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 11 contains Āyāt / Parts 7
  • Siparah/ Volume 14

bismillah

وَلِلّهِ غَيْبُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَا أَمْرُ السَّاعَةِ إِلاَّ كَلَمْحِ الْبَصَرِ أَوْ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ إِنَّ اللّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

Walillahi ghaybu a(l)ssamawati wa(a)lardi wama amru a(l)ssaAAati illa kalamhi albasari aw huwa aqrabu inna Allaha AAala kulli shayin qadeer(un)

Allah-SWT's is the Unseen of the heavens and the earth, and the affair of the Hour will be not but as a flash of the eye. Or it is even nearer, verily Allaah-SWT is over everything Potent.

(16:77)

وَاللّهُ أَخْرَجَكُم مِّن بُطُونِ أُمَّهَاتِكُمْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ شَيْئًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْسَّمْعَ وَالأَبْصَارَ وَالأَفْئِدَةَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

Wa(A)llahu akhrajakum min butooni ommahatikum la taAAlamoona shayan wajaAAala lakumu a(l)ssamAAa wa(a)labsara wa(a)lafidata laAAallakum tashkuroon(a)

And Allaah-SWT has brought you forth from the bellies of your mothers while you know not anything, and He-SWT appointed for you hearing and sight and hearts that perchance you might give thanks.

(16:78)

أَلَمْ يَرَوْاْ إِلَى الطَّيْرِ مُسَخَّرَاتٍ فِي جَوِّ السَّمَاء مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ إِلاَّ اللّهُ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ

Alam yaraw ila a(l)ttayri musakhkharatin fee jawwi a(l)ssamai ma yumsikuhunna illaAllahu inna fee thalika laayatin liqawmin yuminoon(a)

Do they not see the birds subjected in the firmament of the heaven? None supports them save Allah-SWT; verily there are Signs in that for a people who believe.

(16:79)

وَاللّهُ جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّن بُيُوتِكُمْ سَكَنًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُم مِّن جُلُودِ الأَنْعَامِ بُيُوتًا تَسْتَخِفُّونَهَا يَوْمَ ظَعْنِكُمْ وَيَوْمَ إِقَامَتِكُمْ وَمِنْ أَصْوَافِهَا وَأَوْبَارِهَا وَأَشْعَارِهَا أَثَاثًا وَمَتَاعًا إِلَى حِينٍ

Wa(A)llahu jaAAala lakum min buyootikum sakanan wajaAAala lakum min juloodi alanAAami buyootan tastakhiffoonaha yawma thaAAnikum wayawma iqamatikum wamin aswafiha waawbariha waashAAariha athathan wamataAAan ila heen(in)

Allah-SWT has made for you from your houses a repose, and He-SWT has made for you from the skins of your cattle houses which you find light on the day of your flitting and on the day of your stopping, and from their wools and their furs and their hair a furnishing and an enjoyment for a season.

(16:80)

وَاللّهُ جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّمَّا خَلَقَ ظِلاَلاً وَجَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ الْجِبَالِ أَكْنَانًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمْ سَرَابِيلَ تَقِيكُمُ الْحَرَّ وَسَرَابِيلَ تَقِيكُم بَأْسَكُمْ كَذَلِكَ يُتِمُّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُسْلِمُونَ

Wa(A)llahu jaAAala lakum mimma khalaqa thilalan wajaAAala lakum mina aljibali aknanan wajaAAala lakum sarabeela taqeekumu alharra wasarabeela taqeekum basakum kathalika yutimmu niAAmatahu AAalaykum laAAallakum tuslimoon(a)

 

And Allaah-SWT has made for you of what He-SWT has created shades; and He-SWT has made for you from the mountains places of retreat, and He-SWT has made for you coats protecting you from the heat and coats protecting from the violence. Thus He-SWT perfects His-SWT Favour on you that perhaps you may submit.

(16:81)

فَإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ الْبَلاَغُ الْمُبِينُ

Fain tawallaw fainnama AAalayka albalaghu almubeen(u)

 

Then if they turn away from you-SW, on you-SW is only a plain preaching.

(16:82)

يَعْرِفُونَ نِعْمَتَ اللّهِ ثُمَّ يُنكِرُونَهَا وَأَكْثَرُهُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ

YaAArifoona niAAmata Allahi thumma yunkiroonaha waaktharuhumu alkafiroon(a)

They recognize the Favour of Allah-SWT, yet they deny it, and most of them are infidels.

(16:83)

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

Human estimation and planning, based on which people imagine Allaah-SWT to be like them and argue about Him-SWT , carry no importance at all. The Knowledge of the Unseen is only with Allaah-SWT and it is He-SWT Alone Who-SWT knows what is there in-store for tomorrow. No human being can predict what can befall him the very next moment. So the only reasonable thing for a human being to do is obedience because he does not know when the Hour may strike, when everything is shacked up and the Day of Judgement is established. Allaah-SWT certainly Knows when it is going to be. Rather, it is He-SWT Who-SWT will cause it and He-SWT certainly is Omnipotent. Therefore, following His-SWT instructions and planning for the future within the framework of His-SWT‘s obedience is the most appropriate thing to do.

The extent of human knowledge is so limited that when Allaah-SWT brought him to this world from his mother's womb, he was completely ignorant of everything. He knew nothing about his food or clothing. He was completely incapable of discriminating between right and wrong; he had no knowledge whatsoever. Allaah-SWT blessed him with senses which gradually turned more and more refined with the passage time, and man began to acquire knowledge. The primary source of this acquisition is the sense of hearing. Seeing is the second major source, as a person collects information primarily through hearing, while the opportunity to witness everything is comparatively less.

 

The Centre of Knowledge is Qalb

And Allaah-SWT made Qalb the seat of knowledge so that people may be grateful to Him-SWT and remember His-SWT Blessings and Favours. The philosophers take brain as the centre of knowledge, which is not correct. The brain is only a data-collector and is thus the seat of information. And information can never become a person's state of being, rather, he sells it whenever it suits him. For instance, take a doctor, a lawyer or a judge. If it is only their mind that possess information about their respective fields, they will only apply this information to seek material gains by hook or by crook. They will fail to honour their duties, as the information they possess is only mental having no influence on their hearts. However, if their hearts are reformed and their professional knowledge becomes a state of their hearts, a doctor will be more concerned for his patient's well being, without caring much about his fee. A lawyer will work harder and a judge will try his best to provide justice, as this would give his heart a satisfaction. It must be remembered that the spiritual invigoration of the heart begins with Divine Revelation, which is dispensed only by a Prophet-AS .So it is only a believer's heart which is enlightened to accept the knowledge. A non believer is deprived of this blessing altogether. That is the reason why the entire non believing society thrives on exploiting the helpless. Interest, gambling and hoarding are all ways of plundering the poor. Blinded by petty vested interests, they do not even hesitate to drive humanity into the flames of war. Rising above their propaganda if only one could take a closer look, it would reveal their true face. And as for the believers, when the light of faith diminishes in them, their hearts no longer retain the ability to become the seat of knowledge. Rather, such depraved hearts manipulate the information that the brain possesses to take undue advantage and fulfil its desires.

Just look at the birds in flight as they cut through the bosom of winds. Their material and solid bodies float on air due to the Omnipotence of the Almighty. There is no one except Him-SWT to hold these birds. The proportionate making of their bodies and wings, instilling in them the sense to take off and land, making the atmosphere conducive for their flights, and many more evidences to Allaah-SWT ’s Omnipotence are present in these birds. However, to perceive it, one requires the light of faith.

 

Home can become a source of Comfort only through Obedience

Allah-SWT , the Almighty made homes, a source of comfort for people, where they find peace against the troubles of the world. The family and the lawful earnings become a source of inner tranquillity. This Ayah indicates that for a non believer or a disobedient even palatial homes provide no comfort, rather add to the troubles. That is why the ratio of suicides is very high in the infidel society, despite their houses being equipped with every possible material comfort. And Allaah-SWT has made the hides, furs and wool of animal a source of comfort for mankind. From these they make many items of common use like costumes, tents, shoes and many more things to serve and benefit them in life.

 

Deduction

This Ayah proves that it is permitted to use animal hides, furs and hair etc, whether the animal is Halal or Haram, slaughtered or a carrion, the fur and hair are in any case permissible, as well as the hide after tanning, save the hog.

Out of Mercy, Allaah-SWT has given a shadow to everything, as a source of comfort for human beings. The hillsides of lofty mountains provide shelter while clothing protects them from the effects of weather. He-SWT taught man to make armours to protect his body in the battlefield. How far can one count His-SWT Blessings! Certainly such an endless list of favours calls for His-SWT obedience. Nevertheless, if people still choose to disobey Allah-SWT, it is upto them. The Holy Prophet-SW is only tasked to convey the Divine Message clearly to them. They thoroughly recognize these favours as they utilize them round the clock but even then refuse to acknowledge His-SWT Grace. And the majority of them appear to be suffering from the curse of disbelief.

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