Medicinal Benefits of Honey Mentioned in the Quran

Honey Bees Offer a Lesson of Goodness
By Aziz Junejo, The Seattle Times, 10/8/11

During the winter of 2006, an extraordinary occurrence happened across America, one that put our food supply at risk.

Without a sign, millions of honey bees disappeared from their hives, a phenomenon that raised awareness of their fragile existence and their importance to our survival.

Honey bees are one of the most easily recognized insects in the world today and, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, we depend on these essential pollinators for about a third of our diet and much of what we wear.

When these little buzzing workers forage, pollen sticks to their fuzzy hairs, then rubs off on the next flower, fertilizing it, improving production for hundreds of fruits, vegetables and oilseeds.

Among the 114 chapters of the Quran, one is actually named Al-Nahl — The Bee.

God says in the Quran:

Behold! Your Lord inspired the bees to build their hives in the mountains, in trees, and in anything which men may build for beekeeping, and feed on every kind of fruit and follow the smooth ways of your Lord. From its belly comes forth a syrup of different colors, which contains a healing for mankind. Certainly in this there is a sign for those who think. (16:68-69)

The mode of conjugation in the Arabic text is intended for the female gender and, in fact, honey bees are ruled by a queen, with female workers that build the hives, collect nectar and produce honey...