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
أَمْوَٰتٌ غَيْرُ أَحْيَآءٍ ۖ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ أَيَّانَ يُبْعَثُونَ
They are [in fact] dead, not alive, and they do not perceive when they will be resurrected.
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُّوحِىٓ إِلَيْهِمْ ۚ فَسْـَٔلُوٓا۟ أَهْلَ ٱلذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
And We sent not before you except men to whom We revealed [Our message]. So ask the people of the message [i.e., former scriptures] if you do not know.
وَيَوْمَ نَبْعَثُ فِى كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ شَهِيدًا عَلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ وَجِئْنَا بِكَ شَهِيدًا عَلَىٰ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ ۚ وَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ تِبْيَـٰنًا لِّكُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ
And [mention] the Day when We will resurrect among every nation a witness over them from themselves [i.e., their prophet]. And We will bring you, [O Muḥammad], as a witness over these [i.e., your nation]. And We have sent down to you the Book as clarification for all things and as guidance and mercy and good tidings for the Muslims.
۞ ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا عَبْدًا مَّمْلُوكًا لَّا يَقْدِرُ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍ وَمَن رَّزَقْنَـٰهُ مِنَّا رِزْقًا حَسَنًا فَهُوَ يُنفِقُ مِنْهُ سِرًّا وَجَهْرًا ۖ هَلْ يَسْتَوُۥنَ ۚ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Allāh presents an example: a slave [who is] owned and unable to do a thing and he to whom We have provided from Us good provision, so he spends from it secretly and publicly. Can they be equal? Praise to Allāh! But most of them do not know.