What does « Bee / Gift » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Bee / Gift (نحل) in the Quran, with 2 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

نحل

Bee / Gift

Root: ن - ح - ل

Creed (aqida) 2 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 3 min read

Definition of Bee / Gift

An-Naḥl refers to bees.

The Almighty says: 'And your Lord revealed to the bees' (An-Nahl 68).

Surah An-Nahl takes its name from bees.

An-nuḥlah is the gift.

Naḥala means to give generously.

Bee / Gift in the Quran (2)

Meccan: 1 Medinan: 1

Distribution of verses by surah

An-Nisa 1

An-Nahl 1

Surah An-Nisa : 4 Medinan

﴿وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلنِّسَآءَ صَدُقَٰتِهِنَّ نِحْلَةً فَإِن طِبْنَ لَكُمْ عَن شَىْءٍ مِّنْهُ نَفْسًا فَكُلُوهُ هَنِيٓـًٔا مَّرِيٓـًٔا﴾

And give the women [upon marriage] their [bridal] gifts graciously. But if they give up willingly to you anything of it, then take it in satisfaction and ease.

Surah An-Nahl : 68 Meccan

﴿وَأَوْحَىٰ رَبُّكَ إِلَى ٱلنَّحْلِ أَنِ ٱتَّخِذِى مِنَ ٱلْجِبَالِ بُيُوتًا وَمِنَ ٱلشَّجَرِ وَمِمَّا يَعْرِشُونَ﴾

And your Lord inspired to the bee, "Take for yourself among the mountains, houses, and among the trees and [in] that which they construct.