Surah 16. An-Nahl

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Verses [Section]: 1-9[1], 10-21 [2], 22-25 [3], 26-34 [4], 35-40 [5], 41-50 [6], 51-60 [7], 61-65 [8], 66-70 [9], 71-76 [10], 77-83 [11], 84-89 [12], 90-100 [13], 101-110 [14], 111-119 [15], 120-128 [16]

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Quran Text of Verse 1-916. An-Nahlبِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِاَتٰۤیWill comeاَمْرُthe commandاللّٰهِof Allahفَلَاso (do) notتَسْتَعْجِلُوْهُ ؕ(be) impatient for itسُبْحٰنَهٗGlorified is Heوَ تَعٰلٰیand Exalted (is) Heعَمَّاabove whatیُشْرِكُوْنَ they associate یُنَزِّلُHe sends downالْمَلٰٓىِٕكَةَthe Angelsبِالرُّوْحِwith the inspirationمِنْofاَمْرِهٖHis CommandعَلٰیuponمَنْwhomیَّشَآءُHe willsمِنْofعِبَادِهٖۤHis slavesاَنْthatاَنْذِرُوْۤاWarnاَنَّهٗthat [He]لَاۤ(there is) noاِلٰهَgodاِلَّاۤexceptاَنَاMeفَاتَّقُوْنِ so fear Me خَلَقَHe createdالسَّمٰوٰتِthe heavensوَ الْاَرْضَand the earthبِالْحَقِّ ؕin truthتَعٰلٰیExalted is Heعَمَّاabove whatیُشْرِكُوْنَ they associate خَلَقَHe createdالْاِنْسَانَthe human kindمِنْfromنُّطْفَةٍa minute quantity of semenفَاِذَاthen beholdهُوَheخَصِیْمٌ(is) an opponentمُّبِیْنٌ clear وَ الْاَنْعَامَAnd the cattleخَلَقَهَا ۚHe created themلَكُمْfor youفِیْهَاin themدِفْءٌ(is) warmthوَّ مَنَافِعُand benefitsوَ مِنْهَاand from themتَاْكُلُوْنَ۪you eat وَ لَكُمْAnd for youفِیْهَاin themجَمَالٌ(is) beautyحِیْنَwhenتُرِیْحُوْنَyou bring them inوَ حِیْنَand whenتَسْرَحُوْنَ۪you take them out 16. An-Nahl Page 268وَ تَحْمِلُAnd they carryاَثْقَالَكُمْyour loadsاِلٰیtoبَلَدٍa landلَّمْnotتَكُوْنُوْاyou couldبٰلِغِیْهِreach itاِلَّاexceptبِشِقِّwith great troubleالْاَنْفُسِ ؕ(to) yourselvesاِنَّIndeedرَبَّكُمْyour Lordلَرَءُوْفٌsurely is Most KindرَّحِیْمٌۙMost Merciful وَّ الْخَیْلَAnd horsesوَ الْبِغَالَand mulesوَ الْحَمِیْرَand donkeysلِتَرْكُبُوْهَاfor you to ride themوَ زِیْنَةً ؕand (as) adornmentوَ یَخْلُقُAnd He createsمَاwhatلَاnotتَعْلَمُوْنَ you know وَ عَلَیAnd uponاللّٰهِAllahقَصْدُ(is) the directionالسَّبِیْلِ(of) the wayوَ مِنْهَاand among themجَآىِٕرٌ ؕ(are) crookedوَ لَوْAnd ifشَآءَHe willedلَهَدٰىكُمْsurely He would have guided youاَجْمَعِیْنَ۠all

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Surah Introduction

This Meccan sûrah, also known as the Chapter of Blessings (Sûratu An-Ni'am), takes its name from the bees mentioned in verses 68-69, which are described as one of Allah's numerous favours to humanity.

Instead of showing gratitude to Allah for all these blessings, the pagans wilfully set up idols, associating them with Allah in worship. They are also condemned for burying their daughters alive (verses 58-59). References are made to grateful believers and ungrateful disbelievers along with the ultimate reward for each group. Abraham ( ﷺ ) is cited close to the end of the sûrah as a grateful servant of Allah, whose example should be emulated by all believers. The sûrah concludes by instructing the Prophet ( ﷺ ) to endure patiently and invite all to the Way of Allah with wisdom and grace.

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Translation of Verse 1-91. In the Name of Allah-the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.

1. The command of Allah is at hand, so do not hasten it. Glorified and Exalted is He above what they associate ˹with Him in worship˺!

2. He sends down the angels with revelation by His command to whoever He wills of His servants, ˹stating:˺ "Warn ˹humanity˺ that there is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Me, so be mindful of Me ˹alone˺."

3. He created the heavens and the earth for a purpose. Exalted is He above what they associate with Him ˹in worship˺!

4. He created humans from a sperm-drop, then-behold!-they openly challenge ˹Him˺.

5. And He created the cattle for you as a source of warmth, food, and ˹many other˺ benefits.

6. They are also pleasing to you when you bring them home and when you take them out to graze.

7. And they carry your loads to ˹distant˺ lands which you could not otherwise reach without great hardship. Surely your Lord is Ever Gracious, Most Merciful.

8. ˹He also created˺ horses, mules, and donkeys for your transportation and adornment. And He creates what you do not know.

9. It is upon Allah ˹alone˺ to ˹clearly˺ show the Straight Way. Other ways are deviant. Had He willed, He would have easily imposed guidance upon all of you.

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Commentary