The Bee (
Arabic
Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C. E.Watson; Walter ...
:
الْنَّحْل;
''an-nahl'') is the
16th chapter (''
sūrah
A ''surah'' (; ar, سورة, sūrah, , ), is the equivalent of "chapter" in the Qur'an. There are 114 ''surahs'' in the Quran, each divided into '' ayats'' (verses). The chapters or ''surahs'' are of unequal length; the shortest surah (''Al-Ka ...
'') of the
Qur'an
The Quran (, ; Standard Arabic: , Quranic Arabic: , , 'the recitation'), also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation from God. It is organized in 114 chapters (pl.: , si ...
, with 128 verses (''
āyāt''). It is named after
honey bee
A honey bee (also spelled honeybee) is a eusocial flying insect within the genus ''Apis'' of the bee clade, all native to Afro-Eurasia. After bees spread naturally throughout Africa and Eurasia, humans became responsible for the current cosm ...
s mentioned in verse 68, and contains a comparison of the industry and adaptability of honey bees with the industry of man. Regarding the timing and contextual background of the believed
revelation
In religion and theology, revelation is the revealing or disclosing of some form of truth or knowledge through communication with a deity or other supernatural entity or entities.
Background
Inspiration – such as that bestowed by God on the ...
(''
asbāb al-nuzūl
Occasions or circumstances of revelation ( ''al-nuzūl'', ) names the historical context in which Quranic verses were revealed from the perspective of traditional Islam. Though of some use in reconstructing the Qur'an's historicity, ''asbāb'' is ...
''), it is an earlier "
Meccan surah
The Meccan surat are, according to the timing and contextual background of supposed revelation (''asbāb al-nuzūl''), the chronologically earlier chapters (''suwar'', singular ''sūrah'') of the Qur'an. The traditional chronological order attribu ...
", which means it is believed to have been revealed in Mecca, instead of later in Medina.
Summary
*1
God’s judgment sure to be visited on the infidels
*2
Revelation
In religion and theology, revelation is the revealing or disclosing of some form of truth or knowledge through communication with a deity or other supernatural entity or entities.
Background
Inspiration – such as that bestowed by God on the ...
is from God by the ministry of
angels
In various theistic religious traditions an angel is a supernatural spiritual being who serves God.
Abrahamic religions often depict angels as benevolent celestial intermediaries between God (or Heaven) and humanity. Other roles incl ...
*3–8 God the Creator, as his works testify
*9 God the true instructor of man
*10–14 His works in heaven, earth, and sea described
*15 The earth made firm by the mountains
*16 The stars appointed to guide man
*17 God not to be compared to idols
*18–19 God merciful and omniscient
*20–22 The character of the idols declared
*23
Infidels
An infidel (literally "unfaithful") is a person accused of disbelief in the central tenets of one's own religion, such as members of another religion, or the irreligious.
Infidel is an ecclesiastical term in Christianity around which the Church ...
reject the
one true God
Monotheism is the belief that there is only one deity, an all-supreme being that is universally referred to as God. Cross, F.L.; Livingstone, E.A., eds. (1974). "Monotheism". The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (2 ed.). Oxford: Oxfor ...
*24–25 The
Omniscient hates the proud
*26 Muhammad charged with forgery
*27–28 The unbelievers shall be destroyed
*29–31 Idolaters will be disappointed in the resurrection
*32–34 The reward of the righteous
*35–36 Infidels can only look for judgment
*37 They lay their crimes to God’s charge
*38 Every nation has its own prophet
*38–39 The dreadful end of infidelity
*40 The infidels deny the resurrection
*41 They shall be taught their error
*42 God creates by a word
*43 Promises to the
Muhájirín
*44 The patient believer will be rewarded
*45 The custodians of the Scriptures to be inquired of
*46 The Quran sent to be proclaimed to the people
*47–49 The Prophet’s enemies will be punished
*
۩ 50–52 All God’s creatures
worship
Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity. It may involve one or more of activities such as veneration, adoration, praise, and praying. For many, worship is not about an emotion, it is more about a recogni ...
him
*53–55 The true God to be worshipped and obeyed
*56–58 Idolaters are ungrateful
*59–61 Hating daughters, the
Quraish
The Quraysh ( ar, قُرَيْشٌ) were a grouping of Arab clans that historically inhabited and controlled the city of Mecca and its Kaaba. The Islamic prophet Muhammad was born into the Hashim clan of the tribe. Despite this, many of the Qu ...
attribute daughters to God
*62–63 The human race dependent on God’s mercy
*64 Idolatry unreasonable
*65
Satan
Satan,, ; grc, ὁ σατανᾶς or , ; ar, شيطانالخَنَّاس , also known as the Devil, and sometimes also called Lucifer in Christianity, is an entity in the Abrahamic religions that seduces humans into sin or falsehoo ...
the patron of the ungodly
*66 Why the Quran was sent
*67–69 God’s witness to himself in nature
*70–71 The bee taught of God
*72–74 All man is and all he has is of God
*75 Yet man worships idols
*76 God not to be likened to anything
*77 The
parable
A parable is a succinct, didactic story, in prose or verse, that illustrates one or more instructive lessons or principles. It differs from a fable in that fables employ animals, plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature as characters, w ...
of a slave and his master
*78 The parable of the blind man and one having sight
*79 The affairs of the judgment-day shall be accomplished in a moment
*80–83 God to be obeyed because he is Creator and Preserver
*84 Muhammad only a public preacher
*85 Idolaters recognise God’s mercy and yet deny him
*86–87 Every nation has a witness against it
*88–89 Idolaters shall be deserted by their idols
*90 Infidel leaders to be severely punished
*91 Muhammad is God’s witness against the Arabians
*92–99
Exhortation to loyalty to God
*100 Muhammad to have recourse to God in reading the Quran
*101–102 Satan has no power over believers
*103 The doctrine of abrogation announced
*104 The Quran sent down by the “
holy spirit
In Judaism, the Holy Spirit is the divine force, quality, and influence of God over the Universe or over his creatures. In Nicene Christianity, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is the third person of the Trinity. In Islam, the Holy Spirit acts as ...
”
*105 Muhammad charged with writing the Quran with foreign help
*106–107 The unbelievers shall be punished
*108 Forced apostasy no offence against God
*108–110 Wilful apostates condemned
*111 The Muhájirín blessed
*112 The rewards of the judgment-day will be just
*113–114 Makkah punished by famine for unbelief
*115–119 Lawful and
unlawful food
*120 Sins of ignorance may be pardoned
*121–124 Muhammad exhorted to adopt the religion of Abraham
*125 Friday to be observed instead of the Sabbath
*126 Infidels not to be treated harshly
*127 Patient forbearance better than vengeance
*128 God is with the righteous
This surah warns against
polytheism
Polytheism is the belief in multiple deities, which are usually assembled into a pantheon of gods and goddesses, along with their own religious sects and rituals. Polytheism is a type of theism. Within theism, it contrasts with monotheism, t ...
, saying that the pagan gods cannot create anything, and against comparisons between
God
In monotheistic thought, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator, and principal object of faith. Swinburne, R.G. "God" in Honderich, Ted. (ed)''The Oxford Companion to Philosophy'', Oxford University Press, 1995. God is typically ...
and any created beings. It praises God for giving the Earth with all its wealth to mankind. According to this surah, all wonders of the natural world, such as seas, stars and mountains, are proofs of God's infinite power.
Q16:14
islamawakened.com Verse 66 speaks of the miracle in milk formation in cattle: "From what is within their bodies, between excretions and blood, We produce for your drink, milk, pure and agreeable to those who drink it." Verse 67 speaks of the miracle of the vine: "And from the fruit of the date-palm and the vine, ye get out strong drink and wholesome food: behold, in this also is a sign for those who are wise". Quran 16:103 addresses the allegations that Muhammad has invented the Qur'an.
References
External links
Q16:68
50+ translations, islamawakened.com
Quran 16
Clear Quran translation
Mustafa Khattab is a Canadian–Egyptian Muslim scholar, author, youth mentor, public speaker, imam, and university chaplain. He holds a professional ijâzah in the Ḥafṣ style of recitation. He is known for his translation of the Quran in ...
Surah An-Nahl Transliteration and Arabic Text
{{Authority control
Nahl
Bees in popular culture