We have been reflecting upon the wonders contained in the Qur’anic references to bees. Among them is this verse from Surah al-Naḥl, where a particular expression captures the Qur’anic imagination with elegant precision:

 

﴿ یَخۡرُجُ مِنۢ بُطُونِهَا شَرَابࣱ مُّخۡتَلِفٌ أَلۡوَ ٰ⁠نُهُۥ فِیهِ شِفَاۤءࣱ لِّلنَّاسِۚ إِنَّ فِی ذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ لَـَٔایَةࣰ لِّقَوۡمࣲ یَتَفَكَّرُونَ ﴾[Surah al-Naḥl: 69] 

From within their bellies emerges a drink of varying colors, in which there is healing for humanity. Indeed in this is a sign for those who reflect.

We have already seen how this verse refers to honey — its diversity of colors, its healing properties, and its medicinal benefits. But a striking linguistic choice invites deeper contemplation: instead of directly naming honey (ʿasal), the Qur’an uses the word sharāb — a drink. Why?

Is there anything else in the hive, other than honey, that we might drink? Is there anything else produced within the bee’s interior that contains healing properties? Is there a diversity in its appearance? The answer to all these is: yes.

The Arabic word buṭūn — translated here as “bellies” — is the plural of baṭn, which means belly, but also denotes the inner core, depth, or interior. Dr. Zaghloul El-Naggar, a prominent scholar of Qur’anic scientific miracles, explains that the bee’s abdomen contains nine delicate and flexible segments. And within this broad understanding of the “interior,” bees produce not only honey, but a remarkable variety of substances — all with distinct therapeutic and nutritional value. In his work Min Āyāti al-Iʿjāz al-ʿIlmī lil-Ḥayawān fī al-Qur’ān (On the Scientific Miracles of Animal Life in the Qur’an), he elaborates on these.

Let us briefly journey through them.

Royal Jelly

Royal jelly is a special secretion produced by worker bees as nourishment for the hive. It has a jelly-like consistency, pale yellow in color, and is nutritionally dense. It is fed exclusively to the larva that will become the queen bee. Because of this privileged diet, the queen becomes nearly 1,800 times heavier than a regular bee, lives a thousand times longer, and lays more than two million eggs over her lifetime.

Medicinal Properties of Royal Jelly:

Laboratory and clinical studies have confirmed a range of medicinal benefits:

· It possesses strong antiseptic and antibiotic properties, making it effective in treating skin infections.

· It reduces inflammation and eases symptoms of arthritis and joint pain.

· It is known to assist in preventing blood cancers such as leukemia.

· It improves mental and physical vitality and enhances reproductive health.

· It increases oxygen delivery to the brain, heart, and liver, thereby enhancing cognitive functions, memory, and stamina.

· It helps treat neurological disorders such as epilepsy, stroke, neurogenic asthma, and tremors.

· It reduces bad cholesterol and supports cardiovascular health.

· It strengthens the immune system, aiding in the fight against diseases including cancer.

· It can be applied topically as an ointment to treat eye problems like conjunctivitis, burns, and corneal injuries.

Royal jelly is typically consumed in doses of 50–400 mg before meals, either directly or mixed with honey in a 1:100 ratio (roughly 7 grams per teaspoon). It is also available in gel, tablet, capsule, lozenge, or dried powder forms (1–5 mg).

 Beeswax

Beeswax is a naturally waxy, pale-yellow substance with a complex chemical composition. It is produced by eight glands in the abdomens of worker bees and hardens on exposure to air. Bees use it to construct and reinforce the comb, house their larvae and pupae, and store honey.

Medicinal Benefits of Beeswax:

Chewing small pieces of beeswax can cleanse the nasal passages, windpipe, and lungs. It alleviates symptoms caused by viral infections and allergies.

 Additional Benefits:

· Consuming 2 teaspoons of honey with meals enhances the efficacy of beeswax.

· For hay fever prevention, chewing a small piece daily starting a month before allergy season is helpful.

· In severe cases, 1 tablespoon of honey per meal and 1 more with warm water in the evening is recommended.

· A mixture of 2 teaspoons honey and 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar in warm water, taken before breakfast and before bed, supports respiratory health.

 Propolis (Bee Glue)

Propolis is a resinous mixture created by bees from plant resins combined with their saliva and beeswax. It is used to seal and disinfect small gaps in the hive. Larger gaps are sealed with wax. Its color varies depending on its botanical source. Modern laboratory studies have identified potent antimicrobial properties in propolis, making it effective against bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

 Primary Medicinal Uses:

· Treats respiratory conditions like the common cold and seasonal allergies.

· Supports joint and bone health.

· Heals various skin disorders.

· Addresses certain eye ailments.

· Promotes wound healing.

· Prevents dental caries.

· Boosts immune system function.

 Bee Venom

Bee venom is a clear, aromatic liquid with a bitter taste that dries quickly in air. It contains proteins, enzymes, amino acids, and over 155 other compounds. It has long been used medicinally and is now being studied for its pain-relieving and immune-boosting effects.

Medicinal Properties of Bee Venom:

· Relieves joint pain, including conditions such as sciatica, syringomyelia, and lower back pain.

· Helps alleviate migraine and intense headaches.

· Treats skin conditions such as lupus, psoriasis, eczema, acne, and various inflammations.

· Effective in treating eye infections.

· Supports recovery from urinary issues, malaria, and thyroid disorders.

 Bee Bread (Ambrosia/Pollen)

Bee bread is a pellet of flower pollen that worker bees pack and ferment within brood cells. It serves as a primary food source in the hive and contains simple sugars, proteins, minerals, vitamins, fatty acids, and trace nutrients. It is stored with bee saliva and sealed with a drop of honey.

Key Benefits of Bee Bread:

· Helps treat allergic rhinitis, colds, and asthma.

· Offers protection against radiation exposure.

· Eases prostate problems.

· Alleviates menopausal symptoms like headache, palpitations, and stress.

· Enhances skin health and is used in cosmetic products.

 Modern science continues to study the complex chemistry of these bee-derived substances. Despite all our technological progress, the compounds found in bees — royal jelly, wax, venom, propolis — remain beyond the reach of industrial replication. Before the 19th century, scientific understanding of their medicinal value was virtually nonexistent.

 And yet — over fourteen centuries ago — how did the Prophet ﷺ describe all this with a single word?

He said:

 

﴿ یَخۡرُجُ مِنۢ بُطُونِهَا شَرَابࣱ مُّخۡتَلِفٌ أَلۡوَ ٰ⁠نُهُۥ فِیهِ شِفَاۤءࣱ لِّلنَّاسِۚ ﴾[Surah al-Naḥl: 69] 

From within their bellies emerges a drink of varying colors, in which there is healing for people.

 And thus, the Qur’an did not say ʿasal (honey), but sharāb — drink — a word that embraces all these beneficial fluids drawn from the inner workings of bees.

No classical tafsīr before the scientific discoveries of the modern age had elaborated on the healing properties of these other bee products — because such knowledge was not available. It was only through the lens of contemporary science that humanity came to understand their value.

So how, then, did the Prophet ﷺ know?

It is because this is no ordinary speech. This Qur’an is the truth — a radiant revelation sent from the All-Wise, the All-Knowing.

As Allah said:

 

﴿ سَنُرِیهِمۡ ءَایَـٰتِنَا فِی ٱلۡـَٔافَاقِ وَفِیۤ أَنفُسِهِمۡ حَتَّىٰ یَتَبَیَّنَ لَهُمۡ أَنَّهُ ٱلۡحَقُّۗ ﴾

[Surah Fuṣṣilat: 53]

We shall show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves, until it becomes clear to them that this is indeed the Truth.

Subḥānaka yā Rabb — Glory be to You, O Lord.