an-Nahl (The Bee) at IslamAwakened.com

16:1 The Command of Allah (always) comes (true): You, then do not try to make it happen earlier: Glory to Him! And He is far above having (false) partners they ascribe to Him

16:2 He sends down the angels with Revelations of His Command, to those of His servants, (as and) whom He pleases, (saying): "Warn (men) that there is no god but I: So fear Me (by safeguarding against all evil)."

16:3 He has created the heavens and earth in Truth (for their truest reasons): He is far above having (any false) partners they ascribe to Him

16:4 He has created man from a drop of semen (sperm); And look this same (man) becomes an open challenger (about the creation)

16:5 And He has created the cattle for you: You receive warmth (from the their skin), and many other benefits from them, and you eat from their (meat)

16:6 And you have a sense of pride and beauty in them while you drive them home in the evening, and as you take them out to the grazing land in the morning

16:7 And they carry your heavy loads to a land where you could not (possibly) go except with considerable pain to (your bodies and) selves: Truly, your Lord is Most Kind (Ra'uf), Most Merciful (Raheem)

16:8 And (He has created) horses, mules, and donkeys, for you to ride and use for show; And He has created other things about which you do not have (any) knowledge

16:9 And to Allah leads Straight the Way, but there are ways (of the world) that turn away: If Allah had so willed, He could have guided all of you

16:10 It is He Who sends down water (the rain) from the sky: From it (the rain water) you drink, and out of it (grows) the vegetation with which you feed your cattle

16:11 With it (the rain), He causes for you the (many) crops to grow, the corn, the olives, the date-palms, the grapes, and every kind of fruit: Surely in this, there is a Sign for those who think

16:12 And He has made the Night and the Day for you; And (as He has made) the Sun and the Moon; And the Stars that obey His Command: Surely, in this there are Signs for those who understand

16:13 And on this earth, (are) the things that He has made many, in different colors (and qualities): Surely, there is a Sign in this for those who speak (and say) the Praises of Allah

16:14 And He, it is Who has made the sea subject (to His Command), so that you may eat the flesh (of the fish) from there that is fresh and tender, and so that you may extract from there ornaments (and pearls) to wear; And you see the ships in there that break the waves, so that you may find the bounty of Allah and that you may be grateful

16:15 And He has placed the mountains standing firm on the earth, in case it should roll with you; And rivers and roads; So that you may guide yourselves

16:16 And markers and sign-posts (upon the earth); And by the stars (so that men) guide themselves

16:17 Is then He Who creates like (the false) one who does not create? Will you not take the warning (and guidance)

16:18 And if you would try to count the Favors of Allah, you will never be able to number them: Truly, Allah is Often Forgiving (Ghafoor), Most Merciful (Aleem)

16:19 And Allah knows what you conceal (hide away), and (also) what you reveal

16:20 Those whom they call upon other than Allah create nothing and are themselves created

16:21 (They are) dead, lifeless: And they do not know when they will be raised up (themselves)

16:22 Your God is One (Allah). As to those who do not believe in the Hereafter, their hearts do not want to know, and they are proud (and haughty)

16:23 Without a doubt Allah knows what they hide, and (also) what they reveal: Surely, He does not love the proud (and haughty)

16:24 And when it is said to them, "What is it that your Lord has revealed?" They say: "Stories of the old!"

16:25 On the Day of Judgment let them fully bear their own burdens, and also some of burdens of those that knew not, whom they misled. Alas, how painful (and heavy are) the burdens they will bear

16:26 Those before them also plotted (against Allah): But Allah took (away) their structures from their foundation, and the roof fell down upon them (right) from above them; And the punishment caught up with them from directions they did not (even) think

16:27 Then, on the Day of Judgment (the Resurrection), He (Allah) will cover them with shame, and say: "Where are My 'partners' about whom you used to argue (with the believers)?” Those blessed with knowledge will say: "Truly, this Day, the disbelievers are covered with shame and misery—

16:28 "Those (disbelievers) whose lives the angels take in a state of doing wrong to their own souls." Then, would they offer submission (and say), "We did no evil (knowingly)." (The angels will reply), "Yes, truly Allah knows all that you did

16:29 “So enter the gates of Hell, to live in there. And indeed, so really evil is the home of the proud."

16:30 (When) it is said to the righteous, "What is it that your Lord has revealed?” They say: "All that is good;" To those who do good, there is good in this world, and the home of the Hereafter is even better and really wonderful is the home of the righteous

16:31 Gardens of Eternity that they will enter: Beneath them flow (pleasant) rivers: They will have all that they wish in there: Thus Allah rewards the righteous—

16:32 Those (righteous ones) whose lives the angels take in a state of purity, saying (to them), "Peace be on you; You enter the Garden, because of what you did (in your life)."

16:33 Do the (ungodly) wait until the angels come to them, or there comes the Command from your Lord (for their death)? Like this (also) did those who went before them. And Allah did not wrong them: But! They wronged themselves (and their souls)

16:34 Then the evil results of their actions came upon them, and that very (anger of Allah) at which they had mocked surrounded them

16:35 The worshippers of false gods say: "If Allah had so willed then we would not have worshipped anybody but Him— Neither we and nor our fathers— Nor would we have forbade anything other than His (things which He forbids)." Like this did those who went before them. But what is the duty of messengers (from Allah) except to teach the Clear Message

16:36 And We surely sent from every people a messenger (with the Command), "Serve Allah, and avoid evil:" From the people were some whom Allah guided, and some for whom error could not be avoided. So travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those who rejected (the Faith and the Truth)

16:37 If you (O Prophet!) are eager for their guidance, then surely, Allah guides not those whom He leaves to stray (away from the Path), and there will be no one to help them

16:38 And they swear their strongest promise by Allah, that Allah will not raise up those who die: Yes! (He will raise them and) it is a promise (to be made real) from Him in Truth: But most men do not realize it

16:39 (They must be raised up) so that He may clarify to them the Truth where they differed, and that the rejecters of Truth may realize that they had really (given in to) falsehood

16:40 Verily, to anything that We have willed (to be), We only say the word, "Be", and it is

16:41 And to those who emigrated (and left) their homes in the cause of Allah, after suffering oppression— We will surely give a goodly home in this world; But the reward of the Hereafter will be truly greater, if they only realized

16:42 Those (are the people) who remain constant with patience, and put their trust on their Lord

16:43 And also before you the messengers that We sent were only men, to whom We gave (the Message by) revelation: If you do not realize this, ask of those who possess the Message

16:44 (We also sent them, the earlier messengers) with Clear Signs and Books of strong prophecies and We have sent down to you the Message (the Quran); That you may explain clearly to men what is sent for them, and that they may reflect

16:45 Then do those who make up evil (plots) feel safe that Allah will not make the earth to swallow them up, or that the Anger (of Allah) will not catch up with them from directions they are not aware of

16:46 Or that He may not bring them to account in the middle of their coming and going with never a chance of stopping Him

16:47 Or that He may not bring them to account by a process of slow wasting (of themselves)— For your Lord is truly full of Kindness (Ra'uf) and Mercy (Raheem)

16:48 Do they not look at Allah’s creation, among (all) things— How (even) their shadows turn round, from the right and the left, prostrating themselves to Allah, and that (they do) in the humblest manner

16:49 And all that is in the heavens and on the earth, prostrate (fall down with fear and respect) to Allah, be they the moving (living) creatures and the angels: Because none is proud (before Allah)

16:50 They all fear their Lord, high above them, and they do all that they are commanded

16:51 Allah has said: "Do not take two gods (for worship): Indeed, He is only One Allah: Then fear Me (only)."

16:52 To Him belongs what is in the heavens and on the earth, and always to Him is duty due: Then will you fear (anything) other than Allah

16:53 And you do not have any blessing or good thing except that it is from Allah: And also, when you are touched by difficulty, you cry to Him with painful sighs

16:54 Then, when He removes the difficulty from you, look! Some of you turn to other gods to join with their Lord in worship

16:55 So as show their thanklessness for the favors We have blessed on them! Then enjoy (for a little while); But you will know (your mistake) soon

16:56 And to things they do not know, they assign a portion out of what We have blessed for their livelihood! By Allah, you shall truly be brought to account for your false stories (you made up)

16:57 And they give daughters for Allah! Glory be to Him! Far above (is He) than what they associate with Him— And for themselves (they give sons—) what they desire

16:58 And when news of a female (baby's birth) is taken to one of them, his face darkens (with sorrow), and he is filled with sadness inside

16:59 He hides himself with shame from his people, because of the bad news he has! Will he keep it (the baby) with pain and disgrace, or bury her it in the dust? Oh! What an evil (choice) they decide on

16:60 For those who do not believe in the Hereafter, is applied the similarity of evil: To Allah is applied the Highest Similitude: He is the Supreme in Power (Al-Aziz), the All Wise (Al-Hakeem)

16:61 And if Allah was going to punish men for the wrongs (they have) done, He would not spare, on the (earth), even a single living creature: But He gives them relief for a given time: When their time comes, they cannot delay (it even) by a single hour, just like they cannot advance it (even by a single hour)

16:62 They give to Allah what they dislike (for themselves), and their tongues insist on the lies that all good things are for themselves: Without doubt, the Fire is for them, and they will be the first to be pushed into it

16:63 By Allah, We sent (messengers) to peoples (and nations) before you; But (to some), Satan makes their actions attractive to them: Also, he is their supporter today, but they shall have a most painful penalty

16:64 And We sent down the Book (Quran) to you, for the clear purpose that you make clear to them those things about which they do not agree, and that it should be a guide and as a mercy for the believers

16:65 And Allah sends rain down from the sky, and with it gives life to earth that is dead: Surely there is a Sign in this for those who listen

16:66 And surely, in cattle, you will find a parable to learn (and to remember). Form their bodies (and from) what is between excretions and blood, We produce milk for you to drink, (milk) that is pure and pleasant for those who drink it

16:67 And from the fruit of the date-palm and the vine, you get healthy drink and food: Also in this is a Sign for people who are wise

16:68 And your Lord taught the bee "Make your (beehive) cells in the mountains, in the trees, and in the houses

16:69 "Then to eat from all the fruits (of the earth), and with find the ways made easy by your Lord": From their bodies comes a drink (honey) of varying colors, wherein is healing for men: Surely in this is a Sign for those who think

16:70 And (it is) Allah Who creates you and takes your souls at death; And there are some of you who are sent back to a weak (old) age, when they know nothing after having known (much in their young age): For Allah is All Knowing (Aleem), All Powerful (Khadir)

16:71 Allah has blessed His gifts of livelihood more freely on some of you than on others: Then those who are more blessed will not (equally) hand over their gifts to those whom their right hands possess, so as to be equal in that respect. Will they then deny the Favors of Allah

16:72 And Allah has made for you mates (and spouses) of your own nature, and made for you, out of them, sons and daughters and grandchildren, and given to you the best of things to live on will they still believe in vain things, and be thankless for Allah’s Favors

16:73 And they (the idolaters) worship other than Allah— Such as have no power to provide them, anything in heavens or on earth for life, and cannot possibly have any such power

16:74 So, do not make up similitude for Allah: Truly, Allah knows and you do not know

16:75 Allah brings forward the case (of two men: One) a slave under the control of another; He (the slave) has no power at all; And (the other) a man upon whom We have granted many good favors from Ourselves, and he spends from them (freely), privately and publicly: Then are the two equal? All the Praises (and thanks) be to Allah. But most of them do not understand

16:76 And Allah brings forward (another) case of two men: One of them dumb, with no power of any type, he is a tiresome burden on his master; Wherever he (master) directs him (the dumb one), he brings no good: Is such a man equal to one who acts justly, and is on the Straight Path

16:77 And the Mystery of the heavens and of the earth belongs to Allah. And the Decision of the Hour (of Judgment) is as (quick as) the wink of an eye, or even closer: Truly, Allah is Able (Khadir) to do (and has Power over) all things

16:78 And it is He Who brought you out from the wombs of your mothers when you did not know anything; And He gave you hearing, sight, and hearts (for understanding and love): So that you may give thanks (to Him)

16:79 Do they not see the birds, held balanced in the middle of the sky? Nothing holds them up except (the Power of) Allah. Surely, in this are Signs (verses) for those who believe

16:80 It is Allah Who made your houses, places of rest and peace for you; And out of the skins of the animals, (He) made (tents for) dwellings for you, which you find so light when you travel and when you stop (to rest); And out of their wool, and their soft fibers; And their hair, (He made) valuable things and articles of use (to serve you) for a time

16:81 And it is Allah Who made out from the things He created, some things to give you shade; From the hills He made some for your shelter; And He made you clothes to protect you from heat, and coats of (metallic) mesh to protect you from your anger (and fights between each other). Like this He completes and perfects His Favors on you that you may bow to His Will (in Islam)

16:82 Then, if they (still) turn away, your duty is only to give the Message in a clear way

16:83 They (see and) know the Favor of Allah; Then they reject it (by idolizing to false gods): And most of them are disbelievers

16:84 And on the Day when from all peoples (nations), We shall raise a Witness (their own messenger): Then no excuses will be taken from disbelievers, nor will they be allowed (to return and repent) to ask for the Forgiveness (from Allah)

16:85 And when the wrongdoers see the penalty, then it will not be lightened in any way and then they will not have any delay

16:86 And when those (men) who gave ‘partners’ to Allah will see their 'partners', and they (the men) will say: "Our Lord! These are our ‘partners’, those whom we used to call upon besides You." But they will throw their word back at them: (And say): "Truly, you are liars!"

16:87 And on that Day they will yield in submission to Allah; And all their inventions will leave them in the hardest position

16:88 Those who reject Allah and try to stop (men) from the Path of Allah— For them We will add penalty to penalty; Because they used to spread mischief

16:89 On the Day when from all people, and We shall raise a witness (from themselves) against themselves: And We shall bring you (O Prophet!) as a witness against them (your people who reject Allah): And to you, We have sent down the Book (the Quran) explaining everything, a Guide, a Mercy, and Happy News for Muslims

16:90 Verily, Allah commands Justice, the acts of kindness, and generosity towards relatives, and He forbids all shameful (immoral) deeds, injustice and rebellion: He instructs you, that you may receive guidance

16:91 And fulfill the Covenant (Commitment of promise) taken in the Name of Allah, when you make it, and do not break your promises after you have agreed to keep them; In reality you have made Allah your Witness; Verily, Allah knows all that you do

16:92 And do not be like a woman who breaks to untwisted fibers, the thread which she has spun, after it has become strong. And do not make promises to (hide the) acts of dishonesty (and deception) between yourselves, especially when there be more (people) in one party than in the other: Allah will test you by this; And on the Day of Judgment (Resurrection), He will surely make clear to you (the truth about) what you disagree

16:93 And if Allah had so wanted, He could make you all as one People (one Nation): But He leaves wandering those whom He pleases, and He guides those whom He pleases: But you shall certainly be called to account for all your actions

16:94 And do not make your promises to (hide the) acts of dishonesty (and deception) between yourselves, with the effect that someone's foot may slip after it was firmly placed, and you may have to taste the evil (penalty) for having blocked (men) from the Path of Allah, and the mighty Anger (of Allah) come upon you

16:95 And do not use the Oath of Allah for a cheap (worldly) gain: For with Allah is (a reward) much better for you, if you only knew

16:96 What is with you will go out of existence: What is with Allah will stay behind (for ever). And We will certainly bless upon those, their reward by the best of their actions, for those who patiently remain constant and committed (towards the right)

16:97 Whosoever works right, (be it) man or woman, and has Faith (in Allah), surely, to him will We give a good Life, a life that is good and pure, and We will bless upon those their reward by the best of their actions

16:98 So when you recite the Quran, ask (and plead) for Allah’s protection against Satan, the outcast and cursed one

16:99 Verily, he (Satan) has no authority on those who believe and put their trust only in their Lord

16:100 His (Satan’s) authority is only over those, who take him as an (evil) guide and follow him and who join (false) ‘partners’ with Allah

16:101 When We replace one verse for another— And Allah knows best what He reveals (in stages)— They (the disbelievers) say, "You are only a forger:" But most of them do not understand

16:102 Say: "The Angel Gabriel has brought the revelation from your Lord in Truth, as to strengthen (all) those who believe and as a guide and as good news to Muslims.”

16:103 We also know that they (the disbelievers) say, "It is a man who teaches him (the Prophet)." His (the Prophet’s) tongue, that they (wickedly) point to be notably different, whereas this is Arabic, pure and clear

16:104 Verily, those who do not believe in the Signs and Revelations of Allah— Allah will not guide them, and theirs will be a painful penalty

16:105 It is those who do not believe in the Signs of Allah— They makeup falsehood and forge lies; It is they who lie

16:106 Any one who, after accepting the Faith in Allah, says (words of) unbelief— Except under force (from outside, but in) his heart remaining firm in Faith— (Whereas) on such as those who open their chests to unbelief— On them is Anger from Allah, and theirs will be a fearful Penalty

16:107 This is because they love the life of this world better than the Hereafter: And Allah will not guide those who reject Faith

16:108 They are those whose hearts, ears and the eyes Allah has sealed up, and they do not take warning

16:109 No doubt, in the Hereafter, they will be the (painful) losers

16:110 Then surely, your Lord— For those who emigrated (left their homes) after trials and persecution— And who afterwards work hard and fight for Faith and patiently remain constantly committed— Your Lord, after all this, is Often Forgiving (Ghafoor), Most Merciful (Raheem)

16:111 The Day when every soul will come forward struggling (and praying) for itself, and every soul will be paid back (in full) for all its actions, and no one will be unjustly treated

16:112 And Allah brings forward a story: A city having (the comfort of) security and peace, well supplied with livelihood from every place: Yet it was still thankless for the gifts of Allah: So Allah made it taste hunger and fear (choking it) like a coat (from every side), because of what (its people) earned

16:113 And there came to them a messenger from among themselves, but they falsely rejected him; So the Anger (of Allah) caught them even in the middle of their sins

16:114 So (from the livelihood), eat lawful and good food that Allah has given to you; And be thankful for the Favors of Allah, if it is He Whom you serve

16:115 He has only forbidden for you, meat from dead (animals), and blood, and the flesh of swine (any type of pig), and any (food) over, which the name of (anyone) other than Allah has been called upon. But if one is forced by (extreme) need, without willful disobedience, and not exceeding the rightful limits— Then, Allah is Often Forgiving (Ghafoor), Most Merciful (Raheem)

16:116 And do not say— For anything that is false that your tongues may put forth— "This is lawful, and this is forbidden," so as to ascribe false things to Allah. Verily, those who ascribe false things to Allah, will never prosper

16:117 (When such type of lies are spoken, there) is only a very little worthless profit; But they will have a most painful penalty

16:118 And for the Jews (also), We prohibited such things like what We have told you before: We did not do them any wrong, but they were used to doing wrong to themselves

16:119 Then surely your Lord— For those who do wrong without knowing, and who afterwards repent and make corrections— Verily your Lord, after all of this, is (still) Often Forgiving (Ghafoor), Most Merciful (Raheem)

16:120 Verily, Ibrahim (Abraham) was a true model, (sincerely and) piously obedient to Allah, true in faith, and he did not join gods with Allah

16:121 He showed his thanks for the Favors of Allah, Who chose him, and guided him to a Straight Path

16:122 And We gave him good in this world, and in the Hereafter, he will be together with the Righteous

16:123 Then, We have taught you (O Prophet!) the inspired (Message), "Follow the ways of Ibrahim (Abraham), the (one) True in Faith, and he did not join gods (with Allah)."

16:124 The Sabbath (the seventh day of the week) was only made (Holy) for those who disagreed (about it); And surely, your Lord will decide between them on the Day of Judgment about their differences

16:125 Invite (all) to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and holy teaching, and reason with them by ways that are the best (and most gracious): Truly, your Lord knows best, (those) who have strayed from His Path, and (those) who receive guidance

16:126 And if you punish them, then no worse than that they punish you: But if you show patience that is really the best for those who are patient

16:127 And be patient because your patience is only from Allah; And do not feel sad over them: And do not be in distress yourself because of their (evil) plots