Surah 27. An-Naml

Ta-Sin. These are the verses of the Quran; the clear Book.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Ta Sin. These are verses of the Qur'an a Book that makes (things) clear; ³²⁴⁰

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

See n. 3137 to xxvi. 1.

'It is' a guide and good news for the believers:

  - Mustafa Khattab

A Guide; and Glad Tidings for the Believers ³²⁴¹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Revelation is here presented in three aspects: (1) it explains things, the attributes of Allah, our own position, and the world around; (2) it directs us to right conduct and keeps us from evil; and (3) to those who have Faith and accept its guidance, it gives the good news of forgiveness, purification, and the achievement of salvation.

'those' who establish prayer, pay alms-tax, and have sure faith in the Hereafter.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Those who establish regular prayers and give in regular charity and also have (full) assurance of the Hereafter.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

As for those who do not believe in the Hereafter, We have certainly made their 'evil' deeds appealing to them, so they wander blindly.

  - Mustafa Khattab

As to those who believe not in the Hereafter We have made their deeds pleasing in their eyes; and so they wander about in distraction. ³²⁴²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Those who reject Allah and follow Evil have a good conceit of themselves. Their deeds are pleasing to no one else. As they have rejected Allah's guidance, they are allowed to hug their own self-conceit, and given further respite for repentance. But they follow their own whims and wander about in distraction, as they have no standards such as guide the godly.

It is they who will suffer a dreadful torment, and in the Hereafter they will 'truly' be the greatest losers.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Such are they for whom a grievous Penalty is (waiting): and in the Hereafter theirs will be the greatest loss. ³²⁴³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The account will then be made up, and they will be found to be terribly in loss. They will be the worst in loss, for all their self-complacency.

And indeed, you 'O Prophet' are receiving the Quran from the One 'Who is' All-Wise, All-Knowing.

  - Mustafa Khattab

As to thee the Qur'an is bestowed upon thee from the presence of One Who is Wise and All-Knowing.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

'Remember' when Moses said to his family, 'I have spotted a fire. I will either bring you some directions¹ from there, or a burning torch so you may warm yourselves.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

 lit., information. Moses and his family lost their way in the dark while they were travelling from Midian to Egypt.

Behold! Moses said to his family: "I perceive a fire; soon will I bring you from there some information or I will bring you a burning brand to light our fuel that ye may warm yourselves." ³²⁴⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xx. 9-24. Both there and here there is a reference to the dawn of Revelation in the heart of Moses. The points there emphasised will be found in the notes to that passage. Here the emphasis is on the wonderful nature of the Fire and the wonderful way in which Moses was transformed at the touch of the Light. He was travelling in the Sinai desert with his family. Seeking ordinary light, he came upon a Light which took him to the highest signs of Allah. No doubt all his inner history had prepared him for his great destiny. It is the inner history that matters, and not the place or position of a man in the eyes of his ordinary fellows.

But when he came to it, he was called 'by Allah', 'Blessed is the one at the fire, and whoever is around it!¹ Glory be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 This refers to the angels who were present around the light.

But when he came to the (Fire) a voice was heard: "Blessed are those in the Fire and those around: and Glory to Allah the Lord of the Worlds! ³²⁴⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Those: in the original the pronoun is in the singular, "man", which is often used with a plural meaning.

O Moses! It is truly I. I am Allah- the Almighty, All-Wise.

  - Mustafa Khattab

"O Moses! verily I am Allah the Exalted in Might the Wise!...

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Now, throw down your staff!' But when he saw it slithering like a snake, he ran away without looking back. 'Allah reassured him,' 'O Moses! Do not be afraid! Messengers should have no fear in My presence.

  - Mustafa Khattab

"Now do thou throw thy rod!" But when he saw it moving (of its own accord) as if it had been a snake he turned back in retreat and retraced not his steps: "O Moses" (it was said) "fear not: truly in My presence those called as apostles have no fear ^{3246 3247}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Moses was now transported into an entirely new world. What he had taken to be an ordinary fire was a gleam of the heavenly light. His own rod or staff was no longer the dead piece of wood that had hitherto supported him. It became instinct with life, a life that moved, and had the power of offence and defence in it, as all living Good must have in its fight with Evil. His own transformation is described in the next note.

In this great, new, wonderful world, that was opening out to Moses, he had to get his vision adjusted to his new surroundings, as an ordinary man has to adjust his sight before he can see in any very strong light that is new to him. The staff which had become alive as a snake frightened him: yet it was to be his own instrument of work in his new mission. All fear was to be cast out of his mind, as befitted a man chosen by Allah.

'Fear is' only for those who do wrong. But if they later mend 'their' evil 'ways' with good, then I am certainly All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

  - Mustafa Khattab

"But if any have done wrong and have thereafter substituted good to take the place of evil truly I am Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful. ³²⁴⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

His slaying the Egyptian (n. 3146 to xxvi. 14), however defensible from certain aspects, was yet something from his past that had to be washed off, and Allah, Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful, did it out of His abounding Grace. Nay, more; he was given a pure, Radiant Hand, as a Sign from Allah, as stated in the next verse.

Now put your hand through 'the opening of' your collar, it will come out 'shining' white, unblemished.¹ 'These are two' of nine signs for Pharaoh and his people.² They have truly been a rebellious people.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

 See footnote for 20:22.

 See footnote for 23:45.

"Now put thy hand into thy bosom and it will come forth white without stain (or harm): (these are) among the nine Signs (thou wilt take) to Pharaoh and his people: for they are a people rebellious in transgression. ^{3249 3250}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xx. 22. There the expression is: "Draw thy hand close to thy side." As far as the physical act is concerned, the expressions there and here mean the same thing. Moses had a loose-fitting robe. If he put his hand within the folds of the robe, it would go to his bosom on the side of his body opposite to that from which his hand came; i.e., if it was his right hand it would go to the left side of his bosom. The hand comes out white and radiant, without a stain. Ordinarily if the skin becomes white it is a sign of disease or leprosy. Here it was the opposite. It was a sign of radiance and glory from the higher Light.

The nine Signs: see n. 1091 to vii. 133.

But when Our enlightening signs came to them, they said, 'This is pure magic.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

But when our Signs came to them that should have opened their eyes they said: "This is sorcery manifest!" ³²⁵¹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Signs should have clearly opened the eyes of any persons who honestly examined them and thought about them. Those who rejected them were perverse and were going against their own light and inner conviction. That was the aggravating feature of their sin.

And, although their hearts were convinced the signs were true, they still denied them wrongfully and arrogantly. See then what was the end of the corruptors!

  - Mustafa Khattab

And they rejected those Signs in iniquity and arrogance though their souls were convinced thereof: so see what was the end of those who acted corruptly!

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Indeed, We granted knowledge to David and Solomon. And they said 'in acknowledgment', 'All praise is for Allah Who has privileged us over many of His faithful servants.'¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 The privilege was their ability to communicate with members of the animal kingdom, control the wind, utilize the jinn for their service, etc.

We gave (in the past) knowledge to David and Solomon: and they both said: "Praise be to Allah Who has favored us above many of His servants who believe!" ^{3252 3253}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xxi. 78-82. "Knowledge" means such knowledge as leads up to the higher things in life, the Wisdom that was shown in their decisions and judgments, and the understanding that enabled them to fulfil their mission in life. They were both just men and prophets of Allah. The Bible, as we have it, is inconsistent: on the one hand it calls David "a man after God's own heart" (I Samuel, xiii. 14, and Acts xiii. 22); and the Christians acclaim Christ as a son of David; but on the other hand, horrible crimes are ascribed to him, which, if he had committed them, would make him a monster of cruelty and injustice. About Solomon, too, while he is described as a glorious king, there are stories of his lapses into sin and idolatry. The Muslim teaching considers them both to be men of piety and wisdom, and high in spiritual knowledge.

They ascribed, as was proper, their knowledge, wisdom, and power to the only true Source of all good, Allah.

And David was succeeded by Solomon, who said, 'O people! We have been taught the language of birds, and been given everything 'we need'. This is indeed a great privilege.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

And Solomon was David's heir. He said: "O ye people! we have been taught the speech of Birds and on us has been bestowed (a little) of all things: this is indeed Grace manifest (from Allah)." ^{3254 3255 3256}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The point is that Solomon not only inherited his father's kingdom but his spiritual insight and the prophetic office, which do not necessarily go from father to son.

Speech of Birds. The spoken word in human speech is different from the means of communication which birds and animals have between each other. But no man can doubt that they have means of communication with each other, if he only observes the orderly flight of migratory birds or the regulated behaviour of ants, bees, and other creatures who live in communities. The wisdom of Solomon consisted in understanding these things-in the animal world and in the lower fringes of human intelligence.

"Everything": Solomon was a king of power and authority; outside his kingdom he had influence among many neighbouring peoples; he had knowledge of birds, and beasts and plants; he was just and wise, and understood men; and above all, he had spiritual insight, which brought him near to Allah. Thus he had something of all kinds of desirable gifts. And with true gratitude he referred them to Allah, the Giver of all gifts.

Solomon's forces of jinn, humans, and birds were rallied for him, perfectly organized.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And before Solomon were marshalled his hosts of Jinns and men and birds and they were all kept in order and ranks. ³²⁵⁷

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Besides the literal meaning, there are two symbolical meanings. (1) All his subjects of varying grades of intelligence, taste, and civilization, were kept in due order and cooperation, by his discipline, justice, and good government. (2) The gifts of various kinds, which he possessed (see last note), he used in proper order and coordination, as if they were a well disciplined army, thus getting the best possible results from them.

And when they came across a valley of ants, an ant warned, 'O ants! Go quickly into your homes so Solomon and his armies do not crush you, unknowingly.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

At length when they came to a (lowly) valley of ants one of the ants said: "O ye ants get into your habitations lest Solomon and his hosts crush you (under foot) without knowing it." ³²⁵⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

This verse and the next, read together, suggest the symbolical meaning as predominant. The ant, to outward appearance, is a very small and humble creature. In the great pomp and circumstances of the world, she (generic feminine in Arabic) may be neglected or even trampled on by a people who mean her no harm. Yet, by her wisdom, she carries on her own life within her own sphere ("habitations") unmolested, and makes a useful contribution to the economy of the world. So there is room for the humblest people in the spiritual world.

So Solomon smiled in amusement at her words, and prayed, 'My Lord! Inspire me to 'always' be thankful for Your favours which You have blessed me and my parents with, and to do good deeds that please you. Admit me, by Your mercy, into 'the company of' Your righteous servants.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

So he smiled amused at her speech; and he said: "O my Lord! so order me that I may be grateful for Thy favors which Thou hast bestowed on me and on my parents and that I may work the righteousness that will please Thee: and admit me by Thy Grace to the ranks of Thy righteous Servants." ^{3259 3260 3261}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The counterpart to the position of the humble ant is the position of a great king like Solomon. He prays that his power and wisdom and all other gifts may be used for righteousness and for the benefit of all around him. The ant being in his thoughts, we may suppose that he means particularly in his prayer that he may not even unwittingly tread on humble beings in his preoccupations with the great things of the world.

The righteousness which pleases the world is often very different from the righteousness which pleases Allah. Solomon prays that he may always take Allah's Will as his standard, rather than the standards of men.

In the Kingdom of Allah, righteousness is the badge of citizenship. And although there are great and noble grades (see n. 586 to iv. 69), the base of that citizenship is the universal brotherhood of righteousness. The greatest in that Kingdom are glad and proud to pray for that essential badge.

'One day' he inspected the birds, and wondered, 'Why is it that I cannot see the hoopoe? Or could he be absent?

  - Mustafa Khattab

And he took a muster of the Birds; and he said: "Why is it I see not the Hoopoe? Or is he among the absentees? ³²⁶²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Solomon was no idle or easy-going king. He kept all his organisation strictly up to the mark, both his armies literally and his forces (metaphorically). His most mobile arm was the Birds, who were light on the wing and flew and saw everything like efficient scouts. One day he missed the Hoopoe in his muster. The Hoopoe is a light, graceful creature, with elegant plumage of many colours, and a beautiful yellow crest on his head, which entities him to be called a royal bird.