Lesson from Surah An‑Naml: Caring for Others in Islam Through the Stories of the Ant and Hudhud
Caring for Others in the Qur’an and Sunnah: A Divine Principle Reflected in Surah An‑Naml
The Qur’an presents profound lessons through the stories of even the smallest creatures. In Surah An‑Naml, an ant worries for the safety of her community in this world, while the hoopoe (Hudhud) worries for the spiritual fate of the people of Saba’ in the Hereafter. These narratives highlight a timeless Islamic value: caring for the wellbeing of others.
🐜 The Ant’s Concern for Her Community
Surah An‑Naml (27:18–19)
Arabic
﴿حَتّىٰ إِذَا أَتَوْا عَلىٰ وَادِ النَّمْلِ قَالَتْ نَمْلَةٌ يٰأَيُّهَا النَّمْلُ ادْخُلُوا مَسٰكِنَكُمْ لَا يَحْطِمَنَّكُمْ سُلَيْمٰنُ وَجُنُودُهُ وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ﴾
﴿فَتَبَسَّمَ ضَاحِكًا مِنْ قَوْلِهَا وَقَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِح…ْضٰهُ وَأَدْخِلْنِي بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِي عِبَادِكَ الصَّالِحِينَ﴾
Translation
“Until, when they came upon the valley of the ants, an ant said: ‘O ants! Enter your homes lest Solomon and his armies crush you while they do not perceive.’
So he (Solomon) smiled, amused at her words, and said: ‘My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and to do righteousness that You approve. And admit me by Your mercy among Your righteous servants.’”
(Surah An‑Naml 27:18–19)
The ant’s warning is selfless—she thinks of the safety of her entire community before herself.
🕊️ Hudhud’s Concern for the Spiritual Fate of the People of Saba’
Surah An‑Naml (27:22–24, 26)
Arabic
﴿فَمَكَثَ غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ فَقَالَ أَحَطتُّ بِمَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِ وَجِئْتُكَ مِنْ سَبَإٍ بِنَبَإٍ يَقِينٍ﴾
﴿إِنِّي وَجَدتُّ امْرَأَةً تَمْلِكُهُمْ وَأُوتِيَتْ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَلَهَا عَرْشٌ عَظِيمٌ﴾
﴿وَجَدتُّهَا وَقَوْمَهَا يَسْجُدُونَ لِلشَّمْسِ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ فَصَدَّهُمْ عَنِ السَّبِيلِ فَهُمْ لَا يَهْتَدُونَ﴾
﴿اللَّهُ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ﴾
Translation
“He (the hoopoe) said: ‘I have come to know what you do not know, and I have come to you from Saba’ with sure news.
Indeed, I found a woman ruling over them, and she has been given of everything, and she has a magnificent throne.
I found her and her people prostrating to the sun instead of Allah, and Satan has made their deeds seem fair to them and has barred them from the path, so they are not guided.
Allah—there is no deity except Him, Lord of the Mighty Throne.’”
(Surah An‑Naml 27:22–24, 26)
Hudhud is distressed—not about worldly matters, but about an entire nation being misled by Satan and risking eternal loss.
🌿 A Divine Pattern: Caring for Others Is Loved by Allah
The ant cares for worldly safety.
Hudhud cares for spiritual salvation.
Both reflect a principle Allah loves: thinking beyond oneself.
These stories may be reminders for us to care for the wellbeing of others—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Allah knows all the reasons these stories are mentioned; we only guess.
🌙 Ahadith on Caring for Others
1. Loving for Others What You Love for Yourself
Arabic
«لَا يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّىٰ يُحِبَّ لِأَخِيهِ مَا يُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِهِ»
Translation
“None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.”
(Sahih al‑Bukhari 13, Sahih Muslim 45)
2. The Believers Are Like One Body
Arabic
«مَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي تَوَادِّهِمْ وَتَرَاحُمِهِمْ وَتَعَاطُفِهِمْ مَثَلُ الْجَسَدِ، إِذَا اشْتَكَىٰ مِنْهُ عُضْوٌ تَدَاعَىٰ لَهُ سَائِرُ الْجَسَدِ بِالسَّهَرِ وَالْحُمَّىٰ»
Translation
“The example of the believers in their love, mercy, and compassion for one another is like a single body. If one limb suffers, the whole body responds with sleeplessness and fever.”
(Sahih al‑Bukhari 6011, Sahih Muslim 2586)
3. The Most Beloved People to Allah
Arabic
«أَحَبُّ النَّاسِ إِلَى اللَّهِ أَنْفَعُهُمْ لِلنَّاسِ»
Translation
“The most beloved people to Allah are those who are most beneficial to others.”
(Al‑Mu‘jam al‑Awsaṭ, Tabarani — Hasan)
4. Relieving the Hardship of a Muslim
Arabic
«مَنْ نَفَّسَ عَنْ مُؤْمِنٍ كُرْبَةً مِنْ كُرَبِ الدُّنْيَا نَفَّسَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ كُرْبَةً مِنْ كُرَبِ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ»
Translation
“Whoever relieves a believer of a worldly hardship, Allah will relieve him of a hardship on the Day of Resurrection.”
(Sahih Muslim 2699)
🌟 Conclusion
Surah An‑Naml teaches that even the smallest creatures embody noble qualities. The ant protects her community from worldly harm, and Hudhud warns a nation about spiritual danger. These stories highlight a divine value: Allah loves those who care for others.
This principle is echoed throughout the Sunnah, reminding us that true faith is intertwined with compassion, empathy, and concern for the wellbeing of others.
