THE ANT - A BEAUTIFUL CREATION OF ALLAH

This particular insect has been selected as a title (Aayat) of a Surah, "The Ants" in the Noble Quran. Briefly, it discusses the advent of Hadhrat Sulayman (Alayhis salaam), gathered with his hosts of Jinn, men and birds and they marched in arranged groups till they reached the Valley of Ants. Said one Ant "Oh you Ants! get back into your dwellings, least Sulayman and his hosts crush you unintentionally".

The Hadith and sayings of the companions are numerous relating to the Ant. Hadhrat Ibn Abbas (Radhiallaahu Anhu) reports that Rasool (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, "Do not kill four of these creatures viz. ant, bee, sparrows (wood-pecker), and any pigeon".

Hadhrat Abdur Rahman Ibn Abdullah (Radhiallaahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) descended at a certain place - (house) and attended to the call of nature. Incidentally a man kindled a fire in a heap of ants, (either the house was built on a tree or on the ground). Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) seeing this exclaimed "Who did this? Extinguish it!! Extinguish it!" Abu Hurayrah (Radhiallaahu Anhu) reports that a certain Prophet from the Prophets (Alayhis salaam) rested under the shade of a tree. An ant bit him. So the Prophet stood to avenge for the bite. He spotted a large group of ants and killed them. A call was voiced to Him, "Did not one ant (bite you)?"

Abu Hurayrah (Radhiallaahu Anhu) reports I heard Rasool (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) saying, A certain Prophet from the many Prophets (Alayhis salaam) was resting under the shade of a tree. An ant bit him. He instructed his belongings to be removed from there and immediately ordered the heap of Ants to be burnt. Allah Ta'ala revealed to him "Did not a single Ant hurt you and you have ordered a full nation of ants to be destroyed who are engaged in the invocation of Allah Taala? Was it not one ant?

Hassam Dastawani says that the ants and small ants during the season of summer brings love and prosperity to us but during the season of winter we fear they will dissminate/split away from us.

Abu Bakr Najee reports that Hazrat Sulayman (Alayhis salaam) came out seeking for water. Incidentally he spotted an ant facing its bottom downwards the sky and struggling with its legs facing upwards and saying, "Oh Allah we are a creation from Your Creation, we are not independent from your quenching our thirst, either you refreshen us and feed us or either kill us and destroy us.

"Till when they reached the Valley of the Ants, an Ant exclaimed, 'O Ants! Enter your dwellings least Sulaymaan and his armies crush you, unperceiving…" (Naml 18)

Islamic Info

Source:  Jamiatul Ulama (Kwazulu-Natal)