# Sura  16 - The Bee

*Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-19 — 1 clipping.*

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> SURA XVI (16) - THE BEE (Mecca - 128 Verses)               (LXXIII - 200)      
>  
>        In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
>  
>        The doom of God cometh to pass.  Then hasten it not.  Glory be to Him!
> High let Him be exalted above the gods whom they joint with Him!
>  
>        But His own behest will He cause the angels to descend with the Spirit
> on whom he pleaseth among his servants, bidden them, "Warn that there is no God
> but me; therefore fear me."
>  
>        He hath created the Heavens and the Earth to set forth his truth; high
> let Him be exalted above the gods they join with Him!
>  
>        Man hath He created from a moist germ; yet lo! man is an open caviller.
>  
>        And the cattle! for you hath he created them:  in them ye have warm
> garments and gainful uses; and of them ye eat:
>  
>        And they beseem you well when ye fetch them home and when ye drive them
> forth to pasture:
>  
>        And they carry your burdens to lands which ye could not else reach but
> with travail of soul:  truly your Lord is full of goodness, and merciful:
>  
>        And He hath given you horses, mules, and asses, that ye may ride them,
> and for your ornament:  and things of which ye have no knowledge hath he
> created.
>  
>        Of God it is to point out "the Way."  some turn aside from it:  but had
> He pleased, He had guided you all aright.
>  
> 16:10  It is He who sendeth down rain out of Heaven:  from it is your drink;
> and from it are the plants by which ye pasture.
>  
>        By it He causeth the corn, and the olives, and the palm-trees, and the
> grapes to spring forth for you, and all kinds of fruits:  verily, in this are
> signs for those who ponder.
>  
>        And He hath subjected to you the night and the day; the sun and the moon
> and the stars too are subjected to you by his behest; verily, in this are signs
> for those who understand:
>  
>        And all of varied hues that He hath created for you over the earth:
> verily, in this are signs for those who remember.
>  
>        And He it is who hath subjected the sea to you, that ye may eat of its
> fresh fish, and take forth from it ornaments to wear - thou seest the ships
> ploughing its billows - and that ye may go in quest of his bounties, and that
> ye might given thanks.
>  
>        And He hath thrown firm mountains on the earth, lest it move with you;
> and rivers and paths for your guidance,
>  
>        And way marks.  By the stars too are men guided.
>  
>        Shall He then who hath created be as he who hath not created?  Aye!  God
> is right Gracious, Merciful!
>  
>        And God knoweth what ye conceal, and what ye bring to light,
>  
> 16:20  While the gods whom they call on beside God, create nothing, but are
> themselves created:
>  
>        Dead are they, lifeless! and they know not
>  
>        When they shall be raised!
>  
>        Your God is the one God:  and they who believe not in a future life,
> have hearts given to denial, and are men of pride: -
>  
>        Beyond a doubt God knoweth what they conceal and what they manifest: -
>  
>        He truly loveth not the men of pride.
>  
>        For when it is said to them, "What is this your Lord hath sent down?"
> they say, "Fables of the ancients," -
>  
>        That on the day of resurrection they may bear their own entire burden,
> and the burden of those whom they, in their ignorance, misled. Shall it not be
> a grievous burden for them?
>  
>        They who were before them did plot of old.  But God attacked their
> building at its foundation - the roof fell on them from above; and, whence they
> looked not for it,, punishment overtook them:
>  
>        On the day of resurrection, too, will He shame them.  He will say,
> "Where are the gods ye associated with me, the subjects of your disputes?" They
> to whom "the knowledge" had been given will say, Verily, this day shall shame
> and evil fall upon the infidels.
>  
> 16:30  The sinners against their own souls whom the angels shall cause to die l
> will proffer the submission, "No evil have we done." Nay!  God knoweth what ye
> have wrought:
>  
>        Enter ye therefore the gates of Hell to remain therein for ever:  and
> horrid the abiding place of the haughty ones!
>  
>        But to those who have feared God it shall be said, "What is this that
> your Lord hath awarded?"  They shall say, "That which is best.  To those who do
> good, a good reward in this present world; but better the mansion of the next,
> and right pleasant the abode of the God-fearing!"
>  
>        Gardens of Eden into which they shall enter; rivers shall flow beneath
> their shades; all they wish for shall they find therein!  Thus God rewardeth
> those who fear Him:
>  
>        To whom, as righteous persons, the angels shall say, when they receive
> their souls, "Peace be on you!  Enter Paradise as the meed of your labours."
>  
>        What can the infidels expect but that the angels of death come upon
> them, or that a sentence of thy Lord take effect?  Thus did they who flourished
> before them.  God was not unjust to them, but to their ownselves were they
> unjust;
>  
>         And the ill which they had done recoiled upon them, and that which they
> had scoffed at encompassed them round about.
>  
>        They who have joined other gods with God say, "Had he pleased, neither
> we nor our fathers had worshipped aught but him; nor should we, apart from him,
> have forbidden aught."  Thus acted they who were before them.  Yet is the duty
> of the apostles other than public preaching?
>  
>        And to every people have we sent an apostle saying:  - Worship God and
> turn away from Taghout.  Some of them there were whom God guided, and there
> were others decreed to err.  But go through the land and see what hath been the
> end of those who treated my apostles as liars!
>  
>        If thou art anxious for their guidance, know that God will not guide him
> whom He would lead astray, neither sahll they have any helpers.
>  
> 16:40  And they swear by God with their most sacred oath that "God will never
> raise him who once is dead."  Nay, but on Him is a promise binding, though most
> men know it not, -
>  
>        That He may clear up to them the subject of their disputes, and that the
> infidels may know that they are liars.
>  
>        Our word to a thing when we will it, is but to say, "Be," and it is.
>  
>        And as to those who when oppressed have fled their country for the sake
> of God, we will surely provide them a goodly abode in this world, but greater
> the reward of the next life, did they but know it.
>  
>        They who bear ills with patience and put their trust in the Lord!
>  
>        None have we sent before thee but men inspired - ask of those who have
> Books of Monition, if ye know it not -
>  
>        With proofs of their mission and Scriptures:  and to thee have we sent
> down this Book of Monition that thou mayest make clear to men what hath been
> sent down to them, and that they may ponder it.
>  
>        What!  Are they then who have plotted mischiefs, sure that God will not
> cause the earth to cleave under them? or that a chastisement will not come upon
> them whence they looked not for it?
>  
>        Or that He will not seize upon them in their comings and goings, while
> they shall not be able to resist him?
>  
>        Or that he will not seize them with some slowly wasting scourge?  But
> verily your Lord is Good, Gracious.
> 
>  
> 16:50  Have they not seen how everything which God hath created turneth its
> shadow right and left, prostrating itself before God in all abasement?
>  
>        And all in the Heavens and all on the Earth, each thing that moveth, and
> the very angels, prostrate them in adoration before God, and are free from
> pride;
>  
>        They fear their Lord who is above them, and do what they are bidden:
>  
>        For God hath said, "Take not to yourselves to gods, - for He is one God:
> me, therefore! yea, me revere!
>  
>        All in the Heavens and in the Earth is His!  His due unceasing service!
> Will ye then fear any other than God?
>  
>        And all your blessings are assuredly from God:  then, when trouble
> befalleth you, to Him ye turn for help:
>  
>        Then when He relieveth you of the trouble, lo! some of you join
> associates with your Lord: -
>  
>        To prove how thankless are they for our gifts!  Enjoy yourselves then:
> but in the end ye shall know the truth.
>  
>        And for idols, of which they know nothing, they set apart a share of our
> bounties!  By God ye shall be called to account for your devices!
>  
>        And they ascribe daughters unto God!  Glory be to Him!  But they desire
> them not for themselves:
>  
> 16:60  For when the birth of a daughter is announced to any one of them, dark
> shadows settle on his face, and he is sad:
>  
>        He hideth him from the people because of the ill tidings:  shall he keep
> it with disgrace or bury it in the dust?  Are not their judgments wrong?
>  
>        To whatever is evil may they be likened who believe not in a future
> life; but God is to be likened to whatever is loftiest:  for He is the Mighty,
> the Wise.
>  
>        Should God punish men for their perverse doings, he would not leave on
> earth a moving thing! but to an appointed term doth He respite them; and when
> their term is come, they shall not delay or advance it an hour.
>  
>        Yet what they loathe themselves do they assign to God; and their tongues
> utter the lie, that theirs shall be a goodly lot.  But beyond a doubt is it
> that the fire awaiteth them, and that they shall be the first sent into it.
>  
>        By God we have sent Apostles to nations before thee, but Satan prepared
> their work for them, and this day is he their liege; and a woeful punishment
> doth await them.
>  
>        And we have sent down the Book to thee only, that thou mightest clear up
> to them the subject of their wranglings, and as a guidance and a mercy to those
> who believe.
>  
>        And God sendeth down water from Heaven, and by it giveth life to the
> Earth after it hath been dead:  verily, in this is a sign to those who hearken.
>  
>        Ye have also teaching from the cattle.  We give you drink of the pure
> milk, between dregs and blood, which is in their bellies; the pleasant
> beverage of them that quaff it.
>  
>        And among fruits ye have the palm and the vine, from which ye get wine
> and healthful nutriment:  in this, verily, are signs for those who reflect.
>  
> 16:70  And thy Lord hath taught the bee, saying:  "Provide thee houses in the
> mountains, and in the trees, and in the hives which men to build thee:
>  
>        Feed, moreover, on every kind of fruit, and walk the beaten paths of thy
> Lord."  From its belly cometh forth a fluid of varying hues,, which yieldeth
> medicine to man.  Verily in this is a sign for those who consider.
>  
>        And God hath created you; by and bye will he take you to himself; and
> some among you will he carry on to abject old age, when all that once was known
> is known no longer.  Aye, God is Knowing, Powerful.
>  
>        And God hath abounded to some of you more than to others in the supplies
> of life; yet they to whom He hath abounded, impart not thereof to the slaves
> whom their right hands possess, so that they may share alike.  What! will they
> deny, then, that these boons are from God?
>  
>        God, too, hath given you wives of your own race, and from your wives
> hath He given you sons and grandsons, and with good things hath he supplied
> you.  What, will they then believe in vain idols?  For God's boons they are
> ungrateful!
>  
>        And they worship beside God those who neither out of the Heavens or
> Earth can provide them a particle of food, and have no power in themselves!
>  
>        Make no comparisons, therefore, with God.  Verily, God hath knowledge,
> but ye have not.
>  
>        God maketh comparison between a slave the property of his lord, who hath
> no power over anything, and a free man whom we have ourselves supplied with
> goodly supplies, and who giveth alms therefrom both in secret and openly.
> Shall they be held equal?  No: praise be to God!  But most men know it not.
>  
>        God setteth forth also a comparison between two men, one of whom is dumb
> from his birth, and hath no power over anything, and is a burden to his lord:
> send him where he will, he cometh not back with success.  She he and the man
> who enjoineth what is just, and keepeth in the straight path, be held equal?
>  
>        God's are the secrets of the Heavens and of the Earth!  and the business
> of the last hour will be but as the twinkling of an eye, or even less.  Yes!
> for all things is God Potent.
>  
> 16:80  God hath brought you out of your mothers' wombs devoid of all
> knowledge; but hath given you hearing, and sight, and heart, that haply ye
> might render thanks.
>  
>        Have they never looked up at the birds subjected to Him in Heaven's
> vault?  None holdeth them in hand but God!  In this are signs for those who
> believe.
>  
>        And God hath given you tents to dwell in:  and He hath given you the
> skins of beasts for tents, that ye may find them light when ye shift your
> quarters, or when ye halt; and from their wool and soft fur and hair, hath He
> supplied you with furniture and goods for temporary use.
>  
>        And from the things which He hath created, hath God provided shade for
> you, and have given you the mountains for places of shelter, and have given you
> garments to defend you from the heat, and garments to defend you in your wars.
> Thus doth He fill up the measure of His goodness toward you, that you may
> resign yourselves to Him.
>  
>        But if they turn their backs, still thy office is only plain spoken
> preaching.
>  
>        They own the goodness of God - then they disown it - and most of them
> are infidels.
>  
>        But one day, we will raise up a witness out of every nation:  then shall
> the infidels have no permission to make excuses, and they shall find no favour.
>  
>        And when they who have acted thus wrongly shall behold their torment, it
> shall not be made light to them, nor will God deign to look upon them.
>  
>        And when they who have acted thus wrongly shall behold their torment, it
> shall not be made light to them, nor will God deign to look upon them.
>  
>        And when they who had joined associates with God shall see those their
> associate-gods, they shall say, "O our Lord! these are our associate-gods whom
> we called upon beside Thee."  But they shall retort on them, "Verily, ye are
> liars."
>  
>        And on that day shall they proffer submission to God; and the deities of
> their own invention shall vanish from them.
>  
> 16:90  As for those who were infidels and turned others aside from the way of
> God, to them we will add punishment on punishment for their corrupt doings.
>  
>        And one day we will summon up in every people a witness against them
> from among themselves; and we will bring thee up as a witness against these
> Meccans:  for to thee have we sent down the Book which cleareth up everything,
> a guidance, and mercy, and glad tidings to those who resign themselves to God
> (to Muslims).
>  
>        Verily, God enjoineth justice and the doing of good and gifts to
> kindred; and he forbiddeth wickedness and wrong and oppression.  He warneth you
> that haply ye may be mindful.
>  
>        Be faithful in the covenant of God when ye have covenanted, and break
> not your oaths after ye have pledged them:  for now have ye made God to stand
> surety for you.  Verily, God hath knowledge of what ye do.
>  
>        And, because you are a more numerous people than some other people, be
> not like her who unravelleth the thread which she had strong spun, by taking
> your oaths with mutual perfidy.  God is making trial of you in this:  and in
> the day of resurrection he will assuredly clear up to you that concerning which
> ye are now at variance.
>  
>        Had God pleased, He could have made you one people:  but He caused whom
> He will to err, and whom He will He guideth:  and ye shall assuredly be called
> to account for your doings.
>  
>        Therefore take not your oaths with mutual fraud, lest your foot slip
> after it hath been firmly fixed, and ye taste of evil because ye have turned
> others aside from the way of God, and great be your punishment.
>  
>        And barter not the covenant of God for a mean price; for with God is
> that which is better for you, if ye do but understand.
>  
>        All that is with you passeth away, but that which is with God abideth.
> With a reward meet for their best deeds will we surely recompense those who
> have patiently endured.
>  
>        Whoso doeth that which is right, whether male or female, if a believer,
> him will we surely quicken to a happy life, and recompense them with a reward
> meet for their best deeds.
>  
> 16:100 When thou readest the Koran, have recourse to God for help against
> Satan the stoned,
>  
>        For no power hath he over those who believe, and put their trust in
> their Lord,
>  
>        But only hath he power over those who turn away from God, and join other
> deities with Him.
>  
>        And when we change one (sign) verse for another, and God knoweth best
> what He revealeth, they say, "Thou art only a fabricator." Nay!  but most of
> them have no knowledge.
>  
>        Say:  The Holy Spirit hath brought it down with truth from thy Lord,
> that He may stablish those who have believed, and as guidance and glad tidings
> to the Muslims.
>  
>        We also know that they say, "Surely a certain person teacheth him."  But
> the tongue of him at whom they hint is foreign, while this Koran is in the
> plain Arabic.
>  
>        As for those who believe not in the signs of God, God will not guide
> them, and a sore torment doth await them.
>  
>        Surely they invent a lie who believe not in the signs of God - and they
> are the liars.
>  
>        Whoso, after he hath believed in God denieth him, if he were forced to
> it and if his heart remain steadfast in the faith, shall be guiltless:  but
> whoso openeth his breast to infidelity - on such shall be wrath from God, and a
> severe punishment awaiteth them.
>  
>         This, because they have loved this present life beyond the next, and
> because God guideth not the unbelievers!
>  
>  
> 16:110 These are they whose hearts and ears and eyes God hath sealed up:
> these are the careless ones:  in the next world shall they perish beyond a
> doubt.
>  
>        To those also who after their trials fled their country, then fought and
> endured with patience, verily, thy Lord will in the end by forgiving, gracious.
>  
>        On a certain day shall every soul come to plead for itself, and every
> soul shall be repaid according to its deeds; and they shall not be wronged.
>  
>        God proposeth the instance of a city, secure and at ease, to which its
> supplies come in plenty from every side.  but she was thankless for the boons
> of God; God therefore made her taste the woe of famine and of fear, for what
> they had done.
>  
>        Moreover, an apostle of their own people came to tham, and they treated
> him as an impostor.  So chastisement overtook them because they were evil
> doers.
>  
>        Of what God hath supplied you eat the lawful and good, and be grateful
> for the favours of God, if ye are his worshippers.
>  
>        Forbidden to you is that only which dieth of itself, and blood, and
> swine's flesh, and that which hath been slain in the name of any other than
> God:  but if any be forced, and neither lust for it nor wilfully transgress,
> then verily God is forgiving, gracious.
>  
>        And say not with a lie upon your tongue, "This is lawful and this is
> forbidden:"  for so will ye invent a lie concerning God:  but they who invent a
> lie of God shall not prosper:
>  
>        Brief their enjoyment, but sore their punishment!
>  
>        To the Jews we have forbidden that of which we before told thee; we
> injured them not, but they injured themselves.
>  
> 16:120 To those who have done evil in ignorance, then afterwards have
> repented and amended, verily thy Lord is in the end right gracious, merciful.
>  
>        Verily, Abraham was a leader in religion:  obedient to God, sound in
> faith:  he was not of those who join gods with God.
>  
>        Grateful was he for His favours:  God chose him and guided him into the
> straight way;
>  
>        And we bestowed on him good things in this world:  and in the world to
> come he shall be among the just.
>  
>        We have moreover revealed to thee that thou follow the religion of
> Abraham, the sound in faith.  He was not of those who join gods with God.
>  
>        The Sabbath was only ordained for those who differed about it:  and of a
> truth thy Lord will decide between them on the day of resurrection as to the
> subject of their disputes.
>  
>        Summon thou to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and with kindly warning:
> dispute with them in the kindest manner:  thy Lord best knoweth those who stray
> from his way, and He best knoweth those who have yielded to his guidance.
>  
>        If ye make reprisals, then make them to the same extent that ye were
> injured:  but if ye can endure patiently, best will it be for the patiently
> enduring.
>  
>        Endure then with patience.  But thy patient endurance must be sought in
> none by God.  And be not grieved about the infidels, and be not troubled at
> their devises; for God is with those who fear him and do good deeds.
>
> — *Sura  16 - The Bee*