Among the most captivating moments in the Qur’an is the story of Prophet Sulayman (PBUH) and the ant. A prophet and king pauses — and smiles — after understanding what one of Allah’s smallest creatures had said.
Allah tells us:
حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَتَوْا۟ عَلَىٰ وَادِ ٱلنَّمْلِ قَالَتْ نَمْلَةٌۭ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّمْلُ ٱدْخُلُوا۟ مَسَـٰكِنَكُمْ لَا يَحْطِمَنَّكُمْ سُلَيْمَـٰنُ وَجُنُودُهُۥ وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ فَتَبَسَّمَ ضَاحِكًۭا مِّن قَوْلِهَا وَقَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِىٓ أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَىَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَٰلِدَىَّ
(سورة النمل ٢٧: ١٨–١٩)
“Until, when they came upon the valley of the ants, an ant said, ‘O ants! Enter your dwellings lest Sulayman and his soldiers crush you while they are unaware.’ So he smiled, amused at her speech, and said, ‘My Lord, inspire me to be thankful for Your favor upon me and my parents…’” (Surah An-Naml, 27:18–19)
For centuries, some people viewed this story as metaphorical. But the Qur’an presents it as a real event — a moment showing that communication exists in ways beyond what humans once believed possible. As Sheikh Ahmed Deedat said, the Qur’an is a book of signs that challenge the limits of human understanding. And when we follow those signs sincerely, science often catches up.
In 2013, the prestigious Science magazine published research showing that ants produce audible sounds — especially when sending alarm or rescue signals — by scraping a small spike on their abdomen. Other ants respond to these vibrations immediately, just as if they were hearing a call. (See: “Shhh, the Ants Are Talking”.)
SubhanAllah. Fourteen centuries before sensitive microphones and acoustic detectors existed, the Qur’an pointed to an interaction between a prophet and an ant. Not to prove science, but to reveal a sign that everything in creation operates with meaning, awareness, and divine order.
Allah reminds us of this ongoing discovery:
سَنُرِيهِمْ آيَاتِنَا فِي الْآفَاقِ وَفِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ ۗ أَوَلَمْ يَكْفِ بِرَبِّكَ أَنَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌ
(سورة فصلت ٤١: ٥٣)
“We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth.” (Surah Fussilat, 41:53)
Moments like this remind us that the Qur’an is not only to be recited — it is to be reflected upon. It trains us to observe, to think, and to feel awe. Each verse opens a door between faith and discovery, between what is seen and what is yet to be understood.
At IQRA Network, our mission is to ensure students understand the Qur’an and Arabic deeply — to connect with its meanings, not only its recitation. Explore our courses and programs here.
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