حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَتَوْا۟ عَلَىٰ وَادِ ٱلنَّمْلِ قَالَتْ نَمْلَةٌ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّمْلُ ٱدْخُلُوا۟ مَسَـٰكِنَكُمْ لَا يَحْطِمَنَّكُمْ سُلَيْمَـٰنُ وَجُنُودُهُۥ وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ 18
Translations
Until, when they came upon the valley of the ants, an ant said, "O ants, enter your dwellings that you not be crushed by Solomon and his soldiers while they perceive not."
Transliteration
Hattā idhā ataw ʿalā wādī an-naml qālat namlah yā ayyuhā an-naml udkhulū masākinakum lā yaḥṭimannah-kum Sulaymān wa junūduh-ū wa hum lā yashaʿurūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
When Prophet Solomon and his army of jinn, humans, and birds marched through the valley of ants, a female ant warned her colony to retreat into their dwellings lest Solomon's army crush them unknowingly. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize this as a manifestation of Solomon's extraordinary abilities granted by Allah—his understanding of animal speech—and his humility, as he smiled with amusement at the ant's warning rather than with arrogance. The ayah demonstrates divine wisdom in bestowing knowledge and power upon the righteous, while also illustrating the delicate balance of creation and the duty to protect even the smallest creatures.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the narrative of Surah An-Naml, which recounts the story of Prophet Solomon's journey and his unique gifts. The surah was revealed in Mecca and focuses on Solomon's reign, his miraculous understanding of animal speech, and his moral leadership. This particular scene serves as evidence of Solomon's supernatural abilities and his just governance over all creation.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly addresses this specific incident, the Quran itself (27:16) contains Solomon's statement: 'This is from the favor of my Lord to test me whether I will be grateful or ungrateful.' Additionally, hadiths in Sahih Bukhari emphasize mercy toward animals, reflecting the underlying principle of this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that true power and knowledge should be wielded with humility and compassion toward all living beings, and that even the smallest creature's warning deserves respect. It reminds modern leaders and individuals that authority comes with responsibility to protect the vulnerable and that gratitude to Allah for our blessings is essential.
Related Ayahs
قَالَ ٱلَّذِى عِندَهُۥ عِلْمٌ مِّنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ أَنَا۠ ءَاتِيكَ بِهِۦ قَبْلَ أَن يَرْتَدَّ إِلَيْكَ طَرْفُكَ ۚ فَلَمَّا رَءَاهُ مُسْتَقِرًّا عِندَهُۥ قَالَ هَـٰذَا مِن فَضْلِ رَبِّى لِيَبْلُوَنِىٓ ءَأَشْكُرُ أَمْ أَكْفُرُ ۖ وَمَن شَكَرَ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ رَبِّى غَنِىٌّ كَرِيمٌ
Said one who had knowledge from the Scripture, "I will bring it to you before your glance returns to you." And when [Solomon] saw it placed before him, he said, "This is from the favor of my Lord to test me whether I will be grateful or ungrateful. And whoever is grateful - his gratitude is only for [the benefit of] himself. And whoever is ungrateful - then indeed, my Lord is Free of need and Generous."
إِنَّكَ لَا تُسْمِعُ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ وَلَا تُسْمِعُ ٱلصُّمَّ ٱلدُّعَآءَ إِذَا وَلَّوْا۟ مُدْبِرِينَ
Indeed, you will not make the dead hear, nor will you make the deaf hear the call when they have turned their backs retreating.
قَالَ نَكِّرُوا۟ لَهَا عَرْشَهَا نَنظُرْ أَتَهْتَدِىٓ أَمْ تَكُونُ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَهْتَدُونَ
He said, "Disguise for her her throne; we will see whether she will be guided [to truth] or will be of those who is not guided."
فَلَمَّا جَآءَهَا نُودِىَ أَنۢ بُورِكَ مَن فِى ٱلنَّارِ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهَا وَسُبْحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
But when he came to it, he was called, "Blessed is whoever is at the fire and whoever is around it. And exalted is Allāh, Lord of the worlds.