Chapter 16: An-Nahl (The Bee)
Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2025 5:46 pm
Chapter 16: Surah An‑Nahl (سورة النحل) - Simple Quran Translation In English
Meaning: The Bee | Has 128 Verses | Revealed In: Mecca (Makki Surah)

1. أَتَىٰٓ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَسْتَعْجِلُوهُ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
The command of Allah is coming, so do not be impatient for it. Glorified and Exalted is He above what they associate with Him.
2. يُنَزِّلُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةَ بِٱلرُّوحِ مِنْ أَمْرِهِۦ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦٓ أَنْ أَنْذِرُوٓا۟ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱتَّقُونِ
He sends down the angels with the revelation by His command to whoever He wills of His servants: “Warn that there is no god except Me, so fear Me.”
3. خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ تَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
He created the heavens and the earth for a purpose. Exalted is He above what they associate with Him.
4. خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مِن نُّطْفَةٍۢ فَإِذَا هُوَ خَصِيمٌۭ مُّبِينٌۭ
He created man from a sperm-drop, yet he becomes a clear opponent.
5. وَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمَ خَلَقَهَا ۗ لَكُمْ فِيهَا دِفْءٌۭ وَمَنَـٰفِعُ وَمِنْهَا تَأْكُلُونَ
And the grazing livestock He created for you; in them is warmth and \[other] benefits, and from them you eat.
6. وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا جَمَالٌ حِينَ تُرِيحُونَ وَحِينَ تَسْرَحُونَ
And for you in them is beauty when you bring them in \[for rest] and when you send them out \[to pasture].
7. وَتَحْمِلُ أَثْقَـٰلَكُمْ إِلَىٰ بَلَدٍۢ لَّمْ تَكُونُوا۟ بَـٰلِغِيهِ إِلَّا بِشِقِّ ٱلْأَنفُسِ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ لَرَءُوفٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ
And they carry your loads to lands you could not have reached except with difficulty to yourselves. Indeed, your Lord is Most Kind, Most Merciful.
8. وَٱلْخَيْلَ وَٱلْبِغَالَ وَٱلْحَمِيرَ لِتَرْكَبُوهَا وَزِينَةًۭ ۚ وَيَخْلُقُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
And \[He created] horses, mules, and donkeys for you to ride and for adornment. And He creates what you do not know.
9. وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ قَصْدُ ٱلسَّبِيلِ ۗ وَمِنْهَا جَآئِرٌۭ ۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ لَهَدَىٰكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
And upon Allah is the direction of the straight path, but there are ways that deviate. If He had willed, He would have guided you all.
10. هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءًۭ لَّكُم مِّنْهُ شَرَابٌۭ وَمِنْهُ شَجَرٌۭ فِيهِ تُسِيمُونَ
It is He who sends down water from the sky. From it is drink and from it grows vegetation on which you pasture your cattle.
11. يُنبِتُ لَكُم بِهِ ٱلزَّرْعَ وَٱلزَّيْتُونَ وَٱلنَّخِيلَ وَٱلْأَعْنَـٰبَ وَمِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةًۭ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
With it He causes crops to grow for you, and olives, palm trees, grapevines, and every kind of fruit. Surely in this is a sign for people who reflect.
12. وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ ۖ وَٱلنُّجُومُ مُسَخَّرَٰتٌۢ بِأَمْرِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍۢ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَعْقِلُونَ
And He has subjected for you the night and day, and the sun and moon. And the stars are subjected by His command. Surely in this are signs for those who understand.
13. وَمَا ذَرَأَ لَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مُخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَٰنُهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةًۭ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَذَّكَّرُونَ
And \[He created] whatever He spread on the earth for you in varying colors. Surely in this is a sign for those who remember.
14. وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى سَخَّرَ ٱلْبَحْرَ لِتَأْكُلُوا۟ مِنْهُ لَحْمًۭا طَرِيًّۭا وَتَسْتَخْرِجُوا۟ مِنْهُ حِلْيَةًۭ تَلْبَسُونَهَا ۖ وَتَرَى ٱلْفُلْكَ مَوَاخِرَ فِيهِ وَلِتَبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
And He is the One who subjected the sea for you so that you may eat tender meat from it and extract ornaments to wear. And you see the ships sailing through it, so that you may seek His bounty and perhaps you will be grateful.
15. وَأَلْقَىٰ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ رَوَٰسِىَ أَن تَمِيدَ بِكُمْ وَأَنْهَـٰرًۭا وَسُبُلًۭا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
And He placed firm mountains upon the earth so it would not shake with you, and \[He made] rivers and paths so that you may find your way.
16. وَعَلَـٰمَـٰتٍۢ ۚ وَبِٱلنَّجْمِ هُمْ يَهْتَدُونَ
And landmarks as well—and by the stars they are guided.
17. أَفَمَن يَخْلُقُ كَمَن لَّا يَخْلُقُ ۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ
Is then He who creates like one who does not create? Will you not then be mindful?
18. وَإِن تَعُدُّوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَآ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَغَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ
If you tried to count Allah’s blessings, you could never tally them all. Indeed, Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
19. وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تُسِرُّونَ وَمَا تُعْلِنُونَ
Allah knows what you conceal and what you reveal.
20. وَٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ لَا يَخْلُقُونَ شَيْـًٔا وَهُمْ يُخْلَقُونَ
And those you invoke besides Allah create nothing, while they themselves are created.
21. أَمْوَٰتٌۭ غَيْرُ أَحْيَآءٍۢ ۖ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ أَيَّانَ يُبْعَثُونَ
They are dead, not alive, and they do not know when they will be resurrected.
22. إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌۭ وَٰحِدٌۭ ۖ فَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ قُلُوبُهُم مُّنكِرَةٌۭ وَهُم مُّسْتَكْبِرُونَ
Your God is One God. But those who do not believe in the Hereafter— their hearts are in denial, and they are arrogant.
23. لَا جَرَمَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّونَ وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُسْتَكْبِرِينَ
Without a doubt, Allah knows what they conceal and what they reveal. He certainly does not love the arrogant.
24. وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُم مَّاذَآ أَنزَلَ رَبُّكُمْ قَالُوٓا۟ أَسَـٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
And when it is said to them, “What has your Lord revealed?” They say, “Tales of the ancient.”
25. لِيَحْمِلُوٓا۟ أَوْزَارَهُمْ كَامِلَةًۭ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۙ وَمِنْ أَوْزَارِ ٱلَّذِينَ يُضِلُّونَهُم بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۗ أَلَآ سَآءَ مَا يَزِرُونَ
They will bear their burdens in full on the Day of Judgment, as well as some of the burdens of those whom they misled without knowledge. How evil indeed is what they will bear!
Meaning: The Bee | Has 128 Verses | Revealed In: Mecca (Makki Surah)

1. أَتَىٰٓ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَسْتَعْجِلُوهُ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
The command of Allah is coming, so do not be impatient for it. Glorified and Exalted is He above what they associate with Him.
2. يُنَزِّلُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةَ بِٱلرُّوحِ مِنْ أَمْرِهِۦ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦٓ أَنْ أَنْذِرُوٓا۟ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱتَّقُونِ
He sends down the angels with the revelation by His command to whoever He wills of His servants: “Warn that there is no god except Me, so fear Me.”
3. خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ تَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
He created the heavens and the earth for a purpose. Exalted is He above what they associate with Him.
4. خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مِن نُّطْفَةٍۢ فَإِذَا هُوَ خَصِيمٌۭ مُّبِينٌۭ
He created man from a sperm-drop, yet he becomes a clear opponent.
5. وَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمَ خَلَقَهَا ۗ لَكُمْ فِيهَا دِفْءٌۭ وَمَنَـٰفِعُ وَمِنْهَا تَأْكُلُونَ
And the grazing livestock He created for you; in them is warmth and \[other] benefits, and from them you eat.
6. وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا جَمَالٌ حِينَ تُرِيحُونَ وَحِينَ تَسْرَحُونَ
And for you in them is beauty when you bring them in \[for rest] and when you send them out \[to pasture].
7. وَتَحْمِلُ أَثْقَـٰلَكُمْ إِلَىٰ بَلَدٍۢ لَّمْ تَكُونُوا۟ بَـٰلِغِيهِ إِلَّا بِشِقِّ ٱلْأَنفُسِ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ لَرَءُوفٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ
And they carry your loads to lands you could not have reached except with difficulty to yourselves. Indeed, your Lord is Most Kind, Most Merciful.
8. وَٱلْخَيْلَ وَٱلْبِغَالَ وَٱلْحَمِيرَ لِتَرْكَبُوهَا وَزِينَةًۭ ۚ وَيَخْلُقُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
And \[He created] horses, mules, and donkeys for you to ride and for adornment. And He creates what you do not know.
9. وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ قَصْدُ ٱلسَّبِيلِ ۗ وَمِنْهَا جَآئِرٌۭ ۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ لَهَدَىٰكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
And upon Allah is the direction of the straight path, but there are ways that deviate. If He had willed, He would have guided you all.
10. هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءًۭ لَّكُم مِّنْهُ شَرَابٌۭ وَمِنْهُ شَجَرٌۭ فِيهِ تُسِيمُونَ
It is He who sends down water from the sky. From it is drink and from it grows vegetation on which you pasture your cattle.
11. يُنبِتُ لَكُم بِهِ ٱلزَّرْعَ وَٱلزَّيْتُونَ وَٱلنَّخِيلَ وَٱلْأَعْنَـٰبَ وَمِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةًۭ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
With it He causes crops to grow for you, and olives, palm trees, grapevines, and every kind of fruit. Surely in this is a sign for people who reflect.
12. وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ ۖ وَٱلنُّجُومُ مُسَخَّرَٰتٌۢ بِأَمْرِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍۢ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَعْقِلُونَ
And He has subjected for you the night and day, and the sun and moon. And the stars are subjected by His command. Surely in this are signs for those who understand.
13. وَمَا ذَرَأَ لَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مُخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَٰنُهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةًۭ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَذَّكَّرُونَ
And \[He created] whatever He spread on the earth for you in varying colors. Surely in this is a sign for those who remember.
14. وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى سَخَّرَ ٱلْبَحْرَ لِتَأْكُلُوا۟ مِنْهُ لَحْمًۭا طَرِيًّۭا وَتَسْتَخْرِجُوا۟ مِنْهُ حِلْيَةًۭ تَلْبَسُونَهَا ۖ وَتَرَى ٱلْفُلْكَ مَوَاخِرَ فِيهِ وَلِتَبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
And He is the One who subjected the sea for you so that you may eat tender meat from it and extract ornaments to wear. And you see the ships sailing through it, so that you may seek His bounty and perhaps you will be grateful.
15. وَأَلْقَىٰ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ رَوَٰسِىَ أَن تَمِيدَ بِكُمْ وَأَنْهَـٰرًۭا وَسُبُلًۭا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
And He placed firm mountains upon the earth so it would not shake with you, and \[He made] rivers and paths so that you may find your way.
16. وَعَلَـٰمَـٰتٍۢ ۚ وَبِٱلنَّجْمِ هُمْ يَهْتَدُونَ
And landmarks as well—and by the stars they are guided.
17. أَفَمَن يَخْلُقُ كَمَن لَّا يَخْلُقُ ۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ
Is then He who creates like one who does not create? Will you not then be mindful?
18. وَإِن تَعُدُّوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَآ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَغَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ
If you tried to count Allah’s blessings, you could never tally them all. Indeed, Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
19. وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تُسِرُّونَ وَمَا تُعْلِنُونَ
Allah knows what you conceal and what you reveal.
20. وَٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ لَا يَخْلُقُونَ شَيْـًٔا وَهُمْ يُخْلَقُونَ
And those you invoke besides Allah create nothing, while they themselves are created.
21. أَمْوَٰتٌۭ غَيْرُ أَحْيَآءٍۢ ۖ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ أَيَّانَ يُبْعَثُونَ
They are dead, not alive, and they do not know when they will be resurrected.
22. إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌۭ وَٰحِدٌۭ ۖ فَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ قُلُوبُهُم مُّنكِرَةٌۭ وَهُم مُّسْتَكْبِرُونَ
Your God is One God. But those who do not believe in the Hereafter— their hearts are in denial, and they are arrogant.
23. لَا جَرَمَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّونَ وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُسْتَكْبِرِينَ
Without a doubt, Allah knows what they conceal and what they reveal. He certainly does not love the arrogant.
24. وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُم مَّاذَآ أَنزَلَ رَبُّكُمْ قَالُوٓا۟ أَسَـٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
And when it is said to them, “What has your Lord revealed?” They say, “Tales of the ancient.”
25. لِيَحْمِلُوٓا۟ أَوْزَارَهُمْ كَامِلَةًۭ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۙ وَمِنْ أَوْزَارِ ٱلَّذِينَ يُضِلُّونَهُم بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۗ أَلَآ سَآءَ مَا يَزِرُونَ
They will bear their burdens in full on the Day of Judgment, as well as some of the burdens of those whom they misled without knowledge. How evil indeed is what they will bear!