Conclusion of Surah Al Nahl

In my last post, I touched on how Surah AlNahl (chapter 16 in the Quran) speaks of God's blessings for us, from animals to rain, to senses to reproduction and so much more. If you have not read that post, I would recommend reading it first before this one.

After reading about all these blessings from God to us, I couldn't help but realize how the concept tied in so well with the conclusion of the chapter.

In verse 112, Allah says:
وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا قَرْيَةً كَانَتْ آمِنَةً مُّطْمَئِنَّةً يَأْتِيهَا رِزْقُهَا رَغَدًا مِّن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ فَكَفَرَتْ بِأَنْعُمِ اللَّهِ فَأَذَاقَهَا اللَّهُ لِبَاسَ الْجُوعِ وَالْخَوْفِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَصْنَعُونَ
And Allah puts forward the example of a township that dwelt secure and well content; its provision coming to it in abundance from every place, but it (its people) denied the Favors of Allah (with ungratefulness). So Allah made it taste hunger (famine) and fear, because of that which they (its people) used to do.

Then in verse 114 He says:
فَكُلُوا مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ اللَّهُ حَلَالًا طَيِّبًا وَاشْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ
So eat of the lawful and good food which Allah has provided for you. And be grateful for the Graces of Allah, if it is He Whom you worship.

And in verse 121, He says:
شَاكِرًا لِّأَنْعُمِهِ اجْتَبَاهُ وَهَدَاهُ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
(Prophet Abraham was) thankful for His (Allah's) Graces. He (Allah) chose him and guided him to a straight path.

Compare all these 3 verses. They have a common denominator, and that is being grateful for God's blessings.

In verse 112, God speaks of a nation that was blessed, but because they failed to acknowledge these blessings were from God and because of their denial, that lead to their very destruction.
In verse 114, God then commands us to acknowledge His favors upon us and thank Him and not be ungrateful.
Finally in verse 121, God speaks of prophet Abraham, and He gives us a quality that this noble prophet had. What was it? Being thankful to his Lord for all the blessings he had.

You see how throughout the entire chapter, God is naming blessing after blessing, favor after favor, and then to conclude, commanding us to acknowledge these blessings and warning us to not be ungrateful? Opening your eyes and seeing this makes the entire chapter tie in so well together. No wonder this chapter is also known as "Blessings" because that really is the gist of what you can conclude. God gave us so much, so why be ungrateful? The least we can do is acknowledge what He gave us, and be thankful. Yes, be thankful.

All of His blessings and favors including the Bee

Surah Alnahl (chapter 16 "the bee") is profound in meaning in the sense that it speaks of God's favors and blessings made for humans on earth. Read this beautiful chapter. You will see how God so eloquently tells us how he made the rain for us to grow our vegetations, how he made animals for us to ride on and take us from place to place, how stars are a source of direction and navigation for us, how the ocean has adornments for us to use (i.e pearls), how he gives us children and grandchildren and a whole offspring from ourselves, and how he gave us shade from things he created such as the trees, and so many other blessings.

3 specific verses in this Surah, which is also referred to the chapter of blessings, really caught my attention.

Verse 66
وَإِنَّ لَكُمْ فِي الْأَنْعَامِ لَعِبْرَةً نُّسْقِيكُم مِّمَّا فِي بُطُونِهِ مِن بَيْنِ فَرْثٍ وَدَمٍ لَّبَنًا خَالِصًا سَائِغًا لِّلشَّارِبِينَ
And, behold, in the cattle [too] there is indeed a lesson for you: We give you to drink of that [fluid] which is [secreted from] within their bellies between that which is to be eliminated [from the animal's body] and [its] life-blood: milk pure and pleasant to those who drink it.

This verse talks about milk and how it's production is a miracle in and of itself. Interestingly, God mentions that it comes from between blood and intestines. What does that have to do with milk? Subhanallah (Glory be to God), today in this day and age we know that scientifically, milk is created when nutrients from the intestinal tract are carried by blood to the mammary glands! Who would have known that this scientific fact is in the Quran, and has been since over 1400 years ago! How amazing.

Verse 69:
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 of all fruits, and follow the ways of your Lord made easy (for you)." There comes forth from their bellies, a drink of varying color wherein is healing for humanity. Verily, in this is indeed a sign for people who think.

This verse is referring to the bee that God created. The drink from the bee refers to honey, and indeed it has various colors of amber, brown, light, etc. And also indeed is it a source of healing. People use it for sore throats, coughs, colds, etc! What's even more interesting is that when referring to the bee that produces the honey, God mentions the female bee, and we know why today: only female bees produce honey. The queen bee is the one in charge, and all worker bees are female! Subhanallah once again!

Lastly, look at verse 78:
وَاللَّهُ أَخْرَجَكُم مِّن بُطُونِ أُمَّهَاتِكُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ شَيْئًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ السَّمْعَ وَالْأَبْصَارَ وَالْأَفْئِدَةَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
And Allah has brought you out from the wombs of your mothers while you know nothing. And He gave you hearing, sight, and affection/intellect that you might give thanks (to Allah).

Here, God speaks of us as newborns, where we are in the womb and then come to the world. He then mentions 3 characteristics that babies have. And interestingly, He mentions them in the same exact order as they appear. In the womb, the baby first hears then sees then after growing up it will start having affection and intellect. That can blow your mind. Surely the One who created us will know which characteristics we develop first, and this verse is one of many proofs of Him! Subhanallah, Glory be to God.

{Reference used for some facts is Yahiya Emerick's "The meaning of the holy Quran in today's English"}.