Overview (Verses 68 - 69)

The Bee and Its Honey
 
Your Lord has inspired the bee: ‘Take up homes in the mountains, in the trees and in structures people may put up. Then eat of all manner of fruit, and follow humbly the paths your Lord has made smooth for you. ‘There issues from its inside a drink of different colours, a cure for people. Surely in this there is a sign for people who think. (Verses 68-69)
 
The bees work on the prompting of their nature which God has given them. It is an inspiration that they follow. The work the bees do is so detailed, accurate and well planned that the rational mind finds it difficult to contemplate. This applies to the building of the hives, the division of the work between the tees, and to their production of pure honey.
 
The bees take up home, according to their nature, in hills and mountains, in trees and in structures people put up for their vines or other plants. God has smoothed things for the bees through what He has planted in their nature and through the nature of the world around them. The verse states that honey provides a cure for people. Although this has already been fully explained by some medical experts, it is also true for the simple reason that the Qur’ān states it. This is what every Muslim should believe, based on the complete truth embodied in the Qur’ān. This is what the Prophet expressed very clearly.
 
Al-Bukhārī and Muslim relate on the authority of Abū Sa`īd al-Khudrī that “a man came to the Prophet telling him that his brother was suffering from diarrhoea. The Prophet told him: ‘Give him a drink of honey.’ The man did, then he came again and said: ‘Messenger of God, I have given him honey, but his complaint has worsened.’ The Prophet said to him: ‘Go and give him a drink of honey.’ The man went away again before returning the third time to say: ‘Messenger of God, that has only aggravated his condition.’ The Prophet said emphatically: ‘God tells the truth and your brother’s belly tells lies. Go and give him a drink of honey.’ The man did just that and his brother took the drink and was cured.” [Related by al-Bukhārī and Muslim]
 
This report is so significant because it demonstrates the Prophet’s complete trust in the face of the patient’s seeming deterioration when given honey to drink. But the situation ended with a clear confirmation of the truth stated in the Qur’ān. A Muslim should always have such complete trust in the truth of what the Qur’ān says, even though reality may appear to contradict it at times. In other words, what is stated in the Qur’ān is more truthful than apparent reality, which could easily change, giving way to a new reality that will confirm the Qur’ānic statement.
 
We need to reflect a little on the fine harmony in portraying these blessings: the sending down of water from the sky, the production of milk alongside excretions and blood, the derivation of intoxicants and wholesome food from the fruits of date and vine trees, and the production of honey by bees. All are drinks produced from materials that possess totally different shapes and forms. Since the context is that of drinks, the only aspect of blessings related to cattle mentioned here is their milk. This adds to the harmony of the vocabulary employed in this panoramic scene. In the next passage we will see how the sūrah mentions the hide, wool and hair of cattle, because the context then is one of dwellings, homes and places of refuge. Hence the aspects of cattle mentioned there are those that fit that scene. This is an essential element of the artistic harmony evident in the Qur’ān.
 

Overview (Verses 68 - 69)

The Bee and Its Honey
 
Your Lord has inspired the bee: ‘Take up homes in the mountains, in the trees and in structures people may put up. Then eat of all manner of fruit, and follow humbly the paths your Lord has made smooth for you. ‘There issues from its inside a drink of different colours, a cure for people. Surely in this there is a sign for people who think. (Verses 68-69)
 
The bees work on the prompting of their nature which God has given them. It is an inspiration that they follow. The work the bees do is so detailed, accurate and well planned that the rational mind finds it difficult to contemplate. This applies to the building of the hives, the division of the work between the tees, and to their production of pure honey.
 
The bees take up home, according to their nature, in hills and mountains, in trees and in structures people put up for their vines or other plants. God has smoothed things for the bees through what He has planted in their nature and through the nature of the world around them. The verse states that honey provides a cure for people. Although this has already been fully explained by some medical experts, it is also true for the simple reason that the Qur’ān states it. This is what every Muslim should believe, based on the complete truth embodied in the Qur’ān. This is what the Prophet expressed very clearly.
 
Al-Bukhārī and Muslim relate on the authority of Abū Sa`īd al-Khudrī that “a man came to the Prophet telling him that his brother was suffering from diarrhoea. The Prophet told him: ‘Give him a drink of honey.’ The man did, then he came again and said: ‘Messenger of God, I have given him honey, but his complaint has worsened.’ The Prophet said to him: ‘Go and give him a drink of honey.’ The man went away again before returning the third time to say: ‘Messenger of God, that has only aggravated his condition.’ The Prophet said emphatically: ‘God tells the truth and your brother’s belly tells lies. Go and give him a drink of honey.’ The man did just that and his brother took the drink and was cured.” [Related by al-Bukhārī and Muslim]
 
This report is so significant because it demonstrates the Prophet’s complete trust in the face of the patient’s seeming deterioration when given honey to drink. But the situation ended with a clear confirmation of the truth stated in the Qur’ān. A Muslim should always have such complete trust in the truth of what the Qur’ān says, even though reality may appear to contradict it at times. In other words, what is stated in the Qur’ān is more truthful than apparent reality, which could easily change, giving way to a new reality that will confirm the Qur’ānic statement.
 
We need to reflect a little on the fine harmony in portraying these blessings: the sending down of water from the sky, the production of milk alongside excretions and blood, the derivation of intoxicants and wholesome food from the fruits of date and vine trees, and the production of honey by bees. All are drinks produced from materials that possess totally different shapes and forms. Since the context is that of drinks, the only aspect of blessings related to cattle mentioned here is their milk. This adds to the harmony of the vocabulary employed in this panoramic scene. In the next passage we will see how the sūrah mentions the hide, wool and hair of cattle, because the context then is one of dwellings, homes and places of refuge. Hence the aspects of cattle mentioned there are those that fit that scene. This is an essential element of the artistic harmony evident in the Qur’ān.