Short answer
The Qur'an tells of an ant that warned the others when Solomon's army came near. She told them to go into their homes, so that the soldiers would not crush them without knowing it. The story shows ants as a real community. They have homes, one ant warns the rest, and the colony acts on the warning. Modern study of ants fits this picture. They build nests with rooms, and an ant in danger gives off an alarm scent that its nestmates answer within seconds. Solomon smiled at her words and prayed to be grateful to God (﷾). The Qur'an says every animal and bird lives in communities like ours, and this story shows one. In Islam, the ant colony is a community with its own worth.
Full explanation
The story
The Qur'an tells how Solomon's army reached a valley of ants. One ant told the others to enter their homes. Then, she said, the army would not crush them without knowing it. Solomon smiled at her words and asked God (﷾) to make him grateful.
“At length, when they came to a (lowly) valley of ants, one of the ants said: "O ye ants, get into your habitations, lest Solomon and his hosts crush you (under foot) without knowing it."”
“So he smiled, amused at her speech; and he said: "O my Lord! so order me that I may be grateful for Thy favours, which thou hast bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may work the righteousness that will please Thee: And admit me, by Thy Grace, to the ranks of Thy righteous Servants."”
How ants really live
People had long seen ants hurry about and store food. The details of how a colony works came from modern entomology, the scientific study of insects. Ants live in built nests, with chambers for their young and for stores. They signal to each other by scent and touch. An ant that meets danger releases an alarm scent. Its nestmates respond within seconds.
The standard scientific account of ants, awarded the Pulitzer Prize. It describes colonies living in built nests with separate chambers for the young and for stores, and the chemical signals by which ants communicate. Among these are alarm signals: an ant that meets danger releases a scent that alerts its nestmates, who respond within seconds.
What the verse contains
In one sentence the verse gives the ants homes to enter and a warning passed from one ant to the rest. It also shows a colony that acts on the warning together. The warning is exact: the danger is being crushed by an army that does not notice them. The verse does not explain how the warning travels. It says only that a warning was given, and the study of ants agrees that ants warn each other. The ant's words name Solomon and his army, and the Qur'an does not offer them as ant science. Solomon heard her and thanked God (﷾) for His favours to him. Just before, he says he was taught the speech of birds and given a little of all things.
“At length, when they came to a (lowly) valley of ants, one of the ants said: "O ye ants, get into your habitations, lest Solomon and his hosts crush you (under foot) without knowing it."”
The standard scientific account of ants, awarded the Pulitzer Prize. It describes colonies living in built nests with separate chambers for the young and for stores, and the chemical signals by which ants communicate. Among these are alarm signals: an ant that meets danger releases a scent that alerts its nestmates, who respond within seconds.
“And Solomon was David's heir. He said: "O ye people! We have been taught the speech of birds, and on us has been bestowed (a little) of all things: this is indeed Grace manifest (from Allah.)"”
“So he smiled, amused at her speech; and he said: "O my Lord! so order me that I may be grateful for Thy favours, which thou hast bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may work the righteousness that will please Thee: And admit me, by Thy Grace, to the ranks of Thy righteous Servants."”
Communities like you
The Qur'an says every animal and bird lives in communities like those of people. The Prophet (ﷺ) told of an earlier prophet whom Allah (﷾) rebuked for burning an ants' nest. Allah (﷾) said he had destroyed a nation that glorified Him. In Islam the ant colony is a community with its own worth.
“There is not an animal (that lives) on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but (forms part of) communities like you. Nothing have we omitted from the Book, and they (all) shall be gathered to their Lord in the end.”
Abu Hurayra reports that the Prophet (ﷺ) told of an earlier prophet who was bitten by an ant and had the ants' nest burnt. Allah then revealed to him a rebuke: because one ant bit you, you have burnt a whole nation of the nations that glorify Allah.
Perspectives
The Islamic perspective
The Qur'an presents the ants as a community with homes, a warning passed from one to the rest, and shared action. The study of ants agrees with this picture. The Prophet (ﷺ) taught that an ant colony is a nation that glorifies Allah (﷾).
The Qur'an describes an ant warning the colony to enter their dwellings. Otherwise Solomon's army might crush them unawares.
Ants live in built nests with chambers. They warn each other of danger with alarm scents, and nearby nestmates answer within seconds.
The Qur'an presents Solomon's hearing of the ant among God's (﷾) favours to him. He was taught the speech of birds and given a little of all things.
The Qur'an teaches that animals and birds live in communities like those of people.
The Prophet (ﷺ) told of Allah (﷾) rebuking a prophet for burning an ants' nest. Allah (﷾) called it a nation that glorifies Him.