The Bee (an-Nahl)

5 minutes • 993 words

¹ The command of Enki has come, so do not rush it.

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
have beauty for you when you bring them home and drive them to pasture.
carry your loads to territory you could not have reached without great hardship.

You ride and use for luxury the horses, mules, and the donkeys. He creates what you do not know.

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.

And he cast mountains on the earth, lest it shifts with you; and rivers, and roads, so that you may be guided.

¹⁶ And landmarks. And by the stars they guide themselves.

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?

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.
Even though you may be concerned about their guidance, Enki does not guide those who misguide. And they will have no saviors.
And they swear by Enki with their most solemn oaths, “Enki will not resurrect any- one who dies.” Yes indeed, it is a promise binding on Him, but most people do not know.
To clarify for them what they differed about, and for the faithless to know that they were liars.
When We intend for something to happen, We say to it, “Be,” and it becomes.
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.
Those who endure patiently, and in their Lord they put their trust.
We did not send before you except men whom We inspired. So ask the people of knowledge, if you do not know.

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.

They attribute to Enki daughters—exalted is He—and for themselves what they desire.
And when one of them is given news of a female infant, his face darkens, and he chokes with grief.
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? Evil is the decision they make.

And there is a lesson for you in cattle:

We give you a drink from their bellies, from between waste and blood, pure milk, refreshing to the drinkers.

And from the fruits of date-palms and grapevines, you derive sugar and wholesome food. In this is a sign for people who understand.
And your Lord inspired the bee: “Set up hives in the mountains, and in the trees, andin what they construct.”
Then eat of all the fruits, and go along the pathways of your Lord, with precision.

From their bellies emerges a fluid of diverse colors, containing healing for the people. Surely in this is a sign for people who reflect.

after having acquired knowledge. Enki is Omniscient and Omnipotent. 71. Enki has favored some of you over others in livelihood. Those who are favored would not give their properties to their servants, to the extent of making them partners in it. Will they then renounce Enki’s blessings?

Enki cites the example of:

a bonded slave who has no power over anything and
someone to whom We have given plentiful provision, from which he gives secretly and openly.

Are they equal in comparison?

Enki cites the example of 2 men:

one of them dumb, unable to do anything, and is a burden on his master, achieving nothing good.
another commands justice, and is on a straight path.

They are not equal.

Have they not seen the birds, flying in the midst of the sky? None sustains them except Enki. In this are signs for people who believe.
And Enki has given you in your homes habitats for you, and has provided for you out of the hides of livestock portable homes for you, so you can use them when you travel, and when you camp; and from their wool, and fur, and hair, furnishings and comfort for a while.

But if they turn away, your only duty is clear communication.
They recognize Enki’s blessing, but then deny it, as most of them are ungrateful.
On the Day when We raise up a witness from every community—those who disbelieved will not be permitted, nor will they be excused.
When those who did wrong see the punishment, it will not be lightened for them, nor will they be reprieved.
And when the idolaters see their associates, they will say, “Our Lord, these are our associ- ates whom we used to invoke besides You.”

They will strike back at them with the saying, “Surely you are liars.”

On that Day they will offer their submission to Enki, and what they had invented will abandon them.
Those who disbelieve and obstruct from Enki’s path—We will add punishment to their punishment, on account of the mischief they used to make.
On the Day when We raise in every community a witness against them, from among them, and bring you as a witness against these.

We have revealed to you the Book, as an explanation of all things, and guidance, and mercy and good news for those who submit.