1- The Mosquito (in Nature)
A Quick Facts
It consists of three main parts: the head, the thorax, and the abdomen
It has a pair of antennae attached to the head.
It has three pairs of legs for walking.
It has a pair of wings for flight.
Like all insects, a mosquito has three fundamental body parts: the head, the thorax, and the abdomen.
The Head
This is where the sensory organs and the biting apparatus are located. The head consists of compound eyes, antennae for detecting chemical substances, and mouthparts—specifically the palps and the proboscis (found only in females).
The Thorax
This section serves as the attachment point for the two wings and the six legs. It contains the flight muscles, a complex heart structure, clusters of nerve cells (ganglia), and the tracheal system (respiratory tubes).
The Abdomen
This part contains the organs for digestion and excretion
The mosquitoes resemble flies in that they possess two wings; however, unlike flies, their wings are covered in scales. Furthermore, their legs are longer than those of a fly, and the female is equipped with an elongated mouthpart (a proboscis) used to pierce the skin of its prey.
The Sensors
The mosquito’s head is equipped with various sensors that help the female locate a host
The Chemical Sensors
These sensors enable mosquitoes to find their prey; they can detect carbon dioxide and lactic acid from as far as 100 feet away. Mammals and birds release these gases when they breathe. Additionally, certain chemicals found in sweat also attract mosquitoes.
The Visual Sensors
it's wearing clothing that contrasts with the background—or even moving while wearing such clothing—helps mosquitoes spot you and target you as their next potential meal. If you are moving, the mosquito knows you are alive, and thus a source of the blood it requires.
The Heat Sensors
The mosquitoes are capable of sensing heat. These specialized sensors help them locate humans and/or warm-blooded animals when they are within a certain proximity.
2 - The Mosquito-Hunting Robots
It's deploying robots to eliminate mosquitoes in city sewers
A team of scientists from Taiwan’s National Mosquito-Borne Diseases Control Research Center deployed robots into the sewer systems beneath the city of Kaohsiung, in southern Taiwan, to detect and eliminate mosquito larvae. Having concluded that it is easier to kill mosquito larvae than to target adult mosquitoes—which may carry viruses such as dengue or Zika—the researchers deployed these robotic units underground.
The robots deployed to eliminate mosquitoes are equipped with various tools, digital cameras, and LED lights, enabling them to survey sewer environments, locate mosquito larvae in stagnant water, and treat these areas with insecticides or hot water.
The according to the researchers
The wheeled robots—which crawl at a speed of approximately 16 feet per minute—are designed to be highly resistant to tipping over. Furthermore, the researchers monitored mosquito activity by setting up various "gravity traps" to attract and capture female mosquitoes; these specimens were then analyzed to identify the locations most frequently frequented by mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus.
3- The Genetically Modified Mosquitoes
The malaria and other vector-borne diseases—including dengue and Zika—affect millions of people worldwide. Malaria alone claims more than 400,000 lives annually. If genetically modified mosquitoes prove to be safe, effective, and affordable, they could become a valuable new tool in the fight against these diseases, helping to alleviate their immense health, social, and economic burdens.
Over the past decade,
The malaria control programs have expressed a willingness to utilize genetic modification, provided that such technologies are proven safe and are accepted by the affected communities. This has prompted the World Health Organization to provide guidance on the use of genetically modified mosquitoes to combat malaria and other vector-borne diseases.
The Drawbacks
The community acceptance poses a challenge
There is an urgent need for research into relevant local malaria-carrying mosquito species in order to develop the necessary genetically modified mosquitoes.
Once genetically modified strains have been identified, their impact must be demonstrated in the field; furthermore, systems must be established to ensure that sufficient numbers of these mosquitoes can be reared and safely transported to intervention sites.
This requires significant human resources and funding, suggesting that it will take some time before gene-drive systems can have a tangible impact on malaria transmission.
A General Comment
The Almighty says:
﴿ ۞ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَسْتَحْيِي أَن يَضْرِبَ مَثَلًا مَّا بَعُوضَةً فَمَا فَوْقَهَا ۚ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَيَقُولُونَ مَاذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِهَٰذَا مَثَلًا ۘ يُضِلُّ بِهِ كَثِيرًا وَيَهْدِي بِهِ كَثِيرًا ۚ وَمَا يُضِلُّ بِهِ إِلَّا الْفَاسِقِينَ﴾ [ البقرة: 26]
"Indeed, Allah is not ashamed to present an example—that of a mosquito or what is even smaller than it. As for those who believe, they know that it is the truth from their Lord; but as for those who disbelieve, they say, 'What does Allah intend by this example?' He leads many astray thereby, and He guides many thereby—yet He leads none astray except the defiantly punk." [Al-Baqarah: 26]
A simple explanation of the noble verse:
1- God—the Exalted—is not ashamed to mention simple matters that people typically overlook. People are accustomed to focusing on things—or individuals—perceived as grand, significant, or high-ranking; they tend to discuss only what is considered important, great, or valuable. Consequently, the disbelievers find such an example strange, whereas the believers find their faith strengthened by it. Ultimately, however, God concludes the verse by stating that no one can be led astray by such an example, except for the defiantly disobedient (the *fāsiqūn*).
2- "A mosquito or anything even smaller/larger"
This refers to anything of intricate design—whether it be something as small as a mosquito, or larger, such as a butterfly.
3- "As for those who believe, they know that it is the truth from their Lord."
How do they come to know this, especially in the early days of Islam? They possess true, sincere faith. They know that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is truthful—that he conveys messages from his Lord and has never once lied to them—so they accept it as the truth. This holds true for believers in every era, especially when a religious ruling does not fundamentally conflict with human well-being—whether in the long term or, at times, even in the short term.
4- "As for those who disbelieve, they ask: 'What could God possibly mean by such an example?'"
To use an analogy—merely to clarify the point—there are some people who, even if we were to offer them honey, would only grow to despise us all the more. Similarly, God—in His very essence—is not loved by everyone, nor does everyone believe in Him. Two-thirds of the world’s population do not worship God, and even among the remaining third (the Muslims), only a portion truly follow the clear, straight path that God desires.
5- Through it, He leads many astray, and through it, He guides many.
God—glorified and exalted be He—begins by mentioning the act of leading astray
This serves as a trial and a test for many minds navigating life. For some, such an example might even cause them to lose their faith in God. One might ask: Why would God say such a thing, or—to put it colloquially—place Muslims in an awkward position? Or, perhaps, why wouldn’t He—if one may use such an expression—try to endear Himself to His creation so that they do not turn away from the religion? No, that is not the way of God, blessed and exalted be He. His way is to establish the truth, leaving the choice to the individual: let whoever wishes to believe, believe, and whoever wishes to disbelieve, disbelieve. In the latter days, various ideologies—or "earthly religions"—emerge. People, whether in the East or the West, often follow the faith of their forefathers, yet there may come a day when an individual, unsatisfied with that inherited faith, begins to search for a belief system of their own. In this process, they might encounter an example like that of the mosquito in the Quran; they could choose to reject the religion simply because the example appears, at first glance, to be so trivial—or, conversely, they might find guidance through it. God desires followers who are truly free; He does not merely manipulate their emotions with promises of Paradise or threats of Hell. He does not simply declare, "This is the correct religion"—rather, He states that this is His own divine choice ("Indeed, the religion in the sight of God is Islam"), while the subsequent choice remains entirely your own.
6- "And He misleads thereby only the defiantly disobedient (*al-fāsiqīn*)
The term *fasaqat* (from which *fāsiqīn* is derived) is used when a fruit’s peel separates from the fruit itself. Similarly, one is only called a *fāsiq* (defiantly disobedient/transgressor) when one has detached oneself from the commands of this religion. This parable applies to all people—believers, hypocrites, disbelievers, and the *fāsiqīn*—with each taking from it what they will; and God is All-Knowing of what is in the hearts. Yet, when God—glory be to Him—speaks of those who will not benefit from this parable, He specifically identifies the *fāsiqīn* rather than the *kāfirīn* (disbelievers).
This may be because *kufr* (disbelief) implies "covering"—much like placing a lid over a well containing water and claiming there is no water there; such is the state of the *kāfirīn*. The *fāsiqīn*, however, have comprehended and understood [the truth] but have chosen to detach themselves. Ultimately, God knows His intent regarding His servants through His verses.
Secondly: Modern science has discovered the existence of living organisms invisible to the naked eye that live upon—and are even smaller than—a mosquito, subsisting as parasites by feeding on it.
These organisms were previously unknown; their discovery is a recent development, following the advancement of modern science. Yet, the Book of God—the Exalted—was the first to point to these creatures. More than 1,400 years ago, God stated: "Indeed, God is not ashamed to present an example—that of a mosquito or what is even smaller than it." This serves as an explanation for the phrase "what is even smaller than it" (*fa-mā fawqahā*) in the noble verse. Who, in the early days of Islam, could have known that there existed a living organism—smaller in size, yet possessing a heart and a system for liquefying blood (or whatever mechanisms God has ordained)—that feeds upon a mosquito? Who could have known this? The image above illustrates this reality.
2- The mosquito possesses three complete hearts, as well as a fully functional system designed to analyze blood. It feeds by consuming blood, though not all blood is suitable for its needs. It is also equipped with a specialized mechanism to thin the blood, facilitating its passage through the mosquito’s slender proboscis. One might ask: do all these vital systems—which operate autonomously, without any external control or remote guidance—resemble the mechanisms found in genetically modified mosquitoes or robotic "killer" mosquitoes?
3- Having existed for millions of years without going extinct, the mosquito demonstrates an extraordinary capacity for adaptation, remaining resilient in the face of epidemics, floods, and other catastrophic events.
4- It functions as a blood-analysis laboratory
It can detect carbon dioxide and lactic acid from a distance of up to 100 feet—substances released by mammals and birds during respiration. Given the various chemical compounds it can process, the mosquito is, in a sense, a fully integrated, airborne laboratory.
5- It is equipped with sensors
It possesses visual, chemical, and thermal sensors used to detect warm-blooded animals.
6- The thorax
This section contains flight muscles, a complex heart, nerve ganglia, and an airway system.
7- For your information:
Elsewhere in the Quran, God Almighty says: "So blessed is God, the best of creators." The implication here is that God, in His transcendence, is entirely impartial—fair, if one might put it that way—toward those who engage in scientific inquiry; He does not strip them of the notion that they, too, might be capable of "creating." Yet, pause and contemplate God’s own creation—and consider what you have truly achieved after all these millennia of human existence, during which this particular insect has persisted—not through artificial means, but through the natural order. Truly, "blessed is God, the best of creators."
8- As for robotic "killer insects" or genetically modified mosquitoes:
They are novel—not yet sufficiently tested—exorbitantly expensive—and require complex technologies to induce them to target the natural mosquitoes that carry malaria.
Ultimately,
it is God’s prerogative—if one may put it that way—not to be ashamed of His own creation.