أعوذ باللّٰه من الشيطان الرجيم
بِسْمِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
(Book#1010)
[Knowledge and Power:-]
www.motaher21.net
Sura:27
Para:19
Sura: An-Noml
Ayat: 15-44
27:15
وَ لَقَدۡ اٰتَیۡنَا دَاوٗدَ وَ سُلَیۡمٰنَ عِلۡمًا ۚ وَ قَالَا الۡحَمۡدُ لِلّٰہِ الَّذِیۡ فَضَّلَنَا عَلٰی کَثِیۡرٍ مِّنۡ عِبَادِہِ الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۱۵﴾
And We had certainly given to David and Solomon knowledge, and they said, “Praise [is due] to Allah, who has favored us over many of His believing servants.”
Dawud and Suleiman (peace be upon them), the organization of Suleiman’s Troops and His passage through the Valley of the Ants
Here Allah tells us about the great blessings and favors which He bestowed upon two of His servants and Prophets, Dawud (David) and his son Suleiman (Solomon), peace be upon them both, and how they enjoyed happiness in this world and the Hereafter, power and authority in this world, and the position of being Prophets and Messengers.
Allah says:
وَلَقَدْ اتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ وَسُلَيْمَانَ عِلْمًا وَقَالَا الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي فَضَّلَنَا عَلَى كَثِيرٍ مِّنْ عِبَادِهِ الْمُوْمِنِينَ
And indeed We gave knowledge to Dawud and Suleiman, and they both said:
“All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has preferred us above many of His believing servants!
27:16
وَ وَرِثَ سُلَیۡمٰنُ دَاوٗدَ وَ قَالَ یٰۤاَیُّہَا النَّاسُ عُلِّمۡنَا مَنۡطِقَ الطَّیۡرِ وَ اُوۡتِیۡنَا مِنۡ کُلِّ شَیۡءٍ ؕ اِنَّ ہٰذَا لَہُوَ الۡفَضۡلُ الۡمُبِیۡنُ ﴿۱۶﴾
And Solomon inherited David. He said, “O people, we have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given from all things. Indeed, this is evident bounty.”
وَوَرِثَ سُلَيْمَانُ دَاوُودَ
And Suleiman inherited from Dawud.
means, in kingship and Prophethood.
What is meant here is not wealth, because if that were the case, Suleiman would not have been singled out from among the sons of Dawud, as Dawud had one hundred wives. Rather what is meant is the inheritance of kingship and Prophethood, for the wealth of the Prophets cannot be inherited, as the Messenger of Allah said:
نَحْنُ مَعَاشِرَ الاَْنْبِيَاءِ لَا نُورَثُ مَا تَرَكْنَاهُ فَهُوَ صَدَقَة
We Prophets cannot be inherited from; whatever we leave behind is charity.
وَقَالَ
And (Suleiman) said:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ عُلِّمْنَا مَنطِقَ الطَّيْرِ وَأُوتِينَا مِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ
O mankind! We have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given from everything.
Here Suleiman was speaking of the blessings that Allah bestowed upon him, by giving him complete authority and power, whereby mankind, the Jinn and the birds were subjugated to him.
He also knew the language of the birds and animals, which is something that had never been given to any other human being — as far as we know from what Allah and His Messenger told us.
Allah enabled Suleiman to understand what the birds said to one another as they flew through the air, and what the different kinds of animals said.
Suleiman said:
عُلِّمْنَا مَنطِقَ الطَّيْرِ وَأُوتِينَا مِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ
(We have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given from everything).
i.e., all things that a king needs.
إِنَّ هَذَا لَهُوَ الْفَضْلُ الْمُبِينُ
This, verily, is an evident grace.
means, `this is clearly the blessings of Allah upon us.’
وَحُشِرَ لِسُلَيْمَانَ جُنُودُهُ مِنَ الْجِنِّ وَالاِْنسِ وَالطَّيْرِ فَهُمْ يُوزَعُونَ
27:17
وَ حُشِرَ لِسُلَیۡمٰنَ جُنُوۡدُہٗ مِنَ الۡجِنِّ وَ الۡاِنۡسِ وَ الطَّیۡرِ فَہُمۡ یُوۡزَعُوۡنَ ﴿۱۷﴾
And gathered for Solomon were his soldiers of the jinn and men and birds, and they were [marching] in rows.
And there were gathered before Suleiman his hosts of Jinn and men, and birds, and they all were set in battle order.
means, all of Suleiman’s troops of Jinn, men and birds were gathered together, and he rode with them in a display of might and glory, with people marching behind him, followed by the Jinn, and the birds flying above his head. When it was hot, they would shade him with their wings.
فَهُمْ يُوزَعُونَ
and they all were set in battle order.
The first and the last of them were brought together, so that none of them would step out of place.
Mujahid said:
“Officials were appointed to keep each group in order, and to keep the first and the last together so that no one would step out of line — just as kings do nowadays.
27:18
حَتّٰۤی اِذَاۤ اَتَوۡا عَلٰی وَادِ النَّمۡلِ ۙ قَالَتۡ نَمۡلَۃٌ یّٰۤاَیُّہَا النَّمۡلُ ادۡخُلُوۡا مَسٰکِنَکُمۡ ۚ لَا یَحۡطِمَنَّکُمۡ سُلَیۡمٰنُ وَ جُنُوۡدُہٗ ۙ وَ ہُمۡ لَا یَشۡعُرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۸﴾
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.”
حَتَّى إِذَا أَتَوْا عَلَى وَادِي النَّمْلِ
Till, when they came to the valley of the ants,
meaning, when Suleiman, the soldiers and the army with him crossed the valley of the ants,
قَالَتْ نَمْلَةٌ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّمْلُ ادْخُلُوا مَسَاكِنَكُمْ لَاا يَحْطِمَنَّكُمْ سُلَيْمَانُ وَجُنُودُهُ وَهُمْ لَاا يَشْعُرُونَ
one of the ants said:”O ants! Enter your dwellings, lest Suleiman and his armies should crush you, while they perceive not.”
Suleiman, peace be upon him, understood what the ant said
27:19
فَتَبَسَّمَ ضَاحِکًا مِّنۡ قَوۡلِہَا وَ قَالَ رَبِّ اَوۡزِعۡنِیۡۤ اَنۡ اَشۡکُرَ نِعۡمَتَکَ الَّتِیۡۤ اَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَیَّ وَ عَلٰی وَالِدَیَّ وَ اَنۡ اَعۡمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرۡضٰىہُ وَ اَدۡخِلۡنِیۡ بِرَحۡمَتِکَ فِیۡ عِبَادِکَ الصّٰلِحِیۡنَ ﴿۱۹﴾
So [Solomon] smiled, amused at her speech, and said, “My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to do righteousness of which You approve. And admit me by Your mercy into [the ranks of] Your righteous servants.”
فَتَبَسَّمَ ضَاحِكًا مِّن قَوْلِهَا وَقَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَى وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ
So he smiled, amused at her speech and said:
“My Lord! Grant me the power and ability that I may be grateful for Your favors which You have bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may do righteous good deeds that will please You,
meaning:`inspire me to give thanks for the blessings that You have bestowed upon me by teaching me to understand what the birds and animals say, and the blessings that You have bestowed upon my parents by making them Muslims who believe in You.’
وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ
and that I may do righteous good deeds that will please You,
means, `deeds that You love which will earn Your pleasure.’
وَأَدْخِلْنِي بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِي عِبَادِكَ الصَّالِحِينَ
and admit me by Your mercy among Your righteous servants.
means, `when You cause me to die, then join me with the righteous among Your servants, and the Higher Companion among Your close friends.’
رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَى وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَدْخِلْنِي بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِي عِبَادِكَ الصَّالِحِينَ
“My Lord!
Grant me the power and ability that I may be grateful for Your favors which You have bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may do righteous good deeds that will please You, and admit me by Your mercy among Your righteous servants.
27:20
وَ تَفَقَّدَ الطَّیۡرَ فَقَالَ مَا لِیَ لَاۤ اَرَی الۡہُدۡہُدَ ۫ۖ اَمۡ کَانَ مِنَ الۡغَآئِبِیۡنَ ﴿۲۰﴾
And he took attendance of the birds and said, “Why do I not see the hoopoe – or is he among the absent?
The Absence of the Hoopoe
Allah tells:
وَتَفَقَّدَ الطَّيْرَ
He inspected the birds,
Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr and others narrated from Ibn Abbas and others that the hoopoe was an expert who used to show Suleiman where water was if he was out in open land and needed water.
The hoopoe would look for water for him in the various strata of the earth, just as a man looks at things on the surface of the earth, and he would know just how far below the surface the water was. When the hoopoe showed him where the water was, Suleiman would command the Jinn to dig in that place until they brought water from the depths of the earth.
One day Suleiman went to some open land and checked on the birds, but he could not see the hoopoe.
فَقَالَ مَا لِيَ لَا أَرَى الْهُدْهُدَ أَمْ كَانَ مِنَ الْغَايِبِينَ
and (Suleiman) said:”What is the matter that I see not the hoopoe Or is he among the absentees!”
One day Abdullah bin Abbas told a similar story,
and among the people was a man from the Khawarij whose name was Nafi` bin Al-Azraq, who often used to raise objections to Ibn Abbas. He said to him,
“Stop, O Ibn Abbas; you will be defeated (in argument) today!”
Ibn Abbas said:”Why?”
Nafi` said:”You are telling us that the hoopoe can see water beneath the ground, but any boy can put seed in a trap and cover the trap with dirt, and the hoopoe will come and take the seed, so the boy can catch him in the trap.”
Ibn Abbas said, “If it was not for the fact that this man would go and tell others that he had defeated Ibn Abbas in argument, I would not even answer.”
Then he said to Nafi`:
“Woe to you! When the decree strikes a person, his eyes become blind and he loses all caution.”
Nafi` said:”By Allah I will never dispute with you concerning anything in the Qur’an.
27:21
لَاُعَذِّبَنَّہٗ عَذَابًا شَدِیۡدًا اَوۡ لَاَاذۡبَحَنَّہٗۤ اَوۡ لَیَاۡتِیَنِّیۡ بِسُلۡطٰنٍ مُّبِیۡنٍ ﴿۲۱﴾
I will surely punish him with a severe punishment or slaughter him unless he brings me clear authorization.”
لَاأُعَذِّبَنَّهُ عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا
I will surely punish him with a severe torment,
Al-A`mash said, narrating from Al-Minhal bin `Amr from Sa`id that Ibn Abbas said:
“He meant, by plucking his feathers.”
Abdullah bin Shaddad said:
“By plucking his feathers and exposing him to the sun.”
This was also the view of more than one of the Salaf, that it means plucking his feathers and leaving him exposed to be eaten by ants.
أَوْ لَاَذْبَحَنَّهُ
or slaughter him,
means, killing him.
أَوْ لَيَأْتِيَنِّي بِسُلْطَانٍ مُّبِينٍ
unless he brings me a clear reason.
i.e., a valid excuse.
Sufyan bin Uyaynah and Abdullah bin Shaddad said:
“When the hoopoe came back, the other birds said to him:”What kept you, Suleiman has vowed to shed your blood.”
The hoopoe said:”Did he make any exception (did he say `unless!’).”
They said, “Yes, he said:
لَاأُعَذِّبَنَّهُ عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا أَوْ لَاأَذْبَحَنَّهُ أَوْ لَيَأْتِيَنِّي بِسُلْطَانٍ مُّبِينٍ
(I will surely punish him with a severe torment or slaughter him, unless he brings me a clear reason).
The hoopoe said, “Then I am saved.
27:22
فَمَکَثَ غَیۡرَ بَعِیۡدٍ فَقَالَ اَحَطۡتُّ بِمَا لَمۡ تُحِطۡ بِہٖ وَ جِئۡتُکَ مِنۡ سَبَاٍۭ بِنَبَاٍ یَّقِیۡنٍ ﴿۲۲﴾
But the hoopoe stayed not long and said, “I have encompassed [in knowledge] that which you have not encompassed, and I have come to you from Sheba with certain news.
How the Hoopoe came before Suleiman and told Him about Saba’
Allah says:
فَمَكَثَ غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ
But (the hoopoe) stayed not long,
meaning, he was absent for only a short time.
فَقَالَ
he said:
Then he came and said to Suleiman:
أَحَطتُ بِمَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِ
I have grasped which you have not grasped,
meaning, `I have come to know something that you and your troops do not know.’
وَجِيْتُكَ مِن سَبَإٍ بِنَبَإٍ يَقِينٍ
and I have come to you from Saba’ with true news.
meaning, with true and certain news.
Saba’ (Sheba) refers to Himyar, they were a dynasty in Yemen.
Then the hoopoe said
27:23
اِنِّیۡ وَجَدۡتُّ امۡرَاَۃً تَمۡلِکُہُمۡ وَ اُوۡتِیَتۡ مِنۡ کُلِّ شَیۡءٍ وَّ لَہَا عَرۡشٌ عَظِیۡمٌ ﴿۲۳﴾
Indeed, I found [there] a woman ruling them, and she has been given of all things, and she has a great throne.
إِنِّي وَجَدتُّ امْرَأَةً تَمْلِكُهُمْ
I found a woman ruling over them,
Al-Hasan Al-Basri said,
“This is Bilqis bint Sharahil, the queen of Saba’.”
Allah’s saying:
وَأُوتِيَتْ مِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ
she has been given all things,
means, all the conveniences of this world that a powerful monarch could need.
وَلَهَا عَرْشٌ عَظِيمٌ
and she has a great throne.
meaning, a tremendous chair adorned with gold and different kinds of jewels and pearls.
The historians said,
“This throne was in a great, strong palace which was high and firmly constructed. In it there were three hundred and sixty windows on the east side, and a similar number on the west, and it was constructed in such a way that each day when the sun rose it would shine through one window, and when it set it would shine through the opposite window. And the people used to prostrate to the sun morning and evening.”
This is why the hoopoe said
27:24
وَجَدۡتُّہَا وَ قَوۡمَہَا یَسۡجُدُوۡنَ لِلشَّمۡسِ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ وَ زَیَّنَ لَہُمُ الشَّیۡطٰنُ اَعۡمَالَہُمۡ فَصَدَّہُمۡ عَنِ السَّبِیۡلِ فَہُمۡ لَا یَہۡتَدُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۲۴﴾
I found her and her people prostrating to the sun instead of Allah, and Satan has made their deeds pleasing to them and averted them from [His] way, so they are not guided,
وَجَدتُّهَا وَقَوْمَهَا يَسْجُدُونَ لِلشَّمْسِ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ فَصَدَّهُمْ عَنِ السَّبِيلِ
I found her and her people worshipping the sun instead of Allah, and Shaytan has made their deeds fair seeming to them, and has prevented them from the way,
meaning, from the way of truth,
فَهُمْ لَا يَهْتَدُونَ
so they have no guidance.
Allah’s saying:
وَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ فَصَدَّهُمْ عَنِ السَّبِيل
فَهُمْ لَا يَهْتَدُونَ
27:25
اَلَّا یَسۡجُدُوۡا لِلّٰہِ الَّذِیۡ یُخۡرِجُ الۡخَبۡءَ فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ وَ یَعۡلَمُ مَا تُخۡفُوۡنَ وَ مَا تُعۡلِنُوۡنَ ﴿۲۵﴾
[And] so they do not prostrate to Allah, who brings forth what is hidden within the heavens and the earth and knows what you conceal and what you declare –
أَلاَّ يَسْجُدُوا لِلَّهِ
and Shaytan has made their deeds fair seeming to them, and has prevented them from the way, so they have no guidance, so they do not prostrate themselves before Allah.
They do not know the way of truth, prostrating only before Allah alone and not before anything that He has created, whether heavenly bodies or anything else.
This is like the Ayah:
وَمِنْ ءَايَـتِهِ الَّيْلُ وَالنَّهَارُ وَالشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ لَا تَسْجُدُواْ لِلشَّمْسِ وَلَا لِلْقَمَرِ وَاسْجُدُواْ لِلَّهِ الَّذِى خَلَقَهُنَّ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ
And from among His signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Prostrate yourselves not to the sun nor to the moon, but prostrate yourselves to Allah Who created them, if you indeed worship Him. (41:37)
الَّذِي يُخْرِجُ الْخَبْءَ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالاَْرْضِ
Who brings to light what is hidden in the heavens and the earth,
Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn Abbas said:
“He knows everything that is hidden in the heavens and on earth.”
This was also the view of Ikrimah, Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Qatadah and others.
His saying:
وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تُخْفُونَ وَمَا تُعْلِنُونَ
and knows what you conceal and what you reveal.
means, He knows what His servants say and do in secret, and what they say and do openly.
This is like the Ayah:
سَوَاءٌ مِّنْكُمْ مَّنْ أَسَرَّ الْقَوْلَ وَمَنْ جَهَرَ بِهِ وَمَنْ هُوَ مُسْتَخْفٍ بِالَّيْلِ وَسَارِبٌ بِالنَّهَارِ
It is the same whether any of you conceals his speech or declares it openly, whether he be hid by night or goes forth freely by day. (13:10)
His saying:
اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ
27:26
اَللّٰہُ لَاۤ اِلٰہَ اِلَّا ہُوَ رَبُّ الۡعَرۡشِ الۡعَظِیۡمِ ﴿ٛ۲۶﴾
Allah – there is no deity except Him, Lord of the Great Throne.”
Allah, La ilaha illa Huwa, the Lord of the Supreme Throne!
means, He is the One to be called upon, Allah, He is the One other than Whom there is no god, the Lord of the Supreme Throne, and there is none greater than Him in all of creation.
Since the hoopoe was calling to what is good, and for people to worship and prostrate to Allah alone, it would have been forbidden to kill him.
Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah recorded that Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said that:
the Prophet forbade killing four kinds of animals:
ants,
bees,
hoopoes and
the sparrow hawks.
Its chain of narration is Sahih
27:27
قَالَ سَنَنۡظُرُ اَصَدَقۡتَ اَمۡ کُنۡتَ مِنَ الۡکٰذِبِیۡنَ ﴿۲۷﴾
[Solomon] said, “We will see whether you were truthful or were of the liars.
Suleiman’s Letter to Bilqis
Allah tells us what Suleiman said to the hoopoe when he told him about the people of Saba’ and their queen:
قَالَ سَنَنظُرُ أَصَدَقْتَ أَمْ كُنتَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ
(Suleiman) said:”We shall see whether you speak the truth or you are (one) of the liars.”
meaning, `are you telling the truth!’
أَمْ كُنتَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ
(or you are (one) of the liars).
meaning, `or are you telling a lie in order to save yourself from the threat I made against you!’
اذْهَب بِّكِتَابِي هَذَا فَأَلْقِهْ إِلَيْهِمْ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ فَانظُرْ مَاذَا يَرْجِعُونَ
27:28
اِذۡہَبۡ بِّکِتٰبِیۡ ہٰذَا فَاَلۡقِہۡ اِلَیۡہِمۡ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّ عَنۡہُمۡ فَانۡظُرۡ مَا ذَا یَرۡجِعُوۡنَ ﴿۲۸﴾
Take this letter of mine and deliver it to them. Then leave them and see what [answer] they will return.”
Go you with this letter of mine and deliver it to them then draw back from them and see what they return.
Suleiman wrote a letter to Bilqis and her people and gave it to the hoopoe to deliver.
It was said that he carried it on his wings, as is the way with birds, or that he carried it in his beak. He went to their land and found the palace of Bilqis, then he went to her private chambers and threw the letter through a small window, then he stepped to one side out of good manners.
Bilqis was amazed and confused when she saw that, then she went and picked up the letter, opened its seal and read it.
The letter said:
إِنَّهُ مِن سُلَيْمَانَ وَإِنَّهُ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
أَلاَّ تَعْلُوا عَلَيَّ وَأْتُونِي مُسْلِمِينَ
it is from Suleiman, and it (reads):`In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful; Be you not exalted against me, but come to me submitting (as Muslims).’
So she gathered her commanders and ministers and the leaders of her land, an
27:29
قَالَتۡ یٰۤاَیُّہَا الۡمَلَؤُا اِنِّیۡۤ اُلۡقِیَ اِلَیَّ کِتٰبٌ کَرِیۡمٌ ﴿۲۹﴾
She said, “O eminent ones, indeed, to me has been delivered a noble letter.
قَالَتْ
She said:(said to them),
يَا أَيُّهَا المَلَاُ إِنِّي أُلْقِيَ إِلَيَّ كِتَابٌ كَرِيمٌ
“O chiefs! Verily, here is delivered to me a noble letter.”
She described it as such because of the wondrous things she had seen, that it was delivered by a bird who threw it to her, then stood aside out of good manners. This was something that no king could do.
Then she read the letter to them:
إِنَّهُ مِن سُلَيْمَانَ وَإِنَّهُ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
27:30
اِنَّہٗ مِنۡ سُلَیۡمٰنَ وَ اِنَّہٗ بِسۡمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِیۡمِ ﴿ۙ۳۰﴾
Indeed, it is from Solomon, and indeed, it reads: ‘In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful,
أَلاَّ تَعْلُوا عَلَيَّ وَأْتُونِي مُسْلِمِينَ
27:31
اَلَّا تَعۡلُوۡا عَلَیَّ وَ اۡتُوۡنِیۡ مُسۡلِمِیۡنَ ﴿٪۳۱﴾
Be not haughty with me but come to me in submission [as Muslims].’ ”
Verily, it is from Suleiman, and it (reads):
`In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful; Be you not exalted against me, but come to me submitting (as Muslims).’
Thus they knew that it was from Allah’s Prophet Suleiman, upon him be peace, and that they could not match him.
This letter was the utmost in brevity and eloquence, coming straight to the point.
أَلاَّ تَعْلُوا عَلَيَّ
.
Be you not exalted against me,
Qatadah said:
“Do not be arrogant with me.
وَأْتُونِي مُسْلِمِينَ
but come to me submitting (as Muslims).”
Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said:
“Do not refuse or be too arrogant to come to me,
وَأْتُونِي مُسْلِمِينَ
(but come to me submitting (as Muslims).
27:32
قَالَتۡ یٰۤاَیُّہَا الۡمَلَؤُا اَفۡتُوۡنِیۡ فِیۡۤ اَمۡرِیۡ ۚ مَا کُنۡتُ قَاطِعَۃً اَمۡرًا حَتّٰی تَشۡہَدُوۡنِ ﴿۳۲﴾
She said, “O eminent ones, advise me in my affair. I would not decide a matter until you witness [for] me.”
Bilqis consults with Her Chiefs
Allah tells:
قَالَتْ
She said:
When she read Suleiman’s letter to them and consulted with them about this news, then she said:
يَا أَيُّهَا المَلَاُ أَفْتُونِي فِي أَمْرِي مَا كُنتُ قَاطِعَةً أَمْرًا حَتَّى تَشْهَدُونِ
“O chiefs! Advise me in (this) case of mine. I decide no case till you are present with me.”
meaning, `until you come together and offer me your advice.
27:33
قَالُوۡا نَحۡنُ اُولُوۡا قُوَّۃٍ وَّ اُولُوۡا بَاۡسٍ شَدِیۡدٍ ۬ۙ وَّ الۡاَمۡرُ اِلَیۡکِ فَانۡظُرِیۡ مَاذَا تَاۡمُرِیۡنَ ﴿۳۳﴾
They said, “We are men of strength and of great military might, but the command is yours, so see what you will command.”
قَالُوا نَحْنُ أُوْلُوا قُوَّةٍ وَأُولُوا بَأْسٍ شَدِيدٍ
They said:”We have great strength, and great ability for war…”
They reminded her of their great numbers, preparedness and strength, then they referred the matter to her and said:
وَالاْاَمْرُ إِلَيْكِ فَانظُرِي مَاذَا تَأْمُرِينَ
but it is for you to command; so think over what you will command.
meaning, `we have the power and strength, if you want to go to him and fight him.’
The matter is yours to decide, so instruct us as you see fit and we will obey
27:34
قَالَتۡ اِنَّ الۡمُلُوۡکَ اِذَا دَخَلُوۡا قَرۡیَۃً اَفۡسَدُوۡہَا وَ جَعَلُوۡۤا اَعِزَّۃَ اَہۡلِہَاۤ اَذِلَّۃً ۚ وَ کَذٰلِکَ یَفۡعَلُوۡنَ ﴿۳۴﴾
She said, “Indeed kings – when they enter a city, they ruin it and render the honored of its people humbled. And thus do they do.
قَالَتْ
She said:
Ibn Abbas said:
“Bilqis said:
إِنَّ الْمُلُوكَ إِذَا دَخَلُوا قَرْيَةً أَفْسَدُوهَا وَجَعَلُوا أَعِزَّةَ أَهْلِهَا أَذِلَّةً
Verily, kings, when they enter a town, they destroy it and make the most honorable amongst its people the lowest.
And Allah said:
وَكَذَلِكَ يَفْعَلُونَ
And thus they do.
Then she resorted to peaceful means, seeking a truce and trying to placate Suleiman, and said:
وَإِنِّي مُرْسِلَةٌ إِلَيْهِم بِهَدِيَّةٍ فَنَاظِرَةٌ بِمَ يَرْجِعُ الْمُرْسَلُونَ
27:35
وَ اِنِّیۡ مُرۡسِلَۃٌ اِلَیۡہِمۡ بِہَدِیَّۃٍ فَنٰظِرَۃٌۢ بِمَ یَرۡجِعُ الۡمُرۡسَلُوۡنَ ﴿۳۵﴾
But indeed, I will send to them a gift and see with what [reply] the messengers will return.”
But verily, I am going to send him a present, and see with what the messengers return.
meaning, `I will send him a gift befitting for one of his status, and will wait and see what his response will be. Perhaps he will accept that and leave us alone, or he will impose a tax which we can pay him every year, so that he will not fight us and wage war against us.’
Qatadah said:
“May Allah have mercy on her and be pleased with her — how wise she was as a Muslim and (before that) as an idolator! She understood how gift-giving has a good effect on people.”
Ibn Abbas and others said:
“She said to her people, if he accepts the gift, he is a king, so fight him; but if he does not accept it, he is a Prophet, so follow him.
27:36
فَلَمَّا جَآءَ سُلَیۡمٰنَ قَالَ اَتُمِدُّوۡنَنِ بِمَالٍ ۫ فَمَاۤ اٰتٰىنِۦَ اللّٰہُ خَیۡرٌ مِّمَّاۤ اٰتٰىکُمۡ ۚ بَلۡ اَنۡتُمۡ بِہَدِیَّتِکُمۡ تَفۡرَحُوۡنَ ﴿۳۶﴾
So when they came to Solomon, he said, “Do you provide me with wealth? But what Allah has given me is better than what He has given you. Rather, it is you who rejoice in your gift.
The Gift and the Response of Sulayman
Allah tells:
فَلَمَّا جَاء سُلَيْمَانَ قَالَ
So, when (the messengers with the gift) came to Suleiman, he said:
More than one of the scholars of Tafsir among the Salaf and others stated that she sent him a huge gift of gold, jewels, pearls and other things.
It is apparent that Suleiman, peace be upon him, did not even look at what they brought at all and did not pay any attention to it, but he turned away and said, rebuking them:
أَتُمِدُّونَنِ بِمَالٍ
“Will you help me in wealth!”
meaning, `are you trying to flatter me with wealth so that I will leave you alone with your Shirk and your kingdom!’
فَمَا اتَانِيَ اللَّهُ خَيْرٌ مِّمَّا اتَاكُم
What Allah has given me is better than that which He has given you!
means, `what Allah has given to me of power, wealth and troops, is better than that which you have.’
بَلْ أَنتُم بِهَدِيَّتِكُمْ تَفْرَحُونَ
Nay, you rejoice in your gift!
means, `you are the ones who are influenced by gifts and presents; we will accept nothing from you except Islam or the sword.
27:37
اِرۡجِعۡ اِلَیۡہِمۡ فَلَنَاۡتِیَنَّہُمۡ بِجُنُوۡدٍ لَّا قِبَلَ لَہُمۡ بِہَا وَ لَنُخۡرِجَنَّہُمۡ مِّنۡہَاۤ اَذِلَّۃً وَّ ہُمۡ صٰغِرُوۡنَ ﴿۳۷﴾
Return to them, for we will surely come to them with soldiers that they will be powerless to encounter, and we will surely expel them therefrom in humiliation, and they will be debased.”
ارْجِعْ إِلَيْهِمْ
Go back to them,
means, with their gift,
فَلَنَأْتِيَنَّهُمْ بِجُنُودٍ لاَّ قِبَلَ لَهُم بِهَا
We verily, shall come to them with armies that they cannot resist,
they have no power to match them or resist them.
وَلَنُخْرِجَنَّهُم مِّنْهَا أَذِلَّةً
and we shall drive them out from there in disgrace,
`we shall drive them out in disgrace from their land.’
وَهُمْ صَاغِرُونَ
and they will be abased.
means, humiliated and expelled.
When her messengers came back to her with her undelivered gift, and told her what Suleiman said, she and her people paid heed and obeyed him.
She came to him with her troops in submission and humility, honoring Suleiman and intending to follow him in Islam.
When Suleiman, peace be upon him, realized that they were coming to him, he rejoiced greatly
27:38
قَالَ یٰۤاَیُّہَا الۡمَلَؤُا اَیُّکُمۡ یَاۡتِیۡنِیۡ بِعَرۡشِہَا قَبۡلَ اَنۡ یَّاۡتُوۡنِیۡ مُسۡلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۳۸﴾
[Solomon] said, “O assembly [of jinn], which of you will bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?”
How the Throne of Bilqis was brought in an Instant
Muhammad bin Ishaq reported from Yazid bin Ruman:
“When the messengers returned with word of what Suleiman said, she said:`By Allah, I knew he was more than a king, and that we have no power to match him, and that we can gain nothing by being stubborn with him. So, she sent word to him saying:
“I am coming to you with the leaders of my people to see what you will instruct us to do and what you are calling us to of your religion.”
Then she issued commands that her throne, which was made of gold and inlaid with rubies, chrysolite and pearls, should be placed in the innermost of seven rooms, one within the other, and all the doors should be locked.
Then she told her deputy whom she was leaving in charge, “Take care of my people and my throne, and do not let anyone approach it or see it until I come back to you.”
Then she set off to meet Suleiman with twelve thousand of her commanders from the leaders of Yemen, under each of whose command were many thousands of men.
Suleiman sent the Jinn to bring him news of her progress and route every day and night, then when she drew near, he gathered together the Jinns and humans who were under his control and,
قَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا المَلَاُ أَيُّكُمْ يَأْتِينِي بِعَرْشِهَا قَبْلَ أَن يَأْتُونِي مُسْلِمِينَ
He said:O chiefs! Which of you can bring me her throne before they come to me surrendering themselves in obedience (as Muslims).
27:39
قَالَ عِفۡرِیۡتٌ مِّنَ الۡجِنِّ اَنَا اٰتِیۡکَ بِہٖ قَبۡلَ اَنۡ تَقُوۡمَ مِنۡ مَّقَامِکَ ۚ وَ اِنِّیۡ عَلَیۡہِ لَقَوِیٌّ اَمِیۡنٌ ﴿۳۹﴾
A powerful one from among the jinn said, “I will bring it to you before you rise from your place, and indeed, I am for this [task] strong and trustworthy.”
قَالَ عِفْريتٌ مِّنَ الْجِنِّ
An `Ifrit from the Jinn said:
Mujahid said,
“A giant Jinn.”
Abu Salih said,
“It was as if he was a mountain.”
أَنَا اتِيكَ بِهِ قَبْلَ أَن تَقُومَ مِن مَّقَامِكَ
I will bring it to you before you rise from your place.
Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said,
“Before you get up from where you are sitting.”
As-Suddi and others said:
“He used to sit to pass judgments and rulings over the people, and to eat, from the beginning of the day until noon.”
وَإِنِّي عَلَيْهِ لَقَوِيٌّ أَمِينٌ
And verily, I am indeed strong and trustworthy for such work.
Ibn Abbas said:
“Strong enough to carry it and trustworthy with the jewels it contains.
Suleiman, upon him be peace, said, “I want it faster than that.”
From this it seems that Suleiman wanted to bring this throne as a demonstration of the greatness of the power and authority that Allah had bestowed upon him and the troops that He had subjugated to him. Power such as had never been given to anyone else, before or since, so that this would furnish proof of his Prophethood before Bilqis and her people, because this would be a great and wondrous thing, if he brought her throne as if he were in her country, before they could come to it, although it was hidden and protected by so many locked doors. When Suleiman said, “I want it faster than that
27:40
قَالَ الَّذِیۡ عِنۡدَہٗ عِلۡمٌ مِّنَ الۡکِتٰبِ اَنَا اٰتِیۡکَ بِہٖ قَبۡلَ اَنۡ یَّرۡتَدَّ اِلَیۡکَ طَرۡفُکَ ؕ فَلَمَّا رَاٰہُ مُسۡتَقِرًّا عِنۡدَہٗ قَالَ ہٰذَا مِنۡ فَضۡلِ رَبِّیۡ ۟ۖ لِیَبۡلُوَنِیۡۤ ءَاَشۡکُرُ اَمۡ اَکۡفُرُ ؕ وَ مَنۡ شَکَرَ فَاِنَّمَا یَشۡکُرُ لِنَفۡسِہٖ ۚ وَ مَنۡ کَفَرَ فَاِنَّ رَبِّیۡ غَنِیٌّ کَرِیۡمٌ ﴿۴۰﴾
Said one who had knowledge from the Scripture, “I will bring it to you before your glance returns to you.” And when [Solomon] saw it placed before him, he said, “This is from the favor of my Lord to test me whether I will be grateful or ungrateful. And whoever is grateful – his gratitude is only for [the benefit of] himself. And whoever is ungrateful – then indeed, my Lord is Free of need and Generous.”
قَالَ الَّذِي عِندَهُ عِلْمٌ مِّنَ الْكِتَابِ
One with whom was knowledge of the Scripture said:
Ibn Abbas said,
“This was Asif, the scribe of Suleiman.”
It was also narrated by Muhammad bin Ishaq from Yazid bin Ruman that:
he was Asif bin Barkhiya’ and he was a truthful believer who knew the Greatest Name of Allah.
Qatadah said:
“He was a believer among the humans, and his name was Asif.”
أَنَا اتِيكَ بِهِ قَبْلَ أَن يَرْتَدَّ إِلَيْكَ طَرْفُكَ
I will bring it to you within the twinkling of an eye!
Meaning, lift your gaze and look as far as you can, and before you get tired and blink, you will find it before you.
Then he got up, performed ablution and prayed to Allah, may He be exalted.
Mujahid said:
“He said, O Owner of majesty and honor.”
فَلَمَّا رَاهُ مُسْتَقِرًّا عِندَهُ
Then when he saw it placed before him,
When Suleiman and his chiefs saw it before them,
قَالَ هَذَا مِن فَضْلِ رَبِّي
he said:”This is by the grace of my Lord…”
meaning, `this is one of the blessings which Allah has bestowed upon me.’
لِيَبْلُوَنِي أَأَشْكُرُ أَمْ أَكْفُرُ وَمَن شَكَرَ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِ
to test whether I am grateful or ungrateful!
And whoever is grateful, truly, his gratitude is for himself;
This is like the Ayat:
مَّنْ عَمِلَ صَـلِحاً فَلِنَفْسِهِ وَمَنْ أَسَأءَ فَعَلَيْهَا
Whosoever does righteous good deed, it is for himself; and whosoever does evil, it is against himself. (41:46)
وَمَنْ عَمِلَ صَـلِحاً فَلًّنفُسِهِمْ يَمْهَدُونَ
and whosoever does righteous good deed, then such will prepare a good place for themselves. (30:44)
وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ رَبِّي غَنِيٌّ كَرِيمٌ
and whoever is ungrateful, certainly my Lord is Rich, Bountiful.
He has no need of His servants or their worship.
كَرِيمٌ
(Bountiful),
He is Bountiful in and of Himself, even if no one were to worship Him. His greatness does not depend on anyone.
This is like what Musa said:
إِن تَكْفُرُواْ أَنتُمْ وَمَن فِى الاٌّرْضِ جَمِيعًا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَغَنِىٌّ حَمِيدٌ
If you disbelieve, you and all on earth together, then verily, Allah is Rich, Owner of all praise. (14:8)
It is recorded in Sahih Muslim:
يَقُولُ اللهُ تَعَالَى
يَا عِبَادِي لَوْ أَنَّ أَوَّلَكُمْ وَاخِرَكُمْ وَإِنْسَكُمْ وَجِنَّكُمْ كَانُوا عَلَى أَتْقَى قَلْبِ رَجُلٍ مِنْكُمْ مَا زَادَ ذَلِكَ فِي مُلْكِي شَيْيًا
يَا عِبَادِي لَوْ أَنَّ أَوَّلَكُمْ وَاخِرَكُمْ وَإِنْسَكُمْ وَجِنَّكُمْ كَانُوا عَلَى أَفْجَرِ قَلْبِ رَجُلٍ مِنْكُمْ مَا نَقَصَ ذَلِكَ مِنْ مُلْكِي شَيْيًا
يَا عِبَادِي إِنَّمَا هِيَ أَعْمَالُكُمْ أُحْصِيهَا لَكُمْ ثُمَّ أُوَفِّيكُمْ إِيَّاهَا فَمَنْ وَجَدَ خَيْرًا فَلْيَحْمَدِ اللهَ وَمَنْ وَجَدَ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ فَلَا يَلُومَنَّ إِلاَّ نَفْسَه
Allah, may He be exalted, says:
“O My servants, if the first of you and the last of you, mankind and Jinn alike, were all to be as pious as the most pious among you, that would not add to My dominion in the slightest.
O My servants, if the first of you and the last of you, mankind and Jinn alike, were all to be as evil as the most evil one among you, that would not detract from My dominion in the slightest.
O My servants, these are deeds which I am recording for you, and I will judge you according to them, so whoever finds something good, let him praise Allah, and whoever finds otherwise, let him blame no one but himself.”
27:41
قَالَ نَکِّرُوۡا لَہَا عَرۡشَہَا نَنۡظُرۡ اَتَہۡتَدِیۡۤ اَمۡ تَکُوۡنُ مِنَ الَّذِیۡنَ لَا یَہۡتَدُوۡنَ ﴿۴۱﴾
He said, “Disguise for her her throne; we will see whether she will be guided [to truth] or will be of those who is not guided.”
The Test of Bilqis
Allah tells:
قَالَ
He (Suleiman) said:
When Suleiman brought the throne of Bilqis before she and her people arrived, he issued orders that some of its features should be altered, so that he could test her and see whether she recognized it and how composed she would be when she saw it. Would she hasten to say either that it was her throne or that it was not! So he said:
نَكِّرُوا لَهَا عَرْشَهَا نَنظُرْ أَتَهْتَدِي أَمْ تَكُونُ مِنَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَهْتَدُونَ
Disguise her throne for her that we may see whether she will be guided, or she will be one of those not guided.
Ibn Abbas said:
“Remove some of its adornments and parts.”
Mujahid said:
“He issued orders that it should be changed, so whatever was red should be made yellow and vice versa, and whatever was green should be made red, so everything was altered.”
Ikrimah said,
“They added some things and took some things away.”
Qatadah said,
“It was turned upside down and back to front, and some things were added and some things were taken away.
27:42
فَلَمَّا جَآءَتۡ قِیۡلَ اَہٰکَذَا عَرۡشُکِ ؕ قَالَتۡ کَاَنَّہٗ ہُوَ ۚ وَ اُوۡتِیۡنَا الۡعِلۡمَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِہَا وَ کُنَّا مُسۡلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۴۲﴾
So when she arrived, it was said [to her], “Is your throne like this?” She said, “[It is] as though it was it.” [Solomon said], “And we were given knowledge before her, and we have been Muslims [in submission to Allah ].
فَلَمَّا جَاءتْ قِيلَ أَهَكَذَا عَرْشُكِ
So when she came, it was said:”Is your throne like this’!’
Her throne, which had been altered and disguised, with some things added and others taken away, was shown to her. She was wise and steadfast, intelligent and strong-willed. She did not hasten to say that this was her throne, because it was far away from her. Neither did she hasten to say that it was not her throne, when she saw that some things had been altered and changed.
قَالَتْ كَأَنَّهُ هُوَ
She said:(It is) as though it were the very same.
This is the ultimate in intelligence and strong resolve.
وَأُوتِينَا الْعِلْمَ مِن قَبْلِهَا وَكُنَّا مُسْلِمِينَ
Knowledge was bestowed on us before her, and we had submitted to Allah.
Mujahid said,
“This was spoken by Suleiman.”
وَصَدَّهَا مَا كَانَت تَّعْبُدُ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ إِنَّهَا كَانَتْ مِن قَوْمٍ كَافِرِينَ
27:43
وَ صَدَّہَا مَا کَانَتۡ تَّعۡبُدُ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ ؕ اِنَّہَا کَانَتۡ مِنۡ قَوۡمٍ کٰفِرِیۡنَ ﴿۴۳﴾
And that which she was worshipping other than Allah had averted her [from submission to Him]. Indeed, she was from a disbelieving people.”
And Saddaha that which she used to worship besides Allah has prevented her, for she was of a disbelieving people.
This is a continuation of the words of Suleiman — according to the opinion of Mujahid and Sa`id bin Jubayr, may Allah be pleased with them both — i.e., Suleiman said:
وَأُوتِينَا الْعِلْمَ مِن قَبْلِهَا وَكُنَّا مُسْلِمِينَ
(Knowledge was bestowed on us before her, and we had submitted to Allah). and what stopped her from worshipping Allah alone was
مَا كَانَت تَّعْبُدُ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ إِنَّهَا كَانَتْ مِن قَوْمٍ كَافِرِينَ
(that which she used to worship besides Allah, for she was of a disbelieving people).
What Mujahid and Sa`id said is good; it was also the view of Ibn Jarir.
Then Ibn Jarir said, “It could be that the subject of the verb
وَصَدَّهَا
(And Saddaha) refers to Suleiman or to Allah, so that the phrase now means:
مَا كَانَت تَّعْبُدُ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ
(She would not worship anything over than Allah),
إِنَّهَا كَانَتْ مِن قَوْمٍ كَافِرِينَ
(for she was of a disbelieving people).
I say:the opinion of Mujahid is supported by the fact that she declared her Islam after she entered the Sarh, as we shall see below
27:44
قِیۡلَ لَہَا ادۡخُلِی الصَّرۡحَ ۚ فَلَمَّا رَاَتۡہُ حَسِبَتۡہُ لُجَّۃً وَّ کَشَفَتۡ عَنۡ سَاقَیۡہَا ؕ قَالَ اِنَّہٗ صَرۡحٌ مُّمَرَّدٌ مِّنۡ قَوَارِیۡرَ ۬ؕ قَالَتۡ رَبِّ اِنِّیۡ ظَلَمۡتُ نَفۡسِیۡ وَ اَسۡلَمۡتُ مَعَ سُلَیۡمٰنَ لِلّٰہِ رَبِّ الۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ﴿٪۴۴﴾
She was told, “Enter the palace.” But when she saw it, she thought it was a body of water and uncovered her shins [to wade through]. He said, “Indeed, it is a palace [whose floor is] made smooth with glass.” She said, “My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, and I submit with Solomon to Allah, Lord of the worlds.”
قِيلَ لَهَا ادْخُلِي الصَّرْحَ فَلَمَّا رَأَتْهُ حَسِبَتْهُ لُجَّةً وَكَشَفَتْ عَن سَاقَيْهَا
It was said to her:”Enter As-Sarh” but when she saw it, she thought it was a pool, and she (tucked up her clothes) uncovering her legs.
Suleiman had commanded the Shayatin to build for her a huge palace of glass beneath which water was flowing. Anyone who did not know the nature of the building would think that it was water, but in fact there was a layer of glass between a person walking and the water.
قَالَ إِنَّهُ صَرْحٌ مُّمَرَّدٌ مِّن قَوَارِيرَ
He (Suleiman) said:”Verily, it is a Sarh Mumarrad of Qawarir.”
means a palace or any lofty construction.
Allah says of Fir`awn — may Allah curse him — that he said to his minister Haman:
ابْنِ لِى صَرْحاً لَّعَـلِّى أَبْلُغُ الاٌّسْبَـبَ
Build me a Sarh that I may arrive at the ways. (40:36-37)
Sarh is also used to refer to the high constructed palaces in Yemen.
Mumarrad means sturdily constructed and smooth.
مِّن قَوَارِيرَ
of Qawarir,
means, made of glass, i.e., it was built with smooth surfaces.
Marid is a fortress in Dawmat Al-Jandal. What is meant here is that Suleiman built a huge, lofty palace of glass for this queen, in order to show her the greatness of his authority and power. When she saw for herself what Allah had given him and how majestic his position was, she submitted to the command of Allah and acknowledged that he was a noble Prophet, so she submitted to Allah and said:
قَالَتْ رَبِّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي
She said:My Lord! Verily, I have wronged myself,
meaning, by her previous disbelief and Shirk and by the fact that she and her people had worshipped the sun instead of Allah.
وَأَسْلَمْتُ مَعَ سُلَيْمَانَ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
and I submit, together with Suleiman to Allah, the Lord of all that exists.
meaning, following the religion of Suleiman, worshipping Allah alone with no partner or associate, Who created everything and measured it exactly according to its due measurements
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