A glimpse into the nest makes it apparent why honey bees have fascinated us from the earliest
days of scientific observations. The infrastructure of the nest, the perfectly uniform and functional
comb, is composed of beeswax and is constructed into a repeating series of almost perfect
hexagonal cells.The comb is the stage for the activity of the colony and is used for almost
everything imaginable, from larval nursery to pantry to message centre.
At the individual level, honey bees have not one but three types of colony members: queens,
drones and workers, each with their own specializations and place in honey bee society. The
queen reigns over the nest, surrounded by attendants and fed the rich food she requires to perform
her few but crucial tasks inthe colony. The queen produces powerful pheromones, chemical
signals to recipient workers which control many of their behaviors and provide part of the 'social
glue' which holds honey bee life together. A highly organized social structure exists within the
colony and elaborate 'dances' are used to communicate the location of food sources.
Honey is a remarkable viscous liquid, prepared by the bees from the nectars of various plants.
It has occupied a prominent place in traditional medicines throughout world history. The ancient
Egyptians, Assyrians, Chinese, Greeks and Romans employed honey for wounds and diseases
of the gut. When the Children of Israel were in Egypt or journeying through the desert, their
promised goal was 'land flowing with milk and honey'.
Both the holy Qur'an and Hadith refer to honey as a healer of disease.
And thy Lord inspired the bee, saying: Choose thou habitations in the hills and in the trees and
in that which they thatch; Then eat of all fruits, and follow the ways of thy Lord, made smooth
(for thee). There cometh forth from their bellies a drink divers of hues, wherein is healing for
mankind. Lo! herein is indeed a portent for people who reflect.(Al-Quran 16:68-69)
In addition, the Prophet (PBUH) said:
“Honey is a remedy for every illness and the Qur'an is a remedy for all illness of the mind,
therefore I recommend to you both remedies, the Qur'an and honey”. (Bukhari)
