Chapter 27 - 81
The Ants (Surah Al-Naml)
(93 verses in total; late Makkan)
In the name of God, the God of Mercy, the Endower of Mercy
Twa Sin! These are the verses from the Qur’an – a book that explains. It guides and enlightens the believers who devote themselves to worship (salat), purify their wealth (zakat) and are convinced of the Hereafter. (v. 1-3)
Those who show doubt in the Hereafter, We (God) make them love their conducts and deeds, so they wonder about blindly. They are destined for the chastisement for their evils and in the Hereafter, they will lose it all! (v. 4-5)
Indeed you (Prophet) receive this Qur’an from the Wise and Knowing (God)! (v. 6)
(Remember) when Moses said to his family, “I see a fire. Maybe I can bring something good or a burning brand so that you can warm yourself.”
When he came near to it, a voice called out, “Blessed is the one who is in search of fire and those around it. Exulted is Allah, the Sustainer and Cherisher of the Universe! Moses, I am Allah, the Almighty, the Wise! Cast down your walking stick.”
When he saw it live and in motion as if a serpent, he turned back, retreated with no desire to come back (being afraid). “Moses, don’t be afraid. Messengers should have no fear in My Presence! Nor those who do wrong, but return to goodness after their evils, since I am Forgiving, Compassionate! Put your hand next to your bosom, it will turn out white without any blemish - signs among nine others for Pharaoh and his people. Indeed, they are steeped in corruption!” (v. 7-12)
When the clear evidence was presented to them, they (Pharaoh) said, “This is sure sorcery.” They stood in opposition, out of pride and injustice to themselves, while their souls understood the signs as true. Consider then, what was the end of those who are corrupt? (v.13-14)
We (God) gave knowledge and wisdom to David and Solomon. They both acknowledged, “Allah be exalted, Who has favored us above many of His faithful servants.” Solomon, David’s heir, said, “People, we have been taught the speech of birds, and gifted with many other things. These are explicit favors (from God)”, while hosts of jinn, men and birds were gather around Solomon, in their respective groups and ranks. (v. 15-17)
As they approached the valley of the ants, an ant said, “Ants, retreat into your ant hills, lest Solomon and his troops crush you without knowing.” Solomon smiled, hearing her words (of the ant), and prayed, “God, inspire me to be thankful for blessings you have granted on me and my parents; that I may do good that will please You, and count me among those who are the receivers of Your Mercy, from among your faithful servants.” (v. 18-19)
Solomon surveyed the birds (in his assembly) and said, “How is it I do not see Hudhud, is he absent? If he does not bring a convincing excuse, I will either punish him or kill him.” Hudhud appeared soon thereafter, and said, “I have witnessed something that you are yet to witness – I just came from the land of Sheba with convincing information about a woman, who rules over them, have been gifted with everything and sits on a magnificent throne! But she and her people worship the sun, rather than God. The Devil has made it alluring to them such practices to turn them away from the right path; so, they have gone astray. How is it that they do not worship Allah, Who brings forth what is hidden in the heavens and on earth and Who knows what one hides and what one proclaims?
Allah - there is no deity but He, established on the Magnificent Throne of Power!”1 (v. 20-26)
Solomon said, “We shall see if you speak the truth or if you are lying. Take this letter from me and hand it over to them, then wait and see how they respond.” (v. 27-28)
She (Queen Sheba) said, “My Counsellors, a gracious letter has been delivered to me. It is from Solomon and begins with the name of Allah, the God of Mercy, the Endower of Mercy. It says, ‘Do not consider yourself above me and come to me with full submission.’” (v. 29-31)
She said, “Counsellors, advise me on this matter. I never make decisions without consulting you.” They said, “We are powerful, and we are a mighty nation, and you are in command. Consider what command you would like us to execute.” She said, “When kings enter a city, they ruin it and humiliate its nobles. Yes, this is how they behave! Let’s send them a present and see what our messengers brings back.” (v. 32-35)
When the envoy came to Solomon, he said, “Are you enticing me with wealth? What God had gifted me is better than what He has given you. Your present only demonstrate your arrogance. Take back your present. We will come with forces that you have no power to resist. We will expel them from their places in disgrace and lowliness.” (v. 36-37)
He then turned to his assembly, “Who can bring me her throne before they come to me in full submission?” Ifrit, the jinn, said, “I will bring it to you before you can rise from your throne. I am strong and fully capable.” (v. 38-39)
But one having knowledge from the scripture said, “I will bring it to you in the blink of an eye!” Instantly he saw it settled beside him!
Solomon said, “This is a blessing from my Sustainer God to test me if I am grateful or not. Whoever is grateful is grateful for his own soul and whoever denies, then my God is Self-Sufficient, Generous!” (v40)
He said, “Disguise her throne when she arrives, and we shall see if she follows the right way or continues her own ways. When she arrived, she was asked, “Is your throne like this one?” She said, “It appears the same.”, and (Solomon said), “We were given the knowledge of it beforehand, (and you should know that) we are in full submission to God.” Her worship of others besides God prevented her (from comprehending what was said), and she indeed was a disbeliever (in God). (v. 41-43)
She was then invited, “Enter the Great Hall.” But when she saw it, she conceived it as a pool of water and pulled her dress up. Solomon said, “This hall is paved with smooth crystals.” She said, My God, I have deceived myself (in the past)2 and now submit along with Solomon to the God of the universe!” (v. 44)
We sent Salih, their brother, to the people of Thamud. He said, “Serve Allah alone!” and they became two groups, contending. He said, “My People, why do you rush to do evil rather than good? Why do you not repent, seeking Allah’s mercy? They replied, “We see evil omen in you and your followers.”, while Salih said, “It is Allah who directs your sense of omen to try you.” (v. 45-47)
There were nine people in the city who were particularly mischievous and did not act properly on the land. They said to one another, “Let’s swear by God that we shall attack him (Salih) at night and then asserts to his family, “We did not witness his death, and we speak the truth.” (v. 48-49)
This is how they planned, and We (God) planned as well, which they did not perceive. Therefore, see what was the result – We destroyed them and their people, altogether? Their houses were left to ruin because of their injustice and serve as reminders for those who wish to know and be mindful. (v. 50-52)
But We safeguarded those who believed and who acted responsibly! (v. 53)
(Similarly) Lot said to his people, “Why do you commit indecency in plain sight that you come after men with lust, instead of women? This is an act of people who are ignorant. The answer of his people was none but to say, “Let’s drive out Lot and his people – they are a bunch who wish to keep themselves pure.” (v. 54-56)
We safeguarded Lot and his followers, except his wife whom We deemed to remain with those who faced ruins. We rained on them a destructive rain as they had been warned (before). (v. 57-58)
Say (Prophet), “Praise be to Allah and peace be on the servants whom Allah had chosen”
Who is better – Allah or the partners they ascribe (with God)? Who creates the heavens and the earth and rains down water from clouds? We then cause luxuriant orchards to grow with such rains. Are you able to make the trees grow? Are there gods, other than Allah? No, they are a people who set up God’s equal without any basis! (v. 59-60)
Who has made the earth a dwelling place, made rivers flow on it, raised mountains on it and placed a barrier between two seas? Are there gods, other than Allah? No, most of them act out of ignorance! (v. 61)
Who answers those in distress when they call upon God, removes evils and makes you succeed (your previous generation) on this earth? Are there gods, other than Allah? No, you reflect very little! (v. 62)
Who guides you in the darkness on land and on sea, and sends winds as harbinger of good news of God’s impeding mercy? Are there gods, other than Allah? Allah is elevated higher than anything they assert as a partner! (v. 63)
Who originates the creations and then reproduces, and who gives you provisions from the heavens and the earth? Are there gods, other than Allah? Say (Prophet), “Bring your proof if you speak the truth!” (v. 64)
Say (Prophet), “There is none in the heavens and the earth, other than Allah, who knows matters yet undisclosed. They do not know when they will be resurrected, and their knowledge does not extend to the afterlife. They are not only in doubt but totally blind regarding the afterlife! (v. 65-66)
Those who deny (afterlife) say, “When we become dust – we and our former generations – will we be resurrected? This was promised to us and to our former generations - this is nothing, but stories propagated since ancient times. (v. 67)
Say (Prophet), “Travel on earth and recall where the guilty people are.” Do not grieve for them and do not feel distressed by their plan. They say, “When will this promise be executed, if you speak the truth?” Reply, “May be what you wish to hasten is already close at hand!” (v. 68-72)
Your Sustainer God is indeed full of grace for humankind, but most of them are ungrateful! Your God knows what they hide in their hearts and what they express openly. There is nothing concealed in the heavens and on earth but documented in the book. (v. 73-75)
This Qur’an - expounds for the Children of Israel matters that most of them differ among themselves – it is a sure guidance and a source of mercy, if you are faithful. Your God will judge between them with judgement from God, Who is Almighty, Full of Knowledge! Therefore, rely on Allah and (know that) you are on the path based on clear truth! (v. 76-79)
Surely, you (Prophet) cannot make the dead hear or the deaf or those who retreat to hear the call. You cannot lead the blind out of their falsehood, nor can you make anyone pay attention except who are inclined to believe Our messages and they submit in due time. (v. 80-81)
When the promise comes to pass, We (God) will bring out from the earth a creature for them to speak to them since people did not believe in Our messages. On that occasion, We will gather from every community, a group who denied Our messages and form them into groups and address them as they come, “Did you reject Our messages while you had no knowledge? Or what was it that you did?” This affirmation and realization will come to them that they did themselves injustice and will remain speechless. Do they not see that We had made the night for rest (with darkness) and the day (for activities) with light? In this arrangement is proof enough for people to believe! (v. 82-85)
When the trumpet will be sounded, that day all who are in the heavens and on earth will be terrified, except such as whom Allah will grant reprieve – all will come to God in abject humility! The mountains you see – firm and fixed – will float away as cloud, handiwork of Allah Who makes everything perfect (as to its purpose). God is aware of what you do! If you bring good work with you, you will have rewards better than that and will be secure from the terror of the day. If you bring evil with you, you will be thrown into the fire face down. What reward can you expect except in accordance with what you did. (v. 87-90)
(Say), “I am commanded to serve the God of this city, a city made secure by God. All belongs to God. I am commanded to join those who submit to God and to narrate the Qur’an. Therefore, whoever guides themselves right, do so for their own souls and whoever goes astray, I am only a warner. Say, “For Allah are all praises! God will show you evidence that you will recognize (without doubt). Your God is never heedless to what you do! (v. 91-93)
1 On hearing or reciting such verses, the Muslim tradition requires a faithful to bow down to God as a show of instant submission, even in the middle of the formal salat (prayer)!
2 Perhaps it dawned on her that if she can be fooled by mere crystals for water, she could have been fooled by the sun to be her god!
