قَالَتْ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْمَلَؤُا۟ أَفْتُونِى فِىٓ أَمْرِى مَا كُنتُ قَاطِعَةً أَمْرًا حَتَّىٰ تَشْهَدُونِ 32
Translations
She said, "O eminent ones, advise me in my affair. I would not decide a matter until you witness [for] me."
Transliteration
Qalat ya ayyuha almalao aftuni fi amri ma kuntu qati'atan amran hatta tashhadu
Tafsir (Explanation)
Queen Bilqis addresses her council, seeking their counsel before making a decisive decision regarding the letter from Prophet Solomon. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this demonstrates her wisdom and justice as a ruler—she refuses to act unilaterally in matters of state importance without consulting her ministers and military leaders. Her statement reflects an Islamic principle of consultation (shura) in governance, as she wanted witnesses to her decision-making process.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Solomon's letter to the Queen of Sheba, where he invites her to submit to Allah. The context illustrates how a pagan ruler recognized the importance of consultation and deliberation in state affairs, serving as an implicit lesson to Muslim rulers about the necessity of shura in Islamic governance.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to the principle of shura mentioned in Surah Ash-Shura (42:38): 'And those who respond to their Lord and establish prayer and whose affair is [determined by] consultation among themselves.' While no specific hadith directly addresses this ayah, Prophet Muhammad emphasized consultation in governance and decision-making in various traditions recorded in Sahih Bukhari and Sunan Abu Dawud.
Themes
Key Lesson
Even non-Muslim rulers can demonstrate wisdom through seeking counsel and avoiding hasty decisions; Muslim leaders should embrace consultation and involve their people in important matters rather than acting unilaterally, as this was valued even before Islam was established.
Related Ayahs
وَتَفَقَّدَ ٱلطَّيْرَ فَقَالَ مَا لِىَ لَآ أَرَى ٱلْهُدْهُدَ أَمْ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْغَآئِبِينَ
And he took attendance of the birds and said, "Why do I not see the hoopoe - or is he among the absent?
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَىٰ ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمْ صَـٰلِحًا أَنِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ فَإِذَا هُمْ فَرِيقَانِ يَخْتَصِمُونَ
And We had certainly sent to Thamūd their brother Ṣāliḥ, [saying], "Worship Allāh," and at once they were two parties conflicting.
فَتَبَسَّمَ ضَاحِكًا مِّن قَوْلِهَا وَقَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِىٓ أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَىَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَٰلِدَىَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَـٰلِحًا تَرْضَىٰهُ وَأَدْخِلْنِى بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِى عِبَادِكَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
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."
إِنَّكَ لَا تُسْمِعُ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ وَلَا تُسْمِعُ ٱلصُّمَّ ٱلدُّعَآءَ إِذَا وَلَّوْا۟ مُدْبِرِينَ
Indeed, you will not make the dead hear, nor will you make the deaf hear the call when they have turned their backs retreating.