Bees
An-Naḥl
النَّحل
Surah An-Naḥl for kids content
FALSE ARGUMENT
35The idol-worshippers argue, 'If Allah wanted, neither we or our fathers would have worshipped anything other than Him or prohibited anything without His permission.
' Those before them said the same thing.
But what else can the mes-sengers do other than delivering 'the 'message' clearly?
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَشۡرَكُواْ لَوۡ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا عَبَدۡنَا مِن دُونِهِۦ مِن شَيۡءٖ نَّحۡنُ وَلَآ ءَابَآؤُنَا وَلَا حَرَّمۡنَا مِن دُونِهِۦ مِن شَيۡءٖۚ كَذَٰلِكَ فَعَلَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡۚ فَهَلۡ عَلَى ٱلرُّسُلِ إِلَّا ٱلۡبَلَٰغُ ٱلۡمُبِينُ35
SAME FATE
36We surely sent a messenger to ev-ery community, saying, 'Worship Allah and avoid false gods.
' But some of them were guided by Allah, while others were doomed to stray.
So travel throughout the land and see the fate of the deniers!
37Even though you O Prophet' try hard to guide them, Allah does not guide those He leaves to stray, and they will have no helpers.
وَلَقَدۡ بَعَثۡنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٖ رَّسُولًا أَنِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱجۡتَنِبُواْ ٱلطَّٰغُوتَۖ فَمِنۡهُم مَّنۡ هَدَى ٱللَّهُ وَمِنۡهُم مَّنۡ حَقَّتۡ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلضَّلَٰلَةُۚ فَسِيرُواْ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَٱنظُرُواْ كَيۡفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِينَ36
إِن تَحۡرِصۡ عَلَىٰ هُدَىٰهُمۡ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهۡدِي مَن يُضِلُّۖ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن نَّٰصِرِينَ37
LIFE AFTER DEATH
38They swear by Allah their strongest oaths that Allah will never bring the dead back to life.
He will indeed!
It is a true promise that He will keep, but most people do not know.
39'He will do that' to make them realize the truth of what they disagreed about, and for the disbe-lievers to know that they were lying,
40If We ever want something to exist, all We say is: 'Be!
' And it is!
وَأَقۡسَمُواْ بِٱللَّهِ جَهۡدَ أَيۡمَٰنِهِمۡ لَا يَبۡعَثُ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَمُوتُۚ بَلَىٰ وَعۡدًا عَلَيۡهِ حَقّٗا وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ38
لِيُبَيِّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلَّذِي يَخۡتَلِفُونَ فِيهِ وَلِيَعۡلَمَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓاْ أَنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ كَٰذِبِينَ39
إِنَّمَا قَوۡلُنَا لِشَيۡءٍ إِذَآ أَرَدۡنَٰهُ أَن نَّقُولَ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ40
REWARD OF THE PATIENT
41As for those who emigrated in the cause of Allah after being abused, We will surely bless them with a good home in this world.
But the reward of the Next Life is far better, if they only knew.
42They are the ones who have been pa-tient and put their trust in their Lord.
وَٱلَّذِينَ هَاجَرُواْ فِي ٱللَّهِ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا ظُلِمُواْ لَنُبَوِّئَنَّهُمۡ فِي ٱلدُّنۡيَا حَسَنَةٗۖ وَلَأَجۡرُ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ أَكۡبَرُۚ لَوۡ كَانُواْ يَعۡلَمُونَ41
ٱلَّذِينَ صَبَرُواْ وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمۡ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ42
MESSENGERS ARE NOT ANGELS
43Even before you 'O Prophet', We sent only men inspired by Us.
If you 'idol-wor-shippers' do not know 'this already', then ask those who have knowledge.
44'We sent them' with clear proofs and holy books.
And We have sent down to you 'O Prophet' the Reminder¹ so that you can explain to people what has been revealed for them, and perhaps they will
reflect.
وَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مِن قَبۡلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالٗا نُّوحِيٓ إِلَيۡهِمۡۖ فَسَۡٔلُوٓاْ أَهۡلَ ٱلذِّكۡرِ إِن كُنتُمۡ لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ43
بِٱلۡبَيِّنَٰتِ وَٱلزُّبُرِۗ وَأَنزَلۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ ٱلذِّكۡرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ44
WARNING TO THE WICKED
45Do those who make evil plans feel se-cure that Allah will not cause the earth to swallow them up?
Or 'do they feel se-cure' that the punishment will not come upon them in ways they can never imag ine?
46Or 'do they feel secure' that He will not strike them while they are busy, and then they will have no escape?
47Or 'do they feel secure' that He will not de-stroy them little by little?
But your Lord is truly Kind and Most Merciful.
أَفَأَمِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ مَكَرُواْ ٱلسَّئَِّاتِ أَن يَخۡسِفَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ أَوۡ يَأۡتِيَهُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ مِنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ45
أَوۡ يَأۡخُذَهُمۡ فِي تَقَلُّبِهِمۡ فَمَا هُم بِمُعۡجِزِينَ46
أَوۡ يَأۡخُذَهُمۡ عَلَىٰ تَخَوُّفٖ فَإِنَّ رَبَّكُمۡ لَرَءُوفٞ رَّحِيمٌ47
EVERYTHING SUBMITS TO ALLAH
48Do they not see the things that Allah has created-how their shadows turn to the right and the left 'as the sun moves, totally submitting to Allah in
all humility?
49All living creatures in the heavens and the earth bow down to Allah,² as do the angels who are not too proud.
50Those angels' fear their Lord above them and do whatever they are commanded.
أَوَ لَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ إِلَىٰ مَا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ مِن شَيۡءٖ يَتَفَيَّؤُاْ ظِلَٰلُهُۥ عَنِ ٱلۡيَمِينِ وَٱلشَّمَآئِلِ سُجَّدٗا لِّلَّهِ وَهُمۡ دَٰخِرُونَ48
وَلِلَّهِۤ يَسۡجُدُۤ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مِن دَآبَّةٖ وَٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ وَهُمۡ لَا يَسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ49
٤٩ يَخَافُونَ رَبَّهُم مِّن فَوۡقِهِمۡ وَيَفۡعَلُونَ مَا يُؤۡمَرُونَ ۩50
WORSHIP ALLAH ALONE
51Allah has ordered, 'Do not take two gods; there is only One God.
I am the One you should honour'
52Whatever is in the heavens and the earth belongs to Him, and sincere obedience should always be to Him.
Will you then fear anyone other than Allah?
وَقَالَ ٱللَّهُ لَا تَتَّخِذُوٓاْ إِلَٰهَيۡنِ ٱثۡنَيۡنِۖ إِنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَٰهٞ وَٰحِدٞ فَإِيَّٰيَ فَٱرۡهَبُونِ51
وَلَهُۥ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَهُ ٱلدِّينُ وَاصِبًاۚ أَفَغَيۡرَ ٱللَّهِ تَتَّقُونَ52
UNGRATEFUL HUMANS
53Whatever blessings you have are from Allah.
Then when something bad hap-pens to you, you cry to Him alone for help'.
54Then as soon as He removes that bad thing from you, a group of you makes others equal to their Lord,
55fail-ing to give thanks for Our favours.
So en-joy yourselves-you will soon see.
وَمَا بِكُم مِّن نِّعۡمَةٖ فَمِنَ ٱللَّهِۖ ثُمَّ إِذَا مَسَّكُمُ ٱلضُّرُّ فَإِلَيۡهِ تَجَۡٔرُونَ53
ثُمَّ إِذَا كَشَفَ ٱلضُّرَّ عَنكُمۡ إِذَا فَرِيقٞ مِّنكُم بِرَبِّهِمۡ يُشۡرِكُونَ54
لِيَكۡفُرُواْ بِمَآ ءَاتَيۡنَٰهُمۡۚ فَتَمَتَّعُواْ فَسَوۡفَ تَعۡلَمُونَ55
OFFERINGS TO THE IDOLS
56And they offer a share of the resourc-es We have given them to those 'idols', which know nothing.
By Allah!
You will definitely be questioned about these lies.
وَيَجۡعَلُونَ لِمَا لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ نَصِيبٗا مِّمَّا رَزَقۡنَٰهُمۡۗ تَٱللَّهِ لَتُسَۡٔلُنَّ عَمَّا كُنتُمۡ تَفۡتَرُونَ56
ALLAH'S DAUGHTERS?
57And they 'even' made up daughters for Allah-glory be to Him!
-the opposite of what they want for themselves.
³
58When-ever one of them is given the 'good' news of a baby girl, his face becomes miserable as he chokes with rage.
59He hides him-self from the people because of the 'bad' news he has received.
Should he keep her in disgrace, or bury her 'alive' in the dirt?
How wrong is their judgment!
⁴
60All evil qualities apply to those who deny the Next Life, whereas the best qualities belong to Allah.
And He is the Almighty and Wise.
وَيَجۡعَلُونَ لِلَّهِ ٱلۡبَنَٰتِ سُبۡحَٰنَهُۥ وَلَهُم مَّا يَشۡتَهُونَ57
وَإِذَا بُشِّرَ أَحَدُهُم بِٱلۡأُنثَىٰ ظَلَّ وَجۡهُهُۥ مُسۡوَدّٗا وَهُوَ كَظِيمٞ58
يَتَوَٰرَىٰ مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ مِن سُوٓءِ مَا بُشِّرَ بِهِۦٓۚ أَيُمۡسِكُهُۥ عَلَىٰ هُونٍ أَمۡ يَدُسُّهُۥ فِي ٱلتُّرَابِۗ أَلَا سَآءَ مَا يَحۡكُمُونَ59
لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ مَثَلُ ٱلسَّوۡءِۖ وَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡمَثَلُ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ60
SIDE STORY
- •
This is a true story that happened in Tunisia in the 1960s.
A young scholar used to go to the market and invite people to the masjid for salah.
Very few people would agree to go with him.
One day, he spoke to about 100 people and only one man came with him to pray.
As soon as the man entered the masjid, worshippers were annoyed because they could smell alcohol from his mouth.
They asked the scholar why he brought such a person into the masjid, and the scholar said he didn't know that the man was drunk.
The Imam gently asked the man to leave and come back the next day when he was fresh, but the man refused and said he really wanted to
pray.
Finally, they let him pray Maghrib with them, but they told him to stand by himself all the way at the back.
After salah was over and some people started to leave, the man was still in sajdah.
The people tried to tell him that salah was over, only to find out that the man had died in sajdah.
Both the Imam and the others started to cry because of Allah's mercy to that man.
- •
According to verse 61, Allah is very Kind and Merciful.
He doesn't punish people immediately if they sin.
Instead, He gives them many chances to repent and turn back to Him.
However, if someone dies without repenting, no second chances will be given on Judgment Day.
FAVOUR 11) ALLOWING TIME FOR REPENTANCE
61If Allah wanted to punish people 'im-mediately' for the wrong they do, He would not have left a single creature on earth.
But He delays them for a set time.
Once their time is over, they cannot delay it for a moment or speed it up.
وَلَوۡ يُؤَاخِذُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّاسَ بِظُلۡمِهِم مَّا تَرَكَ عَلَيۡهَا مِن دَآبَّةٖ وَلَٰكِن يُؤَخِّرُهُمۡ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٖ مُّسَمّٗىۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمۡ لَا يَسۡتَٔۡخِرُونَ سَاعَةٗ وَلَا يَسۡتَقۡدِمُونَ61
EMPTY HOPES
62They say about Allah what they hate 'for themselves yet their tongues dare to say the lie that they will have the best reward.
Without a doubt, all they will have is the Fire, where they will be abandoned.
وَيَجۡعَلُونَ لِلَّهِ مَا يَكۡرَهُونَۚ وَتَصِفُ أَلۡسِنَتُهُمُ ٱلۡكَذِبَ أَنَّ لَهُمُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰۚ لَا جَرَمَ أَنَّ لَهُمُ ٱلنَّارَ وَأَنَّهُم مُّفۡرَطُونَ62
EVIL COMMUNITIES
63By Allah!
We have already sent mes-sengers to communities before you 'O Prophet', but Satan made their misdeeds look good to them.
Now, he is the guard-ian of these 'disbelievers' today, and they will suffer a painful punishment.
64We have revealed to you the Book only to clarify for them what they differed about, and as a guide and mnercy for those who believe.
تَٱللَّهِ لَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أُمَمٖ مِّن قَبۡلِكَ فَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ أَعۡمَٰلَهُمۡ فَهُوَ وَلِيُّهُمُ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيم63
وَمَآ أَنزَلۡنَا عَلَيۡكَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ إِلَّا لِتُبَيِّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلَّذِي ٱخۡتَلَفُواْ فِيهِ وَهُدٗى وَرَحۡمَةٗ لِّقَوۡمٖ يُؤۡمِنُونَ64
FAVOUR 12) RAIN
65And Allah sends down rain from the sky, giving life to the earth after its death.
Surely in this is a sign for those who lis-ten.
وَٱللَّهُ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءٗ فَأَحۡيَا بِهِ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ بَعۡدَ مَوۡتِهَآۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَةٗ لِّقَوۡمٖ يَسۡمَعُونَ65
FAVOUR 13) MILK AND FRUITS
66And there is certainly a lesson for you in cattle: through their bellies, from be-tween digested food and blood, We give you pure milk, delicious to drink.
67And from the fruits of date trees and grapes you make strong drinks as well as good food.
Surely in this is a sign for those who understand.
⁶
وَإِنَّ لَكُمۡ فِي ٱلۡأَنۡعَٰمِ لَعِبۡرَةٗۖ نُّسۡقِيكُم مِّمَّا فِي بُطُونِهِۦ مِنۢ بَيۡنِ فَرۡثٖ وَدَمٖ لَّبَنًا خَالِصٗا سَآئِغٗا لِّلشَّٰرِبِينَ66
وَمِن ثَمَرَٰتِ ٱلنَّخِيلِ وَٱلۡأَعۡنَٰبِ تَتَّخِذُونَ مِنۡهُ سَكَرٗا وَرِزۡقًا حَسَنًاۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَةٗ لِّقَوۡمٖ يَعۡقِلُونَ67
WORDS OF WISDOM
- •
In verses 68-69, Allah mentions bees as one of His many favours upon us.
Bees are very important to the planet and for our survival.
The following are some fun facts about bees and honey.
- •
• Bees have been around for 30 million years.
Bees are the only insects in the world that make food that humans can eat.
- •
• Most of the world's flowering plants rely on bees for pollination to be able to produce fruits and seeds.
Without bees, we simply can't survive.
- •
• Only female workers are responsible for collecting nectar and making honey.
It's interesting that Allah instructs only female bees in verses 68-69.
- •
• To collect enough nectar for one pound of honey, bees must visit at least 2 million flowers and fly a distance of more than once around the
world.
The average worker bee makes about 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime.
- •
• The average life of a honeybee during the working season is about 3-6 weeks.
Bees have two stomachs—one for eating and one for storing nectar.
- •
• Only female bees have stingers.
If a bee uses her stinger, she will die.
Honey comes in different colours and flavours, depending on the flower where the nectar was collected.
- •
• Honey is acidic enough to prevent bacteria and mold from growing in it, so it can be used to help heal cuts and burns.
Honey was found in some ancient tombs in Egypt and it was still edible!
A honeybee can fly 24 km in an hour.
Its wings beat 200 times per second or 12,000 beats per minute.
FAVOUR 14) BEES & HONEY
68And your Lord inspired the bees: 'Make your' hives in the mountains, the trees, and in what people construct,
69and eat from the nectar of all kinds of fruits, and follow the ways made easy for you by your Lord' From their bellies comes out liquid of
different colours, in which there is healing for people.
Surely in this isa sign for those who reflect.
وَأَوۡحَىٰ رَبُّكَ إِلَى ٱلنَّحۡلِ أَنِ ٱتَّخِذِي مِنَ ٱلۡجِبَالِ بُيُوتٗا وَمِنَ ٱلشَّجَرِ وَمِمَّا يَعۡرِشُونَ68
ثُمَّ كُلِي مِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ فَٱسۡلُكِي سُبُلَ رَبِّكِ ذُلُلٗاۚ يَخۡرُجُ مِنۢ بُطُونِهَا شَرَابٞ مُّخۡتَلِفٌ أَلۡوَٰنُهُۥ فِيهِ شِفَآءٞ لِّلنَّاسِۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَةٗ لِّقَوۡمٖ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ69
ALLAH'S POWER
70Allah has created you, and then causes you to die.
Some of you are left to reach the weakest stage of old age so that they may know nothing after having known much.
Surely Allah is full of knowledge and power:.
وَٱللَّهُ خَلَقَكُمۡ ثُمَّ يَتَوَفَّىٰكُمۡۚ وَمِنكُم مَّن يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰٓ أَرۡذَلِ ٱلۡعُمُرِ لِكَيۡ لَا يَعۡلَمَ بَعۡدَ عِلۡمٖ شَيًۡٔاۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٞ قَدِيرٞ70
FAVOUR 15) RESOURCES
71And Allah has favoured some of you over others in resources.
But those who have been favoured would not share their wealth with their slaves, making them their equals.
⁷ How can they then deny Allah's favours?
وَٱللَّهُ فَضَّلَ بَعۡضَكُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٖ فِي ٱلرِّزۡقِۚ فَمَا ٱلَّذِينَ فُضِّلُواْ بِرَآدِّي رِزۡقِهِمۡ عَلَىٰ مَا مَلَكَتۡ أَيۡمَٰنُهُمۡ فَهُمۡ فِيهِ سَوَآءٌۚ أَفَبِنِعۡمَةِ ٱللَّهِ يَجۡحَدُونَ71
FAVOUR 16) FAMILY
72And Allah has made for you spouses of your own kind, and through them He gave you children and grandchildren.
And He has given you good, pure re-sources.
How can those 'idol-worship-pers' then believe in falsehood and deny Allah's favours?
وَٱللَّهُ جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنۡ أَنفُسِكُمۡ أَزۡوَٰجٗا وَجَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنۡ أَزۡوَٰجِكُم بَنِينَ وَحَفَدَةٗ وَرَزَقَكُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَٰتِۚ أَفَبِٱلۡبَٰطِلِ يُؤۡمِنُونَ وَبِنِعۡمَتِ ٱللَّهِ هُمۡ يَكۡفُرُونَ72
ALLAH OR POWERLESS IDOLS?
73Still they worship besides Allah those 'idols' who are not able to provide them with anything from the heavens or the earth, and they cannot even do anything.
74So do not make up equals to Allah; surely Allah knows and you do not know.
75Allah gives an example: a slave who can do nothing on his own, compared to a free man that We blessed with good resources, from which he donates
secret-ly and publicly.
Are they equal?
Praise be to Allah.
In fact, most of them do not know.
76Allah also gives an example of two men: one of them is mute and un-able to do anything.
He is a burden on his master.
Wherever he is sent, nothing gets done.
Can that person be equal to the one who commands justice and is on the Straight Path?
⁸
وَيَعۡبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَمۡلِكُ لَهُمۡ رِزۡقٗا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ شَيۡٔٗا وَلَا يَسۡتَطِيعُونَ73
فَلَا تَضۡرِبُواْ لِلَّهِ ٱلۡأَمۡثَالَۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعۡلَمُ وَأَنتُمۡ لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ74
ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا عَبۡدٗا مَّمۡلُوكٗا لَّا يَقۡدِرُ عَلَىٰ شَيۡءٖ وَمَن رَّزَقۡنَٰهُ مِنَّا رِزۡقًا حَسَنٗا فَهُوَ يُنفِقُ مِنۡهُ سِرّٗا وَجَهۡرًاۖ هَلۡ يَسۡتَوُۥنَۚ ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِۚ بَلۡ أَكۡثَرُهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ75
وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلٗا رَّجُلَيۡنِ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَبۡكَمُ لَا يَقۡدِرُ عَلَىٰ شَيۡءٖ وَهُوَ كَلٌّ عَلَىٰ مَوۡلَىٰهُ أَيۡنَمَا يُوَجِّههُّ لَا يَأۡتِ بِخَيۡرٍ هَلۡ يَسۡتَوِي هُوَ وَمَن يَأۡمُرُ بِٱلۡعَدۡلِ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٖ مُّسۡتَقِيم76
How to study Surah An-Naḥl with children
Use this children's lesson as a guided path: read the short explanation, look at the Arabic verse, listen to related recitation, and return to the full surah when your child is ready for more detail.
Parents can review one section at a time, ask the child to repeat the main idea, and then continue with the next part or a nearby surah. This keeps the lesson connected with Quran reading, audio, and daily practice.