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Sura - 16 The Bee
(Al-Nahl) |
[16:0] In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
[16:1] GOD's command has already been issued
(and everything has already been
written), so do not rush it. Be He glorified; the Most High, far
above any idols they set up.
[16:2] He sends down the angels with the revelations,
carrying His commands, to whomever He chooses from among His servants: "You
shall preach that there is no other god beside Me; You shall reverence
Me."
[16:3] He created the heavens and the earth for a
specific purpose. He is much too High, far above any idols they set
up.
[16:4] He created the human from a tiny drop, then
he turns into an ardent opponent.
[16:5] And He created the livestock for you, to provide
you with warmth, and many other benefits, as well as food.
[16:6] They also provide you with luxury during your
leisure, and when you travel.
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*16:1 Everything is already recorded (57:22).
See also Appendix
14.
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[16:8] And (He created) the horses, the mules, and the donkeys for you to ride, and for luxury. Additionally, He creates what you do not know.
[16:9] GOD points out the paths, including the wrong ones. If He willed, He could have guided all of you.
[16:10] He sends down from the sky water for your drink, and to grow trees for your benefit.
[16:11] With it, He grows for you crops, olives, date palms, grapes, and all kinds of fruits. This is (sufficient) proof for people who think.
[16:12] And He commits, in your service, the night and the day, as well as the sun and the moon. Also, the stars are committed by His command. These are (sufficient) proofs for people who understand.
[16:13] And (He created) for you on earth things of various colors. This is a (sufficient) proof for people who take heed.
[16:14] And He committed the sea to serve you; you eat from it tender meat, and extract jewelry which you wear. And you see the ships roaming it for your commercial benefits, as you seek His bounties, that you may be appreciative.
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[16:15] And He placed stabilizers (mountains) on
earth, lest it tumbles with you, as well as rivers and roads, that you may
be guided.
[16:16] And landmarks, as well as the stars; to
be used for navigation.
[16:17] Is One who creates like one who does not
create? Would you now take heed?
[16:18] If you count GOD's blessings, you cannot
possibly encompass them. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
[16:19] And GOD knows whatever you conceal and whatever
you declare.
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The Dead Prophets and
Saints
[16:20] As for the idols they set up beside GOD,
they do not create anything; they themselves were created.
[16:21] They are dead, not alive, and they have
no idea how or when they will be resurrected.
[16:22] Your god is one god. As for those who do
not believe in the Hereafter, their hearts are denying, and they are
arrogant.
[16:23] Absolutely, GOD knows everything they conceal
and everything they declare. He does not love those who are arrogant.
[16:24] When they are asked, "What do you think
of these revelations from your Lord," they say, "Tales from the
past."
[16:25] They will be held responsible for their
sins on the Day of Resurrection, all of them, in addition to sins of all
those whom they misled by their ignorance. What a miserable load!
[16:26] Others like them have schemed in the past,
and consequently, GOD destroyed their building at the foundation, causing
the roof to fall on them. The retribution struck them when they least
expected.
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[16:27] Then, on the Day of Resurrection, He will
disgrace them and ask, "Where are My partners that you had set up beside
Me, and had opposed Me for their sake?" Those blessed with knowledge will
say, "Today, the shame and misery have befallen the disbelievers."
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Death for the
Disbelievers
[16:28] The angels put them to death in a state
of wronging their souls. That is when they finally submit, and say, "We did
not do anything wrong!" Yes indeed. GOD is fully aware of everything you
have done.
[16:29] Therefore, enter the gates of Hell, wherein
you abide forever. What a miserable destiny for the arrogant ones.
The Believers Do Not Really
Die*
[16:30] As for the righteous, when they are asked,
"What do you think of these revelations from your Lord," they say, "Good."
For those who lead a righteous life, happiness; and the abode of the Hereafter
is even better. What a blissful abode for the righteous.
[16:31] The gardens of Eden are reserved for them,
wherein rivers flow. They have anything they wish therein. GOD thus rewards
the righteous.
They Go Straight to
Paradise
[16:32] The angels terminate their lives in a state
of righteousness, saying, "Peace be upon you. Enter Paradise (now) as a reward
for your works."
The Disbelievers
[16:33] Are they waiting for the angels to come
to them, or until your Lord's judgment comes to pass? Those before them did
the same thing. GOD is not the One who wronged them; they are the ones who
wronged their own souls.
[16:34] They have incurred the consequences of their
evil works, and the very things they ridiculed came back to haunt
them.
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*16:32 The righteous taste only the first death, which
has been already experienced by all of us (see
44:56). At the
end of their interim in this world, the angels of death simply invite them
to move on to the Paradise where Adam and Eve once lived
(2:154,
3:169,
8:24,
22:58,
36:27).
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[16:36] We have sent a messenger to every community, saying, "You shall worship GOD, and avoid idolatry." Subsequently, some were guided by GOD, while others were committed to straying. Roam the earth and note the consequences for the rejectors.
[16:37] No matter how hard you try to guide them, GOD does not guide the ones He had committed to straying. Thus, no one can help them.
Deep In Their Minds
[16:38] They swore solemnly by GOD: "GOD will not
resurrect the dead." Absolutely, such is His inviolable promise, but most
people do not know.
[16:39] He will then point out to everyone all
the things they had disputed, and will let those who disbelieved know that
they were liars.
[16:40] To have anything done, we simply say to
it, "Be," and it is.
To Resurrect the Dead
[16:41] Those who emigrated for the sake of GOD,
because they were persecuted, we will surely make it up to them generously
in this life, and the recompense of the Hereafter is even greater, if they
only knew.
[16:42] This is because they steadfastly persevere,
and in their Lord they trust.
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[16:43] We did not send before you except men whom
we inspired. Ask those who know the scripture, if you do not know.
[16:44] We provided them with the proofs and the
scriptures. And we sent down to you this message, to proclaim for the people
everything that is sent down to them, perhaps they will reflect.
[16:45] Did those who scheme evil schemes guarantee
that GOD will not cause the earth to swallow them, or that the retribution
will not come to them when they least expect it?
[16:46] It may strike them while they are asleep;
they can never escape.
[16:47] Or it may strike them while they are fearfully
expecting it. Your Lord is Compassionate, Most Merciful.
[16:48] Have they not seen all the things created
by GOD? Their shadows surround them right and left, in total submission to
GOD, and willingly.
[16:49] To GOD prostrates everything in the heavens
and everything on earth - every creature - and so do the angels; without
the least arrogance.
[16:50] They reverence their Lord, high above them,
and they do what they are commanded to do.
[16:51] GOD has proclaimed: "Do not worship two
gods; there is only one god. You shall reverence Me alone."
[16:52] To Him belongs everything in the heavens
and the earth and therefore, the religion shall be devoted absolutely to
Him alone. Would you worship other than GOD?
[16:53] Any blessing you enjoy is from GOD. Yet,
whenever you incur any adversity you immediately complain to Him.
[16:54] Yet, as soon as He relieves your affliction,
some of you revert to idol worship.
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[16:55] Let them disbelieve in what we have given
them. Go ahead and enjoy temporarily; you will surely find out.
[16:56] They designate for the idols they set up
out of ignorance, a share of the provisions we bestow upon them. By GOD,
you will be held accountable for your innovations.
[16:57] They even assign daughters to GOD, be He
glorified, while they prefer for themselves what they like.
*16:49 The human body, whether it belongs to a believer or a disbeliever,
submits to
God; the heartbeats, the lungs' movement, and peristalsis illustrate this
submission.
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Bigoted Bias Against Baby
Girls
[16:58] When one of them gets a baby girl, his
face becomes darkened with overwhelming grief.
[16:59] Ashamed, he hides from the people, because
of the bad news given to him. He even ponders: should he keep the baby
grudgingly, or bury her in the dust. Miserable indeed is their
judgment.
[16:60] Those who do not believe in the Hereafter
set the worst examples, while to GOD belongs the most sublime examples. He
is the Almighty, the Most Wise.
The Original Sin
[16:61] If GOD punished the people for their
transgressions, He would have annihilated every creature on earth. But He
respites them for a specific, predetermined time. Once their interim ends,
they cannot delay it by one hour, nor advance it.
[16:62] They ascribe to GOD what they dislike for
themselves, then utter the lie with their own tongues that they are righteous!
Without any doubt, they have incurred Hell, for they have rebelled.
[16:63] By GOD, we have sent (messengers) to
communities before you, but the devil adorned their works in their eyes.
Consequently, he is now their lord, and they have incurred a painful
retribution.
[16:64] We have revealed this scripture to you,
to point out for them what they dispute, and to provide guidance and mercy
for people who believe.
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[16:65] GOD sends down from the sky water to revive
the land after it had died. This should be
(sufficient) proof for people who
hear.
[16:66] And in the livestock there is a lesson
for you: we provide you with a drink from their bellies. From the midst of
digested food and blood, you get pure milk, delicious for the
drinkers.
The Bee
[16:68] And your Lord inspired the bee: build homes
in mountains and trees, and in (the
hives) they build for you.
[16:69] Then eat from all the fruits, following
the design of your Lord, precisely. From their bellies comes a drink of different
colors, wherein there is healing for the people. This should be
(sufficient) proof for people who
reflect.
[16:70] GOD created you, then He terminates your
lives. He lets some of you live to the oldest age, only to find out that
there is a limit to the knowledge they can acquire. GOD is Omniscient,
Omnipotent.
No Partners With God
[16:71] GOD has provided for some of you more than
others. Those who are given plenty would never give their properties to their
subordinates to the extent of making them partners. Would they give up GOD's
blessings?
[16:72] And GOD made for you spouses from among
yourselves, and produced for you from your spouses children and grandchildren,
and provided you with good provisions. Should they believe in falsehood,
and turn unappreciative of GOD's blessings?
[16:73] Yet, they worship beside GOD what possesses no provisions for them in the heavens, nor on earth, nor can provide them with anything.
[16:74] Therefore, do not cite the examples for GOD; GOD knows while you do not know.
The Rich Believer is
[16:75] GOD cites the example of a slave who is
owned, and is totally powerless, compared to one whom we blessed with good
provisions, from which he gives to charity secretly and publicly. Are they
equal? Praise be to GOD, most of them do not know.
[16:76] And GOD cites the example of two men: one
is dumb, lacks the ability to do anything, is totally dependent on his master
- whichever way he directs him, he cannot produce anything good. Is he equal
to one who rules with justice, and is guided in the right path?
Better than the Poor Believer
This Life is Very
Short
[16:77] To GOD belongs the future of the heavens
and the earth. As far as He is concerned, the end of the world
(the Hour) is a blink of an eye away,
or even closer. GOD is Omnipotent.
[16:78] GOD brought you out of your mothers' bellies
knowing nothing, and He gave you the hearing, the eyesight, and the brains,
that you may be appreciative.
[16:79] Do they not see the birds committed to
fly in the atmosphere of the sky? None holds them up in the air except GOD.
This should be (sufficient) proof for people who believe.
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[16:80] And GOD provided for you stationary homes
where you can live. And He provided for you portable homes made of the hides
of livestock, so you can use them when you travel, and when you settle down.
And from their wool, furs, and hair, you make furnishings and luxuries for
awhile.
[16:81] And GOD provided for you shade through
things which He created, and provided for you shelters in the mountains,
and provided for you garments that protect you from heat, and garments that
protect when you fight in wars. He thus perfects His blessings upon you,
that you may submit.
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The Disbelievers
Unappreciative
[16:83] They fully recognize GOD's blessings, then
deny them; the majority of them are disbelievers.
On The Day of
Resurrection
[16:84] The day will come when we raise from every
community a witness, then those who disbelieved will not be permitted (to
speak), nor will they be excused.
[16:85] Once those who transgressed see the
retribution, it will be too late; it will not be commuted for them, nor will
they be respited.
The Idols Disown Their
Idolizers
[16:86] And when those who committed idol worship
see their idols, they will say, "Our Lord, these are the idols we had set
up beside You." The idols will then confront them and say, "You are
liars."
[16:87] They will totally submit to GOD on that
day, and the idols they had invented will disown them.
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[16:88] Those who disbelieve and repel from the
path of GOD, we augment their retribution by adding more retribution, due
to their transgressions.
[16:89] The day will come when we will raise from
every community a witness from among them, and bring you as the witness of
these people. We have revealed to you this book to provide explanations for
everything, and guidance, and mercy, and good news for the
submitters.
[16:90] GOD advocates justice, charity, and regarding
the relatives. And He forbids evil, vice, and transgression. He enlightens
you, that you may take heed.
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You Shall Keep Your
Word
[16:91] You shall fulfill your covenant with GOD
when you make such a covenant. You shall not violate the oaths after swearing
(by God) to carry them out, for you have made GOD a guarantor for you. GOD
knows everything you do.
[16:92] Do not be like the knitter who unravels
her strong knitting into piles of flimsy yarn. This is your example if you
abuse the oaths to take advantage of one another. Whether one group is larger
than the other, GOD thus puts you to the test. He will surely show you on
the Day of Resurrection everything you had disputed.
[16:93] Had GOD willed, He could have made you
one congregation. But He sends astray whoever chooses to go astray, and He
guides whoever wishes to be guided. You will surely be asked about everything
you have done.
[16:94] Do not abuse the oaths among you, lest you slide back after having a strong foothold, then you incur misery. Such is the consequence of repelling from the path of GOD (by setting a bad example); you incur a terrible retribution.
[16:95] Do not sell your oaths short before GOD. What GOD possesses is far better for you, if you only knew.
[16:96] What you possess runs out, but what GOD possesses lasts forever. We will surely reward those who steadfastly persevere; we will recompense them for their righteous works.
Guaranteed Happiness
Now and Forever
[16:97] Anyone who works righteousness, male or
female, while believing, we will surely grant them a happy life in this world,
and we will surely pay them their full recompense
(on the Day of Judgment) for their righteous
works.
An Important
Commandment*
[16:98] When you read the Quran, you shall seek
refuge in GOD from Satan the rejected.
[16:99] He has no power over those who believe
and trust in their Lord.
[16:100] His power is limited to those who choose
him as their master, those who choose him as their god.
[16:101] When we substitute one revelation in
place of another, and GOD is fully aware of what He reveals, they say, "You
made this up!" Indeed, most of them do not know.
[16:102] Say, "The Holy Spirit has brought it
down from your Lord, truthfully, to assure those who believe, and to provide
a beacon and good news for the submitters."
[16:103] We are fully aware that they say, "A human being is teaching him!" The tongue of the source they hint at is non-Arabic, and this is a perfect Arabic tongue.
[16:104] Surely, those who do not believe in GOD's revelations, GOD does not guide them. They have incurred a painful retribution.
[16:105] The only ones who fabricate false doctrines are those who do not believe in GOD's revelations; they are the real liars.
Lip Service Does Not
Count
[16:106] Those who disbelieve in GOD, after having
acquired faith, and become fully content with disbelief, have incurred wrath
from GOD. The only ones to be excused are those who are forced to profess
disbelief, while their hearts are full of faith.
Preoccupation With This Life
[16:107] This is because they have given priority
to this life over the Hereafter, and GOD does not guide such disbelieving
people.
[16:108] Those are the ones whom GOD has sealed
their hearts, and their hearing, and their eyesight. Consequently, they remain
unaware.
[16:109] Without a doubt, they will be the losers
in the Hereafter.
[16:110] As for those who emigrate because of
persecution, then continue to strive and steadfastly persevere, your Lord,
because of all this, is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
Leads to Exile From God
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[16:111] The day will come when every soul will
serve as its own advocate, and every soul will be paid fully for whatever
it had done, without the least injustice.
*16:106 God's wisdom decrees that if someone holds a gun to your head
and orders you to declare that you disbelieve in God, you may grant him his
wish. What the heart harbors is what counts.
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Prohibiting Lawful Food Brings
Deprivation
[16:112] GOD cites the example of a community
that used to be secure and prosperous, with provisions coming to it from
everywhere. But then, it turned unappreciative of GOD's blessings. Consequently,
GOD caused them to taste the hardships of starvation and insecurity. Such
is the requital for what they did.
[16:113] A messenger had gone to them from among
them, but they rejected him. Consequently, the retribution struck them for
their transgression.
[16:114] Therefore, you shall eat from GOD's
provisions everything that is lawful and good, and be appreciative of GOD's
blessings, if you do worship Him alone.
Only Four Foods
Prohibited
[16:115] He only prohibits for you dead animals,
blood, the meat of pigs*, and food which is dedicated to other than GOD.
If one is forced (to eat these), without being deliberate or malicious, then
GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
[16:116] You shall not utter lies with your own
tongues stating: "This is lawful, and this is unlawful," to fabricate lies
and attribute them to GOD. Surely, those who fabricate lies and attribute
them to GOD will never succeed.
[16:117] They enjoy briefly, then suffer painful
retribution.
[16:118] For the Jews, we prohibited what we narrated
to you previously. It was not us who wronged them; they are the ones who
wronged their own souls.
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*16:115 & 118 The most devastating trichinosis parasite, Trichinella
spiralis, (also the pork tapeworm Taenia solium) survives in the
meat of pigs, not the fat. More than 150,000 people are infected annually
in the United States. See
6:145-146,
and Appendix
16.
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Abraham
[16:120] Abraham was indeed an exemplary vanguard
in his submission to GOD, a monotheist who never worshipped idols.
[16:121] Because he was appreciative of His Lord's
blessings, He chose him and guided him in a straight path.
[16:122] We granted him happiness in this life,
and in the Hereafter he will be with the righteous.
Muhammad: A Follower of Abraham* [16:123] Then we inspired you (Muhammad) to follow the religion of Abraham, the monotheist; he never was an idol worshiper.
The Sabbath Abrogated [16:124] The Sabbath was decreed only for those who ended up disputing it (Jews & Christians). Your Lord is the One who will judge them on the Day of Resurrection regarding their disputes.
How to Spread God 's
Message
[16:125] You shall invite to the path of your
Lord with wisdom and kind enlightenment, and debate with them in the best
possible manner. Your Lord knows best who has strayed from His path, and
He knows best who are the guided ones.
[16:127] You shall resort to patience - and your
patience is attainable only with GOD's help. Do not grieve over them, and
do not be annoyed by their schemes.
[16:128] GOD is with those who lead a righteous
life, and those who are charitable.
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*16:123 This informs us that all religious practices,
which came to us through Abraham, were intact at the time of Muhammad (see
22:78 and Appendix
9)
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