Surah An-Nahl
سورة النحل
Chapter 16 • 128 verses • The Bee • Makki Surah
Introduction: Surah An-Nahl (The Bee) is the 16th chapter of the Quran. It emphasizes Allah’s signs in nature, the blessings He has bestowed upon humanity, and the consequences of disbelief. The surah gets its name from the honeybee mentioned in verses 68-69, which is presented as one of Allah’s miraculous creations. This Makki surah contains 128 verses and was revealed in Mecca.
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Verses 1-20
Verses 21-40
Verses 41-60
Verses 61-80
Verses 81-100
Verses 101-120
Verses 121-128
بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
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1
أَتَىٰٓ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَسْتَعْجِلُوهُ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
Atā amru llāhi fa-lā tasta’jilūh, sub-ḥānahu wa ta’ālá ‘ammā yushrikūn
1. The command of Allah is coming, so do not be impatient for it. Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him.
2
يُنَزِّلُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةَ بِٱلرُّوحِ مِنْ أَمْرِهِۦ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦٓ أَنْ أَنذِرُوٓا۟ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱتَّقُونِ
Yunazzilu l-malā’ikata bi-r-rūḥi min amrihī ‘alá man yashā’u min ‘ibādihī an andhirū annahū lā ilāha illā anā fa-ttaqūn
2. He sends down the angels with the revelation of His command upon whom He wills of His servants, [saying], “Warn that there is no deity except Me, so fear Me.”
3
خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ تَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
Khalaqa s-samāwāti wal-arḍa bil-ḥaqq, ta’ālá ‘ammā yushrikūn
3. He created the heavens and earth in truth. High is He above what they associate with Him.
4
خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ فَإِذَا هُوَ خَصِيمٌ مُّبِينٌ
Khalaqa l-insāna min nuṭfatin fa-idhā huwa khaṣīmum mubīn
4. He created man from a sperm-drop; then at once, he is a clear adversary.
5
وَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمَ خَلَقَهَا ۗ لَكُمْ فِيهَا دِفْءٌ وَمَنَـٰفِعُ وَمِنْهَا تَأْكُلُونَ
Wal-an’āma khalaqahā, lakum fīhā dif’un wa manāfi’u wa minhā ta’kulūn
5. And the grazing livestock He has created for you; in them is warmth and [other] benefits and from them you eat.
6
وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا جَمَالٌ حِينَ تُرِيحُونَ وَحِينَ تَسْرَحُونَ
Wa lakum fīhā jamālun ḥīna turīḥūna wa ḥīna tasraḥūn
6. And for you in them is [the enjoyment of] beauty when you bring them in [for the evening] and when you send them out [to pasture].
7
وَتَحْمِلُ أَثْقَالَكُمْ إِلَىٰ بَلَدٍ لَّمْ تَكُونُوا۟ بَـٰلِغِيهِ إِلَّا بِشِقِّ ٱلْأَنفُسِ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Wa taḥmilu athqālakum ilá baladin lam takūnū bālighīhi illā bishiqqi l-anfus, inna rabbakum lara’ūfur raḥīm
7. And they carry your loads to a land you could not have reached except with great difficulty to yourselves. Indeed, your Lord is Kind and Merciful.
8
وَٱلْخَيْلَ وَٱلْبِغَالَ وَٱلْحَمِيرَ لِتَرْكَبُوهَا وَزِينَةً ۚ وَيَخْلُقُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
Wal-khayla wal-bighāla wal-ḥamīra litarkabūhā wa zīnah, wa yakhluqu mā lā ta’lamūn
8. And [He created] the horses, mules and donkeys for you to ride and [as] adornment. And He creates that which you do not know.
9
وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ قَصْدُ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَمِنْهَا جَآئِرٌ ۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ لَهَدَىٰكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
Wa ‘alā llāhi qaṣdu s-sabīli wa minhā jā’ir, walaw shā’a la-hadākum ajma’īn
9. And upon Allah is the direction of the [right] way, and among them [i.e., the ways] are deviant. And if He willed, He could have guided you all.
10
هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً ۖ لَّكُم مِّنْهُ شَرَابٌ وَمِنْهُ شَجَرٌ فِيهِ تُسِيمُونَ
Huwa lladhī anzala mina s-samā’i mā’an, lakum minhu sharābun wa minhu shajarun fīhi tusīmūn
10. It is He who sends down rain from the sky; from it is drink and from it is foliage in which you pasture [animals].
11
يُنۢبِتُ لَكُم بِهِ ٱلزَّرْعَ وَٱلزَّيْتُونَ وَٱلنَّخِيلَ وَٱلْأَعْنَـٰبَ وَمِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
Yunbitu lakum bihi z-zar’a wa z-zaytūna wa n-nakhīla wal-a’nāba wa min kulli th-thamarāt, inna fī dhālika la’āyatan liqawmin yatafakkarūn
11. He causes to grow for you thereby the crops, olives, palm trees, grapevines, and from all the fruits. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who give thought.
12
وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ ۖ وَٱلنُّجُومُ مُسَخَّرَٰتٌۢ بِأَمْرِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
Wa sakhkhara lakumu l-layla wa n-nahāra wa sh-shamsa wal-qamar, wa n-nujūmu musakhkharātun bi-amrih, inna fī dhālika la’āyātin liqawmin ya’qilūn
12. And He has subjected for you the night and day and the sun and moon, and the stars are subjected by His command. Indeed in that are signs for a people who reason.
13
وَمَا ذَرَأَ لَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مُخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَٰنُهُۥٓ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَذَّكَّرُونَ
Wa mā dhara’a lakum fi l-arḍi mukhtalifan alwānuh, inna fī dhālika la’āyatan liqawmin yadh-dhakkarūn
13. And [He has subjected] whatever He multiplied for you on the earth of varying colors. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who remember.
14
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى سَخَّرَ ٱلْبَحْرَ لِتَأْكُلُوا۟ مِنْهُ لَحْمًا طَرِيًّا وَتَسْتَخْرِجُوا۟ مِنْهُ حِلْيَةً تَلْبَسُونَهَا ۖ وَتَرَى ٱلْفُلْكَ مَوَاخِرَ فِيهِ وَلِتَبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
Wa huwa lladhī sakhkhara l-baḥra lita’kulū minhu laḥman ṭariyyan wa tastakhrijū minhu ḥilyatan talbasūnahā, wa tarā l-fulka mawākhira fīhi wa litabtaghū min faḍlihī wa la’allakum tashkurūn
14. And it is He who subjected the sea for you to eat from it tender meat and to extract from it ornaments which you wear. And you see the ships plowing through it, and [He subjected it] that you may seek of His bounty; and perhaps you will be grateful.
15
وَأَلْقَىٰ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ رَوَٰسِىَ أَن تَمِيدَ بِكُمْ وَأَنْهَـٰرًا وَسُبُلًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
Wa alqā fi l-arḍi rawāsiya an tamīda bikum wa anhāran wa subulal la’allakum tahtadūn
15. And He has cast into the earth firmly set mountains, lest it shift with you, and [made] rivers and roads, that you may be guided.
16
وَعَلَـٰمَـٰتٍ ۚ وَبِٱلنَّجْمِ هُمْ يَهْتَدُونَ
Wa ‘alāmāt, wa bi-n-najmi hum yahtadūn
16. And landmarks. And by the stars they are [also] guided.
17
أَفَمَن يَخْلُقُ كَمَن لَّا يَخْلُقُ ۗ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ
Afaman yakhluqu kaman lā yakhluq, afalā tadhakkarūn
17. Then is He who creates like one who does not create? So will you not be reminded?
18
وَإِن تَعُدُّوا۟ نِعْمَةَ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَآ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Wa in ta’uddū ni’mata llāhi lā tuḥṣūhā, inna llāha laghafūrur raḥīm
18. And if you should count the favors of Allah, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
19
وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تُسِرُّونَ وَمَا تُعْلِنُونَ
Wa llāhu ya’lamu mā tusirrūna wa mā tu’linūn
19. And Allah knows what you conceal and what you declare.
20
وَٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ لَا يَخْلُقُونَ شَيْـًٔا وَهُمْ يُخْلَقُونَ
Wa lladhīna yad’ūna min dūni llāhi lā yakhluqūna shay’an wa hum yukhlaqūn
20. And those they invoke other than Allah create nothing, and they [themselves] are created.
21
أَمْوَٰتٌ غَيْرُ أَحْيَآءٍ ۖ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ أَيَّانَ يُبْعَثُونَ
Amwātun ghayru aḥyā’in wa mā yash’urūna ayyāna yub’athūn
21. They are dead, not alive, and they do not perceive when they will be resurrected.
22
إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ ۚ فَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ قُلُوبُهُم مُّنكِرَةٌ وَهُم مُّسْتَكْبِرُونَ
Ilāhukum ilāhun wāḥid, fa-lladhīna lā yu’minūna bi-l-ākhirati qulūbuhum munkiratum wa hum mustakbirūn
22. Your god is one God. And those who do not believe in the Hereafter – their hearts are denying, and they are arrogant.
23
لَا جَرَمَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّونَ وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُسْتَكْبِرِينَ
Lā jarama anna llāha ya’lamu mā yusirrūna wa mā yu’linūn, innahū lā yuḥibbu l-mustakbirīn
23. Assuredly, Allah knows what they conceal and what they declare. Indeed, He does not like the arrogant.
24
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُم مَّاذَآ أَنزَلَ رَبُّكُمْ ۙ قَالُوٓا۟ أَسَـٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
Wa idhā qīla lahum mādhā anzala rabbukum, qālū asāṭīru l-awwalīn
24. And when it is said to them, “What has your Lord sent down?” they say, “Legends of the former peoples.”
25
لِيَحْمِلُوٓا۟ أَوْزَارَهُمْ كَامِلَةً يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ وَمِنْ أَوْزَارِ ٱلَّذِينَ يُضِلُّونَهُم بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۗ أَلَا سَآءَ مَا يَزِرُونَ
Liyaḥmilū awzārahum kāmilatan yawma l-qiyāmati wa min awzāri lladhīna yuḍillūnahum bighayri ‘ilm, alā sā’a mā yazirūn
25. That they may bear their own burdens in full on the Day of Resurrection and some of the burdens of those whom they misguide without knowledge. Unquestionably, evil is that which they bear.
26
قَدْ مَكَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَأَتَى ٱللَّهُ بُنْيَـٰنَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْقَوَاعِدِ فَخَرَّ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلسَّقْفُ مِن فَوْقِهِمْ وَأَتَىٰهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
Qad makara lladhīna min qablihim fa-atā llāhu bunyānahum mina l-qawā’idi fa-kharra ‘alayhimu s-saqfu min fawqihim wa atāhumu l-‘adhābu min ḥaythu lā yash’urūn
26. Those before them had already plotted, but Allah came at their building from the foundations, so the roof fell upon them from above them, and the punishment came to them from where they did not perceive.
27
ثُمَّ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ يُخْزِيهِمْ وَيَقُولُ أَيْنَ شُرَكَآءِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ كُنتُمْ تُشَآقُّونَ فِيهِمْ ۚ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ إِنَّ ٱلْخِزْىَ ٱلْيَوْمَ وَٱلسُّوٓءَ عَلَى ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
Thumma yawma l-qiyāmati yukhzīhim wa yaqūlu ayna shurakā’iya lladhīna kuntum tushāqqūna fīhim, qāla lladhīna ūtū l-‘ilma inna l-khiz’ya l-yawma wa s-sū’a ‘alā l-kāfirīn
27. Then on the Day of Resurrection He will disgrace them and say, “Where are My ‘partners’ for whom you used to oppose [the believers]?” Those who were given knowledge will say, “Indeed disgrace, this Day, and evil are upon the disbelievers.”
28
ٱلَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّىٰهُمُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ ظَالِمِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ فَأَلْقَوُا۟ ٱلسَّلَمَ مَا كُنَّا نَعْمَلُ مِن سُوٓءٍۭ ۚ بَلَىٰٓ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌۢ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
Alladhīna tatawaffāhumu l-malā’ikatu ẓālimī anfusihim fa-alqawu s-salama mā kunnā na’malu min sū’in, balā inna llāha ‘alīmun bimā kuntum ta’malūn
28. Those whose lives the angels take while they are wronging themselves – then [the angels] will say, “In what [condition] were you?” They will say, “We were oppressed in the land.” The angels will say, “Was not the earth of Allah spacious [enough] for you to emigrate therein?” For those, their refuge is Hell – and evil it is as a destination.
29
فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مَأْوَىٰهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
Fa-ulā’ika ma’wāhum jahannam wa bi’sa l-maṣīr
29. So the home of the Hereafter We assign to those who do not desire exaltedness upon the earth or corruption. And the [best] outcome is for the righteous.
30
وَقِيلَ لِلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ مَاذَآ أَنزَلَ رَبُّكُمْ ۚ قَالُوا۟ خَيْرًا ۗ لِّلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا۟ فِى هَـٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةٌ ۚ وَلَدَارُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ ۚ وَلَنِعْمَ دَارُ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ
Wa qīla li-lladhīna ttaqaw mādhā anzala rabbukum, qālū khayrā, li-lladhīna aḥsanū fi hādhihi d-dunyā ḥasanah, wa la-dāru l-ākhirati khayr, wa lani’ma dāru l-muttaqīn
30. And it will be said to those who feared Allah, “What did your Lord send down?” They will say, “[That which is] good.” For those who do good in this world is good; and the home of the Hereafter is better. And how excellent is the home of the righteous.
128
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوا۟ وَّٱلَّذِينَ هُم مُّحْسِنُونَ
Inna llāha ma’a lladhīna ttaqaw wa-lladhīna hum muḥsinūn
128. Indeed, Allah is with those who fear Him and those who are doers of good.