The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3) — Page 429
Date of Revelation CHAPTER 16 AN-NAHL (Revealed after Hijrah) According to some commentators, the whole Sūrah was revealed at Mecca. But certain other authorities-Ibn 'Abbās being one of them—make an exception of vv. 96, 97 and 98, which, according to them, were revealed at Medina. Some scholars, however, are of the opinion that the verses revealed at Medina are 127, 128 and 129 while according to others these verses are 111, 127 and 128; yet some others think that they are vv. 2, 3, and 4. But Qatādah holds quite the opposite view. According to him the whole Surah is Medinite with the exception of vv. 2, 3, and 4. Professor Nöldeke believes that the whole Surah was revealed at Mecca with the exception of vv. 44, 112, 120, 121 and 126 and Weil strongly refutes Sale's view that the last three verses belong to the Medinite period. The Title The Surah quite appropriately has been given the title of An-Naḥl (lit. the Bee) because by a reference to the natural instinct of the bee which has been termed 3, (revelation or inspiration) in the Quran, attention is drawn to the fact that the entire universe depends for its smooth and successful working on 3 (revelation) whether manifest or hidden, direct or indirect. This subject constitutes the pivot or basic theme of the Surah. Moreover, the subject of jihad has been introduced here as an important subject. As jihad was to become the target of attacks from all quarters, it is hinted that, like honey which is protected by the bee from undue interference by its God-given sting, the Quran which is a store-house of spiritual honey shall be protected by the use of force which Muslims will have to employ in self-defence. Connection with the Previous Sūrah The Surah is prefaced with no abbreviated letters. As the subject matter of a Sūrah is an amplification and expansion of the abbreviated letters placed at its beginning and is governed by them, the subject matter of a Sūrah which has no such abbreviated letters is, in fact, a continuation of the subject matter of the preceding Surah which has abbreviated letters at its beginning, and is thus subject to, and governed by, those abbreviated letters. As the present Surah has no abbreviated letters at its beginning, its subject matter will be considered as a continuation of the subject matter of the preceding Surah (Hijr) and will be taken as governed by the letters Alif Lam Rā, placed at the beginning of that Sūrah, only the method of approach and treatment of 1637