The Quran is often described as a book of signs, containing references to the natural world that were revealed more than 1,400 years ago. Many of these references have only been fully understood in the context of modern science. One such remarkable example is the mention of the female honey bee and its unique behavior in the Quran. Recent scientific discoveries have revealed the profound accuracy of the Quran’s description of the honey bee’s role, providing further evidence of the divine nature of the Quran’s revelation.
The Mention of the Female Honey Bee in the Quran
The Quran speaks about the honey bee in Surah An-Nahl, which is also known as “The Bee.” This chapter emphasizes the signs of Allah’s creation, including the behavior of honey bees and the remarkable properties of honey. The specific verses that refer to the honey bee are as follows:
وَأَوْحَىٰ رَبُّكَ إِلَى ٱلنَّحْلِ أَنِ ٱتَّخِذِى مِنَ ٱلْجِبَالِ بُيُوتًۭا وَمِنَ ٱلشَّجَرِ وَمِمَّا يَعْرِشُونَۖ
“And your Lord inspired the bee, ‘Take for yourself among the mountains, houses, and among the trees and in that which they construct.'” (16:68)
Transliteration: “Wa awḥá rabbuka ilá an-naḥli ani it’takhidhī mina al-jibāli buyūtan wa mina ash-shajari wa mimmā ya’rishūn.”
ثُمَّ كُلِى مِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ فَٱسْلُكِى سُبُلَ رَبِّكِ ذُلُلًۭاۚ يَخْرُجُ مِن بُطُونِهَا شَرَابٌۭ مُّخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَٰنُهُۥ فِيهِ شِفَآءٌۭ لِلنَّاسِۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَةًۭ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
“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. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who give thought.” (16:69)
Transliteration: “Thumma kulī min kulli ath-thamarāti fa’slukī subula rabbiki dhululā, yakhruju min buṭūnihā sharābun mukhtalifun alwānuhu fīhi shifā’un li’n-nās, inna fī dhālika la-āyatan li-qawmin yatafakkarūn.”
These verses describe several remarkable aspects of honey bee behavior and honey production. What stands out in particular is the use of the feminine form in the Arabic language. The verbs in the verses addressing the honey bee are in the feminine form, indicating that the bees being spoken to and about are female.
The Quran’s Insight into Female Honey Bees
In the Quranic verses, the command given to the bees is directed to them in a feminine form, which is significant in the context of Arabic grammar. The commands “eat” (كُلِي / kulī), “follow” (ٱسْلُكِي / aslukī), and “make houses” (ٱتَّخِذِي / ittakhdhī) are all feminine verb forms, indicating that the bees being addressed are female.
This is an astonishing detail that modern science has only recently come to understand. It is now known that the worker bees, which are responsible for collecting nectar, building the hive, and producing honey, are female. The male bees (drones) do not perform these tasks. Drones exist solely for mating with the queen bee and do not contribute to the work of the hive.
Scientific Discovery of the Role of Female Honey Bees
Modern biology has confirmed that the honey bee society is highly organized, with a division of labor that is carried out almost entirely by female bees. The discovery of the specific roles played by female honey bees came after centuries of observation and study of bee colonies.
- The Role of the Worker Bee: The worker bee is a female bee that is responsible for a variety of tasks crucial to the survival of the hive:
- Nectar collection: Worker bees leave the hive to collect nectar from flowers, which they bring back to produce honey.
- Building the hive: Worker bees secrete wax from glands in their bodies, which they use to construct and maintain the hive.
- Caring for the young: Worker bees tend to the eggs and larvae laid by the queen, feeding them and keeping the hive clean.
- Regulating hive temperature: Worker bees fan their wings to keep the hive cool and maintain an optimal environment for honey production.
- The Role of the Queen Bee: The queen bee is the reproductive female in the hive. Her primary role is to lay eggs, and she can lay up to 2,000 eggs per day. She is the mother of all the bees in the hive, both males and females. While she is vital to reproduction, she does not participate in the collection of nectar or the production of honey.
- The Role of the Drone: The drone is the male honey bee, whose only role is to mate with a queen bee from another hive. Drones do not collect nectar, build the hive, or produce honey. Once they mate, they die. If they do not mate, they are often expelled from the hive during times of food scarcity.
The Quran’s Remarkable Precision
What makes the Quran’s reference to honey bees particularly remarkable is that, at the time of the revelation, the detailed behavior of bees was not known. The fact that the Quran specifically refers to female bees, which science has now confirmed are the ones responsible for the tasks mentioned in the verses, is a powerful indication of divine knowledge.
In ancient times, it was widely believed that bees operated under the leadership of a king. The gender roles within the hive were not understood until the development of modern scientific research methods, such as microscopic analysis and careful behavioral observation, which revealed the complex social structure of the honey bee colony.
It was only in the 17th century that scientists began to recognize that the leader of a bee colony is a queen, not a king, and that the worker bees responsible for the hive’s operation are female.
Honey: A Healing Substance
In addition to describing the behavior of bees, the Quran also highlights the healing properties of honey. In the verse:
“There emerges from their bellies a drink, varying in colors, in which there is healing for people.”
(16:69)
Modern science has confirmed that honey has numerous medicinal properties. It contains antioxidants, enzymes, vitamins, and minerals that are beneficial to human health. Honey has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to treat wounds, infections, and various ailments. Recent scientific studies have shown that honey has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties, making it an effective remedy for a range of health issues.
Some of the scientifically recognized benefits of honey include:
- Wound healing: Honey has been used in wound care for its antibacterial properties, promoting faster healing and reducing the risk of infection.
- Antioxidant properties: Honey contains antioxidants, which help to neutralize harmful free radicals in the body, reducing the risk of chronic diseases.
- Cough suppressant: Honey is a well-known remedy for coughs and sore throats. Studies have shown that it can be as effective as over-the-counter cough medications.
These healing properties of honey, mentioned in the Quran over 1,400 years ago, align with modern scientific findings, providing further evidence of the timeless wisdom contained in the Quran.
The Quran’s Timeless Wisdom
The Quran’s reference to the female honey bee and its behavior, as well as the healing properties of honey, demonstrates profound knowledge that could not have been known to humans at the time of revelation. The specific mention of female bees in the feminine form, as revealed in Surah An-Nahl, is consistent with modern scientific discoveries about the division of labor within a honey bee colony.
This remarkable insight serves as a reminder of the Quran’s divine origin and offers further evidence of its timeless nature. As science continues to uncover more about the natural world, the Quran’s accuracy and wisdom become increasingly evident.
The Quran invites us to reflect on the natural world and to recognize the signs of Allah’s creation:
“Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding.”
(3:190)
Transliteration: “Inna fī khalqi as-samāwāti wa-l-arḍi wa-ikhtilāfi al-layli wa-n-nahāri la-āyātin li-ulī al-albābi.”
The mention of the female honey bee in the Quran, combined with modern scientific discoveries, is yet another sign for those who ponder the wonders of creation and seek to understand the vast knowledge contained within the Quran.
Also, read 2. Surah Al-Baqarah (The cow)