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Among all the creatures the Qur'an mentions with precision, the honeybee holds a special place. An entire surah is even named after it: Surah An-Nahl, "The Honeybees." It is no accident that Allah chose to dedicate a passage of His Book to this small insect, for its organization, its work, and what it produces bear witness to a wisdom that surpasses human understanding.

Divine inspiration given to a tiny creature

In Surah An-Nahl, Allah reveals that He has inspired the honeybee with its behavior, just as He inspires the prophets with their mission:

﴿ وَأَوْحَىٰ رَبُّكَ إِلَى النَّحْلِ أَنِ اتَّخِذِي مِنَ الْجِبَالِ بُيُوتًا وَمِنَ الشَّجَرِ وَمِمَّا يَعْرِشُونَ ﴾

"And your Lord revealed to the honeybee: 'Build your dwellings in the mountains, in the trees, and in the trellises that men erect.'"

(Surah An-Nahl, verse 68)

This verse shows that the honeybee does not build its honeycombs through mere blind instinct: according to the scholars of Qur'anic exegesis, this is a form of divine inspiration (wahy) unique to this creature, different of course from the revelation given to the prophets, yet it testifies that nothing in creation is left to chance. Allah guides every being according to what suits its nature.

Honey, a healing substance for mankind

The following verse from the same surah continues by describing what the honeybee produces after gathering nectar from flowers and fruits:

﴿ ثُمَّ كُلِي مِن كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ فَاسْلُكِي سُبُلَ رَبِّكِ ذُلُلًا ۚ يَخْرُجُ مِن بُطُونِهَا شَرَابٌ مُّخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهُ فِيهِ شِفَاءٌ لِّلنَّاسِ ۗ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ ﴾

"Then eat from every kind of fruit and follow the ways of your Lord, made easy for you." From within their bodies comes a drink of varying colors, in which there is healing for people. In this is truly a sign for people who reflect."

(Surah An-Nahl, verse 69)

Thus, honey is presented not merely as a pleasant food, but as a remedy, a blessing granted to mankind through the quiet and organized work of these small creatures. It is reported in Sahih al-Bukhari that a man came to the Prophet ﷺ complaining that his brother's stomach was unwell; the Prophet ﷺ advised him to give his brother honey to drink, thereby confirming the recognized medicinal use of this blessed product.

A lesson in organization and discipline

Beyond the honey itself, Muslim scholars have often emphasized the example the hive represents: each honeybee there occupies a precise role, serving a harmonious whole, with no disorder or waste. This organization, which we can observe today through science, has only confirmed the truth of what the Qur'an described more than fourteen centuries ago, at a time when no one could have known the internal structure of a hive.

It is reported that the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ were particularly fond of honey, and that the Prophet ﷺ himself consumed it, as related in several authentic reports gathered in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.

The respect owed to all creatures

This account of the honeybee reminds us that every creature, no matter how small, participates in an order willed by Allah and deserves respect. Destroying a hive without necessity, neglecting pollinating insects, or needlessly disturbing their environment goes against the spirit of observation and gratitude that the Qur'an invites us to cultivate toward creation. Caring for honeybees, protecting the flowers they visit, and preserving the natural world that sustains them is also a concrete way to honor the divine wisdom they carry.

Honey bee

Apis mellifera · Data deficient