Surah 16 The Bee - An-Nahl, 128 verses (Makka)
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
- (Inevitable) cometh (to pass) the Command of God:
seek ye not then to hasten it: Glory to Him, and far is
He above having the partners they ascribe unto Him!
- He doth send down His angels with inspiration of
His Command, to such of His servants as He pleaseth,
(saying): "Warn (Man) that there is no god but I: so do
your duty unto Me."
- He has created the heavens and the earth for just
ends: Far is He above having the partners they ascribe
to Him!
- He has created man from a sperm-drop; and behold
this same (man) becomes an open disputer!
- And cattle He has created for you (men): from them
ye derive warmth, and numerous benefits, and of their
(meat) ye eat.
- And ye have a sense of pride and beauty in them as
ye drive them home in the evening, and as ye lead them
forth to pasture in the morning.
- And they carry your heavy loads to lands that ye
could not (otherwise) reach except with souls
distressed: for your Lord is indeed Most Kind, Most
Merciful,
- And (He has created) horses, mules, and donkeys,
for you to ride and use for show; and He has created
(other) things of which ye have no knowledge.
- And unto God leads straight the Way, but there are
ways that turn aside: if God had willed, He could have
guided all of you.
- It is He who sends down rain from the sky: from it
ye drink, and out of it (grows) the vegetation on which
ye feed your cattle.
- With it He produces for you corn, olives,
date-palms, grapes and every kind of fruit: verily in
this is a sign for those who give thought.
- He has made subject to you the Night and the Day;
the sun and the moon; and the stars are in subjection
by His Command: verily in this are Signs for men who
are wise.
- And the things on this earth which He has
multiplied in varying colours (and qualities): verily
in this is a sign for men who celebrate the praises of
God (in gratitude).
- It is He Who has made the sea subject, that ye may
eat thereof flesh that is fresh and tender, and that ye
may extract therefrom ornaments to wear; and thou seest
the ships therein that plough the waves, that ye may
seek (thus) of the bounty of God and that ye may be
grateful.
- And He has set up on the earth mountains standing
firm, lest it should shake with you; and rivers and
roads; that ye may guide yourselves;
- And marks and sign-posts; and by the stars (men)
guide themselves.
- Is then He Who creates like one that creates not?
Will ye not receive admonition?
- If ye would count up the favours of God, never
would ye be able to number them: for God is
Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
- And God doth know what ye conceal, and what ye
reveal.
- Those whom they invoke besides God create nothing
and are themselves created.
- (They are things) dead, lifeless: nor do they know
when they will be raised up.
- Your God is one God: as to those who believe not in
the Hereafter, their hearts refuse to know, and they
are arrogant.
- Undoubtedly God doth know what they conceal, and
what they reveal: verily He loveth not the arrogant.
- When it is said to them, "What is it that your Lord
has revealed?" they say, "Tales of the ancients!"
- Let them bear, on the Day of Judgment, their own
burdens in full, and also (something) of the burdens of
those without knowledge, whom they misled. Alas, how
grievous the burdens they will bear!
- Those before them did also plot (against God's
Way): but God took their structures from their
foundations, and the roof fell down on them from above;
and the Wrath seized them from directions they did not
perceive.
- Then, on the Day of Judgment, He will cover them
with shame, and say: "Where are My 'partners'
concerning whom ye used to dispute (with the godly)?"
Those endued with knowledge will say: "This Day,
indeed, are the Unbelievers covered with shame and
misery,-
- "(Namely) those whose lives the angels take in a
state of wrong-doing to their own souls." Then would
they offer submission (with the pretence), "We did no
evil (knowingly)." (The angels will reply), "Nay, but
verily God knoweth all that ye did;
- "So enter the gates of Hell, to dwell therein. Thus
evil indeed is the abode of the arrogant."
- To the righteous (when) it is said, "What is it
that your Lord has revealed?" they say, "All that is
good." To those who do good, there is good in this
world, and the Home of the Hereafter is even better and
excellent indeed is the Home of the righteous,-
- Gardens of Eternity which they will enter: beneath
them flow (pleasant) rivers: they will have therein all
that they wish: thus doth God reward the righteous,-
- (Namely) those whose lives the angels take in a
state of purity, saying (to them), "Peace be on you;
enter ye the Garden, because of (the good) which ye did
(in the world)."
- Do the (ungodly) wait until the angels come to
them, or there comes the Command of thy Lord (for their
doom)? So did those who went before them. But God
wronged them not: nay, they wronged their own souls.
- But the evil results of their deeds overtook them,
and that very (Wrath) at which they had scoffed hemmed
them in.
- The worshippers of false gods say: "If God had so
willed, we should not have worshipped aught but Him -
neither we nor our fathers,- nor should we have
prescribed prohibitions other than His." So did those
who went before them. But what is the mission of
apostles but to preach the Clear Message?
- For We assuredly sent amongst every People an
apostle, (with the Command), "Serve God, and eschew
Evil": of the People were some whom God guided, and
some on whom error became inevitably (established). So
travel through the earth, and see what was the end of
those who denied (the Truth).
- If thou art anxious for their guidance, yet God
guideth not such as He leaves to stray, and there is
none to help them.
- They swear their strongest oaths by God, that God
will not raise up those who die: Nay, but it is a
promise (binding) on Him in truth: but most among
mankind realise it not.
- (They must be raised up), in order that He may
manifest to them the truth of that wherein they differ,
and that the rejecters of Truth may realise that they
had indeed (surrendered to) Falsehood.
- For to anything which We have willed, We but say
the word, "Be", and it is.
- To those who leave their homes in the cause of God,
after suffering oppression,- We will assuredly give a
goodly home in this world; but truly the reward of the
Hereafter will be greater. If they only realised
(this)!
- (They are) those who persevere in patience, and put
their trust on their Lord.
- And before thee also the apostles We sent were but
men, to whom We granted inspiration: if ye realise this
not, ask of those who possess the Message.
- (We sent them) with Clear Signs and Books of dark
prophecies; and We have sent down unto thee (also) the
Message; that thou mayest explain clearly to men what
is sent for them, and that they may give thought.
- Do then those who devise evil (plots) feel secure
that God will not cause the earth to swallow them up,
or that the Wrath will not seize them from directions
they little perceive?-
- Or that He may not call them to account in the
midst of their goings to and fro, without a chance of
their frustrating Him?-
- Or that He may not call them to account by a
process of slow wastage - for thy Lord is indeed full
of kindness and mercy.
- Do they not look at God's creation, (even) among
(inanimate) things,- How their (very) shadows turn
round, from the right and the left, prostrating
themselves to God, and that in the humblest manner?
- And to God doth obeisance all that is in the
heavens and on earth, whether moving (living) creatures
or the angels: for none are arrogant (before their
Lord).
- They all revere their Lord, high above them, and
they do all that they are commanded.
- God has said: "Take not (for worship) two gods: for
He is just One God: then fear Me (and Me alone)."
- To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and on
earth, and to Him is duty due always: then will ye fear
other than God?
- And ye have no good thing but is from God: and
moreover, when ye are touched by distress, unto Him ye
cry with groans;
- Yet, when He removes the distress from you, behold!
some of you turn to other gods to join with their Lord-
- (As if) to show their ingratitude for the favours
we have bestowed on them! then enjoy (your brief day):
but soon will ye know (your folly)!
- And they (even) assign, to things they do not know,
a portion out of that which We have bestowed for their
sustenance! By God, ye shall certainly be called to
account for your false inventions.
- And they assign daughters for God! - Glory be to
Him! - and for themselves (sons,- the issue) they
desire!
- When news is brought to one of them, of (the birth
of) a female (child), his face darkens, and he is
filled with inward grief!
- With shame does he hide himself from his people,
because of the bad news he has had! Shall he retain it
on (sufferance and) contempt, or bury it in the dust?
Ah! what an evil (choice) they decide on?
- To those who believe not in the Hereafter, applies
the similitude of evil: to God applies the highest
similitude: for He is the Exalted in Power, full of
Wisdom.
- If God were to punish men for their wrong-doing, He
would not leave, on the (earth), a single living
creature: but He gives them respite for a stated Term:
When their Term expires, they would not be able to
delay (the punishment) for a single hour, just as they
would not be able to anticipate it (for a single hour).
- They attribute to God what they hate (for
themselves), and their tongues assert the falsehood
that all good things are for themselves: without doubt
for them is the Fire, and they will be the first to be
hastened on into it!
- By God, We (also) sent (Our apostles) to Peoples
before thee; but Satan made, (to the wicked), their own
acts seem alluring: He is also their patron today, but
they shall have a most grievous penalty.
- And We sent down the Book to thee for the express
purpose, that thou shouldst make clear to them those
things in which they differ, and that it should be a
guide and a mercy to those who believe.
- And God sends down rain from the skies, and gives
therewith life to the earth after its death: verily in
this is a Sign for those who listen.
- And verily in cattle (too) will ye find an
instructive sign. From what is within their bodies
between excretions and blood, We produce, for your
drink, milk, pure and agreeable to those who drink it.
- And from the fruit of the date-palm and the vine,
ye get out wholesome drink and food: behold, in this
also is a sign for those who are wise.
- And thy Lord taught the Bee to build its cells in
hills, on trees, and in (men's) habitations;
- Then to eat of all the produce (of the earth), and
find with skill the spacious paths of its Lord: there
issues from within their bodies a drink of varying
colours, wherein is healing for men: verily in this is
a Sign for those who give thought.
- It is God who creates you and takes your souls at
death; and of you there are some who are sent back to a
feeble age, so that they know nothing after having
known (much): for God is All-Knowing, All-Powerful.
- God has bestowed His gifts of sustenance more
freely on some of you than on others: those more
favoured are not going to throw back their gifts to
those whom their right hands possess, so as to be equal
in that respect. Will they then deny the favours of
God?
- And God has made for you mates (and companions) of
your own nature, and made for you, out of them, sons
and daughters and grandchildren, and provided for you
sustenance of the best: will they then believe in vain
things, and be ungrateful for God's favours?-
- And worship others than God,- such as have no power
of providing them, for sustenance, with anything in
heavens or earth, and cannot possibly have such power?
- Invent not similitudes for God: for God knoweth,
and ye know not.
- God sets forth the Parable (of two men: one) a
slave under the dominion of another; He has no power of
any sort; and (the other) a man on whom We have
bestowed goodly favours from Ourselves, and he spends
thereof (freely), privately and publicly: are the two
equal? (By no means;) praise be to God. But most of
them understand not.
- God sets forth (another) Parable of two men: one of
them dumb, with no power of any sort; a wearisome
burden is he to his master; whichever way be directs
him, he brings no good: is such a man equal with one
who commands Justice, and is on a Straight Way?
- To God belongeth the Mystery of the heavens and the
earth. And the Decision of the Hour (of Judgment) is as
the twingkling of an eye, or even quicker: for God hath
power over all things.
- It is He Who brought you forth from the wombs of
your mothers when ye knew nothing; and He gave you
hearing and sight and intelligence and affections: that
ye may give thanks (to God).
- 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) God. Verily in this are signs for
those who believe.
- It is God Who made your habitations homes of rest
and quiet for you; and made for you, out of the skins
of animals, (tents for) dwellings, which ye find so
light (and handy) when ye travel and when ye stop (in
your travels); and out of their wool, and their soft
fibres (between wool and hair), and their hair, rich
stuff and articles of convenience (to serve you) for a
time.
- It is God Who made out of the things He created,
some things to give you shade; of the hills He made
some for your shelter; He made you garments to protect
you from heat, and coats of mail to protect you from
your (mutual) violence. Thus does He complete His
favours on you, that ye may bow to His Will (in Islam).
- But if they turn away, thy duty is only to preach
the clear Message.
- They recognise the favours of God; then they deny
them; and most of them are (creatures) ungrateful.
- One Day We shall raise from all Peoples a Witness:
then will no excuse be accepted from Unbelievers, nor
will they receive any favours.
- When the wrong-doers (actually) see the Penalty,
then will it in no way be mitigated, nor will they then
receive respite.
- When those who gave partners to God will see their
"partners", they will say: "Our Lord! these are our
'partners,' those whom we used to invoke besides Thee."
But they will throw back their word at them (and say):
"Indeed ye are liars!"
- That Day shall they (openly) show (their)
submission to God; and all their inventions shall leave
them in the lurch.
- Those who reject God and hinder (men) from the Path
of God - for them will We add Penalty to Penalty; for
that they used to spread mischief.
- One day We shall raise from all Peoples a witness
against them, from amongst themselves: and We shall
bring thee as a witness against these (thy people): and
We have sent down to thee the Book explaining all
things, a Guide, a Mercy, and Glad Tidings to Muslims.
- God commands justice, the doing of good, and
liberality to kith and kin, and He forbids all shameful
deeds, and injustice and rebellion: He instructs you,
that ye may receive admonition.
- Fulfil the Covenant of God when ye have entered
into it, and break not your oaths after ye have
confirmed them; indeed ye have made God your surety;
for God knoweth all that ye do.
- And be not like a woman who breaks into untwisted
strands the yarn which she has spun, after it has
become strong. Nor take your oaths to practise
deception between yourselves, lest one party should be
more numerous than another: for God will test you by
this; and on the Day of Judgment He will certainly make
clear to you (the truth of) that wherein ye disagree.
- If God so willed, He could make you all one people:
But He leaves straying whom He pleases, and He guides
whom He pleases: but ye shall certainly be called to
account for all your actions.
- And take not your oaths, to practise deception
between yourselves, with the result that someone's foot
may slip after it was firmly planted, and ye may have
to taste the evil (consequences) of having hindered
(men) from the Path of God, and a Mighty Wrath descend
on you.
- Nor sell the covenant of God for a miserable price:
for with God is (a prize) far better for you, if ye
only knew.
- What is with you must vanish: what is with God will
endure. And We will certainly bestow, on those who
patiently persevere, their reward according to the best
of their actions.
- Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has
Faith, verily, to him will We give a new Life, a life
that is good and pure and We will bestow on such their
reward according to the best of their actions.
- When thou dost read the Qur'an, seek God's
protection from Satan the rejected one.
- No authority has he over those who believe and put
their trust in their Lord.
- His authority is over those only, who take him as
patron and who join partners with God.
- When We substitute one revelation for another,- and
God knows best what He reveals (in stages),- they say,
"Thou art but a forger": but most of them understand
not.
- Say, the Holy Spirit has brought the revelation
from thy Lord in Truth, in order to strengthen those
who believe, and as a Guide and Glad Tidings to
Muslims.
- We know indeed that they say, "It is a man that
teaches him." The tongue of him they wickedly point to
is notably foreign, while this is Arabic, pure and
clear.
- Those who believe not in the Signs of God,- God
will not guide them, and theirs will be a grievous
Penalty.
- It is those who believe not in the Signs of God,
that forge falsehood: it is they who lie!
- Any one who, after accepting faith in God, utters
Unbelief,- except under compulsion, his heart remaining
firm in Faith - but such as open their breast to
Unbelief, on them is Wrath from God, and theirs will be
a dreadful Penalty.
- This because they love the life of this world
better than the Hereafter: and God will not guide those
who reject Faith.
- Those are they whose hearts, ears, and eyes God has
sealed up, and they take no heed.
- Without doubt, in the Hereafter they will perish.
- But verily thy Lord,- to those who leave their
homes after trials and persecutions,- and who
thereafter strive and fight for the faith and patiently
persevere,- Thy Lord, after all this is oft-forgiving,
Most Merciful.
- One Day every soul will come up struggling for
itself, and every soul will be recompensed (fully) for
all its actions, and none will be unjustly dealt with.
- God sets forth a Parable: a city enjoying security
and quiet, abundantly supplied with sustenance from
every place: Yet was it ungrateful for the favours of
God: so God made it taste of hunger and terror (in
extremes) (closing in on it) like a garment (from every
side), because of the (evil) which (its people)
wrought.
- And there came to them an Apostle from among
themselves, but they falsely rejected him; so the Wrath
seized them even in the midst of their iniquities.
- So eat of the sustenance which God has provided for
you, lawful and good; and be grateful for the favours
of God, if it is He Whom ye serve.
- He has only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and
the flesh of swine, and any (food) over which the name
of other than God has been invoked. But if one is
forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor
transgressing due limits,- then God is Oft-Forgiving,
Most Merciful.
- But say not - for any false thing that your tongues
may put forth,- "This is lawful, and this is
forbidden," so as to ascribe false things to God. For
those who ascribe false things to God, will never
prosper.
- (In such falsehood) is but a paltry profit; but
they will have a most grievous Penalty.
- To the Jews We prohibited such things as We have
mentioned to thee before: We did them no wrong, but
they were used to doing wrong to themselves.
- But verily thy Lord,- to those who do wrong in
ignorance, but who thereafter repent and make amends,-
thy Lord, after all this, is Oft-Forgiving, Most
Merciful.
- Abraham was indeed a model, devoutly obedient to
God, (and) true in Faith, and he joined not gods with
God:
- He showed his gratitude for the favours of God, who
chose him, and guided him to a Straight Way.
- And We gave him Good in this world, and he will be,
in the Hereafter, in the ranks of the Righteous.
- So We have taught thee the inspired (Message),
"Follow the ways of Abraham the True in Faith, and he
joined not gods with God."
- The Sabbath was only made (strict) for those who
disagreed (as to its observance); But God will judge
between them on the Day of Judgment, as to their
differences.
- Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and
beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that
are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best,
who have strayed from His Path, and who receive
guidance.
- And if ye do catch them out, catch them out no
worse than they catch you out: But if ye show patience,
that is indeed the best (course) for those who are
patient.
- And do thou be patient, for thy patience is but
from God; nor grieve over them: and distress not
thyself because of their plots.
- For God is with those who restrain themselves, and
those who do good.
Quran
Surah 15 Stone Land
Surah 16 The Bee
Surah 17 The Night Journey