Chapter 16
An Nahl (The Honey Bee)
16.1
surah 16 - verse 1
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | God's command comes; so seek not to hasten it. Glory be to Him! High be He exalted above that they associate with Him! |
| Maududi | Allah's judgement has (all but) come; do not, then, call for its speedy advent. Holy is He, and far above their associating others with Him in His Divinity. |
| Pickthall | The commandment of Allah will come to pass, so seek not ye to hasten it. Glorified and Exalted be He above all that they associate (with Him). |
| Sahih | The command of Allah is coming, so be not impatient for it. Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him. |
| Yusuf Ali | (Inevitable) cometh (to pass) the Command of Allah: seek ye not then to hasten it: Glory to Him, and far is He above having the partners they ascribe unto Him! |
16.2
surah 16 - verse 2
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | He sends down the angels with the Spirit of His command upon whomsoever He will among His servants, saying: Give you warning that there is no God but I; so fear you Me! |
| Maududi | He sends down this spirit (of prophecy) by His command through His angels on any of His servants whom He wills, (directing them): "Warn people that there is no deity but Me; so hold Me alone in fear." |
| Pickthall | He sendeth down the angels with the Spirit of His command unto whom He will of His bondmen, (saying): Warn mankind that there is no Allah save Me, so keep your duty unto Me. |
| Sahih | He sends down the angels, with the inspiration of His command, upon whom He wills of His servants, [telling them], "Warn that there is no deity except Me; so fear Me." |
| Yusuf Ali | He doth send down His angels with inspiration of His Command, to such of His servants as He pleaseth, (saying): "Warn (Man) that there is no god but I: so do your duty unto Me." |
16.3
surah 16 - verse 3
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | He created the heavens and the earth in truth; high be He exalted above that they associate With Him! |
| Maududi | He created the heavens and the earth with Truth. Exalted is He above whatever they associate with Allah in His Divinity. |
| Pickthall | He hath created the heavens and the earth with truth. High be He Exalted above all that they associate (with Him). |
| Sahih | He created the heavens and earth in truth. High is He above what they associate with Him. |
| Yusuf Ali | He has created the heavens and the earth for just ends: Far is He above having the partners they ascribe to Him! |
16.4
surah 16 - verse 4
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | He created man of a sperm-drop; and, behold, he is a manifest adversary. |
| Maududi | He created man out of a mere drop of fluid, and lo! he turned into an open wrangler. |
| Pickthall | He hath created man from a drop of fluid, yet behold! he is an open opponent. |
| Sahih | He created man from a sperm-drop; then at once, he is a clear adversary. |
| Yusuf Ali | He has created man from a sperm-drop; and behold this same (man) becomes an open disputer! |
16.5
surah 16 - verse 5
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | And the cattle -- He created them for you; in them is warmth, and uses various, and of them you eat, |
| Maududi | He created the cattle. They are a source of clothing and food and also a variety of other benefits for you. |
| Pickthall | And the cattle hath He created, whence ye have warm clothing and uses, and whereof ye eat; |
| Sahih | And the grazing livestock He has created for you; in them is warmth and [numerous] benefits, and from them you eat. |
| Yusuf Ali | And cattle He has created for you (men): from them ye derive warmth, and numerous benefits, and of their (meat) ye eat. |
16.6
surah 16 - verse 6
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | and there is beauty in them for you, when you bring them home to rest and when you drive them forth abroad to pasture; |
| Maududi | And you find beauty in them as you drive them to pasture in the morning and as you drive them back home in the evening; |
| Pickthall | And wherein is beauty for you, when ye bring them home, and when ye take them out to pasture. |
| Sahih | And for you in them is [the enjoyment of] beauty when you bring them in [for the evening] and when you send them out [to pasture]. |
| Yusuf Ali | And ye have a sense of pride and beauty in them as ye drive them home in the evening, and as ye lead them forth to pasture in the morning. |
16.7
surah 16 - verse 7
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | and they bear your loads unto a land that you never would reach, excepting with great distress. Surely your Lord is All-clement, All-compassionate. |
| Maududi | and they carry your loads to many a place which you would be unable to reach without much hardship. Surely your Lord is Intensely Loving, Most Merciful. |
| Pickthall | And they bear your loads for you unto a land ye could not reach save with great trouble to yourselves. Lo! your Lord is Full of Pity, Merciful. |
| Sahih | And they carry your loads to a land you could not have reached except with difficulty to yourselves. Indeed, your Lord is Kind and Merciful. |
| Yusuf Ali | And they carry your heavy loads to lands that ye could not (otherwise) reach except with souls distressed: for your Lord is indeed Most Kind, Most Merciful, |
16.8
surah 16 - verse 8
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | And horses, and mules, and asses, for you to ride, and as an adornment; and He creates what you know not. |
| Maududi | And He created horses and mules and asses for you to ride, and also for your adornment. And He creates many things (for you) that you do not even know about. |
| Pickthall | And horses and mules and asses (hath He created) that ye may ride them, and for ornament. And He createth that which ye know not. |
| Sahih | And [He created] the horses, mules and donkeys for you to ride and [as] adornment. And He creates that which you do not know. |
| Yusuf Ali | And (He has created) horses, mules, and donkeys, for you to ride and use for show; and He has created (other) things of which ye have no knowledge. |
16.9
surah 16 - verse 9
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | God's it is to show the way; and some do swerve from it. If He willed, He would have guided you all together. |
| Maududi | It rests with Allah alone to show you the Right Way, even when there are many crooked ways. Had He so willed, He would have (perforce) guided you all aright. |
| Pickthall | And Allah's is the direction of the way, and some (roads) go not straight. And had He willed He would have led you all aright. |
| Sahih | And upon Allah is the direction of the [right] way, and among the various paths are those deviating. And if He willed, He could have guided you all. |
| Yusuf Ali | And unto Allah leads straight the Way, but there are ways that turn aside: if Allah had willed, He could have guided all of you. |
16.10
surah 16 - verse 10
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | It is He who sends down to you out of heaven water of which you have to drink, and of which trees, for you to pasture your herds, |
| Maududi | He it is Who sends down water for you from the sky out of which you drink and out of which grow the plants on which you pasture your cattle, |
| Pickthall | He it is Who sendeth down water from the sky, whence ye have drink, and whence are trees on which ye send your beasts to pasture. |
| Sahih | It is He who sends down rain from the sky; from it is drink and from it is foliage in which you pasture [animals]. |
| Yusuf Ali | It is He who sends down rain from the sky: from it ye drink, and out of it (grows) the vegetation on which ye feed your cattle. |
16.11
surah 16 - verse 11
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | and thereby He brings forth for you crops, and olives, and palms, and vines, and all manner of fruit. Surely in that is a sign for a people who reflect. |
| Maududi | and by virtue of which He causes crops and olives and date-palms and grapes and all kinds of fruit to grow for you. Surely in this there is a great Sign for those who reflect. |
| Pickthall | Therewith He causeth crops to grow for you, and the olive and the date-palm and grapes and all kinds of fruit. Lo! herein is indeed a portent for people who reflect. |
| Sahih | He causes to grow for you thereby the crops, olives, palm trees, grapevines, and from all the fruits. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who give thought. |
| Yusuf Ali | With it He produces for you corn, olives, date-palms, grapes and every kind of fruit: verily in this is a sign for those who give thought. |
16.12
surah 16 - verse 12
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | And He subjected to you the night and day, and the sun and moon; and the stars are subjected by His command. Surely in that are signs for a people who understand. |
| Maududi | He has subjected for you the night and the day and the sun and the moon and the stars have also been made subservient by His command. Surely there are Signs in this for those who use their reason. |
| Pickthall | And He hath constrained the night and the day and the sun and the moon to be of service unto you, and the stars are made subservient by His command. Lo! herein indeed are portents for people who have sense. |
| Sahih | And He has subjected for you the night and day and the sun and moon, and the stars are subjected by His command. Indeed in that are signs for a people who reason. |
| Yusuf Ali | He has made subject to you the Night and the Day; the sun and the moon; and the stars are in subjection by His Command: verily in this are Signs for men who are wise. |
16.13
surah 16 - verse 13
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | And that which He has multiplied for you in the earth of diverse hues. Surely in that is a sign for a people who remember. |
| Maududi | And there are also Signs for those who take heed in the numerous things of various colours that He has created for you on earth. |
| Pickthall | And whatsoever He hath created for you in the earth of divers hues, lo! therein is indeed a portent for people who take heed. |
| Sahih | And [He has subjected] whatever He multiplied for you on the earth of varying colors. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who remember. |
| Yusuf Ali | And the things on this earth which He has multiplied in varying colours (and qualities): verily in this is a sign for men who celebrate the praises of Allah (in gratitude). |
16.14
surah 16 - verse 14
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | It is He who subjected to you the sea, that you may eat of it fresh flesh, and bring forth out of it ornaments for you to wear; and thou mayest see the ships cleaving through it; and that you may seek of His bounty, and so haply you will be thankful. |
| Maududi | And He it is Who has subjected the sea that you may eat fresh fish from it and bring forth ornaments from it that you can wear. And you see ships ploughing their course through it so that you may go forth seeking His Bounty and be grateful to Him. |
| Pickthall | And He it is Who hath constrained the sea to be of service that ye eat fresh meat from thence, and bring forth from thence ornaments which ye wear. And thou seest the ships ploughing it that ye (mankind) may seek of His bounty and that haply ye may give thanks. |
| Sahih | And it is He who subjected the sea for you to eat from it tender meat and to extract from it ornaments which you wear. And you see the ships plowing through it, and [He subjected it] that you may seek of His bounty; and perhaps you will be grateful. |
| Yusuf Ali | It is He Who has made the sea subject, that ye may eat thereof flesh that is fresh and tender, and that ye may extract therefrom ornaments to wear; and thou seest the ships therein that plough the waves, that ye may seek (thus) of the bounty of Allah and that ye may be grateful. |
16.15
surah 16 - verse 15
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | And He cast on the earth firm mountains, lest it shake with you, and rivers and ways; so haply you will be guided; |
| Maududi | And He has placed firm mountains on the earth lest it should move away from you, and has made rivers and tracks that you may find your way, |
| Pickthall | And He hath cast into the earth firm hills that it quake not with you, and streams and roads that ye may find a way. |
| Sahih | And He has cast into the earth firmly set mountains, lest it shift with you, and [made] rivers and roads, that you may be guided, |
| Yusuf Ali | And He has set up on the earth mountains standing firm, lest it should shake with you; and rivers and roads; that ye may guide yourselves; |
16.16
surah 16 - verse 16
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | and waymarks; and by the stars they are guided. |
| Maududi | and He has set other landmarks in the earth. And by the stars too do people find their way. |
| Pickthall | And landmarks (too), and by the star they find a way. |
| Sahih | And landmarks. And by the stars they are [also] guided. |
| Yusuf Ali | And marks and sign-posts; and by the stars (men) guide themselves. |
16.17
surah 16 - verse 17
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | Is He who creates as he who does not create? Will you not remember? |
| Maududi | Is then the One Who creates like the one who does not create? Will you not, then, take heed? |
| Pickthall | Is He then Who createth as him who createth not? Will ye not then remember? |
| Sahih | Then is He who creates like one who does not create? So will you not be reminded? |
| Yusuf Ali | Is then He Who creates like one that creates not? Will ye not receive admonition? |
16.18
surah 16 - verse 18
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | If you count God's blessing, you will never number it; surely God is All-forgiving, All-compassionate. |
| Maududi | For, were you to count the favours of Allah, you will not be able to count them. Surely Allah is Ever Forgiving, Most Merciful. |
| Pickthall | And if ye would count the favour of Allah ye cannot reckon it. Lo! Allah is indeed Forgiving, Merciful. |
| Sahih | And if you should count the favors of Allah, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. |
| Yusuf Ali | If ye would count up the favours of Allah, never would ye be able to number them: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. |
16.19
surah 16 - verse 19
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | And God knows what you keep secret and what you publish. |
| Maududi | Allah knows all that you conceal and all that you disclose. |
| Pickthall | And Allah knoweth that which ye keep hidden and that which ye proclaim. |
| Sahih | And Allah knows what you conceal and what you declare. |
| Yusuf Ali | And Allah doth know what ye conceal, and what ye reveal. |
16.20
surah 16 - verse 20
| translator's name | verse |
| Arberry | And those they call upon, apart from God, created nothing, and themselves are created, |
| Maududi | Those whom they call upon beside Allah have created nothing; rather, they themselves were created; |
| Pickthall | Those unto whom they cry beside Allah created naught, but are themselves created. |
| Sahih | And those they invoke other than Allah create nothing, and they [themselves] are created. |
| Yusuf Ali | Those whom they invoke besides Allah create nothing and are themselves created. |