Learning from the Bees

And your Lord inspired (awhaa) the bees, saying: “Take you habitations in the mountains and in the trees and in what they erect. Then, eat of all fruits, and follow the ways (subula) of your Lord made easy (for you).” There comes forth from their bellies, a drink of varying colour wherein is healing for men. Verily, in this indeed a sign for people who think (tafakur). (QS An Nahl [16]: 68-69)

Bees is a symbol for a faithful human being. A person who dedicate all of his life in God’s way. Therefore, there are some similarities between the life of a bee and life of a faithful person.

Selecting their food
Bees only consume nectars, it’s a symbol of a divine knowledge. It’s place is within the center of the flowers. They don’t fly around in anything that takes place in the ground like the flies do. They are really choosey when it comes to what their gonna put inside their body.

A faithful person is really cautious with what they consume. Not only they hold on to the rule of Halal and Haram (rules that restrict what to eat and not to eat in the Holy Qur’an), but they also be very attentive to the details like the portion – they don’t eat too much - and composition that suit their body. Because each person has a different response to foods.

Other than that, the nectar also symbol for divine knowledge. It is the secret that lies in every aspect of human studies. It is in medicine, philosophy, psychology, economy, culture, arts etc. Each of those discipline has its own ‘nectar’ – a divine knowledge that leads to the single “Source” – The All-Known Creator.

Therefore, another characteristic of a faithful person (mu’min) is that they are a deep learners. They always thrist for knowledge, seeking the truth and very desirous when in comes to unveil the divinity.

Yields goodness
Like bees that secreting honey from their bellies - that gives benefit for human life. A life of a faithful person is also brings goodness that permeates through his surroundings. Every words, expressions, or actions is meant to be a good conduct. He brings joy, happiness and comfort in other people’s life. Even sometimes it sacrifices himselves.

Communal creature
Bees live in harmony within its community. They don’t life separately, instead they build its nest together in harmony. Each bee carries a specific duty. There are nectar seekers, nest builders, and queen. They don’t acquainted with coup d’etat, because every bee understand their own position, its mission of life. So there won’t be any story where worker bee dissatisfied and trying to be a queen.

It’s not about how high your position is, it’s about whether you are already in your position or not. Like a bee, God has endowed each man with a specific talent in order to perform his sacred mission in life. The trail towards this mission of life lies all the way from the time that we were born. There is no single action of our life unless it is written within Book of Fate (Luah Mahfuzh). If only each person embrace it and life accordingly within it, then they will find their way back to the Source. Where all mysteries finally answered. And again, like a bees, it is easier when you do it all within a community instead of being a single fighter.