The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)
The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics) The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)
16. THE BEE A Meccan sura. It takes its title from the bee (verses 68–9) inspired in its remarkable way by God. This is just one of the numerous examples given in this sura of God’s grace and the many things man should be grateful for. The sura condemns the idolaters who attribute God’s bounty to other powers and worship false deities. Abraham is given at the end as an example for the Muslim community to follow. Until verse 88, the sura is directed at the polytheists; from verse 90 onwards it teaches the Muslims in various ways. Verse 89 connects the two parts by naming the Prophet as witness to the believers and disbelievers of his community. In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy 1 God’s Judgement is coming, a so do not ask to bring it on sooner. Glory be to Him! He is far above anything they join with Him! 2 He sends down angels with inspiration at His command, to whichever of His servants He chooses, to give [His] warning: ‘There is no god but Me, so beware of Me.’ 3 He created the heavens and earth for a true purpose, and He is far above whatever they join with Him! 4 He created man from a drop of fluid, and yet man openly challenges Him. 5 And livestock––He created them too. You derive warmth and other benefits from them: you get food from them; 6 you find beauty in them when you bring them home to rest and when you drive them out to pasture. 7 They carry your loads to lands you yourselves could not reach without great hardship––truly your Lord is kind and merciful––8 horses, mules, and donkeys for you to ride and use for show, and other things you know nothing about. 9 God points out the right path, for some paths lead the wrong way: if He wished, He could guide you all. 10 It is He who sends down water for you from the sky, from which comes a drink for you, and the shrubs that you feed to your animals. 11 With it He grows for you grain, olives, palms, vines, and all kinds of other crops. There truly is a sign in this for those who reflect. 12 By His command He has made the night and day, the sun, moon, and stars all of benefit to you. There truly are signs in this for those who a The Arabic verb ata is in the past tense to express inevitability and nearness.
16: 31 The Bee 167 use their reason. 13 He has made of benefit to you the many-coloured things He has multiplied on the earth. There truly are signs in this for those who take it to heart. 14 It is He who made the sea of benefit to you: you eat fresh fish from it and bring out jewellery to wear; you see the ships cutting through its waves so that you may go in search of His bounty and give thanks. 15 He has made mountains stand firm on the earth, to prevent it shaking under you, and rivers and paths so that you may find your way, 16 and landmarks and stars to guide people. 17 Can He who creates be compared to one who cannot create? Why do you not take heed? 18 If you tried to count God’s blessings, you could never take them all in: He is truly most forgiving and most merciful. 19 He knows what you conceal and what you reveal. 20 Those they invoke beside God create nothing; they are themselves created. 21 They are dead, not living. They do not know when they will be raised up. 22 Your God is the One God. As for those who deny the life to come, their hearts refuse to admit the truth and they are arrogant. 23 There is no doubt that God knows what they conceal and what they reveal. He does not love the arrogant. 24 When they are asked, ‘What has your Lord sent down?’ they say, ‘Ancient fables.’ 25 On the Day of Resurrection they will bear the full weight of their own burden, as well as some of the burden of those they misled with no true knowledge. How terrible their burden will be! 26 Those who went before them also schemed, but God attacked the very foundations of what they built. The roof fell down on them: punishment came on them from unimagined directions. 27 In the end, on the Day of Resurrection, He will shame them, saying, ‘Where are these “partners” of Mine on whose account you opposed [Me]?’ Those given knowledge will say, ‘Shame and misery on the disbelievers today!’ 28 Those whose lives the angels take while they are wronging themselves will show submission: ‘We were doing no evil.’ ‘Yes you were: God knows fully everything that you have done, 29 so enter the gates of Hell. There you will remain – the home of the arrogant is evil indeed.’ 30 But when the righteous are asked, ‘What has your Lord sent down?’ they will say, ‘All that is good.’ There is a reward in this present world for those who do good, but their home in the Hereafter is far better: the home of the righteous is excellent. 31 They will enter perpetual Gardens graced with flowing streams. There they
- Page 142 and 143: 9. REPENTANCE A Medinan sura whose
- Page 144 and 145: 118 The Quran 9: 21 strove hard in
- Page 146 and 147: 120 The Quran 9: 39 world to the li
- Page 148 and 149: 122 The Quran 9: 64 64 The hypocrit
- Page 150 and 151: 124 The Quran 9: 88 comprehend. 88
- Page 152 and 153: 126 The Quran 9: 110 God and desire
- Page 154 and 155: 10. JONAH A Meccan sura which takes
- Page 156 and 157: 130 The Quran 10: 20 one single com
- Page 158 and 159: 132 The Quran 10: 44 blind if they
- Page 160 and 161: 134 The Quran 10: 75 already reject
- Page 162 and 163: 11. HUD A Meccan sura named after t
- Page 164 and 165: 138 The Quran 11: 22 their souls, a
- Page 166 and 167: 140 The Quran 11: 51 worship God. Y
- Page 168 and 169: 142 The Quran 11: 82 will suffer th
- Page 170 and 171: 144 The Quran 11: 113 those who hav
- Page 172 and 173: 146 The Quran 12: 13 himself and pl
- Page 174 and 175: 148 The Quran 12: 41 which God has
- Page 176 and 177: 150 The Quran 12: 70 his brother ap
- Page 178 and 179: 152 The Quran 12: 101 that dream I
- Page 180 and 181: 154 The Quran 13: 8 8 God knows wha
- Page 182 and 183: 156 The Quran 13: 32 realize that i
- Page 184 and 185: 14. ABRAHAM A Meccan sura named aft
- Page 186 and 187: 160 The Quran 14: 23 been decided,
- Page 188 and 189: 15. AL-HIJR A Meccan sura which tak
- Page 190 and 191: 164 The Quran 15: 56 have told you
- Page 194 and 195: 168 The Quran 16: 32 will have ever
- Page 196 and 197: 170 The Quran 16: 62 forward. 62 Th
- Page 198 and 199: 172 The Quran 16: 87 but the partne
- Page 200 and 201: 174 The Quran 16: 118 118 [Prophet]
- Page 202 and 203: 176 The Quran 17: 9 9 This Quran do
- Page 204 and 205: 178 The Quran 17: 45 you do not und
- Page 206 and 207: 180 The Quran 17: 72 it [with pleas
- Page 208 and 209: 182 The Quran 17: 106 warning - 106
- Page 210 and 211: 184 The Quran 18: 14 and more guida
- Page 212 and 213: 186 The Quran 18: 36 perish, 36 or
- Page 214 and 215: 188 The Quran 18: 68 patiently. 68
- Page 216 and 217: 190 The Quran 18: 106 give them no
- Page 218 and 219: 192 The Quran 19: 17 her family to
- Page 220 and 221: 194 The Quran 19: 59 and Israel - a
- Page 222 and 223: 20. TA HA A Meccan sura that both b
- Page 224 and 225: 198 The Quran 20: 51 said, ‘Our L
- Page 226 and 227: 200 The Quran 20: 88 and the Samiri
- Page 228 and 229: 202 The Quran 128 Do they not draw
- Page 230 and 231: 204 The Quran 21: 16 16 We did not
- Page 232 and 233: 206 The Quran 21: 57 witness to thi
- Page 234 and 235: 208 The Quran 21: 101 the disbeliev
- Page 236 and 237: 210 The Quran 22: 10 Fire. 10 [It w
- Page 238 and 239: 212 The Quran 22: 38 but your piety
- Page 240 and 241: 214 The Quran 22: 71 all that is in
16. THE BEE<br />
A Meccan sura. It takes its title from the bee (verses 68–9) inspired in its<br />
remarkable way by God. This is just one of the numerous examples given in this<br />
sura of God’s grace and the many things man should be grateful for. <strong>The</strong> sura<br />
condemns the idolaters who attribute God’s bounty to other powers and worship<br />
false deities. Abraham is given at the end as an example for the Muslim<br />
community to follow. Until verse 88, the sura is directed at the polytheists; from<br />
verse 90 onwards it teaches the Muslims in various ways. Verse 89 connects the<br />
two parts by naming the Prophet as witness to the believers and disbelievers of<br />
his community.<br />
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy<br />
1 God’s Judgement is coming, a so do not ask to bring it on sooner.<br />
Glory be to Him! He is far above anything they join with Him! 2 He<br />
sends down angels with inspiration at His command, to whichever of<br />
His servants He chooses, to give [His] warning: ‘<strong>The</strong>re is no god but<br />
Me, so beware of Me.’ 3 He created the heavens and earth for a true<br />
purpose, and He is far above whatever they join with Him! 4 He<br />
created man from a drop of fluid, and yet man openly challenges<br />
Him. 5 And livestock––He created them too. You derive warmth<br />
and other benefits from them: you get food from them; 6 you find<br />
beauty in them when you bring them home to rest and when you<br />
drive them out to pasture. 7 <strong>The</strong>y carry your loads to lands you<br />
yourselves could not reach without great hardship––truly your Lord<br />
is kind and merciful––8 horses, mules, and donkeys for you to ride<br />
and use for show, and other things you know nothing about. 9 God<br />
points out the right path, for some paths lead the wrong way: if He<br />
wished, He could guide you all.<br />
10 It is He who sends down water for you from the sky, from which<br />
comes a drink for you, and the shrubs that you feed to your animals.<br />
11 With it He grows for you grain, olives, palms, vines, and all kinds<br />
of other crops. <strong>The</strong>re truly is a sign in this for those who reflect. 12 By<br />
His command He has made the night and day, the sun, moon, and<br />
stars all of benefit to you. <strong>The</strong>re truly are signs in this for those who<br />
a <strong>The</strong> Arabic verb ata is in the past tense to express inevitability and nearness.
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