Surah An-Nahl Overview — The Bee (Chapter 16)

Search the Quran
Surah · 16 of 114
النحل An-Nahl The Bee
Meccan◉ Juz 14128 verses12 Concepts
Juz Span
About This Surah

Surah An-Nahl (النحل) is the 16th chapter of the Qur'an, with 128 verses revealed in Mecca. Its main themes are theology, spirituality, and cosmology. It prominently features Ibrahim and the Quran.

Topical Breakdown

Verses 1–2019
  • 1, 77Inevitability of the Hour
  • 1, 3, 51, 74Rejection of polytheism
  • 2, 102Angelic transmission of revelation
  • 2, 22, 36, 51, 52, 60Oneness of God
  • 3Creation of the heavens and earth
  • 4Creation from a sperm-drop
  • 4, 22, 83, 107, 108Ingratitude and disputation
  • 5, 6Creation of livestock and cattle
  • 7, 8Means of transport and riding animals
  • 8, 40Creation by the divine command (Kun)
  • 9, 24, 105Purpose of revelation
  • 10, 11, 13, 65Rain and vegetation
  • 12, 16Sun, moon, and celestial bodies
  • 14The sea and marine resources
  • 15Mountains and rivers
  • 17, 71, 75, 76Parables illustrating tawhid versus shirk
  • 18, 53, 67Innumerable nature of divine favors
  • 19, 23, 61Knowledge of secret and open
  • 20, 21, 73Helplessness and lifelessness of idols

Read these verses →

Verses 21–4011
  • 25, 84, 89, 109, 111Accountability and recompense
  • 26, 34, 63Destruction of past plotters
  • 27, 86, 87Disgrace of polytheists
  • 28Agony and humiliation of wrongdoers at death
  • 29, 85, 88Torment and gates of Hell
  • 30, 31Bliss and gardens of Paradise
  • 32Peaceful death of the righteous
  • 33, 45, 46, 47, 55, 104…Sudden and gradual retribution
  • 35, 54, 100False fatalism and excuses
  • 35, 36, 37, 82Sending of messengers
  • 38, 39Resurrection

Read these verses →

Verses 41–609
  • 41, 110Virtue of migration for God's sake (Hijrah)
  • 42, 96, 99Patience and trust in Allah (Tawakkul)
  • 43Humanity of Messengers
  • 44, 64, 89Clarification of scripture
  • 48, 49Prostration of shadows and creatures
  • 49, 50Obedience and fear of angels
  • 56, 62Pagan superstitions and false dedications
  • 57Attribution of daughters to God
  • 58, 59Pagan abhorrence of female daughters

Read these verses →

Verses 61–808
  • 66Pure milk from livestock
  • 68, 69Bees and honey production
  • 70Stages of life and decrepitude
  • 72Spouses and offspring
  • 77Unseen knowledge of the Hour
  • 78Senses and cognitive faculties
  • 79Flight of birds
  • 80, 81Shelter, dwellings, and clothing

Read these verses →

Verses 81–1006
  • 90Command to justice, benevolence, and kinship
  • 90Prohibition of immorality, wickedness, and oppression
  • 91, 93, 95Fulfillment of covenants and oaths
  • 92, 94Prohibition of using oaths for deceit
  • 97Reward for righteous deeds irrespective of gender
  • 98Seeking refuge from Satan during recitation

Read these verses →

Verses 101–1209
  • 101Abrogation of verses
  • 103Arabic Language of the Quran
  • 106Exemption of the coerced from apostasy
  • 112, 113Parable of the ungrateful township
  • 114, 115, 118Lawful (Halal) and unlawful (Haram) foods
  • 115Rule of necessity in food
  • 116Prohibition of fabricating lawful and unlawful
  • 119Repentance from sins done in ignorance
  • 120, 121, 122, 123Following the legacy of Prophet Ibrahim

Read these verses →

Verses 121–1284
  • 124Rules and history of the Sabbath
  • 125Da'wah through wisdom, good admonition, and debate
  • 126Equitable retribution and excellence of patience
  • 127, 128Consolation and divine support for the Prophet

Read these verses →

◉ Juz 14Makkan128 Verses
Thematic Domains
Prophethood — 43%Ethics — 29%Worship — 14%Cosmology — 14%
Verse Tone Progression
Warning (verses 1–2)Promise (verses 3–3)Warning (verses 4–4)Promise (verses 5–5)Consolation (verses 6–6)Warning (verses 7–7)Promise (verses 8–8)Command (verses 9–9)Promise (verses 10–10)Warning (verses 11–11)Command (verses 12–12)Praise (verses 13–14)Consolation (verses 15–15)Warning (verses 16–17)Consolation (verses 18–18)Command (verses 19–19)Promise (verses 20–20)Warning (verses 21–21)Command (verses 22–23)Praise (verses 24–24)Promise (verses 25–25)Warning (verses 26–27)Command (verses 28–28)Warning (verses 29–29)Command (verses 30–30)Promise (verses 31–31)Consolation (verses 32–32)Promise (verses 33–33)Narrative (verses 34–34)Warning (verses 35–35)Command (verses 36–36)Warning (verses 37–37)Promise (verses 38–40)Consolation (verses 41–42)Promise (verses 43–43)Narrative (verses 44–44)Warning (verses 45–45)Command (verses 46–46)Warning (verses 47–47)Praise (verses 48–49)Command (verses 50–52)Promise (verses 53–53)Warning (verses 54–55)Promise (verses 56–56)Praise (verses 57–57)Warning (verses 58–60)Command (verses 61–61)Warning (verses 62–63)Promise (verses 64–65)Consolation (verses 66–67)Warning (verses 68–68)Promise (verses 69–70)Command (verses 71–71)Promise (verses 72–73)Command (verses 74–74)Praise (verses 75–75)Command (verses 76–77)Praise (verses 78–78)Promise (verses 79–79)Command (verses 80–80)Consolation (verses 81–82)Promise (verses 83–83)Command (verses 84–84)Warning (verses 85–86)Praise (verses 87–87)Command (verses 88–88)Promise (verses 89–89)Warning (verses 90–90)Promise (verses 91–92)Command (verses 93–93)Warning (verses 94–94)Promise (verses 95–96)Consolation (verses 97–97)Warning (verses 98–98)Neutral (verses 99–99)Command (verses 100–103)Warning (verses 104–106)Promise (verses 107–107)Command (verses 108–108)Neutral (verses 109–109)Consolation (verses 110–111)Warning (verses 112–113)Consolation (verses 114–114)Warning (verses 115–118)Consolation (verses 119–119)Neutral (verses 120–120)Consolation (verses 121–121)Praise (verses 122–122)Promise (verses 123–123)Warning (verses 124–124)Command (verses 125–125)Warning (verses 126–126)Consolation (verses 127–128)0163248648096112128
Command
Narrative
Promise
Warning
Consolation
Praise
Neutral
Top Concept Co-Occurrences
Allahknowledge350
Allahfaith306
Allahdisbelief200
creationdivine creation195
Allahthe earth186
Allahpunishment of hellfire127
Allahdeeds for the afterlife126
Allahthe descent of revelation112
Allahguidance111
faithdisbelief108
Semantic Opposites Present
disbelief
↔ opposes
faith
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Surah An-Nahl?
Surah An-Nahl (النحل) is the 16th chapter of the Qur'an, comprising 128 verses revealed in Mecca.
What are the main themes of Surah An-Nahl?
The main themes of Surah An-Nahl are theology, spirituality, and cosmology.
Which key figures are mentioned in Surah An-Nahl?
Surah An-Nahl prominently features the Quran and Ibrahim.
Is Surah An-Nahl Meccan or Medinan?
Surah An-Nahl is Meccan; it was revealed in Mecca and contains 128 verses.
Read An-Nahl — All 128 Verses
Arabic text · Translation · Tafseer · Audio player · Per-verse concept tags
Read Full Surah →