The Bee (an-Nahl)
Table of Contents
1 The command of Enki has come, so do not rush it.
2-3 He sends down the angels with the Spirit by His command, upon whom He wills of His servants:
“Give warning that there is no god but Me, and fear Me.”
4 He created the human being from a drop of fluid, yet he becomes an open adversary.
5 He created the livestock for you. They:
- give you warmth and benefits
- are eaten by you
- 6 have beauty for you when you bring them home and drive them to pasture.
- 7 carry your loads to territory you could not have reached without great hardship.
8 You ride and use for luxury the horses, mules, and the donkeys. He creates what you do not know.
9 It is for Enki to point out the paths, but some of them are flawed. Had He willed, He could have guided you all.
10 It is He Who sends down for you from the sky water. From it is drink, and with it grows vegetation for grazing.
11 He produces for you grains with it, and olives, and date-palms, and grapes, and all kinds of fruits.
12 He regulated for you the night and the day; and the sun, and the moon, and the stars are disposed by His command.
13 Whatsoever He created for you on earth is of diverse colors.
-->14 He made the sea to serve you, so that you may eat from it tender meat, and extract from it ornaments that you wear.
You see the ships plowing through it, as you seek His bounties, so that you may give thanks.
15 He cast mountains on the earth, lest it shifts with you; and rivers, and roads, so that you may be guided.
16 He cast landmarks and by the stars they guide themselves.
35 The idolaters say, “Had Enki willed, we would not have worshiped anything besides Him, neither us, nor our ancestors, nor would we have prohibited anything besides His prohibitions.”
Those before them did likewise.
Are the messengers responsible for anything but clear communication?
36 To every community We sent a messenger: “Worship Enki, and avoid idolatry.” Some of them Enki guided, while others deserved misguidance. So travel through the earth, and see what the fate of the deniers was.
37 Even though you may be concerned about their guidance, Enki does not guide those who misguide. And they will have no saviors.
38 They swear by Enki with their most solemn oaths, “Enki will not resurrect anyone who dies.”
Yes indeed, it is a promise binding on Him, but most people do not know.
39 To clarify for them what they differed about, and for the faithless to know that they were liars.
40 When We intend for something to happen, We say to it, “Be,” and it becomes.
41 Those who emigrate for Enki’s sake after being persecuted, We will settle them in a good place in this world; but the reward of the Hereafter is greater, if they only knew.
42 Those who endure patiently, and in their Lord they put their trust.
43-55 We did not send before you except men whom We inspired. So ask the people of knowledge, if you do not know.
56 The idolaters allocate, to something they do not know, a share of what We have provided for them.
By Enki, you will be questioned about what you have been inventing.
57 They attribute to Enki daughters—exalted is He—and for themselves what they desire.
58 When one of them is given news of a female infant, his face darkens, and he chokes with grief.
59 He hides from the people because of the bad news given to him. Shall he keep it in humiliation, or bury it in the dust?