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Solomon and the Queen of Sheba

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Solomon and the Queen of Sheba

قصة سليمان وملكة سبأ

The captivating narrative of Prophet Solomon (Sulayman) and the Queen of Sheba (Bilqis) is a beloved tale in Islamic tradition, illustrating divine wisdom, power, and the ultimate triumph of monotheism. It begins with the Prophet Solomon, endowed with extraordinary understanding of creation, receiving news from a hoopoe about a grand kingdom ruled by a queen who worshipped the sun instead of Allah. Solomon, known for his justice and piety, sends a letter inviting her to submit to the One God, instructing the hoopoe: [Take this letter of mine and deliver it to them]. Initially, the Queen attempts to respond with worldly gifts, thinking: [But indeed, I will send to them a gift]. However, upon witnessing Solomon's unmatched dominion and wisdom, she eventually journeys to his magnificent palace. There, she is awestruck by wonders, including a floor made of smooth glass, leading her to proclaim: [My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, and I submit with Solomon to Allah, Lord of the worlds]. This story beautifully demonstrates the journey from polytheism to *Tawhid*, emphasizing the power of truth to humble even the mightiest rulers and guide hearts to sincere submission to Allah, the Lord of all worlds.

Quran 3 verses

ٱذْهَب بِّكِتَٰبِى هَٰذَا فَأَلْقِهْ إِلَيْهِمْ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ فَٱنظُرْ مَاذَا يَرْجِعُونَ

Izhab bikitaabee haaza fa alqih ilaihim summma tawalla 'anhum fanzur maazaa yarji'oon

Take this letter of mine and deliver it to them. Then leave them and see what [answer] they will return."

یہ میرا خط لے جا اور اسے ان کی طرف ڈال دے پھر ان کے پاس سے پھر آ اور دیکھ کہ وہ کیا جواب دیتے ہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Letters and writings are enough proof on religious matters in the normal circumstances اذْهَب بِّكِتَابِي هَـٰذَا (Go with this letter of mine - 28). Sayyidna Sulaiman (علیہ السلام) considered it enough to write to the queen of Saba' (Sheba) for the fulfillment of his duty to invite her to faith, an...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Take this letter of mine and deliver it to them that is to Bilqīs and her people then turn away withdraw from them but remain close by them and see what response they shall return’ and see what kind of response they shall give. Thus he took it and approached her Bilqīs. But as her soldiers were all ...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Sulayman's Letter to Bilqis Allah tells us what Sulayman said to the hoopoe when he told him about the people of Saba' and their queen: قَالَ سَنَنظُرُ أَصَدَقْتَ أَمْ كُنتَ مِنَ الْكَـذِبِينَ ((Sulayman) said: "We shall see whether you speak the truth or you are (one) of the liars.") meaning, `are ...

وَإِنِّى مُرْسِلَةٌ إِلَيْهِم بِهَدِيَّةٍ فَنَاظِرَةٌۢ بِمَ يَرْجِعُ ٱلْمُرْسَلُونَ

Wa innee mursilatun ilaihim bihadiyyatin fanaaziratum bima yarji'ul mursaloon

But indeed, I will send to them a gift and see with what [reply] the messengers will return."

اور میں ان کی طرف کچھ تحفہ بھیجتی ہوں اور دیکھتی ہوں کہ قاصد کیا جواب لاتے ہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: وَإِنِّي مُرْ‌سِلَةٌ إِلَيْهِم بِهَدِيَّةٍ فَنَاظِرَ‌ةٌ بِمَ يَرْ‌جِعُ الْمُرْ‌سَلُونَ ﴿35﴾ And I am going to send a gift to them, then see, what response the envoys will bring back." 27:35. Appearance of envoys of Bilqls in the court of Sulaiman (علیہ السلام) Historical Isra'ili legends describe in...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Now I will send them a gift and wait to see with what response the envoys return’ in the way of accepting the gift or rejecting it. If it be a king to whom we have sent it he will accept it; but if it be a prophet he will reject it. Thus she sent male and female servants one thousand in total togeth...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Bilqis consults with Her Chiefs When she read Sulayman's letter to them and consulted with them about this news, she said: يأَيُّهَا الْمَلأ أَفْتُونِى فِى أَمْرِى مَا كُنتُ قَـطِعَةً أَمْراً حَتَّى تَشْهَدُونِ ("O chiefs! Advise me in (this) case of mine. I decide no case till you are present with ...

قِيلَ لَهَا ٱدْخُلِى ٱلصَّرْحَ فَلَمَّا رَأَتْهُ حَسِبَتْهُ لُجَّةً وَكَشَفَتْ عَن سَاقَيْهَا قَالَ إِنَّهُۥ صَرْحٌ مُّمَرَّدٌ مِّن قَوَارِيرَ قَالَتْ رَبِّ إِنِّى ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِى وَأَسْلَمْتُ مَعَ سُلَيْمَٰنَ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

Qeela lahad khulis sarha falammaa ra at hu hasibat hu lujjatanw wa khashafat 'an saaqaihaa; qaala innahoo sarhum mumarradum min qawaareer; qaalat Rabbi innee zalamtu nafsee wa aslamtu ma'a Sulaimaana lillaahi Rabbil 'aalameen

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."

(پھر) اس سے کہا گیا کہ محل میں چلیے، جب اس نے اس (کے فرش) کو دیکھا تو اسے پانی کا حوض سمجھا اور (کپڑا اٹھا کر) اپنی پنڈلیاں کھول دیں۔ سلیمان نے کہا یہ ایسا محل ہے جس میں (نیچے بھی) شیشے جڑے ہوئے ہیں۔ وہ بول اٹھی کہ پروردگار میں اپنے آپ پر ظلم کرتی رہی تھی اور (اب) میں سلیمان کے ہاتھ پر خدائے رب العالمین پر ایمان لاتی ہوں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary Did Sayyidna Sulaiman (علیہ السلام) marry Bilqis? The story of Bilqis has ended in the above verses on the statement that she converted to Islam after coming to Sayyidna Sulaiman ۔ (علیہ السلام) What happened after that? The Qur'an is silent on this. It is for this reason that when someo...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: It was also said to her ‘Enter the palace hallway’ — this was a transparent white glass floor underneath which flowed sweet water that contained fish. Solomon had it made when he was told that her legs and feet resembled the shanks of a mule. And when she saw it she supposed it to be a pool of water...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Test of Bilqis When Sulayman 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 tha...

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