قَالَ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْمَلَؤُا۟ أَيُّكُمْ يَأْتِينِى بِعَرْشِهَا قَبْلَ أَن يَأْتُونِى مُسْلِمِينَ 38
Translations
[Solomon] said, "O assembly [of jinn], which of you will bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?"
Transliteration
Qala ya ayyuha al-malu ayukum ya'tinee bi'arshiha qabla an ya'tuni muslimeen
Tafsir (Explanation)
In this ayah, Prophet Sulayman (Solomon) addresses his assembled court, asking which of them can bring the throne of the Queen of Sheba before her people submit to him. According to classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir, this represents Sulayman's confidence in his divine authority and his desire to demonstrate Allah's power to the Queen through a miraculous feat. The ayah illustrates the use of wisdom and strategy in da'wah (calling to monotheism), as Sulayman seeks to convert her through the extraordinary display of divine capabilities rather than through force.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Sulayman's interaction with the Queen of Sheba (Bilqis), which spans 27:15-44. The passage describes Sulayman's kingdom and his unique abilities granted by Allah, including control over the jinn, wind, and the molten brass. The context emphasizes divine miracles and the submission of all creation to Allah's will as exemplified through Sulayman's prophetic mission.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly addresses this ayah, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasized the virtue of seeking knowledge and wisdom. Tirmidhi narrates that the Prophet said, 'Whoever Allah wishes good for, He grants him understanding of the religion.' This connects to Sulayman's use of intellect and divine knowledge in his prophetic mission.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true leadership combines confidence in divine support with intelligent planning and strategic wisdom in conveying the message of faith. It reminds believers that impressive displays of divine power should be used to draw hearts toward Allah, not for pride or domination, and that even miraculous events should serve the greater purpose of spiritual submission to the Creator.