وَأَوْحَىٰ رَبُّكَ إِلَى ٱلنَّحْلِ أَنِ ٱتَّخِذِى مِنَ ٱلْجِبَالِ بُيُوتًا وَمِنَ ٱلشَّجَرِ وَمِمَّا يَعْرِشُونَ 68
Translations
And your Lord inspired to the bee, "Take for yourself among the mountains, houses [i.e., hives], and among the trees and [in] that which they construct.
Transliteration
Wa awha rabbuka ila an-nahl an ittakhidhi min al-jibal buyutan wa min ash-shajar wa mimma ya'rishun
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah has inspired the bee to build its dwellings in mountains, trees, and human structures (trellises), revealing divine guidance embedded within creation itself. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this ayah demonstrates Allah's perfect wisdom in instilling natural knowledge and architectural skill into the bee without explicit teaching, exemplifying the innate divine guidance (hidayah) granted to all creatures. The word 'awha' (inspired/revealed) indicates that this ability is a divinely-granted instinct, not learned behavior, showcasing the Creator's profound knowledge of His creation.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Nahl (The Bee), a Meccan surah that extensively discusses signs of Allah's creation and wisdom. The surah takes its name from this ayah and serves as a comprehensive exposition on the bee's miraculous nature as evidence of divine design and creation. The context emphasizes how even small creatures are guided by Allah, reinforcing monotheistic belief among the Meccan audience.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'In the bee is a lesson for you' (though this is paraphrased wisdom rather than a formally transmitted hadith). Related is the hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah about the Prophet's regard for beneficial creatures and the prohibition against harming them unnecessarily.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that divine wisdom and guidance permeate all of creation, even the smallest creatures, encouraging us to observe nature as a source of spiritual reflection and recognition of Allah's perfect design. It teaches us to respect and appreciate the intricate systems Allah has placed in creation and to recognize that true knowledge and skill ultimately derive from divine inspiration.
Related Ayahs
وَمَآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ إِلَّا لِتُبَيِّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلَّذِى ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِيهِ ۙ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
And We have not revealed to you the Book, [O Muḥammad], except for you to make clear to them that wherein they have differed and as guidance and mercy for a people who believe.
وَٱللَّهُ فَضَّلَ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ فِى ٱلرِّزْقِ ۚ فَمَا ٱلَّذِينَ فُضِّلُوا۟ بِرَآدِّى رِزْقِهِمْ عَلَىٰ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُهُمْ فَهُمْ فِيهِ سَوَآءٌ ۚ أَفَبِنِعْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ يَجْحَدُونَ
And Allāh has favored some of you over others in provision. But those who were favored [i.e., given more] would not hand over their provision to those whom their right hands possess [i.e., slaves] so they would be equal to them therein. Then is it the favor of Allāh they reject?
وَٱللَّهُ جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَٰجًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَزْوَٰجِكُم بَنِينَ وَحَفَدَةً وَرَزَقَكُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ ۚ أَفَبِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ يُؤْمِنُونَ وَبِنِعْمَتِ ٱللَّهِ هُمْ يَكْفُرُونَ
And Allāh has made for you from yourselves mates and has made for you from your mates sons and grandchildren and has provided for you from the good things. Then in falsehood do they believe and in the favor of Allāh they disbelieve?
وَإِذَا رَءَا ٱلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا۟ شُرَكَآءَهُمْ قَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَا هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ شُرَكَآؤُنَا ٱلَّذِينَ كُنَّا نَدْعُوا۟ مِن دُونِكَ ۖ فَأَلْقَوْا۟ إِلَيْهِمُ ٱلْقَوْلَ إِنَّكُمْ لَكَـٰذِبُونَ
And when those who associated others with Allāh see their "partners," they will say, "Our Lord, these are our partners [to You] whom we used to invoke [in worship] besides You." But they will throw at them the statement, "Indeed, you are liars."