Sura XVI (16)
The Bee
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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 you have warm garments and gainful uses; and of them you eat:
And
they beseem you well when you fetch them home and when you drive them forth to
pasture:
And
they carry your burdens to lands which you 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 you may ride them, and for your
ornament: and things of which you 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 you 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 you may eat of its fresh fish,
and take forth from it ornaments to wear -- thou seest the ships ploughing its
billows -- and that you may go in quest of his bounties, and that you 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 you conceal, and what you 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 you 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 They are sinners against their own
souls whom the angels shall cause to die will proffer the submission, "No
evil have we done." Nay! God knoweth what you have wrought:
Enter
you 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
To
whom, as righteous persons, the angels shall say, when they receive their
souls, "Peace be on you! Enter
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 false gods. 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 shall 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 you 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 two 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 you then
fear any other than God?
And
all your blessings are assuredly from God:
then, when trouble befalleth you, to Him you 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 you shall know the truth.
And
for idols, of which they know nothing, they set apart a share of our bounties!
By God you 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.
You
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 you have the palm and the vine, from which you 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 you 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 you 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 you may find them light when
you shift your quarters, or when you 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, you 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 you
may be mindful.
Be
faithful in the covenant of God when you have covenanted, and break not your
oaths after you have pledged them: for now
have you made God to stand surety for you. Verily, God hath knowledge of what
you 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 you 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 you 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 you taste of evil because you 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 you 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 them, 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 you 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 you 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 you
make reprisals, then make them to the same extent that you were injured: but if you 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.