(Revealed at Mecca)

128 Verses in 16 Sections

Sections of An-Nahl (The Bee)

1. The Existence of God, proved by Nature.

2. God’s Unity, testified in Nature.

3. God of all is Only One.

4. The disgrace which the wicked shall suffer.

5. Every people had the guidance through Apostles from God.

6. To seek guidance from the People of the Qur’an.

7. Polytheism prohibited.

8. Qur’an - the Guidance and the Mercy.

9. Guidance from the Bounties of God for Man.

10. The Faithful and the Unfaithful ones compared.

11. The Hour of Judgment shall arrive suddenly.

12. Apostle Muhammad a witness over all witnesses.

13. To keep up covenants and promises.

14. Qur’an brought down by the Holy Spirit.

15. Every soul shall be paid in full what it has earned.

16. Abraham praised - his faith made an ideal.

Important Topics

1. People warned of God’s punishment. (Verse 1).

2. The evils of those who mock at the truth shall encompass them. (Verse 34).

3. Every nation had an apostle from God. (Verse 36).

4. To ask the people of Dhikr - (those vested with the knowledge of the Qur’an) when one does not know. (Verse 43).

5. When the doom comes, none shall delay it or bring it before. (Verse 61).

6. The Bee divinely inspired. (Verse 68).

7. A witness shall be raised from every nation and the Holy Prophet shall be called to witness over them all. (Verses 84-89).

8. The orphans and the kindred to be dealt with equity and good. (Verse 90).

9. When reciting Qur’an to seek refuge against the accursed Satan. (Verse 98).

10. The ordinance to observe ‘Taqiyyah’. (Verse 106).

11. God sets seal on the hearts of those who pay not heed to the goodness preached to them. (Verse 108).

12. Pardon for those who commit sins ignorantly and then amend. (Verse 119).

13. To call people to the Way of God with wisdom and goodly exhortation. (Verse 125).

Introduction

Some commentators of the early days thought some Verses of this Chapter are Mecci and some are Madani. Though it is possible and has some examples of such combination in some other chapters also, but here they did not quote any external or internal evidence in support of their claims.

Most probably their view was based on the fact that some Verses of this Chapter deal with migration of the believers and their exercise of patience or for the permission for retaliation. If it be so, the basis is very weak because the reference may be to the first migration to Abyssinia and the permission for retaliation may be for the individuals who could retaliate to some extent. (A.P.).