The honey bee is a widely distributed flying insect know for its ability to collect nectar from flowers and produce honey. This beautiful creator has a unique lifestyle. Allah has given it importance and mention in the Quran about it. Allah has disclosed such facts 1400 year before which Science is finding now.
Number of chromosomes in Honey Bee
And your Lord inspired to the honey bee, “Take for yourself among the mountains, houses, and among the trees and that which they construct.
16:68
In Holy Quran chapter 16 is Al Nahl, which means “The Bee”. The verse in this surah which introduces honey bee contains 16 unique letters( و، ا، ح، ى، ر، ب، ك، ل، ن، ت، خ، ذ، م، ج، ش، ع )and 16 words. This verse has a strange relationship with the number of chromosomes in the bee. Male honey bee called drone has 16 chromosome, which is haploid and is from an unfertilized egg. The female honey bee has 32 chromosomes, double of 16, and it is diploid. Scientist discovered it in the recent century, but Quran illustrated it 1400 years before.
How Bee make Honey
Then feed on all the fruits and follow the ways of your Lord laid down. There emerges from their bellies a drink, differing in colours, in which there is healing for people. Surely in that is a sign for a people who give thought.
16:69
Honey bee extracts juices from individual flowers like apple, clover, blackberry, dandelion, ivy, goldenrod, lavender, lime trees, rosemary and more. It flies in specific directions for nectar search, as Allah says in this verse. Today science proof that bee generally flies within a 5-mile radius of hives.
Female Bee make Honey
In verse 69 of Al Nahl Allah pointed out female bee who makes honey.
- The word “Kuli” means “eat” is for females; “Kul” is for males. The Quran used “Kuli” (females).
- The word “Usluki” means “follow a path” is for females; “Usluk” is for males. The Quran used “Usluki” (females).
- For the word: “butuniha” means “its bellies” is for females; “butunihim” is for males. The Quran used “butuniha” (females).
Multiple stomachs
The word بُطُونِهَا in Arabic means multiple stomachs of a female bee. Science proves it that bee has multiple stomachs, one is for eating and others for storing nectar, then move it to home bee.
Building Hives
Bees build their hives from their wax in wood, rocks and trees. Scientists had recently discovered that bees build colonies in solid stones. But the Quran has mentioned it 1400 year before.
Lesson from Tiny Honey Bee
- Honey follows Allah’s instructions and follows the path He assigns for it. We must do the same. Live will become productive and meaningful through obeying Allah.
- It is a disciplined creator, which is a useful step of success.
- Honeybees inspire us to work together.
- Honeybees teach us to seek pure ‘rizq’ through hard work.
- They not only work hard but efficiently to achieve the best results. Efficiency is necessary for whatever actions we do.
- Bees provide a perfect relationship example.
- Honeybees teach us to care about our families and communities.
- Teamwork is necessary to achieve big goals, and bees work in team dividing their responsibilities.
