Bird flight as a miracle

 Hast thou not considered that glorifies God whatever is in the heavens and the earth and the birds, ones standing in ranks? Each knew its formal prayer and its glorification. And God is Knowing of what they accomplish.Quran 24:41 by  Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar

He said: "Our Lord is He Who gave to each (created) thing its form and nature, and further, gave (it) guidance." Quran  20 50  by Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)

The Flight of Birds:

Regarding the flight of birds the Qur’an says: “Do they not look at the birds, held poised In the midst of (the air and) the sky? Nothing holds them up but (the power of) Allah. Verily in this are signs for those who believe.” [Al-Qur’an 16:79]
A similar message is repeated in the Qur’an in the verse: “Do they not observe The birds above them, Spreading their wings And folding them in? None can uphold them Except (Allah) Most Gracious: Truly it is He That watches over all things.” [Al-Qur’an 67:19]
The Arabic word amsaka literally means, ‘to put one’s hand on, seize, hold, hold someone back,’ which expresses the idea that Allah holds the bird up in His power. These verses stress the extremely close dependence of the birds’ behaviour on Divine order. Modern scientific data has shown the degree of perfection attained by certain species of birds with regard to the programming of their movements. It is only the existence of a migratory programme in the genetic code of the birds that can explain the long and complicated journey that very young birds, without any prior experience and without any guide, are able to accomplish. They are also able to return to the departure point on a definite date.
Prof. Hamburger in his book ‘Power and Fragility’ gives the example of ‘mutton-bird’ that lives in the Pacific with its journey of over 15,000 miles in the shape of figure ‘8’. It makes this journey over a period of 6 months and comes back to its departure point with a maximum delay of one week. The highly complicated instructions for such a journey have to be contained in the birds’ nervous cells. They are definitely programmed. Should we not reflect on the identity of this ‘Programmer’?

(From "The Quran and Modern Science, Compatible or Incompatible?” by Dr Zakir Naik ” published by Darussalam Publishers & Distributors)

The body mechanisms of birds have a completely different structure from land dwelling animals.The wings can only function of when it's fully developed.How this organ came into being is one of the mysteries of nature that has still to be accounted for.The existence of wings isn't the only prerequisite for a land creature to become a bird.The land dwelling animals totally lack a number of mechanisms that are used by birds in flying.For example, the bones of birds are considerably lighter than those of land dwelling animals.Their lungs are of different structure and function as well as well as are their skeletal and muscular structures.Their circulatory systems are much more specialised than those of land animals.

Birds display properties distinct from reptiles in having a skeletal structure composed of hollow, extremely lightweight bones, and an unique respiratory system and in being warm-blooded creatures.Another structure unique to birds is the feather.Feathers are the most important of the interesting aesthetical aspects of birds.The phrase”light as a feather” depicts the perfection in the intricate structure of a feather, constructed from a protein substance called keratin.Scientist Alan Feduccia says feathers” have an almost magical structural complexity” which” allows a mechanical aerodynamic refinement never achieved by other means”.

There's a shaft that runs up the center of the feather.Hundreds of small barbs grow on either side of this shaft.Barbs of varying softness and size give the bird it's aerodynamic nature.Furthermore , each barb has thousands of even smaller strands attached to them called barbules, which can't be observed with the naked eye.These barbules are locked together with hooklike hamuli.The barbules hold on to one another like a zip with the help of these hooklets.These barbules interlock so tightly that even smoke blown at the feather can not penetrate through it.If the hooklets come apart for any reason, the bird can easily restore the feathers to their original form by either shaking itself or by straightening its feathers out with its beak.Birds use an oil gland located at the base of their tails for the maintenance of their feathers.They clean and polish their feathers by means of this oil, which also provides water proofing when they are swimming,diving or walking and flying in rain.In addition, in cold weather the feathers prevent the body temperature of birds from falling.The feathers are pressed closer to the body in hot weather in order to keep it cool.

The full feathered tail functions to steer and brake.Wing feathers have a distinct structure that enables the surface area to expand during beating in order to increase forces of up-lift.When the wing is flapped downward, the feathers come close together, preventing the through passage of air.Worn or damaged large feathers are renewed immediately.

Birds are designed specifically for flying.The body has been created with air-sacs and hollow bones in order to reduce body mass and overall weight.The fluid nature of their wastes ensures that excess water in the body is disposed of.Feathers are extremely light structures in comparison to their volume.

The strength of a bird's skeleton is more than adequate even though the bones are hollow.Better organized than land animals, the shoulder,hip and chest bones of birds are fused together.This design improves the strength of the bird's structure.

The respiratory system of land animals and birds operate on completely different principles, primarily because birds need oxygen in much greater quantities than do land animals.For example,a certain bird could require up to twenty times the amount of oxygen necessary for humans.Therefore, the lungs of land animals cannot provide oxygen in the quantities required by birds.This is why the lungs of birds are created upon a much different design.

God has created birds without flaw just as He has the rest of the creation.This fact is manifest in every detail.The bodies of birds have been created to a special design that removes any possible imbalance in flight.The bird's head has been deliberately created light in weight so that the animal doesn't lean forward during flight: on average,a bird's head weight is about 1% of its body weight.The aerodynamic structure of the feathers is another property of the system of balance in birds

God inspires the birds with a method to make their flight easy and efficient.The birds do not fly haphazardly but in flock.They follow a certain order and form a”V” shape in the air.This V formation reduces the air resistance that they encounter.This flight formation is so efficient that they save about 23% of their energy.

Flight requires a great deal of power.For this reason birds have the largest muscle tissue/ body-mass ratio of all creatures.Their metabolism is also in tune with high levels of muscle power.On average,a creature’s metabolism doubles as the body temperature increases by 500F.(Harun Yahya -shortened)

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The Origin of Birds and Flight

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How Do Birds Find Their Flight Routes?

The roads used by birds during annual migrations are called flight routes. Scientists haven't figured out exactly how birds know their flight routes. However, they think that there is an internal global positioning (GPS) system that our Lord gave to the birds. For this reason, it is estimated that they take advantage of the position of the sun during their daytime flights and of stars such as the pole star or the north star at night. They think that there may be a system between the eyes and brain of birds that determines which direction is north, almost like a compass. On the other hand, it is assumed that the trace amounts of iron found in the neurons in the bird's inner ear are also used in navigation. Another surprising fact is that the bird's beak is also used in finding direction and determining the bird's exact location. The connection between the bird's beak and the brain is provided by the trigeminal nerve. Scientists have determined that this nerve was given by our Lord the task of detecting the magnetic field that surrounds our world. Because the magnetic field is very strong at the poles, this force weakens towards the equatorby ali alaş

via Dr Sue Lewis

As scientists continue to unravel the mysteries of bird migration, the phenomenon remains one of nature’s great wonders.

The Miracle of Migration in Animals by Harun Yahya.pdf

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Aerodynamic Forces and Programmed Flight of Birds

Do they not see the birds subjugated in the void of the sky? No one holds them (in such a void) other than Allah. Surely, there are signs in this for a people who believe. (Surat an-Nahl, 79)

Due to gravity on Earth, all objects fall to the ground quickly or slowly when released into the air. Everything on earth, whether living or non-living, is under the influence of this gravity. However, as a miracle of God, birds can resist this force and fly up and down in the air; They maneuver or sometimes glide without flapping their wings. All the details of birds, from their skeletons to their lungs, from the arrangement of their feathers to their wing shapes, have been created with a special structure and arrangement that will enable them to fly. Even a baby bird, unaware of the act of flying and the laws of aerodynamics, has the ability to fly as soon as it is born. As if the baby bird knows that it has a body suitable for flight, it lowers itself from a height and begins to fly. This is not information that is taught to the bird later or that the bird learns by trial and error. The fact that the bird knows that it has the body structure to fly, that it has the courage to throw itself into the void, and then flies in the air without falling is all under the inspiration of Almighty Allah.

The Arabic expression "yumsikuhunne", which is mentioned in the 79th verse of the An-Nahl Surah, when it is stated how the birds stay in the air, means "it does not release them, it takes them, it catches them, it holds them, it pulls them". This word is the present-tense form of the verb "emseke", which means "to grasp with the hand, to catch, to hold and to pull back". With this word, our Almighty Lord reveals that He keeps the bird in the air and makes it fly by His command. Bird flight is still an extensive research area for scientists today. Scientists, who have noticed the perfection of flight in birds, directly use the structures and flight patterns of birds as models in the construction of air transportation vehicles such as planes and jets.n addition to the aerodynamic perfection of birds' flight, their thousands of kilometers of migration are also the subject of research by scientists. Today, ornithologists have concluded that the movements of birds are almost programmed. The clearest example of this is that young birds can make long and difficult journeys without any prior experience or guidance. The meanings of the word "musahharatin" in the verse, such as "forced to a certain target, made at their disposal, taken under command, captured, subjugated", clearly reveal that the birds obey the order given to them and follow the direction determined for them.

There are calculations in the flight of birds that these creatures, lacking intelligence and consciousness, cannot achieve on their own. Today, it is accepted among scientists that these extraordinary abilities in birds are "programmed" in advance. This situation is described in an article published in Science magazine as follows:

There is good evidence that young birds are equipped with internal migration programs that tell them how many days or nights to fly and in which direction.13

Prof. from René Descartes University. In his book La Puissance et la Fragilité (The Strong and the Fragile), Pierre Jean Hamburger describes the extraordinary 24,000-kilometer journey of the shearwater bird living in the Pacific Ocean with the following expressions:Verse 79 of Surah Nahl may, in a sense, indicate that birds obey the aerodynamic laws created by Allah while flying. (Allah knows the truth.) The science of aerodynamics examines the behavior of solid objects against a fluid such as air. For example, when an airplane moves through the air, different forces arise that affect its movement. To ensure that the aircraft moves as planned and does not encounter any unexpected force or resistance, the aircraft is pre-tested against the laws of resistance of the air. As a result of long-term calculations, measurements and experiments, the movement of the object in the air is planned.

Birds, on the other hand, continue to amaze scientists with their adaptation to the principles of aerodynamics. These creatures fly without any trial and error, overcoming the aerodynamic forces in the air in the most perfect way. The use of the word "musahharatin" for the flight of birds in the verse is extremely wise. Because this word means "they were influenced, they were forced to a certain target, they were forced to do something, they were put under orders, they were subjugated, they were given to their service, they were bound to (Allah), they were subjugated to (Allah's) laws." In this regard, it is possible that the verse refers to the decisive effect of aerodynamic forces on the flight of birds. (Allah knows the truth.)

On the surface, there seems to be no reason that forces the flight of birds, but according to the science of aerodynamics, any object flying in the air is under pressure by many different forces. The most well-known powers of these are; gravitational force, thrust force, drag force, lift force. As a result, for a certain level of flight to occur, these forces must be in balance. For example, if the force of gravity overcomes other forces, the bird falls to the ground. In this respect, the word in the verse best expresses the pressured situation of birds during flight. The fact that statements containing such detailed information were included in the Qur'an at a time when sciences such as aerodynamics and flight mechanics did not exist, once again reveals that the Qur'an is a Divine book.As a result, although scientists cannot fully explain it, they accept that migrations are pre-programmed behaviors that exist from birth. Flights lasting thousands of kilometers, the preparations made for these flights, direction finding and navigation skills during the flight, all of these take place with the revelation of our Almighty Lord, as pointed out in the verse. The scientific confirmation of all the information given in the Quran is that the Quran created these sciences.

It is one of the important evidence showing that it is God's revelation.Every year, an estimated 50 billion birds make their migration journey within a road network surrounding the entire Earth. Migratory birds, sometimes traveling tens of thousands of kilometers across continents and oceans, do this job so well that they cross the widest deserts and seas, the highest mountains and ice fields... Migratory birds need a comprehensive, detailed and innate "space experience" for a successful migration. There are "temporal" programs. Such programs clearly enable even young and inexperienced birds to migrate without the guidance of adults... Birds do this by "vector navigation": by following a vector consisting of a genetically predetermined migration direction and a predetermined time schedule. ... This is followed by the programming of departure times by genetic factors. So, how do birds know the direction they need to migrate in order to reach their specific winter headquarters?... Even if migratory birds are taken to a place other than their starting point in experimental cages and have never migrated before, they are able to migrate in a way that is, quite interestingly, practically similar to that of normal migratory birds. They showed their directional preferences. A series of experiments now provide evidence that the direction of migration is genetically determined... Apparently, even these directional changes are largely internally programmed... With their innate pattern of migratory activity, birds have a genetically determined migration program. This program, combined with genetically determined migration directions, “automatically” guides even the most inexperienced birds, as mentioned above, even when migrating for the first time to winter headquarters that they may not know about in advance.15

The point of departure is the coast of Australia. From there it flies south towards the Pacific, then turns north and flies along the coast of Japan until it reaches the Bering Sea, where it can rest for a while. After this break, he sets off again and this time heads south. It crosses the west coast of America and reaches California. From there it crosses the Pacific again to return to where it started. Neither the route nor the date of this 15,000-mile (24,000 km) journey, which he travels every year in the shape of an '8', never changes. The journey in question lasts exactly six months and always ends in the 3rd week of September, on the island he left exactly six months ago, in the home he left six months ago. What happens next is even more surprising: After returning, the birds clean their nests, mate and lay their single eggs during the last ten days of October. Two months later, the tiny chicks hatch, grow rapidly, and are cared for for three months until their parents leave on their mighty journey. Two weeks later; In other words, in mid-April, it is the young birds' turn to spread their wings to begin their tours. Without any guide, they follow the exact same route described above. The explanation for this is very clear: These birds must have all the instructions necessary for such a journey, in the equipment that transmits the hereditary characteristics inside the egg. Some people may argue that these birds are guided throughout their round trip by the Sun and stars or by the prevailing winds along their route. However, it is clear that these factors do not affect the geographical and chronological accuracy of the journey.14

Prof. Peter Berthold is a renowned researcher who has studied bird migration for 20 years and is also head of the Vogelwarte Radolfzell Research Center for Ornithology at the Max Planck Institute in Germany. He states the following about the migration of birds:As a result, although scientists cannot fully explain it, they accept that migrations are pre-programmed behaviors that exist from birth. Flights lasting thousands of kilometers, the preparations made for these flights, direction finding and navigation skills during the flight, all of these take place with the revelation of our Almighty Lord, as pointed out in the verse. The scientific confirmation of all the information given in the Quran is that the Quran created these sciences.

It is one of the important evidence showing that it is God's revelation.

God has given different characteristics to all the living things He created. The fact that living things can survive with these features proves that they were created suddenly and in harmony with their environment. Birds are a good example in this regard. There are thousands of different ways of breeding, nesting, hunting, feeding and flying among birds. Even examining the flying feature of just one of these will be enough to see the unlimited power of Allah. In one verse, Allah reveals that He is the owner of all beings: “To Him belongs everything in the heavens and the earth; All of them have 'wholeheartedly submitted' to Him.” (Surat ar-Rum, 26)

The Flying Birds | Quran and the Signs Of My Lord

Birds moving in flocks fly in a "V" shape. During V-shaped flight, the birds at the front reduce the resistance of the air against them for the birds following behind. Birds in flocks, which save energy in this way, generally fly faster than birds alone

Except when nesting, swifts spend their lives in the air, living on the insects caught in flight; they drink, feed, and often mate and sleep on the wing.^[8] Some individuals go 10 months without landing.^[4] No other bird spends as much of its life in flight. Contrary to common belief, swifts can take flight from level ground.^[10] Their maximum horizontal flying speed is 111.6 km/h (69.3 mph)^[11] Over a lifetime they can cover millions of kilometers.^{[12]by wikipedia}

Common swift

White storks rely on the uplift of air thermals to soar and glide the long distances of their annual migrations between Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa. For many, the shortest route would take them over the Mediterranean Sea; however, since air thermals do not form over water, they generally detour over land to avoid the trans-Mediterranean flights that would require prolonged energetic wing flapping.^[65] It has been estimated that flapping flight metabolises 23 times more body fat than soaring flight per distance travelled.^{[66]via wikipedia} 

White stork

 This bill is composed of several horny plates, and along the sides are the two "tubes", long nostrils that give the order its former name (Tubinares, or tubenoses). The tubes of all albatrosses are along the sides of the bill, unlike the rest of the Procellariiformes, where the tubes run along the top of the bill. These tubes allow the albatrosses to measure the exact airspeed in flight; the nostrils are analogous to the pitot tubes in modern aircraft. The albatross needs accurate airspeed measurement to perform dynamic soaring. Like other Procellariiformes, they use their uniquely developed sense of smell to locate potential food sources, whereas most birds depend on eyesight.^[14] The feet have no hind toe and the three anterior toes are completely webbed. The legs are strong for the Procellariiformes, making them and the giant petrels the only members of that order that can walk well on land.^[15]

^{Albatrosses, along with all Procellariiformes, must excrete the salts they ingest in drinking sea water and eating marine invertebrates. All birds have an enlarged nasal gland at the base of the bill, above their eyes. This gland is inactive in species that do not require it, but in the Procellariiformes, it acts as a salt gland. Scientists are uncertain as to its exact processes, but do know in general terms that it removes salt by secreting a 5% saline solution that drips out of their noses or is forcibly ejected.[16]}via wikipedia

Albatross

Hummingbirds have varied specialized characteristics to enable rapid, maneuverable flight, exceptional metabolic capacity, adaptations to high altitude, sensitive visual and communication abilities, and long-distance migration in some species

They are known as hummingbirds because of the humming sound created by their beating wings, which flap at high frequencies audible to other birds and humans. They hover at rapid wing-flapping rates, which vary from around 12 beats per second in the largest species to 80 per second in small hummingbirds.

Hummingbirds have the highest mass-specific metabolic rate of any homeothermic animal.^[5][6] To conserve energy when food is scarce and at night when not foraging, they can enter torpor, a state similar to hibernation, and slow their metabolic rate to 1/15 of its normal rate.^[6][7

Hummingbird

Re: Allah makes the bird fly - Quran 16:79 error refuted

Regarding the flight of birds the Qur’aan says:

 “Do they not look at The birds, held poised In the midst of (the air And) the sky? Nothing Holds them up but (the power Of) Allah. Verily in this Are Signs for those who believe.” [Al-Qur’aan 16:79]

أَلَمْ يَرَوْا إِلَى الطَّيْرِ مُسَخَّرَاتٍ فِي جَوِّ السَّمَاءِ مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا اللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ

Sahih International

Do they not see the birds controlled in the atmosphere of the sky? None holds them up except Allah . Indeed in that are signs for a people who believe.

 http://quran.com/16/79

 

The Arabic key word here that we must look at is musakhkharatin or musakhkharat.   The word is derived from the root word "sakhkhara", which means:

1. To dedicate something as a resource for a task.
2. To preserve or hold special sources for accomplishing something.
3. To enable or to cause for a creation to do something for another creation.
4. To subject something for something else.

 Everyone during Prophet Muhammad's, peace be upon him, time knew that birds fly, and they were special-designed to fly.  The Noble Verse was rather speaking about the Glory of GOD Almighty and how Miraculous it is indeed to have birds fly on their own.

 

 

 A similar message is repeated in the Qur’aan in the verse: “Do they not observe The birds above them, Spreading their wings And folding them in? None can uphold them Except (Allah) Most Gracious: Truly it is He That watches over all things.” [Al-Qur’aan 67:19]

The Arabic word amsaka literally means, ‘to put one’s hand on, seize, hold, hold someone back,’ which expresses the idea that Allah holds the bird up in His power. These verses stress the extremely close dependence of the birds’ behaviour on Divine order. Modern scientific data has shown the degree of perfection attained by certain species of birds with regard to the programming of their movements. It is only the existence of a migratory programme in the genetic code of the birds that can explain the long and complicated journey that very young birds, without any prior experience and without any guide, are able to accomplish. They are also able to return to the departure point on a definite date. 

 Prof. Hamburger in his book ‘Power and Fragility’ gives the example of ‘mutton-bird’ that lives in the Pacific with its journey of over 15,000 miles in the shape of figure ‘8’. It makes this journey over a period of 6 months and comes back to its departure point with a maximum delay of one week. The highly complicated instructions for such a journey have to be contained in the birds’ nervous cells. They are definitely programmed. Should we not reflect on the identity of this ‘Programmer’?

(Qur'an and Modern Science: Compatible or Incompatible?)

It's only their desire to reject God & the quran which can't be logically justified.

There is no question that Noble Verse 16:79 is a Metaphoric and Symbolic One.

BIRDS ON AUTOPILOT - Garden of Physics

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Geometric Analysis Reveals How Birds Mastered Flight

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Some Fascinating Facts About Birds By zia mahmood minhas

-The biggest bird on earth is ostrich .It cannot fly but runs at a tremendous speed up to 43 miles per hour. It weighs on an average 220-350 pounds and attains the height up to 9 feet.

-With weight of about 2.5 grams and wing span of about 5 centimeters, bee humming bird is

the smallest bird. Humming birds flap their wings very rapidly i.e. over 50 times per second. The wing movement is so fast that it appears as a blur to eyes. Its eggs are smaller than coffee beans. They are the only bird species that can hover, fly up and down and backwards.

-Wandering albatross is the largest flying bird and has body length of 4.5 feet. It has a wing span of up to 12 feet and weighs 30-35 lbs. It is a sea bird and can stay in the air for many hours without flapping the wings. It can travel 10,000 kilometers in a single journey and circumvent the globe in 46 days. It spends most of its life in air and lands for food and reproduction only. It can sleep while flying.

-Peregrine falcon is the fastest flier. While attacking the prey it dives at the speed of 322 kilometers/hour.

-The trumper swan perhaps has the greatest weight among the flying birds. It weighs 37 pounds.

-Whistling swan (Cygnus columbianus ) is the most feathered bird. It has up to 25,000 feathers

 

-The secretary bird mostly feeds on snakes. It tackles its prey in an interesting way. It attacks the snake with its claws and keeps the snake at a safe distance with its feathers. Both these organs have no or a few blood vessels hence there is no harm if the snake bites the legs or feathers. While biting the snake empties its venom sac. Thus it becomes harmless victim of the bird and gets devoured.

-Helmeted horn bill is a strange looking bird found in forests of Borneo. It has wing span of about six feet. Its call resembles a human laughing manically. The bird is hunted for its huge red beak sold as ivory. Excessive hunting has resulted in almost extinction.

 

-The hoatzin bird’s main diet is vegetation and it has digestive system like ruminants. They spend lot of time lying and digesting food like cows. Its body smells like cow dung.

-The flamingos can bend their legs both ways.

-Almost all birds sleep on one leg. This does not upset their balance since the body weight is concentrated in one leg which enables them to maintain this delicate balance.

-Red billed queleas is the most numerous species. Its population is estimated to be at one billion It forms enormous flocks and one such flock had more than 80 million birds.

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-Pigeon has its eyes mounted laterally on the head. They can view 340 degrees, except in the back of head. The Victoria crown pigeon (Goura victoria) is the largest pigeon species and is roughly of chicken size.

The homing or carrier Pigeons are acknowledged for their prowess of flying long distances and returning to their base. When confused regarding the direction, it soars and corrects the direction. This capacity was used in older times to send messages from far off places, battlefronts and spying.

-A falcon can see a 10 centimeter object from a distance of 1.5 kilometers. It can see sharp images even when diving at 100 km per hour speed. The vision of hawk is four times better than humans.

Flight of Birds

Flight is the primary mean of locomotion of birds. Flight is, in itself a miracle of Allah. Birds while flying overcome the force of gravity which pulls everything in the air towards earth. Allah has referred to the phenomenon of flight of birds in the Soorahs An-Nahl and al-Mulk.

أَلَمْ يَرَوْا إِلَى الطَّيْرِ مُسَخَّرَاتٍ فِي جَوِّ السَّمَاءِ مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا اللَّـهُ ۗإِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ﴿٧٩﴾ 

Have they not observed the birds made subservient in the sphere of sky, who only Allah can control? In this are signs for a people of faith.                                                                                                                                                     

                                                                                                                                                         (Soorah an-Nahl 16:79)

                                                                               أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا إِلَى الطَّيْرِ فَوْقَهُمْ صَافَّاتٍ وَيَقْبِضْنَ ۚ مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا الرَّحْمَـٰن  ۚ إِنَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ بَصِير١٩ٌ  

           Have they not observed the birds above them, with wings out-stretched or elapsed? None can restrain them but All-Merciful. He sees full well all that exists.

(Soorah Al-Mulk 67:19)

Birds while flying have full control on the movements, maneuvering and the process is performed swiftly with quite ease.

Birds have been provided with special features by Allah which facilitates the complex phenomenon of flight. These include the followings:

-The skeleton of birds consists of light weight bones. They have large air filled cavities which are connected with the respiratory system. The spine of birds is flexible and the ribs are flattened. The sternum is keeled for the attachment of flight muscles. The forelimbs are modified into wings.

-There are special muscles, the pectoralis and the supracordeus for flight operation

-Birds have one of the most complex respiratory system of all animal groups. Seventy five percent (75%) of the fresh air bypasses the lungs and flows directly into a posterior air sac which extends from the lungs. It connects with the air spaces in the bones. The rest twenty five percent (25%) of the air goes to the lungs and is consumed in respiratory process. When the bird exhales the stored air from the posterior air sac is simultaneously forced into the lungs. The lungs thus receive constant supply of fresh air during inhalation and exhalation, which facilitates the flight process.

-The feathers or plumage facilitate flight. They also provide insulation that helps body temperature regulation. Feathers are critical for survival of the birds and they carry on the maintenance and manicuring on regular basis.

-The tops of bird wings are curved and the bottoms are flat. This shape produces lower pressure on the top as compared to the bottom. The difference in the air pressure produces lift force that enables the bird to rise in the air by beating its wings.

Flight is a process which is inculcated in birds’ instinct by Allah. They don’t learn it through hit and trial method. The chicks just launch their body into air and start flying with ease without hitting the ground. They are not aware that their flight is subject to many forces i.e.

 

1. Gravity
2. Propulsion
3. Drag
4. Drift

 

In order to flight to be meaningful, these forces have to be balanced.

The air moving rapidly by around the bird’s wings produces the lift force. The bird bends its wings in order to obtain greater lift force. The air flowing over the wings is thus accelerated. If it inclines its wings upwards at a steep angle, air cannot easily flow, the upper parts of the wings and the bird loses speed and stalls. Through Allah’s inspiration, the birds make use of the principles of aerodynamics as they fly.

Migration of Birds

Migration of birds is a phenomenon where birds undertake an annual journey. The mysterious disappearance of birds from the breeding grounds was noted by earlier scientists but the phenomenon was attributed to hibernation in winter. Now studies have established that a large number of bird species migrate in winter to milder climatic zones thousands of miles away. They fly over land, sea, desert and mountains without losing way or vigor. Not all birds migrate but more than 5000 species are reported to have adopted migration as means of survival. From generations they gather in flocks, take same routes for round trip and return almost to their original habitat.

 Why do birds migrate?

• Competition for food and nesting sites in the breeding areas force the bird to migrate to greener pastures.
• High concentration of population in breeding ground attracts predators and diseases.
• Birds avoid harsh winter weather or high summer temperatures by migration to temperate climates.

This is for survival of species as inculcated by Allah in the birds.

Adaptations for migration

• Storage of energy through accumulation of fat.
• Molting before migration to have new strong feathers.
• Flying in flocks to reduce energy used in flying and reduce risk of predation.

Migratory routes:

Migrating bird may follow the same route for return journey or they may use another loop for the same. Change of route is made for possibly the following reasons:

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1. To avoid harsh climatic conditions on ground.
2. Changing conditions of food and water availability.
3. To avail favorable winds which make the journey less exhaustive.

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They however return to same place or very close to it. While flying they choose the shortest route on land. If they have to cross sea, they prefer to follow route with minimum distance over water bodies. Rufus humming bird passes winter in southern Mexico. It uses pacific coast for northbound spring journey. In fall it takes inland route to returns south.

Wonders of Migration

• Shear waters are seabirds with 6 genera and 37 species.  Every year millions of sooty shear waters (Puffinus griseus) migrate from the breeding grounds of New Zealand and Chile to northern hemisphere and back. In this round trans-equatorial trip they fly 65000 kilometers covering 500-900 kilometers per day. It is the longest animal migration, completed in six months. This trip across Pacific Ocean is in a giant figure of eight (8).

The meat of shear waters (also called mutton bird locally) is sold in retail stores throughout New Zealand. They are pulled out of burrows for meat and slaughtered. This phenomenon known as mutton birding is leading to decline of population.

• One manx shear water is estimated to have flown 8 millions km during its over 50 years life span.

• The arctic terns hold the long distance migration record. They move from its Arctic breeding grounds to Antarctic non- breeding areas. One arctic tern tagged as chick flew from British east coast and reached Australia in 3 months covering 22,000 kilometers over sea.

• Bar tailed goodwit is on record to make the longest nonstop flight of 11500 kilometers from Alaska to New Zealand without food or water

• Northern wheat eater (Oenanthe  oenanthe) is a small migratory insectivorous bird. It makes one of the longest journeys for a small bird from Africa to Northern Hemisphere.
• Amur falcon (family falconidae) is a bird of prey. It migrates from East Asia to Africa.

• Geese show a fantastic teamwork, planning and sacrifice during long journey for migration. While flying geese form a special V shaped formation, lead bird flying ahead of the flock. Each bird flaps its wings and creates uplift for the birds that follow. By this technique the whole flock increases their flying range by 70%.When a goose falls out of formation, it quickly moves back into formation to avail the advantage of quicker flight using less energy.

The lead bird which has to endure the drag and resistance of flying alone gets tired. It reverts back into the formation to regain strength by getting advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front. The geese flying in formation, honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

When a member gets sick, wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help it and protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.

Mystery of Migration, the Qur’an’s Version

Bird migration is a mysterious phenomenon and scientists have not been able to understand it fully though elaborate research projects have been undertaken such as:

• How birds travel long distances over land, mountains deserts, plains and seas without losing way and returns to original abodes?
• Timing is also puzzling. At almost at same time birds start grouping for migration as if there is some clock fitted in their body.
• How they are able to bear extreme stressful conditions over long span of time and distance?

Various explanations have been put forward i.e.

• Navigation and finding way is in their genetic code and instinct.
• They find the way because they can detect magnetic fields.
• They use sun compass.
• They use olfactory cues(sense of smell)
• Their ability to recognize habitats from mental maps.
• They recognize geographical signs on ground.

None of these explanations hold goods since:

-What is the source of the genetic code and presumed mental maps?

-Birds have no system of educating their young ones since they abandon them for independent life at an early age.

-They have rudimentary brain which cannot go for research of shortest ways, read sun compass. Moreover many species fly at night or in cloudy and foggy weather when there is no sunlight.

-Birds are known to have poor sense of smell, hence the utilization of olfactory cues may be ruled out.

-Birds were subjected to disorientation experiments to check their behavior afterwards. They were displaced from their normal starting points. Some were caged while young and then released. Transmitters were attached to their bodies to confuse them and magnetic rings were attached to their bodies to vary the magnetic field. In all cases the birds followed the same route to reach their winter quarters previously unknown to them.

In the absence any tangible explanation we have only rational option to accept that this is divine guidance from Allah which enables birds to accomplish the amazing act of migration with unbelievable perfection.

source:

AVES -THE BIRDS - Quran Reveals

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How do birds fly ? It’s one of the dearest miracles of the natural world, but it’s also one that we generally take for granted. Have you ever stopped to think: how do birds fly? Or, how do birds take off? 



Whenever we’re on an aeroplane, we marvel at the mere idea that we’re flying. Why not attach that same curiosity to the natural world? In this article we’re going to cover the science behind how birds fly. Here goes!

Let’s start simple 

Before we get into the scientific explanations for bird flight, we thought it best to give you a helpful analogy so that you get the basics. Have you ever put your hand outside the window while being a passenger in a driving car? You’ll have felt the air rush against your hand, almost swaying up and down with the force of the wind as it pushes against your flat palm. When you turn your hand sideways, you can slip your hand through the air easily - this is because the side of your hand has a smaller surface area than your palm, and it’s more streamlined - it’s flat, basically.

The side of your hand is flat like the wings of a bird. Thus, air flows easily around a bird’s wings in the direction the bird flies (just like your hand as it cuts through air). However, this is where things differ and something quite special happens.

As the air flows over the wings, the air flows faster over the top of the wing than the bottom because a bird’s wing is curved along the top. What this means is that there is more air on the bottom side because the air is moving slower than the top wing. So, when there is more air on the bottom part of the wing a pushing force is created which hits the wide, flat surface area that is the bottom part of the wing. It is this pushing force that lifts the bird. Ultimately, the wing slices into the air and, because the top part of the wing is curved, the bottom part of the wing gets pushed from below. Add the miracle of gravity and you have a flying bird!

So, how do birds fly? Let’s break it up

There are a few different aspects involved in bird flight, and each area is just as important. Here, we’re going to break down a few of the physical features of a bird and how they each play a part. We’re also going to look at the actual physics of bird flight.



Physical features that help birds to fly

Lightweight feathers - A bird’s feathers are very lightweight, and smooth too. This means that they’re extra aerodynamic and are very receptive to the force of the wind.

Their beak is quite light, too - Rather than having heavy bone structures in the face, a bird’s beak is very light. This reduces the force of their weight, again making them very aerodynamic.

They have an enlarged breastbone for extra thrust - Called a sternum, birds have an enlarged breastbone that helps with the force of thrust and provides additional weight and surface area.

Birds also have very light bones - With extremely lightweight bone structures (they’re essentially hollowed out and supported by tiny cross bones) a bird has reduced weight which makes them even more aerodynamic.

They have a streamlined body - there are very few birds whose bodies are not built for streamlined aerial pursuits. Their bodies are naturally suited to the sky, as their streamlined to reduce the force of drag.

How do birds ‘glide’

You may have seen birds glide through the air like it’s the most effortless thing in the world. Well, it kind of is! Birds don’t do any work when they glide because it’s all down to physics. When gliding, a bird will hold its wings out to the side of its body without actually flapping. And, as the wings move through the air, they’re held at a slight angle which then deflects the air downwards and causes a reaction in the opposite direction (we call this lift).

At the same time, there is drag affecting the bird’s body. To maintain speed (and to keep itself up in the air), a bird must tilt forward and go into a slight dive so that it can keep going.

How do birds ‘soar’

Similar to how they glide, soaring involves the bird flying in a rising air current (which is basically where strong winds propel the bird on). Because the air is rising, the bird can maintain its height.

Perhaps most importantly, how do birds ‘flap’

Simply put, it’s an up-and-down motion which propels them onward. A bird’s entire wingspan has to be at the right angle of attack which means that the wings have to twist with each downward stroke depending on which direction the bird is travelling.

So, how do birds take off?

This is perhaps the simplest part of all. Called ‘thrust’, birds take off using a similar maneuver used in the sky. Birds take off by using their strong (albeit small) muscles and flapping their wings. When taking off, they often start from a running position which gives them additional thrust.



There are some exceptions…

The natural world is not without its mysteries. There are plenty of birds out there who do things a little differently, and here are a few examples.

• There are small birds that hover. Smaller birds (especially kestrels and sparrows for a limited time) can hover because their wings are small. To hover, they simply flap their wings to generate lift but do not expend energy to pass through the air. You can compare it to us treading water.
• Many smaller birds incorporate their tails into flight, as it works rather like the fin on a small aircraft to generate air resistance and drag so that it can easily slow down.
• Birds like gannets are more streamlined than most others so that they can dive, at high speed, into the water to catch fish.

What will you feed your birds?

Now that you understand the miracles of bird flight, it’s time to learn what exactly you need to feed the birds in your area. You’ll want to visit our blog section which is packed full of bird-related insights. Next, take a look at our range of peanuts for birds. You’ll soon have plenty of birds swooping through your neighbourhood! by kennedywildbird

Bar-tailed godwits’ migration route

This map shows the migration route taken to and from New Zealand by eastern bar-tailed godwits. They leave from Alaska in the northern autumn, and until recently it was assumed they followed a coastal route southwards that would allow them to feed and rest along the way. But there is now conclusive evidence that most take the direct route south across the central Pacific to New Zealand. Unlike seabirds, they cannot rest on water or feed at sea, so this 11,000-kilometre journey is the longest non-stop flight undertaken by any bird. The return flight to Alaska includes a stopover in the Yellow Sea so they arrive in good condition to breed in May.by te ara

''This long-distance migration of birds is a marvel, even with the mounting scientific knowledge we have to explain it. Hunger, instinct, and the drive to reproduce trigger migrating birds to move with the seasons, but don't explain why some travel so far—Arctic Terns can travel as far as 11,000 each way!''

• A Warm-Blooded Heart
• A Balancing Act
• Efficient Respiratory System
• Streamlined Shape For Reduced Drag
• Weight Reduction with Strength and Flexible Rudder
• A Good Skeletal Architecture
• And More To Come …

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Rabia Munir

As you read this article, reflect on how Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) has created the birds and how their aerodynamic is a miracle of Allah (سبحانه و تعالى). 

أَلَمْ يَرَوْاْ إِلَى الطَّيْرِ مُسَخَّرَاتٍ فِي جَوِّ السَّمَاء مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ إِلاَّ اللّهُ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ – 16:79

“Do they not see the birds suspended in mid-air up in the sky? Nothing holds them there except Allah. There are certainly signs in that for people who believe.”
[Al-Qur’an: Surat An-Nahl (The Bee) – 16:79]

Due to the force of gravity, all bodies in air will eventually fall to earth, either quickly or slowly. Everything, living or otherwise, is subject to gravity. But as a miracle of Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), birds are able to resist this force and fly upward and downward in the air. They manoeuvre themselves in the air, and sometimes even fold their wings and glide through the sky without even the flapping of their wings!

All details in birds, from their feathers to their lungs, from the arrangement of their feathers to the shape of their wings, are equipped with a special feature and order intended to enable them to fly. A chick totally unaware of the act of flight and the laws of aerodynamics is born with the ability to fly. The chick launches itself downwards and begins to fly, just as if it knew its body was created for flight. This is not just information that is taught subsequently or what a bird learns by trial and error. The way a bird knows it has the body structure needed to fly, finds the courage to launch itself into the air and then flies without hitting the ground, all happens through Allah (سبحانه و تعالى)’s inspiration.

The Arabic word يُمْسِكُهُنَّ “yumsikuhunna” translated as “holds” in verse 79 of Surat An-Nahl means “not letting them go, taking them, catching them, or holding them.” The word is the present tense of the verse “amsaka,” meaning “to catch with the hand, hold and pull back.”  With this word, our Almighty Lord reveals that He holds the bird in the air and that it flies by His command. Bird flight is still the subject of wide-ranging research by scientists. Having observed the perfection in bird flight, scientists use the avian body and avian flight as direct models in producing such vehicle as air-planes and jets.

Verse 79 of Surat An-Nahl may in one way be indicating the way that birds comply with the aerodynamic laws created by Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) as they fly. (Allah knows the truth.) The science of aerodynamics studies the behaviour of solid bodies in a fluid environment such as air. For example, as a plane moves through the air, various forces emerge that affect that movement. In order for the plane to move as planned and not to run into any unexpected forces or resistance, the plane is tested beforehand against the resistance exhibited by the air. Its movement is planned as a result of lengthy calculations, measurements and experiments.

The way that birds comply with the principles of aerodynamics continues to astonish scientists. Using no form of trial and error, they cope with the laws of aerodynamics in the most perfect manner. The use of the word  مُسَخَّرَاتٍ ” musakhkharatin” (suspended) in the verse to describe bird flight is exceedingly wise. Because it suggests that they have been “encouraged to a specific end, have had to do something, have submitted or bowed their heads, have bound themselves to Allah or have submitted to His laws”.  In that way, the verse may be indicating the way that aerodynamic laws have a determining influence on bird flight. (Allah سبحانه و تعالى knows the truth.)

At first sight there would appear to be nothing to make it difficult for birds to fly. But according to aerodynamics, any object flying in the air is subject to various different forces. The best-known of these are gravity, propulsion, drag and lift. In order for meaningful flight to take place, these forces have to be balanced. For example, if gravity is stronger than the other forces, the bird will fall to earth. That is why the word in the verse is the best possible expression of birds’ condition as they are subjected to these forces.  The presence in the Qur’an of expressions containing such information at a time when no science of aerodynamics or mechanics existed, once again reveals that the Qur’an is a divine text.

The illustration shows the main forces acting on a bird during flight.
Lift
Drag
Weight
Propulsion

The tops of birds’ wings are curved, the bottoms flat. This shape produces lower pressure on the top compared to the bottom. This difference in air pressure produces a lift force that enables the bird to rise in the air by beating its wings upward. (right)

(1) The air moving rapidly around the bird’s wings produces the lift force.  (2) The bird bends its wings in order to obtain greater lift force. The air flowing over the wings is thus accelerated. (3) If it inclines its wings upward at a very steep angle, air cannot easily flow to the upper parts of the wings and the bird loses speed and stalls. Through Allah (سبحانه و تعالى)’s inspiration, birds make use of the principles of aerodynamics as they fly.

 

Birds gliding and the control through the feathers of its wings, is mentioned in the following verse:

اولم يروا الى الطير فوقهم صافات ويقبضن ما يمسكهن الا الرحمن انه بكل شيء بصير

Do they not see the birds above them, spreading out their wings and folding them in [Yaqbedn]? None upholds them except the Most Gracious (Allâh). Verily, He is the All-Seer of everything. (67:19)

This verse explains that bird spreads its wings then it folds them in (i.e. feathers), which is used when it wants to ascend more, or distance between then when it wants to fall down, the word used for folding them in, it’s “Yaqbedn” which means to collect together or to make close to each others:

وقَبَّضْتُ الشيءَ تَقْبِيضاً: جَمَعْتُه وزَوَيْتُه

Knowing that birds never collect its wings together while flying, otherwise it will fall, it beats up and down, but the collection and folding in is meant for its feathers onlyy.by Abdallah Muslim

67:19 Have they not looked to the birds lined-up and  contract above them, . It is the Almighty who holds them. He is Seer of all 

  Although the word wings is not in the original text, it is added in almost all translations. The sequence, expansion and contraction may be related to migratory birds or the special flight patterns of birds such as starlings. God knows best.by m.t.g. swarm behaviour  flocking collective behaviour

where birds fly in the atmosphere

by Prof. Dr. İbrahim Esinler

16|79|أَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ إِلَى ٱلطَّيْرِ مُسَخَّرَٰتٍ فِى جَوِّ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ

E lem yerev ilet tayri musahharatin fi cevvis semai, ma yumsikuhunne illallah, inne fi zalike le ayatin li kavmin yu'minun.

The root of the word cevvi ((جَوِّ) means  (جوو)  a low or depressed part of the ground, the inside of something. Hans Wehr 4th ed., page 171 (of 1303) and Lane's Lexicon, page 481 (of 3039)

(ٱلسَّمَآءِ) The word s-semai means sky (sky). Almighty Allah can define some things above us as heaven (atmosphere, solar system and universe). Verses 8:11 and 15:22 can be given as examples of verses in which the word sky is defined as the Earth's atmosphere.

As can be clearly seen, Almighty Allah shows His miracle in one word. This word (جَوِّ) is the word cevvi. What would happen if Almighty Allah did not use this word?

Allah Almighty used the word s-semai for the earth's atmosphere in this verse. If he had only used (fi s-semai), we would have understood that birds fly within the earth's atmosphere. But birds cannot fly in the upper layers of the earth's atmosphere. Even the highest flying spotted vultures can reach an altitude of 11.2 kilometers. The Earth's atmosphere is higher than 500 kilometers.

In the picture below taken from NASA, it can be seen that birds can only fly in the trophosphere layer, which has collapsed to the lowest part of the earth's atmosphere due to gravity. Just as in the verse, birds fly within the solid part of the atmosphere (جَوِّ), 'in the downward collapsed layer'.

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This downward collapse occurs due to gravity. The Earth's gravity also affects the atmosphere and pulls it downwards. The atmospheric layer at the bottom is therefore suitable for us to live in terms of density and pressure. Birds' wings are only effective in a dense layer of air. Since the atmospheric density above the trophosphere is very low, wings cannot create sufficient lift and birds cannot fly even if they can survive at these levels.

There is an indication in the verse that what enables birds to stay in the air is related to the atmosphere collapsing downwards. This is an indication that density is important for the buoyancy of air. Since the air density is low in the higher layers of the atmosphere, the buoyant force is very low. When you go into space, wings will be of no use since there is no air anyway. All these signs are an indication, a verse for believers.

By using the word cevvi, Almighty Allah (جَوِّ) informs us that birds fly in a special part of the earth's atmosphere. This part is the inner part of the atmosphere that has collapsed downwards and is denser in terms of air than the upper layers.

How could the prophet Muhammad, who lived 1400 years ago, know this detail?

At that time, the layers and altitudes of the atmosphere were unknown. It is impossible to know that wings will be useless because the air density is very low at very high altitudes in the atmosphere, that living things will not survive because the oxygen level is so low, and that birds can only fly in low-slung areas of the atmosphere. Almighty Allah has revealed His miracle in one word.

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Troposphere synonyms

via lane lexicon

تَعَالَى: {مُسَخَّرات فِي} جَوِّ السَّماءِ} .

قالَ قَتادَةُ فِي كَبِدِ السَّماءِ، ويقالُ كُبَيْد السَّماءِ.

God Almighty: {subjects in} the atmosphere of the heavens}.
Qatada said, “In the middle of the sky,” and it is also said, “The bottom of the sky.” via taj al arus 

See! They( firmament and earth ) are suspended and stand like a bird who is suspended in the air with nothing on which it rests except the remzā.
Jacob of Sarugh, Homily on the Chariot that Ezekiel saw, Homilies 4:551, translated by Julien Decharneux

The feature of such verses is that they increase the faith of believers and increase the denial of unbelievers. As emphasized in Quran 5:48, Allah may have left room for denial with such similarities because He did not want to make people a single community. One thing is clear: musakharatin in make subservient, press into service, harness, bring under domination or control, subjugate, meanings control It contains extraordinary meanings unique to the Quran, such as and programming. It shows the divine source of the Quran, and to emphasize that it is not a repetition or copy, the part that is hidden and can be denied is jaww, its current meanings are in air.
sky
atmosphere meanings jaww other meanings wide valley
open pasture-ground, interior of a house, hall , the inside or interior, inner/inward/secret/private.
The fact that birds can fly in the troposphere layer, which is hidden in the meaning of jawwi lsamai
Attributing magical meanings to evolution cannot disregard/ignore the extraordinary design in birds, a sign of a great artist.siganture : m.t.günay...



Is bird flight a miracle?
http://aqtthq.blogspot.com.es/2017/04/is-bird-flight-miracle.html