Surah An-Naĥl (The Bee) in English

1. ليكفروا بما آتيناهم فتمتعوا فسوف تعلمون

   55

   being unthankful for what We have given them. So let them enjoy. Soon they shall know!

   li-yakfurū bi-mā ʾātaynāhum fa-tamattaʿū fa-sawfa taʿlamūna

2. ويجعلون لما لا يعلمون نصيبا مما رزقناهم تالله لتسألن عما كنتم تفترون

   56

   They assign a share in what We have provided them to what they do not know. By Allah, you will surely be questioned concerning what you used to fabricate.

   wa-yajʿalūna li-mā lā yaʿlamūna naṣīban mimmā razaqnāhum ta-llāhi la-tusʾalunna ʿammā kuntum taftarūna

3. ويجعلون لله البنات سبحانه ولهم ما يشتهون

   57

   And they attribute daughters to Allah—immaculate is He—while they will have what they desire!

   wa-yajʿalūna li-llāhi l-banāti subḥānahū wa-lahum mā yashtahūna

4. وإذا بشر أحدهم بالأنثى ظل وجهه مسودا وهو كظيم

   58

   When one of them is brought the news of a female [newborn], his face becomes darkened, and he chokes with suppressed agony.

   wa-ʾidhā bushshira ʾaḥaduhum bi-l-ʾunthā ẓalla wajhuhū muswaddan wa-huwa kaẓīmun

5. يتوارى من القوم من سوء ما بشر به أيمسكه على هون أم يدسه في التراب ألا ساء ما يحكمون

   59

   He hides from the people out of distress at the news he has been brought: shall he retain it in humiliation, or bury it in the ground! Behold! Evil is the judgement that they make.

   yatawārā mina l-qawmi min sūʾi mā bushshira bihī ʾa-yumsikuhū ʿalā hūnin ʾam yadussuhū fī t-turābi ʾa-lā sāʾa mā yaḥkumūna

6. للذين لا يؤمنون بالآخرة مثل السوء ولله المثل الأعلى وهو العزيز الحكيم

   60

   There is an evil description for those who do not believe in the Hereafter, and the loftiest description belongs to Allah, and He is the All-mighty, the All-wise.

   li-lladhīna lā yuʾminūna bi-l-ʾākhirati mathalu s-sawʾi wa-li-llāhi l-mathalu l-ʾaʿlā wa-huwa l-ʿazīzu l-ḥakīmu

7. ولو يؤاخذ الله الناس بظلمهم ما ترك عليها من دابة ولكن يؤخرهم إلى أجل مسمى فإذا جاء أجلهم لا يستأخرون ساعة ولا يستقدمون

   61

   Were Allah to take mankind to task for their wrongdoing, He would not leave any living being upon it. But He respites them until a specified time; so when their time comes they shall not defer it by a single hour nor shall they advance it.

   wa-law yuʾākhidhu llāhu n-nāsa bi-ẓulmihim mā taraka ʿalayhā min dābbatin wa-lākin yuʾakhkhiruhum ʾilā ʾajalin musamman fa-ʾidhā jāʾa ʾajaluhum lā yastaʾkhirūna sāʿatan wa-lā yastaqdimūna

8. ويجعلون لله ما يكرهون وتصف ألسنتهم الكذب أن لهم الحسنى لا جرم أن لهم النار وأنهم مفرطون

   62

   They attribute to Allah what they dislike [for themselves], and their tongues assert the lie that the best of rewards [in the Hereafter] will be theirs. Undoubtedly, the Fire shall be their lot and they will be foremost [in entering it].

   wa-yajʿalūna li-llāhi mā yakrahūna wa-taṣifu ʾalsinatuhumu l-kadhiba ʾanna lahumu l-ḥusnā lā jarama ʾanna lahumu n-nāra wa-ʾannahum mufraṭūna

9. تالله لقد أرسلنا إلى أمم من قبلك فزين لهم الشيطان أعمالهم فهو وليهم اليوم ولهم عذاب أليم

   63

   By Allah, We have certainly sent [apostles] to nations before you. But Satan made their deeds seem decorous to them. So he is their master today and there is a painful punishment for them.

   ta-llāhi la-qad ʾarsalnā ʾilā ʾumamin min qablika fa-zayyana lahumu sh-shayṭānu ʾaʿmālahum fa-huwa waliyyuhumu l-yawma wa-lahum ʿadhābun ʾalīmun

10. وما أنزلنا عليك الكتاب إلا لتبين لهم الذي اختلفوا فيه وهدى ورحمة لقوم يؤمنون

    64

    We did not send down the Book to you except [for the purpose] that you may clarify for them what they differ about, and as a guidance and mercy for a people who have faith.

    wa-mā ʾanzalnā ʿalayka l-kitāba ʾillā li-tubayyina lahumu lladhī khtalafū fīhi wa-hudan wa-raḥmatan li-qawmin yuʾminūna