النحل
The Bee
Explanations are simplified from tafsirs by Ibn Kathir, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know.
walaw yuākhidhu l-lahu l-nāsa biẓul'mihim mā taraka ʿalayhā min dābbatin walākin yu-akhiruhum ilā ajalin musamman fa-idhā jāa ajaluhum lā yastakhirūna sāʿatan walā yastaqdimūna
And if Allāh were to impose blame on the people for their wrongdoing, He would not have left upon it [i.e., the earth] any creature, but He defers them for a specified term. And when their term has come, they will not remain behind an hour, nor will they precede [it].
wayajʿalūna lillahi mā yakrahūna wataṣifu alsinatuhumu l-kadhiba anna lahumu l-ḥus'nā lā jarama anna lahumu l-nāra wa-annahum muf'raṭūna
And they attribute to Allāh that which they dislike [i.e., daughters], and their tongues assert the lie that they will have the best [from Him]. Assuredly, they will have the Fire, and they will be [therein] neglected.
tal-lahi laqad arsalnā ilā umamin min qablika fazayyana lahumu l-shayṭānu aʿmālahum fahuwa waliyyuhumu l-yawma walahum ʿadhābun alīmun
By Allāh, We did certainly send [messengers] to nations before you, but Satan made their deeds attractive to them. And he is their [i.e., the disbelievers] ally today [as well], and they will have a painful punishment.
wamā anzalnā ʿalayka l-kitāba illā litubayyina lahumu alladhī ikh'talafū fīhi wahudan waraḥmatan liqawmin yu'minūna
And We have not revealed to you the Book, [O Muḥammad], except for you to make clear to them that wherein they have differed and as guidance and mercy for a people who believe.
wal-lahu anzala mina l-samāi māan fa-aḥyā bihi l-arḍa baʿda mawtihā inna fī dhālika laāyatan liqawmin yasmaʿūna
And Allāh has sent down rain from the sky and given life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who listen.
wa-inna lakum fī l-anʿāmi laʿib'ratan nus'qīkum mimmā fī buṭūnihi min bayni farthin wadamin labanan khāliṣan sāighan lilshāribīna
And indeed, for you in grazing livestock is a lesson. We give you drink from what is in their bellies - between excretion and blood - pure milk, palatable to drinkers.
wamin thamarāti l-nakhīli wal-aʿnābi tattakhidhūna min'hu sakaran wariz'qan ḥasanan inna fī dhālika laāyatan liqawmin yaʿqilūna
And from the fruits of the palm trees and grapevines you take intoxicant and good provision. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who reason.
wa-awḥā rabbuka ilā l-naḥli ani ittakhidhī mina l-jibāli buyūtan wamina l-shajari wamimmā yaʿrishūna
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.
thumma kulī min kulli l-thamarāti fa-us'lukī subula rabbiki dhululan yakhruju min buṭūnihā sharābun mukh'talifun alwānuhu fīhi shifāon lilnnāsi inna fī dhālika laāyatan liqawmin yatafakkarūna
Then eat from all the fruits and follow the ways of your Lord laid down [for you]." There emerges from their bellies a drink, varying in colors, in which there is healing for people. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who give thought.
wal-lahu khalaqakum thumma yatawaffākum waminkum man yuraddu ilā ardhali l-ʿumuri likay lā yaʿlama baʿda ʿil'min shayan inna l-laha ʿalīmun qadīrun
And Allāh created you; then He will take you in death. And among you is he who is reversed to the most decrepit [old] age so that he will not know, after [having had] knowledge, a thing. Indeed, Allāh is Knowing and Competent.
wal-lahu faḍḍala baʿḍakum ʿalā baʿḍin fī l-riz'qi famā alladhīna fuḍḍilū birāddī riz'qihim ʿalā mā malakat aymānuhum fahum fīhi sawāon afabiniʿ'mati l-lahi yajḥadūna
And Allāh has favored some of you over others in provision. But those who were favored [i.e., given more] would not hand over their provision to those whom their right hands possess [i.e., slaves] so they would be equal to them therein. Then is it the favor of Allāh they reject?
wal-lahu jaʿala lakum min anfusikum azwājan wajaʿala lakum min azwājikum banīna waḥafadatan warazaqakum mina l-ṭayibāti afabil-bāṭili yu'minūna wabiniʿ'mati l-lahi hum yakfurūna
And Allāh has made for you from yourselves mates and has made for you from your mates sons and grandchildren and has provided for you from the good things. Then in falsehood do they believe and in the favor of Allāh they disbelieve?
wayaʿbudūna min dūni l-lahi mā lā yamliku lahum riz'qan mina l-samāwāti wal-arḍi shayan walā yastaṭīʿūna
And they worship besides Allāh that which does not possess for them [the power of] provision from the heavens and the earth at all, and [in fact], they are unable.
falā taḍribū lillahi l-amthāla inna l-laha yaʿlamu wa-antum lā taʿlamūna
So do not assert similarities to Allāh. Indeed, Allāh knows and you do not know.
ḍaraba l-lahu mathalan ʿabdan mamlūkan lā yaqdiru ʿalā shayin waman razaqnāhu minnā riz'qan ḥasanan fahuwa yunfiqu min'hu sirran wajahran hal yastawūna l-ḥamdu lillahi bal aktharuhum lā yaʿlamūna
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.
waḍaraba l-lahu mathalan rajulayni aḥaduhumā abkamu lā yaqdiru ʿalā shayin wahuwa kallun ʿalā mawlāhu aynamā yuwajjihhu lā yati bikhayrin hal yastawī huwa waman yamuru bil-ʿadli wahuwa ʿalā ṣirāṭin mus'taqīmin
And Allāh presents an example of two men, one of them dumb and unable to do a thing, while he is a burden to his guardian. Wherever he directs him, he brings no good. Is he equal to one who commands justice, while he is on a straight path?
walillahi ghaybu l-samāwāti wal-arḍi wamā amru l-sāʿati illā kalamḥi l-baṣari aw huwa aqrabu inna l-laha ʿalā kulli shayin qadīrun
And to Allāh belongs the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and the earth. And the command for the Hour is not but as a glance of the eye or even nearer. Indeed, Allāh is over all things competent.
wal-lahu akhrajakum min buṭūni ummahātikum lā taʿlamūna shayan wajaʿala lakumu l-samʿa wal-abṣāra wal-afidata laʿallakum tashkurūna
And Allāh has extracted you from the wombs of your mothers not knowing a thing, and He made for you hearing and vision and hearts [i.e., intellect] that perhaps you would be grateful.
alam yaraw ilā l-ṭayri musakharātin fī jawwi l-samāi mā yum'sikuhunna illā l-lahu inna fī dhālika laāyātin liqawmin yu'minūna
Do they not see the birds controlled in the atmosphere of the sky? None holds them up except Allāh. Indeed in that are signs for a people who believe.
wal-lahu jaʿala lakum min buyūtikum sakanan wajaʿala lakum min julūdi l-anʿāmi buyūtan tastakhiffūnahā yawma ẓaʿnikum wayawma iqāmatikum wamin aṣwāfihā wa-awbārihā wa-ashʿārihā athāthan wamatāʿan ilā ḥīnin
And Allāh has made for you from your homes a place of rest and made for you from the hides of the animals tents which you find light on your day of travel and your day of encampment; and from their wool, fur and hair is furnishing and enjoyment [i.e., provision] for a time.