Quranic theme
and the Queen of Sheba
20 verses
A hoopoe bird brings the first intelligence of a distant kingdom to Prophet Solomon, returning after a brief absence to report "firm news" from Sheba (27:22). The scout describes a realm ruled by a woman who has been given "a share of everything" and who sits upon a magnificent throne (27:23). This unexpected courier sets in motion a high-stakes diplomatic exchange between Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. The verses detailing this encounter capture a clash of power, belief, and leadership, initiated by a bird who marvels that a kingdom blessed with such earthly abundance would prostrate to the sun instead of God.
Sun Worship and the Hidden
The hoopoe observes that the Queen and her people worship the sun, noting that Satan has made their deeds alluring and completely diverted them so that "they cannot find the right path" (27:24). The bird questions why they do not worship God, describing Him as the one "who brings forth what is hidden in the heavens and earth" and who knows both what people conceal and what they declare (27:25). To the bird, the true sovereign is God, the "Lord of the mighty throne," a pointed contrast to the Queen's own magnificent seat of power (27:26).
Solomon does not immediately act on the bird's dramatic claim. Instead of mobilizing his forces against the sun-worshippers, he demands verification of the intelligence. "We shall see whether you are telling the truth or lying," Solomon responds, handing over a sealed message (27:27). He commands the hoopoe to deliver the letter to them, then withdraw and carefully observe what answer they send back (27:28).
A Gracious Letter and Military Counsel
Upon receiving the message, the Queen immediately convenes her top advisors. She addresses them respectfully, describing the correspondence as a "gracious letter" before reading its brief, authoritative contents: "It is from Solomon, and it says, 'In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy, do not put yourselves above me, and come to me in submission to God'" (27:29-31). The text functions as both an invitation to monotheism and a firm demand to cease their political elevation over Solomon.
Rather than reacting with sudden aggression to this ultimatum, the Queen exhibits deliberate, consultative leadership. She asks her counselors for their input on the matter she now faces, affirming her reliance on their presence by stating, "I only ever decide on matters in your presence" (27:32). Her advisors respond by reminding her of their vast material strength. They assure her of their military readiness, declaring, "We possess great force and power in war" (27:33).
Despite their eagerness and readiness for armed conflict, the counselors place the final decision entirely in her hands, telling her to consider what orders she will issue (27:33). The military men stand ready to deploy their force, waiting for a command to strike. Yet the final authority rests with a sovereign who holds a letter invoking the Lord of Mercy, weighing her empire's traditions against an absolute demand to come forward in submission to God (27:31).
Verses
All 20 verses, in mushaf order.
فَمَكَثَ غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ فَقَالَ أَحَطتُ بِمَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِۦ وَجِئْتُكَ مِن سَبَإٍۭ بِنَبَإٍ يَقِينٍ
But the hoopoe did not stay away long: he came and said, ‘I have learned something you did not know: I come to you from Sheba with firm news.
إِنِّى وَجَدتُّ ٱمْرَأَةً تَمْلِكُهُمْ وَأُوتِيَتْ مِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَلَهَا عَرْشٌ عَظِيمٌ
I found a woman ruling over the people, who has been given a share of everything- she has a magnificent throne-
وَجَدتُّهَا وَقَوْمَهَا يَسْجُدُونَ لِلشَّمْسِ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ فَصَدَّهُمْ عَنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ فَهُمْ لَا يَهْتَدُونَ
[but] I found that she and her people worshipped the sun instead of God. Satan has made their deeds seem alluring to them, and diverted them from the right path: they cannot find the right path.
أَلَّا يَسْجُدُوا۟ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى يُخْرِجُ ٱلْخَبْءَ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تُخْفُونَ وَمَا تُعْلِنُونَ
Should they not worship God, who brings forth what is hidden in the heavens and earth and knows both what you people conceal and what you declare?
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلْعَرْشِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ ۩
He is God, there is no god but Him, the Lord of the mighty throne.’
۞ قَالَ سَنَنظُرُ أَصَدَقْتَ أَمْ كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ
Solomon said, ‘We shall see whether you are telling the truth or lying.
ٱذْهَب بِّكِتَـٰبِى هَـٰذَا فَأَلْقِهْ إِلَيْهِمْ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ فَٱنظُرْ مَاذَا يَرْجِعُونَ
Take this letter of mine and deliver it to them, then withdraw and see what answer they send back.’
قَالَتْ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْمَلَؤُا۟ إِنِّىٓ أُلْقِىَ إِلَىَّ كِتَـٰبٌ كَرِيمٌ
The Queen of Sheba said, ‘Counsellors, a gracious letter has been delivered to me.
إِنَّهُۥ مِن سُلَيْمَـٰنَ وَإِنَّهُۥ بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
It is from Solomon, and it says, “In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy,
أَلَّا تَعْلُوا۟ عَلَىَّ وَأْتُونِى مُسْلِمِينَ
do not put yourselves above me, and come to me in submission to God.”’
قَالَتْ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْمَلَؤُا۟ أَفْتُونِى فِىٓ أَمْرِى مَا كُنتُ قَاطِعَةً أَمْرًا حَتَّىٰ تَشْهَدُونِ
She said, ‘Counsellors, give me your counsel in the matter I now face: I only ever decide on matters in your presence.’
قَالُوا۟ نَحْنُ أُو۟لُوا۟ قُوَّةٍ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ بَأْسٍ شَدِيدٍ وَٱلْأَمْرُ إِلَيْكِ فَٱنظُرِى مَاذَا تَأْمُرِينَ
They replied, ‘We possess great force and power in war, but you are in command, so consider what orders to give us.’
قَالَتْ إِنَّ ٱلْمُلُوكَ إِذَا دَخَلُوا۟ قَرْيَةً أَفْسَدُوهَا وَجَعَلُوٓا۟ أَعِزَّةَ أَهْلِهَآ أَذِلَّةً ۖ وَكَذَٰلِكَ يَفْعَلُونَ
She said, ‘Whenever kings go into a city, they ruin it and humiliate its leaders- that is what they do-
وَإِنِّى مُرْسِلَةٌ إِلَيْهِم بِهَدِيَّةٍ فَنَاظِرَةٌۢ بِمَ يَرْجِعُ ٱلْمُرْسَلُونَ
but I am going to send them a gift, then see what answer my envoys bring back.’
فَلَمَّا جَآءَ سُلَيْمَـٰنَ قَالَ أَتُمِدُّونَنِ بِمَالٍ فَمَآ ءَاتَىٰنِۦَ ٱللَّهُ خَيْرٌ مِّمَّآ ءَاتَىٰكُم بَلْ أَنتُم بِهَدِيَّتِكُمْ تَفْرَحُونَ
When her envoy came to Solomon, Solomon said, ‘What! Are you offering me wealth? What God has given me is better than what He has given you, though you rejoice in this gift of yours.
ٱرْجِعْ إِلَيْهِمْ فَلَنَأْتِيَنَّهُم بِجُنُودٍ لَّا قِبَلَ لَهُم بِهَا وَلَنُخْرِجَنَّهُم مِّنْهَآ أَذِلَّةً وَهُمْ صَـٰغِرُونَ
Go back to your people: we shall certainly come upon them with irresistible forces, and drive them, disgraced and humbled, from their land.’
قَالَ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْمَلَؤُا۟ أَيُّكُمْ يَأْتِينِى بِعَرْشِهَا قَبْلَ أَن يَأْتُونِى مُسْلِمِينَ
Then he said, ‘Counsellors, which of you can bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?’
قَالَ عِفْرِيتٌ مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ أَنَا۠ ءَاتِيكَ بِهِۦ قَبْلَ أَن تَقُومَ مِن مَّقَامِكَ ۖ وَإِنِّى عَلَيْهِ لَقَوِىٌّ أَمِينٌ
A powerful and crafty jinn replied, ‘I will bring it to you before you can even rise from your place. I am strong and trustworthy enough,’
قَالَ ٱلَّذِى عِندَهُۥ عِلْمٌ مِّنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ أَنَا۠ ءَاتِيكَ بِهِۦ قَبْلَ أَن يَرْتَدَّ إِلَيْكَ طَرْفُكَ ۚ فَلَمَّا رَءَاهُ مُسْتَقِرًّا عِندَهُۥ قَالَ هَـٰذَا مِن فَضْلِ رَبِّى لِيَبْلُوَنِىٓ ءَأَشْكُرُ أَمْ أَكْفُرُ ۖ وَمَن شَكَرَ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ رَبِّى غَنِىٌّ كَرِيمٌ
but one of them who had some knowledge of the Scripture said, ‘I will bring it to you in the twinkling of an eye.’ When Solomon saw it set before him, he said, ‘This is a favour from my Lord, to test whether I am grateful or not: if anyone is grateful, it is for his own good, if anyone is ungrateful, then my Lord is self-sufficient and most generous.’
قَالَ نَكِّرُوا۟ لَهَا عَرْشَهَا نَنظُرْ أَتَهْتَدِىٓ أَمْ تَكُونُ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَهْتَدُونَ
Then he said, ‘Disguise her throne, and we shall see whether or not she recognizes it.’