أَلَّا تَعْلُوا۟ عَلَىَّ وَأْتُونِى مُسْلِمِينَ 31
Translations
Be not haughty with me but come to me in submission [as Muslims].'"
Transliteration
Allā ta'alō 'alayya wa'tūnī muslimīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah contains Prophet Sulayman's message to the Queen of Sheba, commanding her and her people not to be arrogant or transgressive toward him, and to come to him in submission to Allah. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this represents Sulayman's diplomatic yet authoritative call, demonstrating wisdom in addressing a ruler while maintaining the dignity of prophethood and the supremacy of divine authority. The phrase 'muslimīn' (those who submit) emphasizes submission to Allah's will rather than mere political surrender.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Prophet Sulayman's correspondence with the Queen of Sheba (Bilqis), which spans Surah An-Naml. The surah is Meccan and recounts the miraculous events during Sulayman's reign, including his communication with the jinn, birds, and this queen. The message was sent before Sulayman's army arrived, serving as a test of her response and an invitation to monotheistic faith.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this ayah, Sunan At-Tirmidhi contains traditions about Prophet Sulayman's character and wisdom in leadership. Additionally, hadiths regarding respectful communication and avoiding arrogance (e.g., in Sahih Muslim regarding humility) thematically complement this verse's message.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true strength lies in commanding others toward submission to Allah rather than personal domination, and that effective leadership combines firmness with an invitation to faith. It reminds us that arrogance is incompatible with submission to God, whether in rulers or common people.
Related Ayahs
قَالُوا۟ نَحْنُ أُو۟لُوا۟ قُوَّةٍ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ بَأْسٍ شَدِيدٍ وَٱلْأَمْرُ إِلَيْكِ فَٱنظُرِى مَاذَا تَأْمُرِينَ
They said, "We are men of strength and of great military might, but the command is yours, so see what you will command."
أَمَّنْ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَأَنزَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَأَنۢبَتْنَا بِهِۦ حَدَآئِقَ ذَاتَ بَهْجَةٍ مَّا كَانَ لَكُمْ أَن تُنۢبِتُوا۟ شَجَرَهَآ ۗ أَءِلَـٰهٌ مَّعَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ يَعْدِلُونَ
[More precisely], is He [not best] who created the heavens and the earth and sent down for you rain from the sky, causing to grow thereby gardens of joyful beauty which you could not [otherwise] have grown the trees thereof? Is there a deity with Allāh? [No], but they are a people who ascribe equals [to Him].
وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ
And indeed, your Lord is the possessor of bounty for the people, but most of them are not grateful."
فَلَمَّا جَآءَ سُلَيْمَـٰنَ قَالَ أَتُمِدُّونَنِ بِمَالٍ فَمَآ ءَاتَىٰنِۦَ ٱللَّهُ خَيْرٌ مِّمَّآ ءَاتَىٰكُم بَلْ أَنتُم بِهَدِيَّتِكُمْ تَفْرَحُونَ
So when they came to Solomon, he said, "Do you provide me with wealth? But what Allāh has given me is better than what He has given you. Rather, it is you who rejoice in your gift.