Epigraph:

وَأَوْحَىٰ رَبُّكَ إِلَى النَّحْلِ أَنِ اتَّخِذِي مِنَ الْجِبَالِ بُيُوتًا وَمِنَ الشَّجَرِ وَمِمَّا يَعْرِشُونَ

ثُمَّ كُلِي مِن كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ فَاسْلُكِي سُبُلَ رَبِّكِ ذُلُلًا ۚ يَخْرُجُ مِن بُطُونِهَا شَرَابٌ مُّخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهُ فِيهِ شِفَاءٌ لِّلنَّاسِ ۗ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

And your Lord inspired the bee, saying, ‘Build yourselves houses in the mountains and trees and what people construct. Then feed on all kinds of fruit and follow the ways made easy for you by your Lord.’ From their bellies comes a drink of different colors in which there is healing for people. There truly is a sign in this for those who think. (Al Quran 16:68-69)

Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD, Chief Editor of the Muslim Times

The holy Quran often talks to male believers and the females are included in a style which was true of most writings until recently. For example, the US constitution states that all men are created equal and women are implied. But, when it comes to the honey bees the Quran exclusively talks of female bees.

In a honeybee colony, the production of honey is exclusively the responsibility of female worker bees. These industrious females undertake the tasks of foraging for nectar, processing it into honey, and storing it within the hive’s honeycombs. Male bees, known as drones, do not participate in these activities.

Roles of Worker Bees:

• Nectar Collection: Worker bees venture out to flowers, using their proboscis to extract nectar, which they store in their specialized honey stomachs. Upon returning to the hive, they transfer the nectar to other worker bees. Bee Professor
• Honey Production: The received nectar is chewed and mixed with enzymes, initiating its transformation into honey. This substance is then deposited into honeycomb cells. To reduce its moisture content, workers fan the cells with their wings, aiding in the evaporation process. Once the honey reaches the desired consistency, the cells are sealed with beeswax for storage. Buzz About Bees

The Verbs and Proverbs that the Quran uses for Bees:

Unlike English in Arabic there are female and male verbs. In the verses quoted above as epigraphs, the verbs and proverbs used are female a clear allusion that God inspired the female bees to scout for new locations when needed, eat, forage and store. Those who are interested in the Arabic verbs, the four here are:

اتَّخِذِي

كُلِي

فَاسْلُكِي

بُطُونِهَا

Roles of Drone Bees:

• Mating: Drones’ primary function is to mate with a virgin queen from another hive, ensuring genetic diversity. They do not possess stingers and are not equipped to collect nectar or pollen. Drones rely on worker bees for sustenance and do not contribute to honey production. Wikipedia

In summary, honey production is an endeavor carried out solely by female worker bees, while male drones focus on reproduction and do not engage in foraging or nectar processing.

The discovery of male and female bees happened in recent centuries and a very clear and unambiguous mention of this reality in the Quran revealed 1440 years ago has dramatic theological implications.

Additional reading:

Are Female Honey Bees Evidence for Guided Evolution?