to emphasize and commend the piety of past prophets, and to distinguish the present Qur'anic message from past traditions. Significance of title The sura's name is taken from the ants whose conversations were understood by Solomon. Similar to Sura 13 (The Thunder) or Sura 29 (The Spider), The Ants has no thematic significance in the Sura beyond it being a familiar phrase amongst believers, a reminder of the sura's story of Solomon. Ants do hold a privileged status among animals in Islam on account of the story of Solomon. Hadith literature tells of Muhammad forbidding Muslims to kill the ant, bee, hoopoe, or shrike; it is no coincidence that they are all featured in Sura 27 and that Sura 16 is entitled The Bee. One interpretation for the ant's theological significance coincides with its role historically. As written in the 1993 edition of the Encyclopaedia of Islam, "Since early antiquity, ants have been an object of admiration on account of ... the feverish activity with which they provide for their 27th chapter (surah) of the Qur'an with 93 verses (ayat) sustenance and the perfect organisation of their societies." This perfect organization under one cause correlates well with the Islamic idea of obedience, or ibadah. Main concepts Tawhid was preached by many Israelite prophets as well as Arabian prophets prior to Qur'anic revelation. "Truly, this Qur'an explains to the Children of Israel most of what they differ about, and it is guidance and grace for those who believe." God has no equal as a creator; all those who associate others with God are guilty of shirk. Earthly knowledge is nothing compared to God; only those with open ears and eyes will turn to God. Disbelievers of the message of God will have no hope come Judgement Day. The revelation is a clear warning. Sura 27 reiterates that all humanity must turn to God without delay. Chronology Sura 27 is agreed to be a Meccan Sura from the middle of the Meccan period. Tafsīr al-Jalālayn notes that some exceptions exist: ayat 52-55 are from the Medinan period; aya 85 was revealed during the Hijra to Medina. Nöldeke's Chronology Orientalist Theodor Nöldeke's chronology places Sura 27 as 68th out of 114. He places it amongst the 21 suras of the Second Meccan Period (See Muhammad in Mecca). (The Meccan period is estimated to be from 610-622 CE.) Nöldeke estimates Sura 27 to be