274 Page Notes

16 Surah An-Nahl (continued)

Page 274 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 274 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 274 of the Quran contains Surah An-Nahl (The Bees, 16), verses 65 through 72. This page is visually and thematically famous for detailing the precise biological and natural wonders Allah created as proofs of divine design: rainwater reviving the dead earth (Verse 65), the production of pure milk within livestock (Verse 66), the intoxicating or wholesome drinks derived from fruits (Verse 67), the architectural mastery and healing honey of the bee (Verses 68–69), and the biological arc of human aging and socioeconomic disparity (Verses 70–72).

Classical commentary (Tafsir) connects these physical, observable signs to explicit canonical Hadiths that provide profound medical, spiritual, and social instructions.

1. Pure Milk from Between Waste and Blood (Verse 66)

"And indeed, for you in grazing livestock is a lesson. We give you drink from what is in their bellies - from between excretion and blood - pure milk, palatable to a drinker." (Quran 16:66)

This verse describes a complex biological filtration process: nutrient extraction from digested food elements occurring side-by-side with the bloodstream to form a completely distinct substance. The Sunnah frames pure milk ($لبناً\ خالصاً$) as a uniquely perfect food source, noting it is the only single substance that serves simultaneously as both complete sustenance and hydration.

• The Prophetic Tradition: Ibn Abbas reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
  "When one of you eats food, let him say: 'O Allah, bless it for us and feed us with something better than it.' But when he is given a drink of milk, let him say: 'O Allah, bless it for us and give us more of it,' for I do not know of any food or drink that suffices in place of both food and drink except milk." (Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 3730; Sunan at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 3455).

2. Intoxicants vs. Wholesome Provision (Verse 67)

"And from the fruits of the date-palms and grapevines you take intoxicants and wholesome provision. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who reason." (Quran 16:67)

Historical Progression of Law (Naskh)

Verse 67 was revealed in Mecca, before the absolute prohibition of alcohol was finalized in Medina. It lists intoxicants ($سَكَراً$) separately from "wholesome provision" ($رِزْقاً\ حَسَناً$), signaling early on that alcohol was not considered an inherently good substance. The Sunnah outlines how this early distinction eventually led to a total ban on all intoxicants.

• The Prophetic Standard: Ibn Umar reported that the Prophet ﷺ stated a universal legal maxim to cover all derivative drinks:
  "Every intoxicant is Khamr (wine/alcohol), and every intoxicant is prohibited." (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2003).

3. The Divine Architecture and Healing Power of the Bee (Verses 68–69)

"And your Lord inspired the bee, 'Take for yourself dwellings in the mountains and in the trees and in what they construct.' Then eat from all the fruits and follow the ways of your Lord laid down [for you]. There emerges from their bellies a drink, varying in colors, in which there is healing for people..." (Quran 16:68-69)

The Structural Instinct of the Bee

The text uses the word Awha ($أَوْحَىٰ$), meaning Allah programmed or hardcoded an instinct directly into the female worker bee's biology to build perfect hexagonal structures and navigate long distances back to the hive without getting lost.

Honey as a Medical Treatment

The Quran explicitly designates honey as having "healing for people" ($فِيهِ\ شِفَاءٌ\ لِّلنَّاسِ$). The Sunnah records instances where the Prophet ﷺ applied this verse medically, prescribing honey specifically for gastrointestinal issues.

• The Prophetic Tradition: Abu Sa'id al-Khudri narrated that a man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, "My brother is suffering from loose motions (diarrhea)." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Give him honey." The man returned a second and third time reporting no change. The Prophet ﷺ said:
  "Allah has spoken the truth (in Surah An-Nahl regarding honey's healing), and your brother's abdomen has lied. Give him honey again." He gave it to him once more, and the man was completely cured. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 5684; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2217).

4. The Challenges of Severe Old Age (Verse 70)

"And Allah created you; then He will take you in death. And among you is he who is reversed to the most decrepit old age so that he will not know, after [having had] knowledge, a thing..." (Quran 16:70)

This verse describes senility or dementia ($أَرْذَلِ\ الْعُمُرِ$), where an individual loses cognitive faculties and returns to a state of child-like dependency. The Prophet ﷺ frequently sought refuge from this specific helpless state in his daily prayers.

• The Prophetic Supplication: Anas ibn Malik reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to regularly make this specific du'a:
  "O Allah! I seek refuge with You from helplessness, laziness, cowardice, and senility (decrepit old age). And I seek refuge with You from the trials of life and death, and from the punishment of the grave." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 6367; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2706).

5. Economic Disparity and Financial Responsibility (Verse 71)

"And Allah has favored some of you over others in provision. But those who were favored would not hand over their provision to those whom their right hands possess so they would be equal to them therein. Then is it the favor of Allah they reject?" (Quran 16:71)

This verse criticizes rich masters who refuse to share their wealth with those under their charge (servants/slaves) to make them equal in baseline living conditions. The Sunnah fundamentally altered early Arabian society by demanding that subordinates be treated as literal brothers, receiving the same quality of food and clothing as their employers or masters.

• The Prophetic Mandate: Al-Ma'rur ibn Suwayd narrated that he saw Abu Dharr wearing a beautiful cloak, and his servant was wearing an identical cloak. When asked why, Abu Dharr explained that the Prophet ﷺ said:
  "Your servants are your brothers whom Allah has placed under your authority. Whosoever has his brother under his authority, let him feed him from what he eats, and clothe him from what he wears. Do not burden them with work that overpowers them, and if you do burden them, then assist them." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 30; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1661).