The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3) — Page 482
CH. 16 AN-NAHL PT. 14 وَأَوْحَى رَبُّكَ إِلَى النَّحْلِ أَنِ اتَّخِذِ مِنَ And thy Lord has inspired. 69 the bee, saying, 'Make thou الْجِبَالِ بُيُوتًا وَمِنَ الشَّجَرِ وَمِمَّا houses in the hills and in the يَعْرِشُوْنَ ) trees and in the trellises which they build. 1869 constitute pure, wholesome and invigorating food. But when man interferes with their natural use he corrupts them. Similarly, as long as Divine teaching remains intact, it is a source of great spiritual benefit, but when man interferes with it, it loses its usefulness and becomes harmful. The verse also points out that all wise and thoughtful persons can easily understand that everything is best suited for the purpose which it has been designed by God to serve and that to use it for any other purpose is only to destroy its usefulness. Similarly, it is not given to man to devise spiritual teachings or to interfere with those revealed by God without spoiling them or destroying their usefulness. 1869. Commentary: This verse gives a third example, which is clearer and more expressive than the previous two examples, of the need of Divine revelation. By (inspiration or revelation), in this verse, is meant the natural instincts with which God has endowed all creatures. The verse contains the beautiful hint that the entire universe depends for its smooth and successful working on 3, whether manifest or hidden. In other words all things and creatures serve the purpose of their existence only by working according to their natural instincts and inborn faculties and aptitudes. The bee has been selected as a prominent example, because its wonderful organization and work impresses even a casual observer and is discernible by the naked eye. But the fact that, even the bee cannot improve upon its wonderful skill, work and organization shows that some other Being is the source and fountain-head of its skill and organization and that Being has imparted to it this skill, intelligence and knowledge. The verse also draws attention to the fact that bees are of various kinds. Some make their hives in mountains, others make them in trees, and yet others make them in trellises. In the same way all men do not possess similar natural aptitudes and capabilities, neither are they of equal spiritual rank. Some rise high like lofty mountains while others are of comparatively lower spiritual status. Similarly, like the different colours, tastes and flavours of the honey produced by the bees, the revelations of various Prophets are also not of the same pattern. They differ in their quality and scope and the manner of their approach to the problems they 1690 have to deal with. The verse also implies that all great inventions have been due to 3, (Divine inspiration). For the different kinds of 3, see 4:164; 5:112; 8:13; 16:69; 28:8 & 99:6.