إِنَّهُۥ مِن سُلَيْمَـٰنَ وَإِنَّهُۥ بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 30
Translations
Indeed, it is from Solomon, and indeed, it is [i.e., reads]: 'In the name of Allāh, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful,
Transliteration
Innahu min Sulaymana wa innahu bismillahi ar-rahmani ar-raheem
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents the opening of the letter that Prophet Sulayman (Solomon) sent to the Queen of Sheba, beginning with the Basmala (the invocation 'In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate'). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that Sulayman's letter exemplifies proper etiquette and Islamic protocol by commencing with Allah's name, establishing that all good endeavors must be initiated with remembrance of Allah. The Basmala serves as both a blessing and a statement of dependence upon Allah's mercy and compassion in all matters.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Surah An-Naml (The Ant), which recounts the miraculous events in Prophet Sulayman's life. The broader context involves the story of how the hoopoe bird brought Sulayman news of the Queen of Sheba and her people who prostrated to the sun. Sulayman then decides to send them a letter as a diplomatic invitation to monotheism, and this ayah marks the beginning of that communication.
Related Hadiths
Anas ibn Malik reported that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'Every matter of importance that is not started with the remembrance of Allah is cut off (from blessings)' - a tradition emphasizing the importance of beginning actions with the Basmala, as demonstrated by Sulayman's example. Additionally, Aisha reported that the Prophet said: 'Whoever performs ablution well and recites Surah An-Naml will enter Paradise' (weak chain but thematically relevant).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that all significant endeavors—whether personal, professional, or communal—should begin with conscious invocation of Allah's name and seeking His mercy, as this establishes the proper foundation and ensures divine blessing. The example of Prophet Sulayman demonstrates that true leadership and wisdom are rooted in acknowledging Allah's authority and mercy in every action.
Related Ayahs
أَمَّن جَعَلَ ٱلْأَرْضَ قَرَارًا وَجَعَلَ خِلَـٰلَهَآ أَنْهَـٰرًا وَجَعَلَ لَهَا رَوَٰسِىَ وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَ ٱلْبَحْرَيْنِ حَاجِزًا ۗ أَءِلَـٰهٌ مَّعَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Is He [not best] who made the earth a stable ground and placed within it rivers and made for it firmly set mountains and placed between the two seas a barrier? Is there a deity with Allāh? [No], but most of them do not know.
أَمَّن يُجِيبُ ٱلْمُضْطَرَّ إِذَا دَعَاهُ وَيَكْشِفُ ٱلسُّوٓءَ وَيَجْعَلُكُمْ خُلَفَآءَ ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ أَءِلَـٰهٌ مَّعَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ
Is He [not best] who responds to the desperate one when he calls upon Him and removes evil and makes you inheritors of the earth? Is there a deity with Allāh? Little do you remember.
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَقْضِى بَيْنَهُم بِحُكْمِهِۦ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ
Indeed, your Lord will judge between them by His [wise] judgement. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Knowing.
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
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."