قَالَتْ إِنَّ ٱلْمُلُوكَ إِذَا دَخَلُوا۟ قَرْيَةً أَفْسَدُوهَا وَجَعَلُوٓا۟ أَعِزَّةَ أَهْلِهَآ أَذِلَّةً ۖ وَكَذَٰلِكَ يَفْعَلُونَ 34
Translations
She said, "Indeed kings - when they enter a city, they ruin it and render the honored of its people humbled. And thus do they do.
Transliteration
Qalat inna al-muluka idha dakhalu qariyatan afsaduhaa wa jaAAalu aAAizzata ahlihaa adhillatan wa kathalika yafAAalun
Tafsir (Explanation)
Queen Bilqis of Sheba speaks to her council, stating that when kings enter a city, they corrupt it and humiliate its noble inhabitants. This is her wise observation about the destructive nature of military conquest and the social upheaval that accompanies it. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this statement reflects her intelligent reasoning and desire to seek a peaceful alternative to warfare—to bring the people to Islam through wisdom rather than force.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon) and the Queen of Sheba in Surah An-Naml. The Queen makes this statement to her advisors when she learns that Sulaiman's army is approaching, seeking to dissuade them from military conflict. It is part of the broader Meccan context of the surah, which emphasizes divine wisdom and the power of persuasion over force.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this ayah, it relates thematically to the Prophet's (peace be upon him) teachings on justice and mercy in leadership. Sahih Muslim records that the Prophet said, 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family,' emphasizing compassionate leadership rather than tyranny.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true strength lies not in military dominance or oppression, but in wisdom, diplomacy, and justice. Leaders are cautioned that their authority should uplift rather than degrade their people, and that peaceful, thoughtful approaches often yield better outcomes than force.
Related Ayahs
وَجَحَدُوا۟ بِهَا وَٱسْتَيْقَنَتْهَآ أَنفُسُهُمْ ظُلْمًا وَعُلُوًّا ۚ فَٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ
And they rejected them, while their [inner] selves were convinced thereof, out of injustice and haughtiness. So see how was the end of the corrupters.
وَحُشِرَ لِسُلَيْمَـٰنَ جُنُودُهُۥ مِنَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلْإِنسِ وَٱلطَّيْرِ فَهُمْ يُوزَعُونَ
And gathered for Solomon were his soldiers of the jinn and men and birds, and they were [marching] in rows
إِنَّ هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ يَقُصُّ عَلَىٰ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ أَكْثَرَ ٱلَّذِى هُمْ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ
Indeed, this Qur’ān relates to the Children of Israel most of that over which they disagree.
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."