Zaki and the Spider

Zaki was lying in the garden reading a book. His eyes strayed from the book he was reading, and as he looked around he saw a spider's web on the branch of a tree. He got up and went up to the spider's web which he began examining with interest. The spider, which was near the web, then spoke to him.

"Hello, friend!" it said in a tiny voice.

"Hello," replied Zaki, who was always very polite. "This web you have made is very interesting. How do you make one like this?"

The spider took a deep breath and began to explain: "I start by finding the right place for it. It must be in a corner or between two nearby objects. Let me explain how I make a web between two tree branches. First I fix the thread tightly to one end of the branch. Then I go to the other end while continuing to produce thread. When I reach the right distance I stop producing that thread. Then I begin to pull the thread back towards myself until it is tight and I fix it where I am. Then I begin to weave the web inside the arc I have thus made."

Zaki thought for a moment: "I'd never be able to do such a thing as fixing a string tightly between two walls. Isn't it difficult to keep the thread tight?"

The spider smiled at him "Let me explain how I solve the problem. Sometimes I make a web between two branches that are a long way from each other. Because such webs are very big, they are also really good at trapping flies. But because the web is big it loses its tightness over time. That also reduces my success in catching flies. I go to the center of the web and I fix a thread that reaches down to the ground. I attach a small stone to the thread near the ground. Then I return to the web and try to pull the thread upwards from where the stone is. While the stone is in the air I fix the thread again tightly to the middle of the web. As a result, because the stone below the center is pulling it downwards, the web tightens up again. That's all there is to it!"

"What a great method!" said Zaki, who was really impressed. "How did you learn such a technique, and how do you use it so well ? Spiders must have been doing this for millions of years..."

"You're right, my friend," agreed the spider. "It would be stupid to think that we have enough intelligence of our own to manage this. It is Allah, Who owns and creates everything, Who gives me the skill to use this technique."

"Don't forget, Zaki," the spider went on to remind him: "For Allah everything is very easy. Allah has the power to create an infinite variety of living things and places."

"Thank you for what you've told me," said Zaki, who was a very polite little boy. "I will now understand rather better how powerful Allah is and what superior knowledge He has every time I see the living things He created, and their flawless features."