The Bee & the Believer: Discovering Hidden Blessings
وَأَوْحَىٰ رَبُّكَ إِلَى النَّحْلِ أَنِ اتَّخِذِي مِنَ الْجِبَالِ بُيُوتًا وَمِنَ الشَّجَرِ وَمِمَّا يَعْرِشُون
ثُمَّ كُلِي مِن كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ فَاسْلُكِي سُبُلَ رَبِّكِ ذُلُلًا ۚ يَخْرُجُ مِن بُطُونِهَا شَرَابٌ مُّخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهُ فِيهِ شِفَاءٌ لِّلنَّاسِ ۗ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
And your Lord has put into the heart of the bee, saying: “Make homes in the mountains and in the trees and in the roofs. Then eat of all kinds of fruits and follow the paths of your Lord. From its bellies comes forth a drink of various colors, in which is healing for people. Indeed, in this is a sign for those who reflect.”
What is meant by inspiration here is guidance. The bee is guided to make its home in the mountains, in trees and in structures erected by man. The bee’s home is a solid structure, with its hexagonal shapes and interlocking forms there is no looseness in its combs. Then Allah decrees that the bee will have permission to eat from all fruits and to follow the ways which Allah has made easy for it, wherever it wants to go in the vast spaces of the wilderness, valleys and high mountains. Then each bee comes back to its hive without swerving to the right or left, it comes straight back to its home where its offspring and honey are. It makes wax from its wings, and regurgitates honey from its mouth, and lays eggs from its rear, then the next morning it goes out to the fields again.
فَاسْلُكِى سُبُلَ رَبِّكِ ذُلُلاً
(and follow the routes of your Lord made easy (for you)) Qatadah and `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said: “This means, in an obedient way”, understanding it to be a description of the route of migration. Ibn Zayd said that this is like the Ayah:
وَذَلَّلْنَـهَا لَهُمْ فَمِنْهَا رَكُوبُهُمْ وَمِنْهَا يَأْكُلُونَ
(And We have subdued them for them so that some they may ride and some they may eat.) (36:72) He said: “Do you not see that they move the bees’ home from one land to another, and the bees follow them” The first opinion is clearly the more likely, as it describes the routes that the bees follow, i.e., `follow these routes as they are easy for you.’ This was stated by Mujahid. Ibn Jarir said that both opinions are correct.
يَخْرُجُ مِن بُطُونِهَا شَرَابٌ مُّخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهُ فِيهِ شِفَآءٌ لِلنَّاسِ
(There comes forth from their bellies, a drink of varying colors, wherein is healing for men.) meaning, honey, that is white, yellow, red, or of other good colors, depending on the different things that the bees eat.
فِيهِ شِفَآءٌ لِلنَّاسِ
(in which there is a cure for men.) meaning there is a cure in honey for diseases that people suffer from. Some of those who spoke about the study of Prophetic medicine said that if Allah had said, `in which there is the cure for men’, then it would be the remedy for all diseases, but He said, `in which there is a cure for men’, meaning that it is the right treatment for every “cold” disease, because it is “hot”, and a disease should be treated with its opposite. Al-Bukhari and Muslim recorded in their Sahihs from Qatadah from Abu Al-Mutawakkil `Ali bin Dawud An-Naji from Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri that a man came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, “My brother is suffering from diarrhea”. He said,
«اسْقِهِ عَسَلًا»
(Give him honey to drink.) The man went and gave him honey, then he came back and said, “O Messenger of Allah! I gave him honey to drink, and he only got worse.” The Prophet said,
«اذْهَبْ فَاسْقِهِ عَسَلًا»
(Go and give him honey to drink.) So he went and gave him honey, then he came back and said, “O Messenger of Allah! it only made him worse. ” The Prophet said,
«صَدَقَ اللهُ وَكَذَبَ بَطْنُ أَخِيكَ، اذْهَبْ فَاسْقِهِ عَسَلًا»
(Allah speaks the truth and your brother’s stomach is lying. Go and give him honey to drink.) So he went and gave him honey, and he recovered.” It is reported in the Two Sahihs from `A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to like sweet things and honey. This is the wording of Al-Bukhari, who also reported in his Sahih from Ibn `Abbas that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«الشِّفَاءُ فِي ثَلَاثَةٍ: فِي شَرْطَةِ مِحْجَمٍ، أَوْ شَرْبَةِ عَسَلٍ، أَوْ كَيَّةٍ بِنَارٍ، وَأَنْهَى أُمَّتِي عَنِ الْكَي»
(Healing is to be found in three things: the cut made by the cupper, or drinking honey, or in branding with fire (cauterizing), but I have forbidden my Ummah to use branding.)
إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لآيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
(There is indeed a sign in that for people who reflect.) meaning in the fact that Allah inspires this weak little creature to travel through the vast fields and feed from every kind of fruit, then gather it for wax and honey, which are some of the best things, in this is a sign for people who think about the might and power of the bee’s Creator Who causes all of this to happen. From this they learn that He is the Initiator, the All-Powerful, the All-Wise, the All-Knowing, the Most Generous, the Most Merciful.
The Miracle of the Bee
Surah al-Nahl, also known as “The Bee,” contains a beautiful reminder of how even the smallest of Allah’s creatures carries immense wisdom. Through the example of the bee, Allah ﷻ highlights a world of blessings, precision, and divine order—turning an ordinary insect into a profound sign for humanity.
“And your Lord inspired the bees: Make your homes in the mountains, the trees, and what people build. Then eat from the fruits, and follow the pathways your Lord has made easy for you. From their bellies emerges a drink of different colors, containing healing for mankind. Surely in this is a sign for people who reflect.” (16:68-69)
In these verses, the bee is not presented as a fragile creature, but as a remarkable work of divine engineering—guided, skilled, and purposeful.
What makes this verse even more extraordinary is Allah’s use of the word أَوْحَىٰ (awḥā)—a word used for divine revelation to prophets. Allah ﷻ informs us that the bee itself received a form of revelation, granting it knowledge and instinct directly from Him.
Furthermore, the verse uses feminine grammar, pointing specifically to the female bee—the one responsible for nearly all hive functions, such as building, cleaning, defending, and producing honey. The pronoun in بُطُونِهَا also indicates that the bee possesses more than one stomach—one for digestion and another to store nectar. Although science only discovered this dual system centuries later, the Qur’an revealed it over 1,400 years ago.
Never Too Small to Make a Big Difference
After listing His countless blessings, Allah ﷻ mentions the bee—reminding us that greatness often lies in what appears small and unnoticed. Below are six qualities of the bee that believers can strive to embody.
1. Guard a Hidden Treasure
As the bee moves from flower to flower, it conceals within itself a priceless gift—honey. Though small and insignificant in appearance, it carries something of immense value.
Similarly, a believer may seem ordinary in the eyes of others, yet they carry within themselves a hidden treasure—faith, a private bond between them and Allah.
This is reflected in the wisdom of Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA), who advised believers to be like bees among birds—small in appearance but carrying treasure inside.
2. Seek Only What Is Halal
The Prophet ﷺ compared the believer to a bee in its behavior and purity:
“The believer is like a bee: it eats what is pure, produces what is pure, and when it lands, it does not break or spoil anything.” (Musnad Ahmad)
A bee gathers only from clean, lawful sources —meaning a believer must ensure their income, actions, and pursuits are halal, dignified, and trusting in Allah’s decree.
The Prophet ﷺ also said:
“Fear Allah and be moderate in seeking a living, for every soul will receive its provision in full, even if delayed. Take what is lawful and leave what is forbidden.” (Sunan Ibn Majah)
3. Spread Goodness Wherever You Go
The bee engages with flowers delicately, without harming them. In doing so, it facilitates pollination, bringing life and growth.
Likewise, a believer should approach people with mercy and gentleness—creating benefit rather than burden.
“Allah is Gentle and loves gentleness, and He rewards for it what He does not reward for harshness.” (Sunan Ibn Majah)
The bee gives more than it receives. This teaches us to live generously, without expecting anything back.
4. Live a Life of Benefit
Despite having a short lifespan, a bee spends its entire existence working for its community and providing benefit to others.
A believer is also sent to serve—not merely exist. With a lifespan far longer than a bee, we have no excuse not to dedicate our lives to benefiting humanity.
“The most beloved people to Allah are those who are most beneficial to others.” (Al-Mu’jam al-Awsat)
Every act that brings relief, joy, or support is beloved to Allah.
5. Build Strong Communities
Bees are not only hardworking individually but also deeply cooperative. Their unity produces honey—a source of nourishment and healing.
For believers, this reflects the importance of community, teamwork, and shared purpose. Competition, ego, and division weaken the Ummah. Unity empowers it.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The believer to another believer is like a wall—each strengthening the other.”
He then interlaced his fingers.
When every member plays their role with sincerity, the Ummah becomes a healing force for the world.
6. Choose Positivity over Negativity
A bee can find sweetness even in unpleasant places. It extracts goodness, carries it within, and spreads it outward.
A fly, on the other hand, ignores flowers and seeks filth—even in gardens.
This teaches us that belief requires us to search for goodness, uplift others, and avoid the toxicity of pessimism, gossip, and blame. Negativity cripples individuals and communities alike.
A Tiny Creature with Profound Lessons
How humbling it is that a creature as small as a bee carries wisdom that shapes the life of a believer. Through reflecting on Allah’s creation, our hearts soften, and our appreciation of His mercy deepens.
The more we contemplate His signs, the more we recognize His Majesty, His Power, and His Wisdom in all the blessings that surround us.
