Surah An-Naĥl (The Bee) in English

1. ويعبدون من دون الله ما لا يملك لهم رزقا من السماوات والأرض شيئا ولا يستطيعون

   73

   They worship besides Allah what has no power to provide them with anything from the heavens and the earth, nor are they capable [of anything].

   wa-yaʿbudūna min dūni llāhi mā lā yamliku lahum rizqan mina s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍi shayʾan wa-lā yastaṭīʿūna

2. فلا تضربوا لله الأمثال إن الله يعلم وأنتم لا تعلمون

   74

   So do not draw comparisons for Allah: indeed Allah knows and you do not know.

   fa-lā taḍribū li-llāhi l-ʾamthāla ʾinna llāha yaʿlamu wa-ʾantum lā taʿlamūna

3. ضرب الله مثلا عبدا مملوكا لا يقدر على شيء ومن رزقناه منا رزقا حسنا فهو ينفق منه سرا وجهرا هل يستوون الحمد لله بل أكثرهم لا يعلمون

   75

   Allah draws a parable: a slave owned [by his master] who has no power over anything, and another one [a free man] whom We have provided a goodly provision and who spends out of it secretly and openly. Are they equal? All praise belongs to Allah. But most of them do not know.

   ḍaraba llāhu mathalan ʿabdan mamlūkan lā yaqdiru ʿalā shayʾin wa-man razaqnāhu minnā rizqan ḥasanan fa-huwa yunfiqu minhu sirran wa-jahran hal yastawūna l-ḥamdu li-llāhi bal ʾaktharuhum lā yaʿlamūna

4. وضرب الله مثلا رجلين أحدهما أبكم لا يقدر على شيء وهو كل على مولاه أينما يوجهه لا يأت بخير هل يستوي هو ومن يأمر بالعدل وهو على صراط مستقيم

   76

   Allah draws [another] parable: Two men, one of whom is dumb, having no power over anything and who is a liability to his master: wherever he directs him he does not bring any good. Is he equal to someone who enjoins justice and is [steady] on a straight path?

   wa-ḍaraba llāhu mathalan rajulayni ʾaḥaduhumā ʾabkamu lā yaqdiru ʿalā shayʾin wa-huwa kallun ʿalā mawlāhu ʾaynamā yuwajjihhu lā yaʾti bi-khayrin hal yastawī huwa wa-man yaʾmuru bi-l-ʿadli wa-huwa ʿalā ṣirāṭin mustaqīmin

5. ولله غيب السماوات والأرض وما أمر الساعة إلا كلمح البصر أو هو أقرب إن الله على كل شيء قدير

   77

   To Allah belongs the Unseen of the heavens and the earth. The matter of the Hour is just like the twinkling of an eye, or [even] swifter. Indeed Allah has power over all things.

   wa-li-llāhi ghaybu s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍi wa-mā ʾamru s-sāʿati ʾillā ka-lamḥi l-baṣari ʾaw huwa ʾaqrabu ʾinna llāha ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīrun

6. والله أخرجكم من بطون أمهاتكم لا تعلمون شيئا وجعل لكم السمع والأبصار والأفئدة لعلكم تشكرون

   78

   Allah has brought you forth from the bellies of your mothers while you did not know anything. He made for you hearing, eyesight, and hearts so that you may give thanks.

   wa-llāhu ʾakhrajakum min buṭūni ʾummahātikum lā taʿlamūna shayʾan wa-jaʿala lakumu s-samʿa wa-l-ʾabṣāra wa-l-ʾafʾidata laʿallakum tashkurūna

7. ألم يروا إلى الطير مسخرات في جو السماء ما يمسكهن إلا الله إن في ذلك لآيات لقوم يؤمنون

   79

   Have they not regarded the birds disposed in the air of the sky: no one sustains them except Allah. There are indeed signs in that for a people who have faith.

   ʾa-lam yaraw ʾilā ṭ-ṭayri musakhkharātin fī jawwi s-samāʾi mā yumsikuhunna ʾillā llāhu ʾinna fī dhālika la-ʾāyātin li-qawmin yuʾminūna