repetition of larger contour feathers and smaller plumules and filoplumes in certain numbers and certain intervals, as well as the correlation between air gaps in between and feather density and heat retention, signified the architectural integrity of a perfect divine project.

To make a gross estimate of the total number of feathers on the body (excluding the head, tail, legs, and wings), a model was developed using feather density and distribution patterns as well as morphological measurements of emperor penguins. Based on the lateral surface area (LSA) equations for two conical frustums, it was shown that the body shape in the form of two conical frustums was ideal and what the height of this body was (Figure 2).

Feather count model and total body feather numbers

A drawing was created to illustrate the distribution pattern of all feather types on emperor penguins. Although contour feathers are uniformly distributed across the penguin’s body, the pattern of all insulative feather types is complex and non-uniform, still following a different formula. According to this formula, each contour feather is surrounded by nine plumules.

Estimates suggest that each penguin had 24,000 to 30,000 contour feathers and 120,000 to 150,000 insulative feathers. Plumules are the main source of insulation, as these feathers form a dense mat beneath the contour feathers and are four times as numerous as other body feathers.

It was suggested that this arrangement of feathers facilitated penguins’ rapid underwater ascent, allowing them to fly out of the water on to sea ice. It was also argued that the release of air trapped in the downy layer into the boundary layer reduces drag, allowing penguins to reach high underwater speeds before exiting the water. The barbs of the feathers, and the accompanying barbule structure, causes small bubbles to form in the water, and as a result, it appears as if a trail of smoke is coming from the feathers as the penguin swims in the water.

The finding that there is a higher density of contour feathers on the ventral side compared with the dorsal of emperor penguins may be important for tobogganing—that is, exiting the water and resting on ice. The higher density on the chest provides more cushion for tobogganing over rough edges and for landing on the chest after leaping exits from the water. In addition, the higher ventral feather density provides increased insulation while resting prone on the ice.

Nevertheless, body feather density is not static and will change based on the season thanks to amazing design. Emperor penguins start foraging after molting in January, to prepare for the breeding season. In April, at the start of the breeding season, penguins weigh 30-40 kg, with lipid mass accounting for up to 25 percent of body mass. At this time, feather density will be lowest, and increased subcutaneous fat will provide more insulation. Over the next three months, body mass can drop 35-50 percent in the fasting male, which cannot go hunting as it looks after the egg in its incubation period, with 80-90 percent of the loss owing to subcutaneous fat reduction. The resulting reduction in girth and surface area will increase feather density without changing the number of feathers. At the end of the fast, when temperatures are near the coldest of the year and males have lost most of their lipid mass, feather density will be the highest. Although only a function of geometry, the increased feather density with decreased girth is advantageous.

Feathers serve other purposes, too. The mechanoreceptors at the calamus of feathers inside the skin are sensitive enough to detect even the slightest vibration and send it to the brain. Penguins are informed of even the slightest vibration in the air or water, and, as such, they can successfully hunt for fish or evade attacking seals thanks to these receptors.

The structure and diversity of penguin feathers will be a source of inspiration for those modeling heat insulation technology based on how the tiny structures and molecular architecture of penguin plumage is designed to limit heat transfer.

References

1. Williams, C.L., Hagelin, J.C. and Kooyman, G.L. (2015): Hidden keys to survival: the type, density, pattern and functional role of emperor penguin body feathers. Proc. R. Soc. B 282: 20152033. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2015.2033

We are born with physical bodies, we live in these bodies, and eventually, we bid farewell to this world, leaving our bodies behind. Our bodies are entrusted to us, and we have to know how to safeguard these trusts, as well as the consequences, both in this world and the other, of breaching this trust. One important aspect of this duty is to take care of both our physical and spiritual wellbeing.

A person’s physical anatomy interacts with his/her spiritual anatomy. Any defect, illness, or distress in one of them will affect the other. In one of his famous quotes, Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, notes this interaction with an emphasis on the heart as the center of our both physical and spiritual composition: “Beware, in the body there is a piece of flesh; if it is sound, the whole body is sound and if it is corrupt the whole body is corrupt. It is the heart” (Bukhari, Iman, 39; Muslim, Musaqat, 107).

The word “heart” has two meanings. One denotes the body’s most vital part, which is located in the left part of the chest and resembles a pinecone. With respect to its structure and tissue, the heart is different from all other bodily parts: it has two auricles and two ventricles, is the origin of all arteries and veins, moves by itself, works like a motor, and, like a suction pump, moves blood through the system.

In Sufi terminology, “heart” signifies the biological heart’s spiritual aspect as being the center of all emotions and (intellectual and spiritual) faculties, such as perception, consciousness, sensation, reasoning, and willpower. Sufis call it the “human truth”; philosophers call it the “speaking selfhood.” An individual’s real nature is found in the heart. With respect to this intellectual and spiritual aspect of existence, one is able to know, perceive, and understand. Spirit is the essence and inner dimension of this faculty; the biological spirit or the soul is its mount. [1]

These two dimensions are similar to each other. We can say that there is an immune system in both of them. The experiences we acquire and the way we treat our physical and spiritual beings result in health or illness.

Apoptosis

We are bestowed with a magnificently balanced mechanism to protect our physical bodies. Our immune system works with its enormous army to prevent diseases; damaged cells are immediately removed; and defects are handled through elegant control mechanisms.

Apoptosis is one of these mechanisms, and it is quite remarkable. Apoptosis is the programmed destruction of cells that are or may otherwise pose a threat to the body. For instance, cells that are infected with viruses and any damaged DNA are eliminated through apoptosis. Potential mutations in cellular DNA may result in the development of cancers, and therefore, the destruction of such damaged cells is crucial [2].

Apoptosis plays a major role in a number of pathological and physiological events. The formation and lysis of cells are the most important of these physiological events. In the tissues where cell formation and lysis are fast-paced—such as the skin, intestinal epithelium, blood, and liver—aging cells are destroyed through apoptosis to make room for new cells. Disruptions in the apoptotic balance were shown to be effective in certain cardiac diseases, autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease [3, 4].

Thanks to this mechanism, people can lead healthy and balanced lives. Any impairment in this balance may result in diseases and cancers due to the proliferation of damaged DNA. As the burden of cells that fail to function and the rate of damage to our cells increase, the health of our physical bodies will decline.

The wellbeing of our spiritual anatomy is similar to the wellbeing of our physical body. Our spiritual dimension loses its balance and deteriorates because of sins and indolence.

Our immaculate disposition is created so that we can know, be closely acquainted with, and love our Lord. For our spiritual immune system to function properly, we have to lead a life that is compatible with this disposition. As long as we take care of our soul and heart, our spiritual immune system will be strong and well-equipped against any attacks from outside. Yet, if we allow our heart to be hit by arrows of sin, fail to keep away from risky environment, or don’t take proper measures against illnesses, this will pave the way for a deformation of our heart and spiritual life. A person suffering from such a deformation may be re-formed or restored to his/her original disposition only by seeking God’s forgiveness. Each sin banishes the sinner from God, drawing him/her closer to unbelief. Only asking God’s forgiveness can help a person get rid of sins and remove the stains left behind by those sins (Tirmidhi, Tafsir al-Surah (83), 1).

If we can properly handle this mechanism of asking God’s forgiveness, our Lord will cleanse us with His infinite grace, ensuring that we can maintain our spiritual life in a sound manner. “Prayer and trusting God greatly strengthen our inclination to do good, and repentance and seeking God’s forgiveness defeat our inclination to evil and break its transgressions,” [5] wrote Bediuzzaman Said Nursi. Seeking God’s forgiveness is an opportunity for us to cleanse our soul, a means for healing and a shield for protection, just as apoptosis is for our body. Even Nursi notes that the capabilities for committing evil deeds may be replaced with those for committing good deeds through the process of seeking God’s forgiveness [6].

Here, it should be stressed that even if every human being is equipped with the ability to know God in his/her original disposition and conscience, s/he is also endowed with tendencies that can be used for good or evil so that s/he attains perfection through trials and tribulations. In this context, divine commands and prohibitions serve to equip human beings with a “second disposition.” Accordingly, a person can divert those tendencies in his/her disposition to good by complying with God’s injunctions.

Mechanisms for asking God’s forgiveness and apoptosis are divine favors graciously granted to us so that our spiritual and physical health can be ensured. The more we ask God’s forgiveness, the healthier we’ll find our spirits—and maybe our bodies. We should hope that we may prosper both in this world and the next as physicians who, benefiting from both modern and religious sciences, can lead our patients to true healing. Thus, we may deserve to be addressed as “O the physician who can diagnose his/her own diseases” [7].

Footnotes

1. M. Fethullah Gülen, Emerald Hills of the Heart 1, fgulen.com.
2. S. Nagata. Apoptosis by death factor. Cell, 1997, 88:355–365.
3. J. Estaquier et al. Programmed cell death and AIDS; significance of T-cell apoptosis in pathogenic and nonpathogenic primate lentiviral infections. Immunology, 1994, 91:9431–9435.
4. D. McPhie et al. DNA synthesis and neuronal apoptosis caused by familial Alzheimer disease mutants of the amyloid precursor protein are mediated by the p21 activated kinase PAK3. The Journal of Neuroscience, 2003, 23 (17): 6914–6927.
5. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, Sözler (Words), Istanbul: Şahdamar Yayınları, 2010, p. 509.
6. Ibid. p. 342.
7. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, Barla Lahikası, Istanbul: Şahdamar Yayınları, 2010, p. 61.

Humans can live relatively long lives; some people can even live a century, or more! A lot goes on in our bodies to keep us alive. But nothing is as tireless as our heart. Starting soon after the first month in our mother’s bellies up until our last seconds on this earth, our heart quietly ticks away. Our heart beats more than the number of seconds we live. How many times is that in 80 years? Ten million? One hundred million? Maybe a billion? The correct answer is closer to three billion (3,000,000,000) beats. These beats may look straightforward at first glance; however, the heart has a lot of precise mechanisms that occur during each and every beat. You would be surprised at how the tiniest of malfunctions can lead to severe consequences. Things can go very wrong in many different ways. But for most of us, they don’t! Keep reading, and I believe you will better appreciate your heart’s architecture and engineering, and marvel at the fact that it keeps beating for as long as it does.

Let us begin with the basics: what does our heart look like and how does it pump? The heart has four rooms inside of it, two on the top called the atria and two on the bottom called the ventricles. The atria take in the blood coming into the heart and empty it into the ventricles, which then pump blood out. The left and right sides of the heart are completely separated from each other. The right side receives blood from the body and pumps it to the lungs. The left side receives blood from the lungs and pumps it to the entire body. There are also valves found at the exits of each of the four rooms. The main function of these valves is to only allow blood to pass in one direction. This is important for many reasons. The heart is a very reactive organ in terms of remodeling. In other words, it changes its structure to compensate for changes in pressure or volume. A backward leak of blood would cause an increase in pressure and volume in the previous compartment. Over time, this leads to that compartment getting larger or thicker. In the short-term, these changes are crucial to preserve its function. However, in the long-term, this leads to lower efficiency of its pumping function, which can ultimately lead to heart failure. Every room, every wall, and every door are masterfully placed in our heart to form the perfect pump.

After learning about our heart’s intricate architecture, let’s look at how this fantastic pump works. Much like any other pump, our heart is electrically powered. Luckily though, it doesn’t need to be plugged into an outlet. Our heart generates its own electricity at the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located at the very top of the heart. This node serves as both the generator and the pacemaker of our heart. It is what initiates a heartbeat. The electrical pulse it generates travels down through our heart and causes it to quickly contract. However, electricity is very fast. The electric pulse can reach every cell in the heart faster than a blink of an eye. This lightning-fast pulse would cause the entire heart to contract in one large beat. But as we all know, the heartbeat consists of two parts. This two-part beat is essential for the heart to pump blood. This is where heart’s second node, the atrioventricular (AV) node, comes into play. This node serves as a braking system that slows down the electricity passing from the atrial (top) circuit to the ventricular (bottom) circuit. “How long is this delay?”, you may ask. Well, just about one tenth of a second! This tiny delay is the reason we hear the heartbeat as two distinct sounds. It allows for the atria to pump all of its blood into the ventricles (the first sound) before the ventricles pump it into the body (the second sound). Otherwise, the ventricles would pump while half-empty, leaving the body to starve! As the saying goes: “Speed kills”!

Now we have a better understanding of the architecture and electrical engineering of the heart. So, how do doctors tell a healthy heart from an unhealthy one? Just like building inspectors, a doctor has specialized tools at their disposal to check the heart’s infrastructure. The three most popular tools are a good old-fashioned stethoscope, an electrocardiogram, and an echocardiogram.

Stethoscope

One of the hallmarks of the medical profession, the stethoscope has remained relevant even among modern-day medicine’s fancy gadgets. As you all know, it allows doctors to directly listen to the heart. The most common abnormalities that can be found with a good listen are arrhythmias and dysfunctional valves. An arrhythmia is when the heart doesn’t follow a regular rhythm. This usually occurs when there is an issue in the heart’s electrical circuit. In most cases, this can easily be heard directly through a stethoscope. Similarly, dysfunctional valves tend to cause more noise than usual, which are called “murmurs.” An abnormal valve may lead to a “click” when opening or a “whoosh” when blood passes through it.

Electrocardiogram

We previously talked about how electricity is a big part of the heart’s functions. Doctors can diagnose many heart problems just by looking at an electrocardiogram (ECG), which provides a window into the movement of electricity through the heart. Each bump and spike seen on an ECG strip represents the compartments of the heart contracting or relaxing. By looking at an ECG, doctors can tell if electricity is being conducted normally, and if the heart is pumping as it should. The most common problems that can be diagnosed using an ECG include heart attacks, arrhythmias, and other deadly rhythms that require an external electric shock (known as defibrillation).

Echocardiogram

So, we can hear the heart and monitor its electrical activity, but can we see it in action? Absolutely! An echocardiogram shows the heart pumping in real-time. It is great for a comprehensive assessment of the heart and can help identify issues that cannot be identified by a stethoscope or ECG.  This “video” of the heart allows doctors to see exactly how strong each part of the heart is pumping, how much blood it’s pumping, and whether there are any problems with the valves. It is great at diagnosing heart failure, which is when the heart pumps out less than a certain percentage of the blood it receives.

Finally, let’s talk about the infamous heart attack, the silent killer of millions every year. The heart is a generous organ: it delivers blood to every corner of the body. However, it also needs some of this life-giving blood! For this reason, it is fed by three large vessels that hug the heart that supply it with the blood it needs to keep pumping. A heart attack (or myocardial infarction) occurs when one of these vessels gets occluded.  Even though heart attacks are sudden, the disease process behind them usually take years to develop. The vessels feeding the heart slowly get narrower and narrower due to age, high blood cholesterol, or other various factors. Once one of them shuts off completely, that area of the heart stops. Since the heart is so active, a halt in the delivery of blood is extremely dangerous. Every minute counts! That is why patients are rushed to the hospital to have their vessels opened with medications and procedures. Once it’s too late, the muscles in that area of the heart die and the heart becomes permanently scarred. Luckily, the other two vessels are enough to keep the heart going! The heart, being as tireless as it is, will keep beating!

Now we are at the end of this article. While you read this, your heart ticked away a couple hundred more times. It delivered the energy your eyes and brain needed to see and understand this article. It’s deep in your chest and it always has your back. Take a minute to reflect on it, appreciate the work it does, and never forget to count it among your blessings!

It was YOU – 2006 Person of the Year according to Time magazine. You – meaning user who contributes to the Internet. Homo Interneticus, in other words. You could even see your face in the glossy mirror surface on a magazine cover. And, here’s the trick – YOU should have been chosen as 2020 Person of the Year, though with a different status quo now – Homo Covidicus. You too can see yourself in all the reflective surfaces: a face covered with a mask. A similar mask underneath a similar face. A faceless human in a bedsheet bag, breathing through it, talking through it, kissing through it. Just like Magritte’s famous paintings.

Talk to me, Homo Covidicus. Tell me your stories to share with our next generation – Homo (hopefully) Post-Covidicus.

– I am tired of this endless medical treatment, dear. Please let me go.

When it all started, nobody was ready to accept this new reality that reminds you more of an anti-utopia. “It’s far away, on another hemisphere of the planet,” some of us thought. “It’s all fake news and provocation,” others calmed themselves down. “Isn’t it a new TV show?” It was not. The global village, as Marshall McLuhan called our digital mobile world, appeared to be small indeed. In this teeny-tiny world, a biological virus can affect all of humanity in two shakes. Like a computer virus – in two clicks.

– Mom, why do all people “muzzle” their faces like doggies?

So, our global village was not ready for such a new challenge. Neither governments with international organizations, nor the medical sphere with world scientists. It was out of the blue and beyond human comprehension. A new protective dress code was not enough. There was a need for a new life code. And for a new way of thinking in particular. Still, as we all perfectly know now, it was not a matter of one day. Of one lost life. (Unless it’s your life, of course, or the life of your loved ones.)

– Have you ever seen so many wild rabbits peacefully walking on the city streets? They aren’t even afraid of the clamorous echoes of ambulance sirens!

A new life code required a new language to explain phenomena that emerged. Like George Orwell’s Newspeak in his 1984 novel. Covid dystopia needed some kind of Covidspeak. A new lexicon appeared instantly and was spread virally from mouth to mouth, easily overcoming masks, protective shields, walls, and quarantine lockdowns, like a bio virus itself. Soon, we all got used to those strange frightening words such as antigen test, PPE, Coronavirus, pandemic, quarantine, self-isolation, SARS-CoV-2, super-spreader, transmission, viral shedding, and many more. Sounds like a transcript to the sequel to Alien, right? Alas. It’s been a scenario based on real, ongoing facts with you us as protagonists.

– Let’s do a covideo party! I’ll have a beer… hm…“Corona Extra”! And you?

To euphemize a severe reality, Homo Covidicus started coining funny neologisms and paraphrases in one’s native languages (some of them available on #ReframeCovid.) For example, “covidiot” (someone who ignores public health advice), “covideo party” (online party via Zoom or Skype), “covexit” (a strategy for exiting lockdown), “zoomby” (Zoom user), “zoombombing” (hijacking a Zoom video call), “WFH” (working from home), “quaranteams” (online teams created during lockdown), etc. Nevertheless, it’s hard to laugh in the face of “covidance.”

– Excuse me sir, your temperature is higher than normal. I’m afraid I can’t let you in.

Communication itself has become different. First and foremost, because of mediation. The word online became so ordinary that we somehow didn’t notice when an authentic word live was replaced into the artificial offline. Foci have been changed. Our conversations have turned into zoomversations. With a comfortable option to turn off your video camera, to mute yourself, to become just a black Malevich square on somebody’s monitor. To stay invisible but still present. Or vice versa – to pretend presence while you are absent. A new way of digital mimicry. Zoomversation as a nonversation. Homo Covidicus, you we are true virtuosos in this craft! Hence, speaking into the monitor has become speaking into the air. In the meantime, speaking into the real air has taken on a new semantic shade and nostalgic taste.

– All of them… they die in complete loneliness in their wards. Relatives are not allowed to take care of them during their last hours. No one holds their hands as they pass away.      

Technology. It has become deeply rooted into our bodies, converting into extensions of our body parts. It was actually predicted by media and communication research half a century ago (M. McLuhan, N. Postman, G. Sartory, etc.). Homo Covidicus has been becoming transformed into such a Techno Centaurus – with technology instead of part of a horse. With a third digital arm or a third organic ear, like in the anthropo-digital experiments of the Australian performer Stelarc. All those smart phones, tablets, monitors, our faithful slaves, our true angels, our digital bodyguards gradually and unnoticeably have been turning us into their slaves. “Oh Ford!” – we can revoice Aldous Huxley’s heroes from Brave New World. Our world, though, has no arguments to declare itself brave any more.

– Hello? Please help me. I’m… ummmm… a victim of domestic abuse. I have no place to escape from this lockdown cage… I need legal assistance.

And so, we have started to appreciate simple things again. Open faces. Scents and touches. Smiles and kisses. Handshakes and hugs. It appeared that communication online loses its main features: affinity, intimacy, closeness, inner light, half-tones, micro-moves. The main optics and micro-proxemics in a true relationship. True signs of love. Thus, Homo Covidicus got tired of the necessity of being connected without true connection. Of being mobile without true motion. Of staying tuned without real engagement. Tired from all that complete simulacrum. Seems like a materialization of the Wachowskis’ The Matrix, isn’t it? The main difference here is – we all realize our condition. And that very insight brings even more drama into our lives.

– My apology ma’am, your Covid test is positive. You can’t cross our border. Our officer will escort you to Gate 57 now, and you will be immediately sent back to your country on a special emergency flight.

Homo Covidicus started to treasure its life space by means of its functionality. We used to recognize things only when we would lose them. The same thing here: we started to treasure home only after it had become our office, our daily working space. Not a place to escape from daily routine, deadlines, colleagues, and duties, not a comfort zone anymore. Not a reliable shelter to hide from this fussy world. Homo Covidicus has missed its own home at home.

– Dear, should we order pizza or go to the nearest McDonalds drive-through?

Our daily routine has been utterly changed. We now need to share space with other family members, organize our working place taking into consideration all things that might happen and do usually happen everywhere at home (especially pop-in-pets, pop-up-kids, anything that can unexpectedly break through your defense.) On the other hand, we are trying not to cross someone else’s work frontier. Therefore, we need to correlate our schedules and Zoom-meetings in advance, arranging beforehand who will guard the relative quietness on each other’s backstage, who will carry all those things on his or her shoulders like Atlas. Until it’s finally your turn for Zoom, and now you can shrug with relief.

– Mom, dad fell asleep and I need to pee… hey! [waiving hello to mom’s colleagues via the unmuted Zoom].

Homo Covidicus became similar to the Ancient Greeks and Romans who gave the instruction Memento Mori! (remember your mortality) and Carpe diem! (seize the day). Now, Homo Covidicus does count every day of his/her life, does remind him/herself of the inevitability of death. One by one losing his/her relatives, friends, colleagues, neighbors, lovers, teachers, favorite movie actors, football players, musicians, and… maybe even themselves. There is not a single Homo Covidicus who would not lose a loved one. Otherwise s/he cannot be a true Homo Covidicus.

– My oxygen saturation has rapidly gone down; I can hardly speak now. I’ve sent you all the passwords to my credit cards and accounts. Don’t cry. Save them. Just in case…

Just in case – is the most common phrase, if not on the tips of our tongues, then in between our lines. During the pandemic, our relatives have become as close to us as they have never been before. Paradoxically, these walls make people closer. More sensitive, kind, caring, thoughtful, religious, and prayerful. More open and empathic. More human. Homo Covidicus has re-identified (Covidentified?) him/herself first and foremost as homo.    

– Tell me how she died, dad, tell me everything in detail. Take pictures at her burial, of her lying in the coffin. Promise me! I need to have it in my memories too, in my mind, as if I were there with you, across the Atlantic.

The New York Times published “An Incalculable Loss” on 24 May 2020. Its first page was fully covered with names and brief descriptions of the “grim milestone” of 100,000 Americans who had died from coronavirus. A new tragic chapter in a new history. A new way of paying tribute to victims. A new way of storytelling: Marion Krueger, 85, Kirkland, Wash. Great-grandmother with an easy laugh. John-Sebastian Laird-Hammond, 59, Washington D.C. Member of a Franciscan monastery. George Freeman Winfield, 72, Shelburne, Vt. Could make anything grow. Kious Kelly, 48, New York City. Nurse in the Covid fight. Wanda Bailey, 63, Crete, Ill. One of nine siblings. Skylar Herbert, 5, Detroit. Michigan’s youngest victim of the coronavirus pandemic (…)

– Can you write there simply: Loved her children? That’s all I want.

My seven-year-old daughter asked me once what number COVID is. I didn’t understand her question until she explained it to me. At school, they had just learned numbers written in Roman numerals. And, if to look at the word COVID from that prospective, you can identify many Roman numerals there. Indeed! “It’s a tricky word,” I answered my daughter. “Because nobody knows its exact number. The number of people it would stop on.” Then she told me that this number-word should be positive no matter what, because it had her favorite V within it. Her favorite V reminded her of a flying bird.

– Can you take care of my Brisko, if… if… you know what I mean. Would you?

Now I, too, see a flying bird in this frightening number-word. I see how much we have all learned from this “lesson.” How devotedly we can fight for those whom we love and for those whom we see for the first time in our lives. How cohesively we can support each other by singing all together from our condo balconies or buying and leaving groceries near our neighbor’s doors. How inventive we have been to unlock this lockdown with omni-purpose keys of love, faith, and humanity.

“Sometimes / the iron in a lock / must be thinking / why was I moulded / into something as such! / A life that came / with boldness /got swept into / isolation — by the tongue / of a melancholic rust / hanging like a slave / to the will of the key / and fingers.” [“Locked” by Sonnet Mondal].

So, who are you – Homo Covidicus? Who are we? Bones of Bones, flesh of Flesh, homo of Homo? “Moulded into something as such.” What is your mission on this Earth? What is your fate? What is your covidentification? For how long will your shadow be shrouding your light ahead? What is your swan song, Homo Covidicus? What is your main story among all of them? I cannot choose – all of them reveal your our soul.

– Can you smell the coffee? Are you sure? Thank God.

For many people, especially in today’s world, it is very hard to reconcile the personal, sometimes seemingly intolerable, suffering of admirable and pious people with Divine justice and love. Believers of all religions face this challenge. There are many answers offered from karma to reincarnation.

Muslims and Jews have traditionally given the same answers with some variation. This is to be expected since both Jews and Muslims share the same belief in God’s oneness, goodness, and justice; and both Jews and Muslims reject the doctrines of “bad luck,” inheriting sins from previous lives, or one being guilty for the “original sin.”

The Qur’an tells us that just because you become, or already are, a believer does not mean that you will be exempt from personal suffering. “Do men think that they will be left alone on saying ‘We believe’ and that they will not be tested?” (29:2) It is additionally stated that: “Ye shall certainly be tried and tested in your possessions; and in your personal selves.” (3:186)

We will be tested by fear of, and hunger for, the loss of material goods, loved ones’ lives, and the failure of our efforts to bear fruit. Yet if we patiently persevere then all will be well: “Be sure We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods, or lives, or the fruits (of your toil); but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere” (2:155).

The glad tidings might come from a reversal in your bad fortune in this world, as happened to Prophet Job, or in your life in the world to come.

Traditional Jewish sages and rabbis would have agreed with all of the already quoted verses in the Qur’an as well as the following Ahadith, or reported sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad: “Anyone for whom Allah intends good, He makes him suffer from some affliction” (Bukhari) and “When Allah intends good for His slave, He punishes him in this world, but when He intends an evil for His slave, He does not quickly take him to task, but calls him to account on the Day of Resurrection” (Tirmidhi).

Most importantly, God never puts any burden on a soul that is beyond its ability to bear. “No burden do We place on any soul but that which it can bear” (6:152) and “Those who believe and do good – We do not impose upon any of them a burden beyond their capacity” (7:42).  

The rabbis were in full accord with these statements. They extended them even further to conclude that believers who were afflicted with severe calamities should take comfort that those who have a strong faith are given harder trials.

So too when Prophet Muhammad was asked about who suffers the greatest afflictions he replied, “The prophets, then those who come next to them, then those who come next to them. A man is afflicted in keeping his religion. If his religion is firm, his trial is severe; but if there is weakness in his religion, it is made light for him, and it continues like that until he walks on the earth without sin” (Tirmidhi).

If this seems very unjust and unfair, remember that “The magnitude of the reward goes along with the magnitude of the affliction” (Tirmidhi). Thus, “The believing man or woman may continue to have affliction in their person, property, and children so that they may finally meet God free from sin (Tirmidhi).

It is probably easier to understand this philosophy of life if it is first expressed in terms of the suffering that comes from human love. To love another person is to expose your heart to heartache. If it is worthwhile to love another human, how much more so is it desirable to love God who desires our love.

The Torah declares, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) and “What does the Lord your God require of you, but to revere the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 10:12).

This can be illustrated by the following parable (Martin Buber was a famous 20th century Jewish philosopher):

One day a young man stood in a town square proclaiming that he had the most beautiful heart in the whole valley. A large crowd gathered and all admired his heart, for it was perfect. There was not a single mark or flaw in it.

Yes, they agreed it truly was the most beautiful heart they had ever seen. It was an ideal heart. As beautiful as a Greek stature of an ideal youth. The young man said that his perfect, beautiful heart, was due to his philosophy of following a path of self-realization, calmness, and detachment.

Then a Rabbi named after Martin Buber appeared at the front of the crowd and said, “Why, your heart is not nearly as beautiful as mine.”

The crowd and the young man looked at the Rabbi’s heart. It was beating strongly, but it was full of scars. It had places where pieces had been removed and other pieces put in, but they didn’t fit quite right and there were several jagged edges.

In fact, in some places there were deep gouges where whole pieces were missing. The people stared. How could Martin Buber say his heart was more beautiful than the heart of the ideal youth?

The young man looked at the older man’s heart and laughed. “You must be joking,” he said. “Compare your heart with mine; mine is perfect and yours is a mess of scars and tears.”

“Yes,” said Rabbi Buber, “Yours is a perfect, heartache free heart, but I would never trade my heart for yours. You see, every scar represents a person to whom I have given my love. I tear out a piece of my heart and give it to people, and often they give me a piece of their heart, which fits into an empty place in my heart. But because the pieces aren’t exactly equal, I have some rough edges, which I cherish, because they remind me of the love we shared.”

Rabbi Buber then said, “Sometimes I give pieces of my heart away, and the other person doesn’t return a piece of his or her heart to me. These are the empty gouges… giving love is taking a chance. And then there are places where my heart is broken, reminding me of the love I have had, and lost. I say the Kaddish prayer for remembering those who have died, in order to praise God for the pains of living a life of loving and caring; for it is better to love and lose than to be detached and never to love at all.”

The young man stood silently, with tears running down his cheeks. He walked up to the older man, reached into his own perfect, young and beautiful heart and ripped a piece out. He offered it to the old man with trembling hands. The Rabbi took the young man’s offering, placed it in his heart, and then took a piece from his old, scarred heart and placed it in the wound in the young man’s heart. It fit, but not perfectly, as there were some jagged edges.

The young man looked at his heart, not perfect anymore, but more beautiful than ever, since love from Rabbi Buber’s heart now flowed into his. They embraced and walked away side by side.

“Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing admiration and awe, the more often and steadily we reflect upon them: the starry heavens above me and the moral law within me.”
Immanuel Kant

Since the very beginning, humankind has been probing the universe and standing in awe as we learned more and more about it, thus increasing our curiosity even more. Each discovery has revealed how little we collectively knew and has helped to showcase the marvelous creation of the universe.

In December 2019, the Daniel K. Inouye Telescope (DKIST), the world’s largest solar telescope, started capturing the highest-resolution images of the Sun that were ever taken. The motion on the surface of the Sun was observed in detail, and the magnificent image of millions of solar flares, each much larger and more effective than any volcanic eruption on Earth, enthralled scientists.

With its myriad of features such as its location, size, energy, and structure, the Sun is an indispensable resource for Earth. This source of heat and light was most likely created approximately 4.6 billion years ago to set the Earth ready for all the living things that were going to come much later.

It is a known fact that the Sun has a major role among all causes on which all life on Earth is dependent on. In fact, this is exactly what makes the Sun unique, or else it is just one of the billions of stars in the Milky Way. For instance, there would be no plants since photosynthesis is triggered by energy from the Sun. Processes that are crucial to the maintenance of the environment, such as water circulation, i.e. evaporation of water from the seas and oceans and its downpour elsewhere would not be possible. Winds would also not occur as they are caused by differing temperatures in the atmosphere. Without the Sun as the apparent cause of many vital processes, seasons would not emerge in the world, nor would the formation of vitamin D in our bodies would be possible. Of course, all of these phenomena are within the frame of the laws of creation, and our Lord can also create without cause or reason.

Location and size

While the Sun is 26 thousand light years far from the center of the Milky Way, its distance from the planet Earth is about 150 million km, which equals 8 minutes and 31 seconds at the speed of light. In other words, we are unable to watch the Sun live but can witness how it looked 8 minutes ago.

The Sun, normally a white, medium-sized star, appears yellow due to the Earth’s atmosphere. It is comprised of 91% hydrogen, 8.9% helium, 0.1% carbon, and other elements such as nitrogen. It is one of the stars we otherwise see during a clear night sky.

While the Sun is enormous in comparison to the size of Earth, it is a relatively small celestial object when compared to the size of the Universe. Our solar system consists of eight planets, several moons, numerous asteroids, and the Sun. The Sun, the heaviest and largest celestial body in the system, is 600 times larger than the total volume of all of the system’s planets. Equaling 99.8% of the total weight of its system, the Sun definitely generates a huge gravitational force which causes the other celestial objects to orbit itself. There is a perfect balance between the gravitational force of the Sun and the centrifugal force of the planets. If the rotational speeds of the planets were slower, they would quickly be pulled towards the Sun and consumed.

The Sun is a huge ball of flame with the temperatures of 5-6 thousand degrees Celsius on its outermost shell and 15-16 million degrees Celsius at its core. Its surface is in perpetual motion due to the convective movements triggered by the heat from its core [1]. Due to consecutive explosions and stirs that result in a kind of “plasma soup,” there is no fixed temperature on the Sun. The concentration of the surface magnetic field in certain regions prevents a purely homogeneous heat distribution. This is how the “sunspots” – dark-colored areas on the Sun’s surface – are formed.

Movements of the Sun

“And the sun runs the course appointed for it for a term.” (The Qur’an, 36:38)

As stated in the Holy Qur’an, the Sun moves on an orbit. While the Sun rotates around itself, it also travels towards Vega, a star 25 light-years from the Earth, at a speed of 220 km per second. The Sun completes a tour of the galaxy in about 230 million years.

The Sun rotates around itself at an average of 70 thousand km. Since it is in plasma form, the Sun moves at different speeds in different regions. The equator region completes one cycle in 25 days, while one cycle of the pole regions takes 35 days. The interior of the Sun is extremely volatile: A French research group led by Prof. Laurent Gizon examined the seismic sound waves in the Sun and discovered that the core of the Sun rotates 3-4 times faster than its other regions [2].

Similar to that of the Earth, the Sun has magnetic north and south poles that are in perpetual motion. These poles shift places every 11 years.

Reactions in the Sun

It is estimated that the hydrogen fuel of the Sun, which is counted among the middle-aged stars, will end after 6.5 billion years and thus send it to an utter collapse within itself which will result in it becoming a small star called a “white dwarf.”

The central region of the Sun undergoes intense pressures due to gravitational force. These pressures cause nuclear fusions and the energy produced through radioactive reactions in the Sun reaches to the Earth as light and heat. Every second, 564 million tons of hydrogen turns into helium, while approximately 4.5 million tons of material turn into energy and radiates into space.

Simply put, there are 400 billion 1-megaton strong nuclear explosions happening at any moment in the Sun. Moreover, the energy the Sun produces in one second is 6.1 million times more than that of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Only one in 2.2 billion of the energy the Sun emits in space reaches the Earth and ends up catering to the needs of living beings.

Mercy rather than disaster

Particles that escape from the corona layer of the Sun, which perpetually moves with nuclear explosions with a temperature of about 1 million degrees Celsius, are dispersed into space. This wind of charged particles is emitted from the Sun in every direction at a blazing speed of 400 meters per second. This magnetic breeze called “Solar Wind” impacts the magnetic field of the Earth and causes storms in the magnetosphere layer of the atmosphere.

Fortunately, our planet Earth is protected by a magnetic shield, which deflects these harmful rays from the Sun to the polar regions.

The magnificent view of the polar lights of blue, red and green colors called “aura” in both poles is caused by the collision of the magnetic field waves from the Sun with the Earth’s atmosphere. This wonderful natural light show mostly takes place at the poles because the north and the south poles are the zero points of the Earth’s magnetic attraction where charged particles intensely enter the atmosphere.

Unexplained force

Large enough to house 1 million and 300 thousand Earths in itself, the Sun works like a giant nuclear reactor in which radioactive events take place with such subtle calculations that scientists cannot yet fully explain. This is a miraculous phenomenon, for normally, it is not possible for four positively-charged hydrogen atoms – which normally move around randomly – to come together and form helium.

Fusion radioactive chain reactions in the Sun continue as follows:

a) ¹H + ¹H → ²H + β⁺ + V_e

b) ²H + ¹H → ³He + ϒ

c) ³He + ³He → ⁴He + ¹H + ¹H

First, while two hydrogen (¹H) particles join, “deuterium” (²H) – which has a proton and a neutron – as well as positron and energy are created. Thanks to another hydrogen reacting with deuterium, a helium isotope with a neutron and gamma rays are formed. The reaction of this helium with similar helium particles results in the formation of two-neutron helium and two hydrogen atoms.

The force that fuses the two separate atomic nuclei that hold deuterium together is called “strong nuclear force.” The nature of this force cannot be fully explained. Theoretically, it is said to be generated through the back-and-forth movement or effect of a particle called “pion” between the protons. This force is the greatest physical force in the universe and is 10³⁶ times stronger than the force of gravity. Thanks to its power, this force is capable of fusing two hydrogen nuclei that normally repel each other with great force.

If this force was weaker than its current level, it would not be able to hold two hydrogen nuclei together. Any two adjacent protons would repel each other immediately, and the nuclear reaction in the Sun would end before it started. That is, the Sun would never exist.

What if the strong nuclear force was a little bit stronger?

George Greenstein explains that if this great force was a bit stronger, then the Sun would change completely, for the first stage of the reaction in the Sun would then be the production of di-protons, not deuteron. The weak nuclear force would be reduced to null and only the strong nuclear force would remain in the loop. In that case, the Sun’s fuel would immediately become so disproportionately effective and massive that the Sun and all similar stars would be blown to smithereens in a matter of seconds [3].

Yet, this is not so. The Sun has been set into motion as the main source of life on Earth, located millions of kilometers away.

“The Sun and the Moon are by an exact calculation (of the All-Merciful).” (The Qur’an, 55:5)

Notes

1. Movement caused by the temperature difference in fluids.
2. https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2017/esa-nasa-s-soho-reveals-rapidly-rotating-solar-core
3. Greenstein, George. 1988. The Symbiotic Universe. William Morrow.

The Example of the First Circle Around the Prophet and Those Who Followed Them

Uways al-Qarani – an illustrious personage so assiduous at faith and at his relationship with God; one near to Him as possibly as one can be. He was a contemporary of the “age of light” – the time of the Prophet. He saw what needed to be seen and was able to attend the circles of the blessed light. He was a person of the most fortunate kind who had the honor of being among the first generation of believers (ashab) despite himself being born in the next generation (tabi’un). His connection with the Almighty and His Messenger was thorough. With respect to his heaven-bound spiritual progress, he was in line with those in the “blessed circle.” He was held back by his mother’s demand, but he truly was a person imbued with the hue of that circle and a brilliant personage of his own kind [1]. Although he had heard the call, he could not be a Companion (sahaba) to the Prophet, by meeting him physically. Thanks to his perseverance and speed to let his heart and spirit flourish, he became a saintly personage recognized by all; he received much esteem from the early caliphs, and he enjoyed a spiritual position on a par with the Companions.

He was so closely connected with the blessed circle that he was able to sense what was otherwise beyond perception and acquire everything to be acquired in their atmosphere, thanks to the rays of light from the bright Moon, the Prophet, in the lead. He conveyed to others as much knowledge as he received and also shed light on the path of hundreds of others on the way to realizing the potential of his spirit and secret (sir). He lived with the excitement of letting those around him feel and sense the divine as he did, and constantly lived with the enthusiasm of spiritually reviving others. While being mentioned so honorably by others, he constantly kept up an attitude of humility and modesty that was utterly unsympathetic to taking pride. With the touching fashion of his supplications, he always inspired solemn God-consciousness to those around him. Although we estimate that sins could not taint even his imagination, as a requirement of his special attainments, he overstated the pettiest “fog” and “smoke” as gigantic evils that he had committed and sighed with concern, an outcome of his spiritual excellence.

Here are a few of his heart-rending tunes that perfectly correspond the sincere supplications of his predecessors; or rather, a few priceless drops that are worth oceans that are each no different than a breath of an angel, with a solemnity that reminds of the sighs of those closest to God Almighty:

“O my Most High Sustainer! With reliance on and submission to You, here I beg for Your help. Neither in this world nor in the next, do not leave me on my own with my impotence, poverty, and nothingness! O the Eternal Monarch of these days, tomorrows, and of all times, the Compassionate Sustainer! As a sinful servant of Yours, here I am at Your door of Mercy, with my impoverished state!”

O Uways, the blessed soul praying thus! If even you are impoverished, I don’t know what the miserable servants of our time should call themselves! I am not able to say anything, but a certain person of wisdom referred to such people as ‘the unfortunate walking dead.’ He should be right at that. (FG)

“I am weak, slovenly, abased, a captive of Yours, and a bankrupt helpless one; whereas, You are the Sovereign of sovereigns, Who meets the demands of those who turn to His door with the ampleness of His Mercy!… I am overwhelmed with my worry and sorrow, but I am before the court of the All-Generous One Who fulfills requests of those with worried hearts who stagger their way on. My transgressions are beyond count!”

I wonder what he means by “transgression.” (FG)

“With the hope of being included among Your favorite and distinguished servants, my head is humbly at the Your doorstep of Your mercy, I knock that door with the hope of being forgiven.”

O Uways, the saintly sultan of spiritual faculties (sir and khafa), who made his predecessors envy his profundity of heart and spirit. While your contemporaries and your environment saw you as an exemplar and showered you with much appreciation, is this supplication of yours a form of self-criticism as befits your vast horizons; or is it a lesson of being directed to their sanctuaries for disoriented servants like myself who are scattered here and there like prayer beads out of their string? (FG)

“With due embarrassment and excitement about my faults expected to be forgiven, I turn to Your Chamber of forgiveness, my face humbly down with the hope of forgiveness and say, ‘O my Gracious Lord! As a wretched soul who wronged himself, my eyes are on the door of Your ample mercy, expecting that it will open, and my heart eager to be showered with Your special graces, I am expecting what is to be expected from You. Though my offenses are beyond count, here I push aside whatever I have as my own eligibility, I seek refuge in Your Mercy that makes anyone eligible, and I am expecting Your special favors while looking downwards contritely.

“My Almighty God, with my innumerable wrongs and awareness of there being no other doors to turn to, I intend to stay eternally if need be before Your door of mercy, which is ever open to everyone.

“My God! I turn to You once more with these countless and unending transgressions of mine, for I do not know any other doors to turn to. O my Almighty God! You are the supremely Exalted and Beneficent one, whereas I am a servant of the humblest kind. If You do not have mercy on this wretched servant of Yours, who else can ever help him? O my eternal Sultan, my ultimate refuge! You are the true owner of everything and everyone, and this servant at Your door is just an ordinary servant. If you do not favor him and take him to Your hand of Munificence, who else can ever support him? O my ultimate provider of shelter and support! You are the absolute owner of glory, while this poor one is so lowly; if You do not hold him by the hand, who else can save him from this abject state?”

O Paragon of perfection and light of my eye, if even you are lowly, can you tell me how we can name our own situation? (FG)

“My Master! You are such an exalted All-Compassionate One that You keep Your gates of forgiveness wide open even for pitch-black souls who have committed some of the gravest sins, and You let our hopes soar with the glad tidings of, ‘turn to God all together in repentance…’ (Nur 24:31).

“Please do not send away from that door this lowly poor servant who spent his life tainted with transgressions! O All-Caring and Favoring One, who supports everyone with His Endless mercy and compassion and fills them with relief! I am another helpless servant of Yours, who staggers his way on; I seek refuge in the vastness of Your Mercy against the dark and narrowness of the grave and hardness of the decreed judgment, and here I beg and implore for Your mercy.”

I wonder whether we ever opened up to God this way, be it once, with these profound considerations? I don’t think so! Every time he remembers the fearsome states beyond the grave, he prays with such pleas for mercy. (FG)

“Do not deprive this fallen one of Your providence and grace while I give account of my life to the interrogating angels! I will ask for Your mercy and hope for Your clemency and compassion against all pressures and assaults I face. I will cry out, ‘Mercy please!’ against the narrowness and darkness of the grave. Against the dreadful states when people frantically shake like leaves not knowing whether they will be taken under Your protection or not, ‘mercy! Please mercy!’

“At the time when the earth shakes continuously, when the ground turns to dust and smoke, when mountains burst into the air like carded wool, when the skies are rolled up, and the earth and the heavens are overturned with successive changes; during that worrisome Judgment Day when everybody will be resurrected and gathered before the Divine Presence; before those dreadful scenes when everybody, people and jinn, will be faced with their deeds; during those grunts of remorse when those who spent their lives in unbelief and misguidance will lament with wishes of being turned to dust; and before so many more intertwined causes of distress, once more time heartfelt, “mercy, please mercy!” Before the fact that those who spent their worldly lives in valleys of rebellion and a swamp of sins are brought to account, again ‘mercy, please mercy!’”

By saying these, that monumental personage whose innocence was confirmed by all accounts went through vast amounts of supplication. He would live with these night and day. His tongue and lips wept under the command of the heart all the time. As he breathed in and out with such considerations, breezes of revival with the pattern of the Age of Light were blowing around him. Certain souls who started yawning slightly would feel resuscitated before these heartfelt laments; they would gain a certain spiritual perception with the wisdom of imagining the pictures portrayed, and they would form a chorus of prayer, thanks to that heavenly tune.

If only one tenth of such feelings, thoughts, and imagination were found in those who claim to be believers in our time! If only homes would be revived in heart and spirit with the mood brought by imagining these otherworldly scenes and join voices with those imploring petitions. If only establishments of religious education did not remain indifferent to this heartfelt entreaty but they also joined alongside them! If only sermons and addresses could be freed of the influence of mundane life and join that chorus and thus add to their melody! It is such a bitter fact that in our time, homes, social environment, centers of guidance, and even some Sufi lodges are polluted with the latest gossip. The special spirit of family homes is hospitalized; establishments of knowledge and wisdom are breathing hardly in intensive care. Schools of religion are almost on the throes of death. Some Sufi lodges are almost waiting for their turn at the funeral bench. Streets are worse than streams of tar; masses who lost their spirit are completely devoid of their feelings of a spiritual quest. Papers in wretched condition, which are supposed to be speaking for the public, are but seeking to play henchman for the devil. In short, it is smoke and dust all around and minds are confused. Spirits and hearts can only be saved by some extra hope. The poet Mehmed Akif portrays this gloomy picture so well:

What an outrage, O Lord, what a terrible upheaval,
No religion, no faith left; religion destroyed; faith razed to the ground
Let virtues be ignored, let consciences fall into silence.
If this moral corruption lasts, there will remain no independence!

I wish there were a few intellectuals who saw and understood these lines and then voiced what they understood! Unfortunately, this absence is another means of grief.

Let us conclude this article with the following stanza by Sultan Mustafa III, and say farewell to the blessed personages who gained closeness to God after one more sigh:

“This world is coming down, don’t think it will be set right in our hands,
Ill fortune passed the authority to lowly ones
Now wandering near the court gates are all jesters
So it seems, nothing but the Divine Providence can save us!…”

Note

1. Uways made a visit to see the Prophet but could not find him in place. Complying with his mother’s demand, he returned home without waiting, unable to meet the Prophet.