Sura 16: The Bee
(Al-Nahl)

In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

1. GOD's command has already been
issued (and everything has already
been written), so do not rush it.*
Be He glorified; the Most High, far
above any idols they set up.

2. He sends down the angels with the
revelations, carrying His commands,
to whomever He chooses from
among His servants: "You shall
preach that there is no other god
beside Me; You shall reverence Me."

3. He created the heavens and the earth
for a specific purpose. He is much too High, far above any idols they set up.

4. He created the human from a tiny drop, then he turns into an ardent opponent.

5. And He created the livestock for you, to provide you with warmth,
and many other benefits, as well as food.

6. They also provide you with luxury during your leisure, and when you travel.
 

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*16:1 Everything is already recorded (57:22). See also Appendix 14.
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God's Blessings

7. And they carry your loads
to lands that you could not reach
without a great hardship.
Surely, your Lord is Compassionate,
Most Merciful.

8. And (He created) the horses,
the mules, and the donkeys
for you to ride, and for luxury.
Additionally, He creates
what you do not know.

9. GOD points out the paths,
including the wrong ones.
If He willed, He could have
guided all of you.

10. He sends down from the sky
water for your drink,
and to grow trees
for your benefit.

11. With it, He grows for you crops,
olives, date palms, grapes, and all
kinds of fruits. This is (sufficient)
proof for people who think.

12. And He commits, in your service,
the night and the day, as well as
the sun and the moon. Also, the
stars are committed by His command.
These are (sufficient) proofs
for people who understand.

13. And (He created) for you
on earth things of various colors.
This is a (sufficient) proof for people
who take heed.

14. And He committed the sea to serve you;
you eat from it tender meat,
and extract jewelry which you wear.
And you see the ships roaming it
for your commercial benefits, as you seek His bounties,
that you may be appreciative.

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15. And He placed stabilizers (mountains) on earth,
lest it tumbles with you, as well as rivers and roads,
that you may be guided.

16. And landmarks, as well as the stars; to be used for navigation.

17. Is One who creates like one who does not create?
Would you now take heed?

18. If you count GOD's blessings, you cannot possibly encompass them.
GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

19. And GOD knows whatever you
conceal and whatever you declare.

The Dead Prophets and Saints

20. As for the idols they set up beside
GOD, they do not create anything;
they themselves were created.

21. They are dead, not alive, and
they have no idea how or when
they will be resurrected.

22. Your GOD is one GOD.
As for those who do not believe
in the Hereafter, their hearts
are denying, and they are arrogant.

23. Absolutely, GOD knows everything
they conceal and everything they
declare. He does not love
those who are arrogant.

24. When they are asked,
"What do you think of these
revelations from your Lord,"
they say, "Tales from the past."

25. They will be held responsible for their sins
on the Day of Resurrection, all of them,
in addition to sins of all those whom they misled
by their ignorance. What a miserable load!

26. Others like them have schemed in the past,
and consequently, GOD destroyed their building
at the foundation, causing the roof to fall on them.
The retribution struck them
when they least expected.

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27. Then, on the Day of Resurrection, He will disgrace them and ask, "Where are
My partners that you had set up beside Me, and had opposed Me
for their sake?" Those blessed with knowledge will say, "Today, the shame
and misery have befallen the disbelievers."


Death for the Disbelievers

28. The angels put them to death in a state of wronging their souls.
That is when they finally submit, and say, "We did not do anything wrong!"
Yes indeed. GOD is fully aware of everything you have done.

29. Therefore, enter the gates of Hell,
wherein you abide forever.
What a miserable destiny
for the arrogant ones.

The Believers Do Not Really Die*

30. As for the righteous, when they
are asked, "What do you think of
these revelations from your Lord,"
they say, "Good." For those who
lead a righteous life, happiness,
and the abode of the Hereafter is
even better. What a blissful abode
for the righteous.

31. The gardens of Eden are reserved
for them, wherein rivers flow. They
have anything they wish therein.
GOD thus rewards the righteous.

They Go Straight to Paradise

32. The angels terminate their lives
in a state of righteousness, saying,
"Peace be upon you. Enter Paradise
(now) as a reward for your works."*


The Disbelievers

33. Are they waiting for the angels to come to them, or until your Lord's judgment
comes to pass? Those before them did the same thing. GOD is not the One who
wronged them; they are the ones who wronged their own souls.

34. They have incurred the consequences of their evil works,
and the very things they ridiculed came back to haunt them.

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*16:32 The righteous taste only the first death, which has been already experienced by all of us (see 44:56). At the end of their interim in this world, the angels of death simply invite them to move on to the Paradise where Adam and Eve once lived (2:154, 3:169, 8:24, 22:58, 36:27).
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Famous Excuse

35. The idol worshipers say, "Had GOD willed,
we would not worship any idols besides Him,
nor would our parents. Nor would we prohibit
anything besides His prohibitions."
Those before them have done the same.
Can the messengers do anything
but deliver the complete message?

36. We have sent a messenger
to every community, saying,
"You shall worship GOD,
and avoid idolatry." Subsequently,
some were guided by GOD, while
others were committed to straying.
Roam the earth and note the
consequences for the rejectors.

37. No matter how hard you try to guide
them, GOD does not guide the ones
He had committed to straying.
Thus, no one can help them.

Deep In Their Minds

38. They swore solemnly by GOD:
"GOD will not resurrect the dead."
Absolutely, such is His inviolable
promise, but most people
do not know.

39. He will then point out to everyone
all the things they had disputed,
and will let those who disbelieved
know that they were liars.

To Resurrect the Dead

40. To have anything done, we simply say to it, "Be," and it is.

41. Those who emigrated for the sake of GOD,
because they were persecuted, we will surely
make it up to them generously in this life,
and the recompense of the Hereafter
is even greater, if they only knew.

42. This is because they steadfastly persevere, and in their Lord they trust.

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43. We did not send before you except men whom we inspired.
Ask those who know the scripture, if you do not know.

44. We provided them with the proofs and the scriptures. And we sent down to you
this message, to proclaim for the people everything that is sent down to them,
perhaps they will reflect.

45. Did those who scheme evil schemes guarantee that GOD will not
cause the earth to swallow them, or that the retribution will not come
to them when they least expect it?

46. It may strike them while they are
asleep; they can never escape.

47. Or it may strike them while they are
fearfully expecting it. Your Lord is
Compassionate, Most Merciful.

48. Have they not seen all the things
created by GOD? Their shadows
surround them right and left,
in total submission to GOD,
and willingly.

49. To GOD prostrates everything in the
heavens and everything on earth--
every creature--and so do the angels;
without the least arrogance.*

50. They reverence their Lord, high
above them, and they do what they
are commanded to do.

51. GOD has proclaimed:
"Do not worship two GODs;
there is only one GOD.
You shall reverence Me alone."

52. To Him belongs everything in the
heavens and the earth and, therefore,
the religion shall be devoted absolutely to Him alone.
Would you worship other than GOD?

53. Any blessing you enjoy is from GOD. Yet, whenever you incur any adversity
you immediately complain to Him.

54. Yet, as soon as He relieves your affliction, some of you revert to idol worship.

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*16:49 The human body, whether it belongs to a believer or a disbeliever, submits to
God; the heartbeats, the lungs' movement, and peristalsis illustrate this submission.
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55. Let them disbelieve in what we have given them.
Go ahead and enjoy temporarily; you will surely find out.

56. They designate for the idols they set up out of ignorance,
a share of the provisions we bestow upon them.
By GOD, you will be held accountable for your innovations.


Bigoted Bias Against Baby Girls

57. They even assign daughters to GOD, be He glorified,
while they prefer for themselves what they like.

58. When one of them gets a baby girl,
his face becomes darkened
with overwhelming grief.

59. Ashamed, he hides from the people,
because of the bad news given to
him. He even ponders: should he
keep the baby grudgingly, or bury her
in the dust. Miserable indeed
is their judgment.

60. Those who do not believe in the
Hereafter set the worst examples,
while to GOD belongs the most
sublime examples. He is the
Almighty, the Most Wise.

The Original Sin

61. If GOD punished the people
for their transgressions, He would
have annihilated every creature
on earth. But He respites them
for a specific, predetermined time.
Once their interim ends, they cannot
delay it by one hour, nor advance it.

62. They ascribe to GOD what they dislike for themselves, then utter the lie
with their own tongues that they are righteous! Without any doubt,
they have incurred Hell, for they have rebelled.

63. By GOD, we have sent (messengers) to communities before you,
but the devil adorned their works in their eyes. Consequently, he is now
their lord, and they have incurred a painful retribution.

64. We have revealed this scripture to you, to point out for them what they dispute,
and to provide guidance and mercy for people who believe.

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Additional Proofs From God

65. GOD sends down from the sky water to revive the land after it had died.
This should be (sufficient) proof for people who hear.

66. And in the livestock there is a lesson for you: we provide you with a drink from
their bellies. From the midst of digested food and blood,
you get pure milk, delicious for the drinkers.

67. And from the fruits of date palms and grapes you produce intoxicants, as well as
good provisions. This should be (sufficient) proof for people who understand.


The Bee

68. And your Lord inspired the bee:
build homes in mountains and trees,
and in (the hives) they build for you.

69. Then eat from all the fruits, following
the design of your Lord, precisely.
From their bellies comes a drink
of different colors, wherein there is
healing for the people. This should
be (sufficient) proof for people who
reflect.*

70. GOD created you, then He ter-
minates your lives. He lets some of
you live to the oldest age, only to
find out that there is a limit to the
knowledge they can acquire.
GOD is Omniscient, Omnipotent.

No Partners With God

71. GOD has provided for some of you
more than others. Those who are
given plenty would never give their
properties to their subordinates to the
extent of making them partners. Would they give up GOD's blessings?*

72. And GOD made for you spouses from among yourselves, and produced for you
from your spouses children and grandchildren, and provided you with good
provisions. Should they believe in falsehood, and turn unappreciative
of GOD's blessings?

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*16:69 Besides its recognized nutritive value, honey has been scientifically proven as a healing medicine of certain allergies and other ailments.
*16:71 If the humans would not give up their power to that extent, why do they expect God to do this, and create partners for Himself?
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Idol Worship: Not Very Intelligent

73. Yet, they worship beside GOD
what possesses no provisions for them
in the heavens, nor on earth,
nor can provide them with anything.

74. Therefore, do not cite the examples for GOD;
GOD knows while you do not know.

The Rich Believer is
Better than the Poor Believer

75. GOD cites the example of a slave
who is owned, and is totally power-
less, compared to one whom we
blessed with good provisions, from
which he gives to charity secretly
and publicly. Are they equal?
Praise be to GOD, most of them
do not know.

76. And GOD cites the example of two
men: one is dumb, lacks the ability
to do anything, is totally dependent
on his master--whichever way he
directs him, he cannot produce any-
thing good. Is he equal to one who
rules with justice, and is guided in
the right path?

This Life is Very Short

77. To GOD belongs the future
of the heavens and the earth.
As far as He is concerned,
the end of the world (the Hour)
is a blink of an eye away, or even
closer. GOD is Omnipotent.

78. GOD brought you out of your mothers' bellies
knowing nothing, and He gave you the hearing,
the eyesight, and the brains,
that you may be appreciative.

79. Do they not see the birds committed
to fly in the atmosphere of the sky?
None holds them up in the air except GOD.
This should be (sufficient) proof for people who believe.

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80. And GOD provided for you stationary homes where you can live.
And He provided for you portable homes made of the hides of livestock,
so you can use them when you travel, and when you settle down.
And from their wools, furs, and hair,
you make furnishings and luxuries for awhile.

81. And GOD provided for you shade through things
which He created, and provided for you shelters
in the mountains, and provided
for you garments that protect you
from heat, and garments that protect
when you fight in wars. He thus
perfects His blessings upon you,
that you may submit.

82. If they still turn away,
then your sole mission is
the clear delivery (of the message).

The Disbelievers Unappreciative

83. They fully recognize GOD's
blessings, then deny them;
the majority of them are disbelievers.

On The Day of Resurrection

84. The day will come when we raise
from every community a witness,
then those who disbelieved
will not be permitted (to speak),
nor will they be excused.

85. Once those who transgressed
see the retribution, it will be too late;
it will not be commuted for them,
nor will they be respited.

The Idols Disown Their Idolizers

86. And when those who committed
idol worship see their idols,
they will say, "Our Lord,
these are the idols we had set up beside You."
The idols will then confront them
and say, "You are liars."

87. They will totally submit to GOD on that day,
and the idols they had invented will disown them.

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88. Those who disbelieve and repel from the path of GOD,
we augment their retribution by adding more retribution,
due to their transgressions.

89. The day will come when we will raise
from every community a witness from among them,
and bring you as the witness of these people.
We have revealed to you this book to
provide explanations for everything,
and guidance, and mercy,
and good news for the submitters.

90. GOD advocates justice, charity,
and regarding the relatives.
And He forbids evil, vice, and
transgression. He enlightens you,
that you may take heed.

You Shall Keep Your Word

91. You shall fulfill your covenant with
GOD when you make such a
covenant. You shall not violate the
oaths after swearing (by God) to
carry them out, for you have made
GOD a guarantor for you. GOD
knows everything you do.

92. Do not be like the knitter
who unravels her strong knitting
into piles of flimsy yarn. This is your
example if you abuse the oaths to
take advantage of one another.
Whether one group is larger than the
other, GOD thus puts you to the test.
He will surely show you on the Day
of Resurrection everything you
had disputed.

93. Had GOD willed, He could have
made you one congregation.
But He sends astray whoever chooses
to go astray, and He guides whoever wishes
to be guided.* You will surely be asked
about everything you have done.

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*16:93 God knows the sincere believers among us who deserve to be redeemed. Accordingly, He guides them, while blocking out those who choose to disbelieve.
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Violating Your Oath: A Serious Offense

94. Do not abuse the oaths among you, lest you slide back after having a strong
foothold, then you incur misery. Such is the consequence of repelling from the
path of GOD (by setting a bad example); you incur a terrible retribution.

95. Do not sell your oaths before GOD short.
What GOD possesses is far better for you, if you only knew.

96. What you possess runs out, but what GOD possesses lasts forever. We will
surely reward those who steadfastly persevere; we will recompense
them for their righteous works.


Guaranteed Happiness
Now and Forever

97. Anyone who works righteousness,
male or female, while believing,
we will surely grant them a happy
life in this world, and we will surely
pay them their full recompense
(on the Day of Judgment)
for their righteous works.

An Important Commandment*

98. When you read the Quran,
you shall seek refuge in GOD
from Satan the rejected.

99. He has no power over those who
believe and trust in their Lord.

100. His power is limited to those who
choose him as their master;
those who choose him as their GOD.

101. When we substitute one revelation
in place of another, and GOD is
fully aware of what He reveals,
they say, "You made this up!"
Indeed, most of them do not know.

102. Say, "The Holy Spirit has brought it down
from your Lord, truthfully,
to assure those who believe,
and to provide a beacon and good news for the submitters."

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*16:98 Our salvation is attained by knowing God's message to us, the Quran, and Satan will do his utmost to keep us from being redeemed. Hence this commandment.
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The Quran Is Not Copied From The Bible

103. We are fully aware that they say,
"A human being is teaching him!"
The tongue of the source they hint at is non-Arabic,
and this is a perfect Arabic tongue.

104. Surely, those who do not believe in GOD's revelations,
GOD does not guide them.
They have incurred a painful retribution.

105. The only ones who fabricate false
doctrines are those who do not
believe in GOD's revelations;
they are the real liars.

Lip Service Does Not Count

106. Those who disbelieve in GOD,
after having acquired faith, and
become fully content with disbelief,
have incurred wrath from GOD.
The only ones to be excused are
those who are forced to profess
disbelief, while their hearts are full
of faith.*

Preoccupation With This Life
Leads to Exile From God

107. This is because they have given
priority to this life over the Here-
after, and GOD does not guide
such disbelieving people.

108. Those are the ones whom GOD
has sealed their hearts, and their
hearing, and their eyesight.
Consequently, they remain unaware.

109. Without a doubt, they will be the losers in the Hereafter.

110. As for those who emigrate because of persecution,
then continue to strive and steadfastly persevere,
your Lord, because of all this,
is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

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*16:106 God's wisdom decrees that if someone holds a gun to your head and orders you to declare that you disbelieve in God, you may grant him his wish. What the heart harbors is what counts.
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111. The day will come when every soul will serve as its own advocate,
and every soul will be paid fully for whatever it had done,
without the least injustice.


Prohibiting Lawful Food Brings Deprivation

112. GOD cites the example of a community that used to be secure and prosperous,
with provisions coming to it from everywhere. But then, it turned
unappreciative of GOD's blessings. Consequently, GOD caused them to taste
the hardships of starvation and insecurity.
Such is the requital for what they did.

113. A messenger had gone to them
from among them, but they rejected
him. Consequently, the retribution
struck them for their transgression.

114. Therefore, you shall eat from
GOD's provisions everything
that is lawful and good, and
be appreciative of GOD's
blessings, if you do worship Him
alone.

Only Four Foods Prohibited

115. He only prohibits for you dead
animals, blood, the meat of pigs,*
and food which is dedicated to
other than GOD. If one is forced
(to eat these), without being
deliberate or malicious, then
GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

116. You shall not utter lies with your
own tongues stating: "This is lawful,
and this is unlawful," to fabricate
lies and attribute them to GOD.
Surely, those who fabricate lies
and attribute them to GOD will never succeed.

117. They enjoy briefly, then suffer painful retribution.

118. For the Jews, we prohibited what we narrated to you previously.*
It was not us who wronged them;
they are the ones who wronged their own souls.

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*16:115 & 118 The most devastating trichinosis parasite, Trichinella spiralis, (also the pork tapeworm Taenia solium) survives in the meat of pigs, not the fat. More than 150,000 people are infected annually in the United States. See 6:145-146, and Appendix 16.
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119. Yet, as regards those who fall in sin out of ignorance then repent thereafter
and reform, your Lord, after this is done, is Forgiver, Most Merciful.


Abraham

120. Abraham was indeed an exemplary vanguard in his submission to GOD,
a monotheist who never worshiped idols.

121. Because he was appreciative of His Lord's blessings,
He chose him and guided him in a straight path.

122. We granted him happiness in this life, and in the Hereafter
he will be with the righteous.

Muhammad: A Follower of Abraham*

123. Then we inspired you (Muhammad)
to follow the religion of Abraham,*
the monotheist; he never was
an idol worshiper.

The Sabbath Abrogated

124. The Sabbath was decreed only
for those who ended up disputing
it (Jews & Christians). Your
Lord is the One who will judge
them on the Day of Resurrection
regarding their disputes.

How to Spread God 's Message

125. You shall invite to the path of your
Lord with wisdom and kind en-
lightenment, and debate with them
in the best possible manner. Your
Lord knows best who has strayed
from His path, and He knows best
who are the guided ones.

126. And if you punish, you shall inflict an equivalent punishment.
But if you resort to patience (instead of revenge),
it would be better for the patient ones.

127. You shall resort to patience--and your patience is
attainable only with GOD's help. Do not grieve over them,
and do not be annoyed by their schemes.

128. GOD is with those who lead a righteous life, and those who are charitable.

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*16:123 This informs us that all religious practices, which came to us through Abraham, were intact at the time of Muhammad (see 22:78 and Appendix 9)
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