Quranic Reflections - Islamic School of Stanford

Surat An-Nahl (The Bees)
Surat An-Nahl is Makkan. It was revealed after Surat Al-Kahf. It consists of 128
ayahs and falls in order after Surat Al-Hijr in the Qur’an. Many scholars agree that it
is “The Surah of Blessings.”
Remember it and be thankful
If one is to sit down and write all the blessings that Allah (SWT) had bestowed on him
on a piece of paper then reads Surat An-Nahl, one would find all those blessings
mentioned in the surah. Likewise, if one would read the surah, then writes down all
the blessings that he/she comes across in it, one would find out that they have
encompassed all that could possibly be imagined.
It is indeed “The Surah of Blessings”. It calls upon the reader’s attention to the
blessings of Allah (SWT) that permeate the universe; beginning with the basic
blessings, such as life necessities, to the inconceivable and disguised blessings that
people usually forget, take for granted, or are even unaware of. After a
comprehensive presentation of each group of blessings comes a conclusive ayah to
remind us that Allah (SWT) is the provider of all those blessings. Allah (SWT) says
what can be translated as, “And whatever favor you have, (then) it is from Allah;
…” (TMQ, 16:53); or “And in case you number the favor (s) of Allah, you will
not enumerate them; …” (TMQ, 16:18).
There are many ayahs in the surah that explain the different sections of blessings,
warning against the abuse of the blessing by using it to commit sins. In contrast, these
ayahs urge mankind to thank Allah (SWT) and to employ those blessings in what they
are created for.
Surat An-Nahl and Surat Ibrahim:
One might reflect that Surat Ibrahim also focuses on the blessings of Allah (SWT), so
how is it connected to Surat An-Nahl Surat Ibrahim focuses on one single blessing
only, namely faith, as its main axis and the most important of Allah’s blessings.
In contrast, Surat An-Nahl covers all of Allah’s blessings, starting with the simplest
most basic life necessities to the most important of all, which are faith and revelation.
For that reason, Surat An-Nahl starts with a reference to the same blessing that Surat
Ibrahim starts with; revelation.
In Surat Ibrahim, Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “Alif, Lam, Mîm, Ra
(These are the names of letters of the Arabic alphabet, and only Allah knows
their meaning here). A Book We have sent down to you that you may bring
mankind out of the darkness (es) to the light by the permission of their Lord, …”
(TMQ, 14:1), and “He (always) sends (i.e., He has been sending down) down the
Angels with the Spirit of His Command upon whomever He decides among His
bondmen, …” (TMQ, 16:2).
An incessant presentation:
The surah starts with a presentation of Allah's blessings: