As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters.
Summary
Today’s selection is from Surah 16, An-Nahl or the Bees, verses 61-76. These verses assert that if God were to punish mankind for its wrongdoings, he would not leave even an animal around the wrongdoers. Just as water gives life to the dead, so does the Qur’an give life to the human soul. There are lessons to be learned from the lives of animals and in the process of creation. Lastly, the question of why believe in deities with no power to create anything and disbelieve in God.
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Verses
Bis-millahi ar-rahman, ar-raheem.
In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful.If Allah were to punish mankind for its wrongdoing, He would not leave even an animal around the wrongdoers, but He gives them respite for an appointed time. But when their appointed time comes, they can neither stay behind for a moment nor can they go before it.[61] They attribute to Allah what they themselves hate. Their tongues mouth the lie that they will have a good reward. Let there be no doubt: the only thing they will have is hell, and they will be sent ahead of the others.[62] By Allah! We sent Messengers before you (O Muhammad) to other nations; but shaitãn made their deeds seem fair to them so they did not believe, he is their patron today, and they shall have a painful punishment.[63] We have revealed to you the Qur’an so that you may clearly explain to them the reality of those things in which they differ – it is a guidance and blessing for those people who believe.[64] Allah sends down water from the sky, and with it gives life to the land after it has been dead (this Qur’an is being sent to serve the same purpose). Surely in this example there is a sign for those who listen.[65] 16:[61-65]
Surely there is a lesson for you in cattle. We give you to drink of what is in their bellies, between bowels and blood – pure milk – pleasant for those who drink it.[66] Likewise in the fruits of the date-palm and the grapes, from which you derive intoxicants and wholesome food, certainly there is a sign for those people who use their common sense.[67] Behold! Your Lord inspired the bees to build their hives in the mountains, in the trees, and in anything which men may build for beekeeping,[68] and feed on every kind of fruit and follow the smooth ways of your Lord. From its belly comes forth a syrup of different colors, which contains a healing for mankind. Certainly in this there is a sign for those who think.[69] Allah is the One Who created you, then He causes you to die; there are some amongst you whose lives are prolonged to an abject old age so that they know nothing after having known much. In fact Allah is the All-Knowing, Almighty.[70] 16:[66-70]
Allah has made some of you excel in sustenance over the others; those who are so favored, do not give away their sustenance to their slaves so as to make them their equals. How can you think that Allah will allow other deities to be His equals? Would they refuse to acknowledge the favors of Allah?[71] It is Allah Who has made for you mates from your own species and He is the One Who gives you sons and daughters and grandchildren through those wives, and provides for you good things to eat: will they then, after knowing all that, believe that falsehood and disbelieve Allah’s favors?[72] They worship those deities other than Allah, who neither provide them anything for sustenance from the heavens or the earth, nor have any power to do so?[73] Therefore, compare none with Allah. Surely Allah knows and you do not know.[74] Allah gives you another example of two men: one of them is a slave, the property of the other, and has no power over anything; and the other man is one on whom We have bestowed Our bounty, from which he freely spends secretly and openly. Ask them: “Are those two men equal?” Praise be to Allah – most of them do not understand this simple thing.[75] Well! Allah gives you another example of two men: one of them is dumb and has no ability to do anything – a burden on his master – whenever he sends him on an errand, he does nothing useful. Can he be equal to the one who executes orders properly and follows the directions in a Right Way?[76] 16:[71-76]
Ameen.
This concludes today’s episode of the 17 Verses Podcast. I hope that this selection has helped increase your understanding of the holy Qur’an just a little bit.
Thank you and be well.