Sura al-Nahl: Difference between revisions

Sura al-Nahl is 16th sura of the Qur’an. It is a Madani sura located in juz’ 14. This sura is called “al-Nahl”, because it speaks about “Nahl” (“honey bee”) and God’s inspiration to it. This sura speaks about the blessings of God, the hereafter and arguments for the Unity of God and His Glory. Sura al-Nahl advises about justice, kindness, immigration and jihad, and prohibits from oppression, injustice and breaking pledges. Some of the rulings mentioned in this sura are prohibition of drinking alcoholic drinks and blood and eating dead animals and the meat of pigs. It is narrated from the Prophet (a) that whoever recites sura al-Nahl, God will not reckon the blessings He gives him in this world. Also, staying safe from temptations of Satan and his armies is mentioned among the benefits of reciting this sura.

The famous name of this sura is “al-Nahl”. The reason for this naming is that “Nahl” (“honey bee”) is mentioned in this sura. This sura is also named as sura of Ni’am (plural form of “Ni’ma” [“blessing”]), because its main message is mentioning the blessings of God. Sura al-Nahl is a Makki sura and the 70th sura revealed to the Prophet (a). It is sura 16 in the Qur’an now, located in juz’ 14.

Sura al-Nahl has 128 verses, 1851 words and 7838 letters. Regarding volume, it is middle-sized in three fourth of one juz’. It is recommended to prostrate upon recitation of verse 48 of this sura.

# A great part of sura al-Nahl discusses about God’s blessings, such as rain, sunlight, different plants, fruits, foods and animals.

# Mentioning different rulings such as ordering about justice, kindness, immigration, jihad, forbidding the evil, oppression, injustice and breaking pledges. It also invites people to thankfulness and introduces Abraham (a) a thankful servant.

* Content: Inviting polytheists to monotheism and obeying God’s orders

# Proving the Unity and Oneness of God

# Punishment of religion-fighting polytheists

 

Claims of disbelievers about teaching the Qur’an by a non-Arab person, verse 103

Pure religion of Abraham, verses 120 – 121

Necessity of respecting Saturdays by the Jews, verse 124

This verse explains the way to treat objectors. By “wisdom”, knowledge, logic and reasoning  are meant which are rational and “good advice” refers to the words that elicit emotions. It is mentioned in this verse that advice should be good, meaning that it should be empty of harshness, seeking superiority, belittling the person or inciting the feeling of envy in people.

Many of the verses of sura al-Nahl are considered among the verses of ruling. Verse 115 mentions three impermissible things to consume: dead animals, blood and meat of pigs. It is also said that from verses 5, 10, 14 and 66 – 69, it can be understood that honey, fishes, quadrupeds and fruits such as dates, grapes and olive are permissible to eat. Also, it is said that from other verses of this sura (91 – 94) which are about pledge and oath, it can be understood that breaking the pledge and oath is impermissible. Also, verse 106 of this sura is mentioned among proofs in the Qur’an for permissibility of taqiyya.

It is narrated from the Prophet (a) that God will not reckon the blessings which He gives him in this world and his reward will be like the rewards of a person who passes away this world while he makes a good will. Also, it is narrated from Imam al-Baqir (a) that whoever recites sura al-Nahl every month, will not receive any harm in this world and will be away from seventy kinds of afflictions, the mildest of which would be insanity, leprosy and vitiligo, and his abode will be Eden located between other paradises. In Makarim al-akhlaq, Tabrisi mentioned benefits for recitation of this sura such as staying safe from temptations of Satan and his armies.