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
أَمَّنْ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَأَنزَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَأَنۢبَتْنَا بِهِۦ حَدَآئِقَ ذَاتَ بَهْجَةٍ مَّا كَانَ لَكُمْ أَن تُنۢبِتُوا۟ شَجَرَهَآ ۗ أَءِلَـٰهٌ مَّعَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ يَعْدِلُونَ
[More precisely], is He [not best] who created the heavens and the earth and sent down for you rain from the sky, causing to grow thereby gardens of joyful beauty which you could not [otherwise] have grown the trees thereof? Is there a deity with Allāh? [No], but they are a people who ascribe equals [to Him].
قَالُوا۟ تَقَاسَمُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ لَنُبَيِّتَنَّهُۥ وَأَهْلَهُۥ ثُمَّ لَنَقُولَنَّ لِوَلِيِّهِۦ مَا شَهِدْنَا مَهْلِكَ أَهْلِهِۦ وَإِنَّا لَصَـٰدِقُونَ
They said, "Take a mutual oath by Allāh that we will kill him by night, he and his family. Then we will say to his executor, 'We did not witness the destruction of his family, and indeed, we are truthful.'"
حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُو قَالَ أَكَذَّبْتُم بِـَٔايَـٰتِى وَلَمْ تُحِيطُوا۟ بِهَا عِلْمًا أَمَّاذَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
Until, when they arrive [at the place of Judgement], He will say, "Did you deny My signs while you encompassed them not in knowledge, or what [was it that] you were doing?"
فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَى ٱلْحَقِّ ٱلْمُبِينِ
So rely upon Allāh; indeed, you are upon the clear truth.