سورة النحل   

Surah Name: An-Nahl Meaning: The Bee

  • Revealed at Makkah
  • This Surah, also revealed in Makkah, carries on the discussion initiated in the preceding Surah, extending it to the evidence or the inevitability of the Day of Judgement. It also presents the various creations of Allah-SWT as testimony to His-SWT Unity: amongst them the honeybee has been especially mentioned. This is why the Surah is named An-Nahl.
  • Total Number of Rukū / Sections 16
  • Total Number of Āyāt / Parts 128
  • Sūrah / Chapter number 16
  • Rukū / Section 7 contains Āyāt / Parts 10
  • Siparah/ Volume 14

bismillah

وَقَالَ اللّهُ لاَ تَتَّخِذُواْ إِلـهَيْنِ اثْنَيْنِ إِنَّمَا هُوَ إِلهٌ وَاحِدٌ فَإيَّايَ فَارْهَبُونِ

Waqala Allahu la tattakhithoo ilahayni ithnayni innama huwa ilahun wahidun faiyyaya fa(i)rhaboon(i)

Allah-SWT has said: take not you to two gods; He-SWT is Only one Rabb-SWT . So dread Me-SWT , Me-SWT Alone.

(16:51)

وَلَهُ مَا فِي الْسَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَلَهُ الدِّينُ وَاصِبًا أَفَغَيْرَ اللّهِ تَتَّقُونَ

Walahu ma fee a(l)ssamawati wa(a)lardi walahu a(l)ddeenu wasiban afaghayra Allahi tattaqoon(a)

His-SWT is whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth, and unto Him-SWT obedience is due perpetually; will you then fear any other than Allaah-SWT ?

(16:52)

وَمَا بِكُم مِّن نِّعْمَةٍ فَمِنَ اللّهِ ثُمَّ إِذَا مَسَّكُمُ الضُّرُّ فَإِلَيْهِ تَجْأَرُونَ

Wama bikum min niAAmatin famina Allahi thumma itha massakumu a(l)ddurru failayhi tajaroon(a)

And whatsoever of favours is with you is from Allah-SWT; then when distress afflicts you, to Him-SWT you cry out.

(16:53)

ثُمَّ إِذَا كَشَفَ الضُّرَّ عَنكُمْ إِذَا فَرِيقٌ مِّنكُم بِرَبِّهِمْ يُشْرِكُونَ

Thumma itha kashafa a(l)ddurra AAankum itha fareequn minkum birabbihim yushrikoon(a)

Then when He-SWT removes the distress from you, forthwith a party of you associates others with their Rabb-SWT .

(16:54)

لِيَكْفُرُواْ بِمَا آتَيْنَاهُمْ فَتَمَتَّعُواْ فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ

Liyakfuroo bima ataynahum fatamattaAAoo fasawfa taAAlamoon(a)

That they may show ingratitude for what We-SWT have bestowed upon them. Enjoy then, presently you shall know.

(16:55)

وَيَجْعَلُونَ لِمَا لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ نَصِيبًا مِّمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ تَاللّهِ لَتُسْأَلُنَّ عَمَّا كُنتُمْ تَفْتَرُونَ

WayajAAaloona lima la yaAAlamoona naseeban mimma razaqnahum ta(A)llahi latusalunna AAamma kuntum taftaroon(a)

And they appoint for what they know not a portion of what We-SWT have provided them. By Allaah-SWT ! You shall surely be questioned regarding what you have been fabricating.

(16:56)

وَيَجْعَلُونَ لِلّهِ الْبَنَاتِ سُبْحَانَهُ وَلَهُم مَّا يَشْتَهُونَ

WayajAAaloona lillahi albanati subhanahu walahum ma yashtahoon(a)

And they appoint for Allaah-SWT daughters-Hallowed be He-SWT ! And for themselves what they desire.

(16:57)

وَإِذَا بُشِّرَ أَحَدُهُمْ بِالأُنثَى ظَلَّ وَجْهُهُ مُسْوَدًّا وَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ

Waitha bushshira ahaduhum bi(a)lontha thalla wajhuhu muswaddan wahuwa katheem(un)

And when there is announced unto any of them a female, his face remains darkened the whole day and is wroth inwardly.

(16:58)

يَتَوَارَى مِنَ الْقَوْمِ مِن سُوءِ مَا بُشِّرَ بِهِ أَيُمْسِكُهُ عَلَى هُونٍ أَمْ يَدُسُّهُ فِي التُّرَابِ أَلاَ سَاء مَا يَحْكُمُونَ

Yatawara mina alqawmi min sooi ma bushshira bihi ayumsikuhu AAala hoonin am yadussuhu fee a(l)tturabi ala saa ma yahkumoon(a)

Sulking from the people because of the evil of what has been announced unto him: shall he keep it with ignominy or bury it in the dust? Lo! Vile is what they judge!

(16:59)

لِلَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالآخِرَةِ مَثَلُ السَّوْءِ وَلِلّهِ الْمَثَلُ الأَعْلَىَ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ

Lillatheena la yuminoona bi(a)lakhirati mathalu a(l)ssawi walillahi almathalu alaAAlawahuwa alAAazeezu alhakeem(u)

For those who are disbelievers in the Akhirah is an evil similitude. And for Allaah-SWT is the sublime similitude, and He-SWT is the Mighty, the Wise.

(16:60)

In The Name of Allah-SWT the Most Gracious, The Most Merciful
SECRETS OF REVELATION:

Allah-SWT warns not to take other gods besides Him-SWT as He-SWT Alone deserves to be worshipped and feared. The obedience pledged to anyone in defiance of His-SWT Commands in the hope of gaining something or out of fear tantamounts to worship; even if such focus of hopes is not called god. To Him-SWT belongs all that lies within the heavens and the earth, He-SWT creates all the causes, some of which are attributed to others than Him-SWT . At times people entirely rely upon causes.

Both these attitudes are incorrect. Rather, a constant and devoted worship and an unconditional obedience of Allaah-SWT is the right course of action. It is certainly not correct to believe in Allaah-SWT and at the same time obey others out of fear. What is there to be afraid of when He-SWT is the Bestower of all blessings. It is human nature that whenever distress grips man it is before Allaah-SWT Alone that he wails and cries; but when Allaah-SWT alleviates the hardship he attributes his relief and shows his gratitude to others than Allah-SWT, considering them as partners with Him-SWT . Such attitude blatantly denies Allah-SWT's Generosity and Munificence. However, let such ingrates enjoy this temporal life for a few days. They will soon find out the extent of their transgression.

Allah-SWT vows by His-SWT Magnificence to reprise all those who assign portions from the wealth given by Allaah-SWT to deities, which are no more than myths and suppositions. These people senselessly say that the angels are Allah-SWT's daughters, whereas He-SWT is far too exalted and free of such needs. Ironically they do not prefer daughters for themselves and wish to have only sons. Whenever a polytheist finds out that a daughter is born to his wife, his face becomes grim with sorrow, so much so that he avoids confronting people considering it a matter of disgrace. He weighs the options whether to let her live, or to buy her alive to avoid the slur of being father of a daughter .This indeed is an evil decision as it challenges His-SWT Creativity. Even todate people who are issueless are desperate and those with daughters consider themselves to be in great turmoil. They forget that they too were given birth by a woman who was also someone's daughter. It is Allah-SWT's Decree and Will to create however it pleases Him-SWT . Certainly there is no harm in wishing for a son, but to consider a daughter as inferior or a burden is indeed a grave sin. Rather Allah-SWT promises Jannah for the upbringing of daughters. This negative attitude towards daughters is only displayed by those who do not believe in the Akhirah, and they are indeed in an extremely sorry state. And all Glory and Magnificence belongs to Allah-SWT, Who-SWT is Mighty and Prevailing, as well as the Wisest. He-SWT may give daughters, sons or both to whoever He-SWT Pleases. He-SWT may also keep some issueless, for none of His-SWT actions are without wisdom. Whatever He-SWT creates and wherever He places it is always in keeping with His-SWT Prudence.

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