نملة
Namla
Topic
The Quran’s story of Solomon and the ant (27:18–19) and its use of a small creature as a sign.
What it means
Solomon, who was given the knowledge of the speech of birds (27:16), passes a valley of ants, and an ant tells the others to go into their homes lest Solomon and his army crush them unawares. Solomon smiles and thanks God.
Often misunderstood as
That the verse says ants talk in human language, which is absurd.
What the sources say
The Quran presents it as a gift to Solomon specifically, a miracle like those given to other prophets (21:79). Whether one understands it literally or as the communication that ants do have, the point stated in the passage is Solomon’s gratitude and justice. The Quran speaks of animals as “communities like you” (6:38).