Surah Al Nahl [ Bees ] , 16..From Womb to Tomb

....From Womb to Tomb



Marriage is yet another of God's great gifts and is a mean for the preservation of the human race. But how deeply have people truly valued its sanctity and preserved it from the crippling and unnecessary traditions, rituals, and demands of human society?

And Allah hath given you wives of your own kind, and hath given you, from your wives, sons and grandsons, and hath made provision of good things for you. Is it then in vanity that they believe and in the grace of Allah that they disbelieve? (72)

One of the most intriguing features of human beings is their capacity to manufacture and believe in falsehoods. Instead of serving the One true God who has bestowed all manner of blessings upon them, they would rather turn their attention to the worship of concocted gods, both animate and inanimate:

And they worship beside Allah that which owneth no provision whatsoever for them from the heavens or the earth, nor have they (whom they worship) any power. (73) So coin not similitudes for Allah. Lo! Allah knoweth; ye know not. (74) 

Judgement is a certainty which every single human being will face. They have to stand alone before God and be witness to what they had done in this life, and for Allah this shall occur in the twinkling of an eye: " And unto Allah belongeth the Unseen of the heavens and the earth, and the matter of the Hour (of Doom) is but as a twinkling of the eye, or it is nearer still. Lo! Allah is Able to do all things "(77).

The surah continues in a similar vein: "And Allah brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers knowing nothing, and gave you hearing and sight and hearts that haply ye might give thanks "(78). The process of growth from babyhood to manhood is an amazing and fascinating one. Man's transformation from a small, vulnerable, and defenseless creature into a grown, mature, and independent adult is a magnificent manifestation of God's immense power and creativity.

From the secrets of the womb to the functions of the planet and the universe, God is fully aware and in control of everything. Nothing exists or happens on land, sea, or air without His knowledge, command, or power: "Have they not seen the birds obedient in mid-air? None holdeth them save Allah. Lo! herein, verily, are portents for a people who believe "(79). Unfortunately, familiarity has blunted our fascination with the mysteries of God's creation and dulled our senses to the signs of His existence everywhere.

And Allah hath given you in your houses an abode, and hath given you (also), of the hides of cattle, tent-houses which ye find light (to carry) on the day of migration and on the day of pitching camp; and of their wool and their fur and their hair, caparison and comfort for a while. (80) And Allah hath given you, of that which He hath created, shelter from the sun; and hath given you places of refuge in the mountains, and hath given you coats to ward off the heat from you, and coats (of armour) to save you from your own foolhardiness. Thus doth He perfect His favour unto you, in order that ye may surrender (unto Him). (81)

Reading ayat after ayat one is quickly and deeply led to understand and appreciate that the number of favors bestowed by God to mankind is as vast as the stars in the sky and that: "And if ye would count the favour of Allah ye cannot reckon it. Lo! Allah is indeed Forgiving, Merciful "(18).

At this point the surah turns to talk about the Qur'an itself but with reference to the Day of Judgement.

And (bethink you of) the day when We raise in every nation a witness against them of their own folk, and We bring thee (Muhammad) as a witness against these. And We reveal the Scripture unto thee as an exposition of all things, and a guidance and a mercy and good tidings for those who have surrendered (to Allah). (89)

The same scene is cited in An-Nisa' which says:

But how (will it be with them) when We bring of every people a witness, and We bring thee (O Muhammad) a witness against these? (41) On that day those who disbelieved and disobeyed the messenger will wish that they were level with the ground, and they can hide no fact from Allah. (42)

It is reliably reported that when this verse was revealed to the Prophet he was driven to tears, suddenly understanding the weight of the responsibility placed upon his shoulders. The revelation received by Prophet Muhammad contained within it the key to understanding everything in this world. He delivered it intact and with honesty, and raised a nation which would go on to create a civilization that would change the whole course of human history and lead humanity along the true path to God. Today, this same revelation lies abandoned and the Muslim people, once the creators of empires, now do no more than pay lip service to its message and as a result languish in a climate of backwardness, defeat, apathy, and humiliation. What can the possible reasons for such failure be? Are these Qur'an's instructions so difficult to implement that we fail to execute them ? The answer is an emphatic NO! Those who find such lofty principles difficult to live by have only themselves to blame for living in misery and suffering. For Allah says: "Lo! Allah enjoineth justice and kindness, and giving to kinsfolk, and forbiddeth lewdness and abomination and wickedness. He exhorteth you in order that ye may take heed "(90).

Shaykh Muhammad al-Ghazali
[ 1917 - 1996 ]
" A Thematic Commentary On The Qur'an "



Reflection and commentary by Shaykh Dr Yusuf Ziya Kavakci,

Surah Al Nahl [ Bees ] , 16..On Bees and Life..

On Bees and life......


And thy Lord inspired the bee, saying: Choose thou habitations in the hills and in the trees and in that which they thatch; (68) Then eat of all fruits, and follow the ways of thy Lord, made smooth (for thee). There cometh forth from their bellies a drink divers of hues, wherein is healing for mankind. Lo! herein is indeed a portent for people who reflect. (69) 

Volumes have been written about the nutritional and medicinal values of honey. These tiny insects are able to extract nectar from flowers and plants everywhere. They group together in intricate and well ordered kingdoms or colonies to produce this unique and fascinating substance which has provided man with nutrition, remedy, and enjoyment throughout ages.

The surah goes on to cite a number of other favors of God to man spanning the length and breadth of his life: "And Allah createth you, then causeth you to die, and among you is he who is brought back to the most abject stage of life, so that he knoweth nothing after (having had) knowledge. Lo! Allah is Knower, Powerful "(70).

Life itself is a gift bestowed on man to enable him to fulfill his intended mission in this world. In return, man is obliged and expected to show gratitude and appreciation to God Almighty. God has allotted to people varying degree of prosperity and fortune in their lives as a means of testing them, both in time of prosperity and in times of adversity. Will the wealthy be able to conquer their greed and selfishness and look with mercy and compassion towards the deprived, and care for them ?

Shaykh Muhammad al-Ghazali
[ 1917 - 1996 ]
Excerpt from " A Thematic Commentary On The Qur'an "




Surah al Nahl , rendition by Mishary Rashid, translation by Wahidudin Khan :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zedzYkFoFQ

Surah Al Nahl [ Bees ] , 16

On Materialists, secularists, agnostics.....from Abu Jahl to Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hichen...



MATERIALISTS, SECULARISTS, and animists do not believe in divine revelation. The Arabs of Makkah were idol-worshipers who did not believe in a life to come. When the Prophet told them that he had received divine revelation which taught that the physical, as well as the metaphysical, world was bigger and more sophisticated than they had come to realize, they turned against him. The Qur'an advised them to refer to the Israelites and the Christians, earlier recipients of divine revelation whom the Qur'an refers to as 'People of the Book' and learn from their experience. This leaves us wondering as to what happened to the revelations which Moses and Jesus had brought to their respective followers?

The Old and  New Testaments contain statements which are strange and inaccurate. Who, for instance , can believe the Old Testament account that God grew jealous of Adam after he had eaten from the tree of knowledge, and , fearing that he would eat from the tree of eternity and become His contender for power, had him expelled from the Garden of Eden and sent down a s a punishment for him and his offspring? Is it conceivable that God 'killed His only son, Jesus, or allowed him to be killed as atonement for Adam's sin and to facilitate his salvation? These and other myths are among some of the many fabrications which are to be found in the Old and New Testaments, books claimed to be the words of God, such that whoever rejects them " shall never enter the "Kingdom of God" !

The reason that the Qur'an referred the Arabs of Makkah to the People of the Book was only because these had had experience of divine revelation, and not in order for them to learn from their scriptures. Indeed , the Quran corrected certain claims of earlier scriptures:

By Allah, We verily sent messengers unto the nations before thee, but the devil made their deeds fairseeming unto them. So he is their patron this day, and theirs will be a painful doom. (63) And We have revealed the Scripture unto thee only that thou mayst explain unto them that wherein they differ, and (as) a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe. (64)

the Qur'an is an elucidation if the truth propounded by earlier revelation and a means of salvation for man's soul and sanity. The revelation brought by  Muhammad purified and and reconciled man's thinking with earlier religious thought and closed the gap  between purely materialistic belief and the belief in the unknown. The surah defines Muhammad's mission thus: "We have revealed unto thee the Remembrance that thou mayst explain to mankind that which hath been revealed for them, and that haply they may reflect. "(44) . Reflection is a healthy function of a sound and vigorous mind, and rational thinking is an essential feature of a sensible mentality. Any system of religious belief which does not address man's rational  faculties, or is not in tune with the requirement, or is not in tune with the requirements and limits of human nature, can claim no divine origins.

Allah hath said: Choose not two Gods. There is only One God. So of Me, Me only, be in awe. (51) Unto Him belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth, and religion is His for ever. Will ye then fear any other than Allah? (52) 


Shaykh Muhammad al-Ghazali
[ 1917 - 1996 ]




Reflection and commentary by Imam Dr Yusuf Ziya Kavakci
part 5..

Surah Al Nahl [ Bees ] , 16

Recitation by Shaykh Khaleed al-Jaleel,

Of God's favors, cosmology,disbelievers and skeptics......


The surah goes on to detail other divine favors of God to humans:

He it is Who sendeth down water from the sky, whence ye have drink, and whence are trees on which ye send your beasts to pasture. (10) Therewith He causeth crops to grow for you, and the olive and the date-palm and grapes and all kinds of fruit. Lo! herein is indeed a portent for people who reflect. (11) 

What causes the rain to fall, and the earth to produce plants, crops and flowers which blossom and appear in such amazing beautiful colors?  It never ceases to amaze me how, from the same soil and using the same rain water, different varieties of plants and crops grow to provide food and nourishment for animals and humans alike whilst thick forests and expansive plains exist side by side. How does all this come about, and what power lies behind it all?

He hath constrained the night and the day and the sun and the moon to be of service unto you, and the stars are made subservient by His command. Lo! herein indeed are portents for people who have sense. (12)

The planet on which we live, and which sustains us, is but a speck in a vast complex universe with countless planets and stars, and we are but a mere drop in an infinite ocean! Although our universe is undoubtedly vast, the power of its Creator is even more immense and awe-inspiring. Nevertheless, despite these overwhelming realities, there are in every generation , people who remain ignorant of God and/or who imagine Him to be apiece of rock or a plank of wood and worship Him as such.

Is He then Who createth as him who createth not? Will ye not then remember? (17) And if ye would count the favour of Allah ye cannot reckon it. Lo! Allah is indeed Forgiving, Merciful. (18) And Allah knoweth that which ye keep hidden and that which ye proclaim. (19) Those unto whom they cry beside Allah created naught, but are themselves created. (20) (They are) dead, not living. And they know not when they will be raised. (21) 

This surah is also known by the title of "al- Ni'mah", meaning "bounties" or "favors", as it calls on man to remember and value an impressive host of gifts and blessings which God has provided to humans for their use and benefit. As noted earlier, the evidence for God's power and sovereignty as manifested in the wonders of the silent physical world is supported by that which is eloquently articulated in the Qur'an. The two are complementary and used interchangeably to lead mankind to the universal truth and acquaint them with God Almighty.

Nonetheless, and despite the signs, skeptics and disbelievers have existed throughout human history. They have slandered God's prophets and branded them liars, rejecting belief in life after death. "And they swear by Allah their most binding oaths (that) Allah will not raise up him who dieth. Nay, but it is a promise (binding) upon Him in truth, but most of mankind know not  "(38). The truth is that this life, with all its enjoyments, is transient and will be followed by an external and far richer one. This was the message that no Messenger had ever failed to convey to his people.

And We sent not (as Our messengers) before thee other than men whom We inspired - Ask the followers of the Remembrance if ye know not! - (43) With clear proofs and writings; and We have revealed unto thee the Remembrance that thou mayst explain to mankind that which hath been revealed for them, and that haply they may reflect. (44)

Shaykh Muhammad al-Ghazali
[ 1917 - 1996 ]





Reflection and commentary by Imam Dr Yusuf Ziya Kavakci
part4....

Surah Al Nahl [ Bees ] , 16

Recitation with direct verbal translation,

On thinkers, philosophers, leaders and scholars.......



AT THE BEGINNING of the surah, revelation is referred to as 'the spirit' because of its capacity to revive and rejuvenate nations and individuals.

He sendeth down the angels with the Spirit of His command unto whom He will of His bondmen, (saying): Warn mankind that there is no God save Me, so keep your duty unto Me. (2)

Elsewhere in the Qur'an, Allah has stated: "And thus have We inspired in thee (Muhammad) a Spirit of Our command. Thou knewest not what the Scripture was, nor what the Faith. But We have made it a light whereby We guide whom We will of Our bondmen. And lo! thou verily dost guide unto a right path, (ash-Shura: 52).
It is this spirit of the Qur'an which inspired the Arabs and transformed them from a nation of marauding tribes, with a marginal place in history, into a dynamic and vigorous social force that went to lead the world.

The surah then takes up the discourse along two main themes, one dealing with revelation and the other with the wonders of nature and the physical world, alternating between them to convey to humankind instructions, explanations, examples, and evidence for the existense of God and His grace to humankind. In the first theme, we are told of the two different responses given by man to the Qur'anic statement that, by, by His will, God: "sendeth down the angels with the Spirit of His command unto whom He will of His bondmen,"[2]. The first response is that of the rejectionists and the hopelessly lost people for:

..when it is said unto them: What hath your Lord revealed? they say: (Mere) fables of the men of old, (24) That they may bear their burdens undiminished on the Day of Resurrection, with somewhat of the burdens of those whom they mislead without knowledge. Ah! evil is that which they bear! (25)

In everyday society this kind of rebuttal normally comes from the elite or the leaders and opinion-formers who influence the masses and mislead them. The Prophet is reported to have said: "Whoever advocates a wrong or misleading idea shall bear the accumulative burden of all those who are influenced by it." The responsibility for disseminating false and insiduous ideas among common people should not simply stop at the act of promoting  and spreading such information without an examination of or care for its repercussions. Philosophers, thinkers, and writers must be prepared to bear the burden resulting from the effect which their ideas may have on other individuals and on society as a whole.

[ by their commission or omission....this addition is not Ghazali's, this is my perception of the ayat which is congruent with Ghazali's, I think. I am just calling a spade a spade and not as polite. Ulama', scholars , thinkers, leaders, shakers and movers of society, parliementarians need to take serious notice that staying in the sideline as just observers is tantamount to guilt. God-given wisdom and knowledge are not free. with it come responsibility  and accountability. It not just about taking home that fat paycheque at the end of every month! 'Ulul amri'  is a gift with awesome responsibility! Otherwise, if you guys are not up to it, choose to be  the 'proverbial' Pak Mat Nyadap...the village idiot. It is definitely a million times better at Yaumiddin. No excess baggage! ]

On the other hand, people themselves should also think critically and be ever vigilant and discerning with regard to the principles and odeas they choose to accept and believe in. In other words, they should not allow themselves to be led like sheep. The surah says:

Then on the Day of Resurrection He will disgrace them and will say: Where are My partners, for whose sake ye opposed (My Guidance)? Those who have been given knowledge will say: Disgrace this day and evil are upon the disbelievers, (27) Whom the angels cause to die while they are wronging themselves. Then will they make full submission (saying): We used not to do any wrong. Nay! Surely Allah is Knower of what ye used to do. (28)

In contrast to this attitude verse 30 points to the stance of the God-fearing, who display a much more intellligent, considered, and sensible response.

And it is said unto those who ward off (evil): What hath your Lord revealed? They say: Good. For those who do good in this world there is a good (reward) and the home of the Hereafter will be better. Pleasant indeed will be the home of those who ward off (evil) - (30)

The surah goes on to elaborate further on the qualities of these people stating: "Those whom the angels cause to die (when they are) good. They say: Peace be unto you! Enter the Garden because of what ye used to do "(32). The verse is referring to people who will have striven to keep their hearts clean and their lives pure and devoted to the cause of Allah, seeking to serve Him to the best of their ability and do good till the moment of death overcomes them. Faith and righteousness require cultivation and caring, and are strenghtened by incentives and discipline, and with the exercise, application, and enhancement of a host of human instincts, talents, habits, and skills.

The surah then turns to the second theme, that of the physical world and the clear effects of God's hand in its structure and existence:

He hath created the heavens and the earth with truth. High be He Exalted above all that they associate (with Him). (3) He hath created man from a drop of fluid, yet behold! he is an open opponent. (4)

Man's intranssigence is indeed bewildering. No other creature is so well aware of its weakness and frailties, yet dares to challenge the authority of God and deny His grace and favor. The surah illustrates this by pointing to one of the great favors of God to humankind in the verse: "And the cattle hath He created, whence ye have warm clothing and uses, and whereof ye eat; (5) And wherein is beauty for you, when ye bring them home, and when ye take them out to pasture "(6).

Profiling the relationship between humans and animals, the Qur'an present a picture that is free of dominance and exploitation. Man, as the master and keeper of animals, is taught to live in harmony with them and treat them with respect. The human and animal roles in this world are complementary and interdependent. Animals are a source of comfort for humans, and should be treated with care and kindness for they are a blessing and a gift from God.

Shaykh Muhammad al-Ghazali
[ 1917 - 1996 ]
" A Thematic Commentary On The Qur'an "



Reflection and commentary by Imam Dr Yusuf Ziya Kavakci:-
part 3...

Surah Al Nahl [ Bees ], 16...Prologue

Recitation of full surah al- Nahl ,by Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Sudais:-

THIS SURAH WAS CLEARLY REVEALED DURING the latter part of the Makkan period, 610 to 622 AC, when the confrontation between the Muslims and the pagan Arabs of Makkah had reached such a fever pitch that despair had begun to creep into the hearts of the Muslims as they could see no sign of the victory promised by Allah for their new religion. In contrast to this desperation, the non-Muslims were beginning to gloat and feel self -confident in their position as none of the threats made against them in the Qur'an and the Muslims had seemingly materialized. It is within this context and historical setting that the surah opens with the promise: "The commandment of Allah will come to pass, so seek not ye to hasten it. Glorified and Exalted be He above all that they associate (with Him). (1) 

Islam eventually triumphed over those it  who persisted in opposing it causing them to suffer in defeat. Although the non- Muslims may have perceived the time-scale involved for this to have been achieved to be a lengthy and protracted one, on the divine scale of things, however, it could not occurred any sooner. The Muslims were required to show patience and not lose heart and, indeed, the surah ends with these sober instruction to the Prophet:

Endure thou patiently (O Muhammad). Thine endurance is only by (the help of) Allah. Grieve not for them, and be not in distress because of that which they devise. (127) Lo! Allah is with those who keep their duty unto Him and those who are doers of good. (128)

The Muslims had already suffered and persevered a great deal. At the height of their distress the following two verses were revealed to console and comfort them, giving them the moral support they so desperately needed:

And those who became fugitives for the cause of Allah after they had been oppressed, We verily shall give them goodly lodging in the world, and surely the reward of the Hereafter is greater, if they but knew; (41)

Then lo! thy Lord - for those who became fugitives after they had been persecuted, and then fought and were steadfast - lo! thy Lord afterward is (for them) indeed Forgiving, Merciful. (110)

The 'migration' [hijrah] referred to here is one which was undertaken by some scores of Muslims, travelling in small groups, during the first seven years of Muhammad's call to prophethood. No longer able to withstand the persecution and victimization of the Makkans they emigrated to Abbyssinia, hoping to find safety and shelter there. Al-Bhukari reports that Asma', daughter of 'Umar, who was among the party of Muslims who first emigrated to Abyssinia then to Madinah, was once visiting Hafsa [ her sister, also Umar's daughter ]when 'Umar  ibn al-Khattab entered the room. He turned to Asma' and said: " We have a greater right to God's messenger because we migrated before you did." Asma'  became angry and retorted: "Never, By God. Whilst you were with the Prophet and he was feeding you, your hunger, and teaching your ignorant, we  were in that appaling and strange land during which time we came under persecution and threat; and all for the cause of God and His messenger. By God, I will not  rest until I have informed him of what you have said to me." True to her word, when the Prophet next visited Hafsa's house, Asma'  related the incidence to him and upon hearing 'Umar's comment and Asma's reply, he remarked: "They have no more right to me than you. 'Umar and his companions have the honor of a single migration [hijrah], while you, the 'people of the boat' [ having return from Abyssinia by boat ], have the credit of two."

Shaykh Muhammad al-Ghazali
[ 1917 - 1996 ]
" A Thematic Commentary On The Qur'an "






Reflection and commentary by Imam Dr Yusuf  Kavakci:-

part1..
[.... ayat 87 to ayat 94 from surah al-Hijr, and ayat 1 to ayat 9, surah al-Nahl]

[..surah al-Nahl starts from 1.01.00 ]

[ 0.57.25 ]....worship your lord until you die...{'ainal yakin'...100 % knowledge... }
[ 1.34.34 ]....we are slaves living in our individual 'pigeon-holes and boxes'..
[ 1.39.00 ] ...beauty in camels, horses and animals that graze......


part 2..
[ ayat 10 - ayat 29 ]

[ 0.41.00 ]...we lack in the  Muslim  world,physicists, zoologists, botanists etc etc who look at his profesion from the Quranic perspective. As a result, our ulama, teachers, leaders and followers continue to sleep...we Muslims continue to sleep....

[ 1.13.00 ]...Parents who lag behind in their parenting; women who go around 'naked'; leaders and parlimentarian who 'passed' out non Islamic laws all around the world; muftis and ulama' and scholars who sit by and allow these nonsense to go by... all will be burdened with these 'collective' baggage beyond their personal baggage.....
[ 1.27.00 ]....who wants to be Tariq Ramadan ? etc etc and etc...



Biodata : Imam Dr Yusuf Ziya Kavakci

Dr. Yusuf Ziya Kavakci was born on June 22, 1938 in Hendek, Sakarya, Turkey. At an early age (8-9 years) he accomplished memorizing whole Qur'an (Hifz al-Qur'an), graduated from Hasircilar Qur'anic School (Adapazari) with a training in Tajwid, Qira'ah, Arabic (Sarf and Nahw), Tafsir, Hadih, Fiqh, and allied Islamic Sciences. He passed national Exams for Waiz (Preacher and lecturer in Islamic Sciences) and Mufti (ordained and authorized to give Fatwa and religious verdict in Islamic field) and qualified for those jobs. 

He worked as Muadhdhin (Professional caller to prayer, Hirka-i Sharif Mosque), Imam (Kara Ahmed Pasha Mosque in Topkapi), and Waiz in the governorships Fatih and Beyoglu in Istanbul.

Dr. Kavakci received a bachelor's degrees in Law from The College of Law of Istanbul University and also in Islamic Studies from the Institute of Higher Islamic Studies, got his Ph.D. in Islamic History and Culture from Faculty of Arts, Istanbul University. After working as Assistant Professor and as Associate Professor in the Institute of Islamic Research, Istanbul University, he helped to establish the first college of Islamic Studies in modern Turkey. The College of Islamic Studies is now a part of Ataturk University, Erzurum where Dr. Kavakci worked as senior faculty. He chaired Tafsir, Hadith, Fiqh and other departments and got full professorship in Islamic Law and worked as Dean of the College. His professorship in Islamic Law was the first such position in Turkey after the fall of the Ottoman Empire. He was educated in the traditional Ottoman way of Islamic Studies as well as in modern methods of teaching in today's universities.

Currently Dallas-based, Muslim scholar and a prominent member of ISNA [ Islamic Society of North America ]