Author: Dr. Noor Mohammad Mohibi
The Quran: A Miracle Beyond Time- A Study of Its Miraculous Nature (part 95)
Divine Miracle in Honey and the Social Life of Insects: The Bee and the Ant
Allah the (SWT) has created the social systems of insects with astonishing characteristics systems in which the highest degrees of cooperation, specialization, flexibility, and coordination exist to achieve collective benefit. Yet these systems are not formed through imposed commands, but through innate disposition and divine design.
One of the most remarkable manifestations of this miracle is the extraordinary society of the honeybee and its precious product: honey.
Allah (SWT) says in the Noble Qur’an: “وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٖ فِي ٱلأَرضِ وَلَا طَٰٓئِرٖ يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيهِ إِلَّآ أُمَمٌ أَمثَالُكُم” Translation: “There is no creature on earth nor bird that flies with its wings except that they are communities like you.” [1]
This verse indicates the structured communities, cooperation, and organization among living beings.
The Honeybee and the Miracle of Honey
An Astonishing Social System
The honeybee lives within a miraculous social structure characterized by:
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Cooperation
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Organization
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Specialization
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Flexibility
All of this operates to secure collective welfare. This order is creational (takwīnī), not based on religious obligation, reflecting divine wisdom in creation.
Honey: A Healing for Humanity
Allah says: “يَخرُجُ مِن بُطُونِهَا شَرَاب مُّختَلِفٌ أَلوَٰنُهُۥ فِيهِ شِفَآء لِّلنَّاسِ” Translation: From their bellies emerges a drink of varying colors, in which there is healing for people.” [2]
At the time of revelation, people primarily knew honey for its nutritional value, unaware of its extensive medicinal properties. This verse is presented as an example of the Qur’an’s profound insight more than 1,400 years ago.
Medical Properties of Honey
Pure honey (derived from floral nectar) contains active enzymes that can be damaged by excessive heat or prolonged storage; therefore, it is best consumed naturally.
Scientific studies indicate that genuine honey positively affects multiple systems of the human body:
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Digestive system: reduces inflammation, improves digestion, and limits harmful bacterial growth.
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Bones: supports mineral absorption and growth.
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Nervous system: reduces anxiety and improves sleep.
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Skin and wounds accelerate wound healing—sometimes up to three times faster.
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Cardiovascular system: supports and protects heart function.
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Diabetes patients: may be tolerated in moderation due to its simple, quickly metabolized sugars (with medical guidance).
Honey contains more than 70 beneficial compounds, including enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and approximately 12 natural sugars—each contributing distinct therapeutic effects.
The Ant and Its Precise Social Order
General Characteristics
The ant is a highly organized social insect with more than 9,000 species worldwide. Some are sedentary; others migrate. Their behavior reflects:
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Cooperation
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Precise division of labor
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Efficient use of natural resources
This represents an extraordinary example of social organization among small creatures.
Hierarchy and Roles
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Queen: The largest ant, responsible for reproduction and leadership.
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Worker ants: Perform diverse duties—caring for larvae (education-like roles), gathering food (resource acquisition), maintenance and cleaning (municipal-like services), defense and security, waste management, and burial of the dead.
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Soldier ants: Protect the colony and attack threats.
Architecture and Storage
Ant dwellings include chambers, storage rooms, and complex tunnel systems—constructed with remarkable precision.
Ants use chemical scent trails as a form of chemical language and collective navigation system. They can carry up to 3,000 times their body weight, safeguard food sources, and protect their colony.
Communication and Sensory Systems
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Chemical communication: transmission of warnings and instructions.
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Vibrational and movement signals: collective coordination.
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Specialized antennae: sensing, detection, and guidance.
These features demonstrate structured social intelligence and reflect divine planning in creation.
Divine Miracle in Social Insects
The life systems of bees and ants display cooperation, division of labor, specialization, and adaptability within creation.
Honey—the product of the bee’s labor is a remarkable natural remedy, much of whose value modern science continues to discover, while the Qur’an referred to its healing qualities centuries ago.
The ant, through collective intelligence and social organization, teaches lessons in cooperation, protection, and resource management.
Summary
The miraculous creation of social insects such as bees and ants offers profound lessons for humanity:
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Scientific miracle of the Holy Qur’an: The Holy Qur’an referenced the healing properties of honey and the organized life of bees long before modern discoveries.
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Social harmony and order: Insect societies exemplify extraordinary organization and specialization.
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Moral and social lessons: Cooperation, responsibility, and mutual support are qualities humans can adopt in personal and societal life.
Ultimately, careful scientific study of insects and their products—such as honey—not only highlights nutritional and medicinal value but also reveals the divine miracle manifest in social harmony and order. [3]
Continues…
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References:
[1] Al-Anʿām 6:38.
[2] An-Naḥl 16:69.
[3] Summary adapted from Mawsūʿat al-Iʿjāz al-ʿIlmī fī al-Qurʾān wa al-Sunnah, vol. 2, pp. 212–218.
