Key takeaway
Quran 27:18 recounts that when Prophet Sulayman (Solomon) and his armies reached "the valley of the ants," an ant said: "O ants, enter your dwellings that you not be crushed by Solomon and his soldiers while they perceive not." Biology shows that ants are highly social and communicate warnings. They release alarm pheromones that make nestmates flee or defend, and some species also communicate by sound and touch.
The verse
حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَتَوْا۟ عَلَىٰ وَادِ ٱلنَّمْلِ قَالَتْ نَمْلَةٌ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّمْلُ ٱدْخُلُوا۟ مَسَـٰكِنَكُمْ لَا يَحْطِمَنَّكُمْ سُلَيْمَـٰنُ وَجُنُودُهُۥ وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ ١٨
Until, when they came upon the valley of the ants, an ant said, "O ants, enter your dwellings that you not be crushed by Solomon and his soldiers while they perceive not."
Key Arabic terms
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| نَمْلَةٌ | namla | an ant (the verb qālat "she said" is feminine) |
| مَسَـٰكِنَكُمْ | masākinakum | your dwellings |
The story
Allah had taught Sulayman to understand the speech of creatures (27:16). The ant's warning is presented as real communication that Sulayman understood, and he smiled and thanked Allah. The ant even excuses the army: "while they perceive not."
What science shows
Ants live in highly organized colonies and communicate mainly by chemical signals called pheromones. When an ant detects danger it can release alarm pheromones that spread quickly and cause nestmates to flee, hide or attack, depending on the species. Many ants also communicate by touch and by stridulation, a squeaking sound made by rubbing body parts together. Forager ants, the ones found outside the nest, are female workers, which matches the feminine verb.
Balanced assessment
Interpretive A meaningful reflection the verse allows but does not require.
The core of this story is a prophetic miracle given to Sulayman, so it is not primarily a scientific claim. It is nonetheless consistent with what we know: ants warn each other of danger and act collectively, and the workers are female.
Frequently asked questions
Do ants communicate?
Yes. Ants communicate mainly through chemical pheromones, including alarm signals, and some also use sound and touch. Quran 27:18 describes an ant warning her colony.
References
Quran
- Quran 27:18, Saheeh International translation (Quran.com)
Science & history
Classical exegesis is summarized from the standard commentaries (e.g. al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr, al-Qurṭubī). See our methodology.
Cite this page
Quran Scientific Miracles. “The Ant's Warning.” https://quranscientificmiracles.com/topics/ants-communication/ (reviewed 2026-10-20).