قَالُوا۟ نَحْنُ أُو۟لُوا۟ قُوَّةٍ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ بَأْسٍ شَدِيدٍ وَٱلْأَمْرُ إِلَيْكِ فَٱنظُرِى مَاذَا تَأْمُرِينَ 33
Translations
They said, "We are men of strength and of great military might, but the command is yours, so see what you will command."
Transliteration
Qalū nāḥnu ulū quwwatin wa-ulū ba'sin shadīdin wa-al-amru ilayka fānẓurī mādhā ta'murīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The jinn soldiers of Sulayman respond to his question about bringing the throne of the Queen of Sheba before her people arrive, declaring they possess tremendous strength and military prowess, and defer the final decision to him. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this demonstrates the jinn's recognition of Sulayman's authority and their readiness to execute his commands, while also showing respect for his leadership by allowing him to make the crucial decision. The phrase 'the command is yours' (al-amru ilayk) reflects the hierarchical structure of Sulayman's kingdom where even the most powerful subordinates acknowledge their leader's supreme authority.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Sulayman (Solomon) and the Queen of Sheba, a Meccan surah dealing with signs of Allah's power and prophethood. The context involves Sulayman's test of his jinn army's capabilities—he asked who would bring the throne before his assembly, and the jinn respond with confidence in their abilities while respecting his ultimate authority.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly quotes this verse, Sahih Bukhari contains hadiths about Sulayman's prayer and his unique kingdom granted by Allah. The theme of obedience to righteous leadership is reinforced in numerous ahadith about following just rulers.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true strength lies not merely in power and capability, but in recognizing legitimate authority and channeling one's abilities toward righteous goals under wise leadership. Modern readers should reflect on how to balance competence with humility, and how to properly submit to just authority while maintaining dignity.