Allah Says

وَأَوۡحَىٰ رَبُّكَ إِلَى ٱلنَّحۡلِ أَنِ ٱتَّخِذِي مِنَ ٱلۡجِبَالِ بُيُوتٗا وَمِنَ ٱلشَّجَرِ وَمِمَّا يَعۡرِشُونَ (68) ثُمَّ كُلِي مِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ فَٱسۡلُكِي سُبُلَ رَبِّكِ ذُلُلٗاۚ يَخۡرُجُ مِنۢ بُطُونِهَا شَرَابٞ مُّخۡتَلِفٌ أَلۡوَٰنُهُۥ فِيهِ شِفَآءٞ لِّلنَّاسِۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَةٗ لِّقَوۡمٖ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ (69)

And your Lord revelated to the bee: "Take for yourself dwellings in the mountains, in the trees, and in what [people] construct." (68) "Then eat from all [kinds of] fruits, and follow the paths of your Lord, made easy [for you]." From their bellies He emerges a drink of varying colors, in which there is healing for people. Indeed, in that is a sign for a people who reflect. (69)

In the creation of this tiny bee—which God has guided in such an extraordinary way, leading it to pastures and enabling its return to the hives it constructed through His divine instruction and guidance—lies a profound wonder. From within the bee comes delicious honey, varying in color according to the nature of the land and the pastures from which it gathers nectar. This honey serves as a remedy for people against many ailments. All of this stands as evidence of the perfection of God’s care and the completeness of His kindness toward His servants; He alone is the One who deserves to be loved and the only One who should be invoked.

The Insights from the Noble Verse

The revelation (Wahy): A form of communication that occurs discreetly.

- In this context, "revelation" may refer to *fitrah* (innate nature or instinct). As the Almighty states elsewhere in the Holy Quran: "He said, 'Our Lord is He who gave everything its creation, then guided [it].'" This means that after creating all things, God—glory be to Him—guided every creature toward what is most beneficial for it—whether human, animal, plant, or even insects, as in the example before us.

2- Most importantly, God Almighty selected various habitats for bees—environments where they can thrive and build their colonies. Among these, He chose the mountains. When the Almighty speaks of the habitats of bees, He mentions mountains, trees, and structures (trellises or hives); He begins with mountains and concludes with structures. It is well known that mountain honey is the finest variety—the most expensive, and the one with the greatest medicinal benefits—because it originates from the heart of nature, remaining untouched by human intervention (at least, according to the limited knowledge we possess today).

3 - God—glory be to Him—dedicated an entire Surah (chapter) of the Quran to a specific type of insect: one that functions as a kingdom, led by a queen rather than a king. Furthermore, if you observe a beehive, you will find that the queen herself actively participates in the work of her kingdom. Every member of the bee colony—from the smallest bee to the queen—works with unparalleled diligence and energy. Could the fact that God dedicated an entire Surah to this insect be an indication of the vital role bees play in the context of climate change? Could it also be a call to protect them from extinction? We know that millions of insect species have gone extinct over the ages, while others—such as the cockroach and the bee—have survived to this day. Therefore, we should pay attention to what the Lord of the Worlds has highlighted; for in it lies not only the well-being of your own digestive system—which is fundamental to your overall health—but also the health of the entire planet.

4 - In many countries around the world—such as England and Israel—there are now organizations dedicated to protecting bees from extinction. These efforts are often driven by environmental concerns and the need to preserve biodiversity, given that bees pollinate 120,000 different species of plants.

5- "Then eat from all the fruits, and follow the paths of your Lord, made easy [for you to traverse]

These are divine commands—orders from the Lord that are promptly carried out by a creature that does exactly as it is commanded, much like the angels; and the honeybee has indeed done so.

6- "There emerges from their bellies a drink of varying colors, in which there is healing for people."

This part of the verse contains several significant points:

- A "drink," not merely "honey": In a noble Hadith, when the brother of one of the Companions fell ill, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "Give him honey to drink"—he did not say "let him eat honey." Can honey be drunk, like milk? In fact, there are immense benefits to dissolving honey in water; the water molecules integrate with the honey, effectively allowing one to consume the equivalent of a full cup of honey, which the body then absorbs. Glory be to the One who described it as a "drink," and whose Messenger confirmed that it is something to be drunk, not just eaten.

- "Of varying colors"

This is a well-known fact among beekeepers, as well as those who consume and appreciate the different varieties of honey.

It contains healing for people.

You are surely well aware that everything produced by this humble insect—which is nonetheless honored by God, Blessed and Exalted be He—serves to heal people; even bee venom can cure certain ailments.

7- It was said long ago: "God places His secrets in the weakest of His creations."

Consider this insect: who is it that looks after it? God Almighty Himself—as He says, "There emerges from their bellies..." Who is it that brings this forth? God Almighty Himself. What is the secret behind such profound care? And, most importantly: please, never underestimate anyone again—for here is an insect that is cared for by the Lord of the heavens, the earth, and the entire cosmos.

8 - "Indeed, in that is a sign for a people who reflect."

Have you ever reflected upon the creation of God—Blessed and Exalted is He? Do you consider natural creation to be the same as creation through genetic engineering? And from where did they obtain the initial living material (DNA)? Let us reflect—let us commit our ideas to paper, and perhaps, if we are able, transform them into a product, complete with a patent.

A final observation regarding this noble verse:

If you were to act like the honeybee—following the commands of God—Blessed and Exalted is He—exactly as He intends, then the very best within you will emerge. By God’s leave, this will spread goodness and growth to everyone around you—much like the bee’s venom, and indeed all the products of the bee (not just its venom). And God is Most High and All-Knowing.

Now: What is the connection between bees and climate change?

The importance of bees in maintaining ecosystem services, ensuring human well-being, and promoting sustainable development—especially in mountainous regions—was highlighted during a World Bee Day celebration organized by the Central Himalayan Institute for Natural and Applied Research (CHINAR) and VToujours on May 20th. In recent years, there has been an alarming decline in pollinators due to the improper use of pesticides, habitat degradation, the unsustainable intensification of agricultural systems, the spread of pests and pathogens, and climate change. Yet, bees and other pollinators are essential for the healthy functioning of agrifood systems. They also contribute to achieving several Sustainable Development Goals by:

1. Preserving biodiversity.

2. Maintaining vibrant ecosystems.

3. Contributing to the creation of resilient livelihoods.

4. Generating new employment opportunities for smallholder farmers.

The people of the Nepalese mountains harvest from the realms of giant bees.

In conclusion,

Thanks be to God, Lord of the Worlds, who stated in His Holy Book: "We have not neglected anything in the Book."