فَلَمَّا جَآءَتْ قِيلَ أَهَـٰكَذَا عَرْشُكِ ۖ قَالَتْ كَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ ۚ وَأُوتِينَا ٱلْعِلْمَ مِن قَبْلِهَا وَكُنَّا مُسْلِمِينَ 42
Translations
So when she arrived, it was said [to her], "Is your throne like this?" She said, "[It is] as though it was it." [Solomon said], "And we were given knowledge before her, and we have been Muslims [in submission to Allāh].
Transliteration
Falamma jaat qila ahakadha arshuki qalat kaannahu huwa wa utina al-ilma min qablihaa wa kunna muslimeen
Tafsir (Explanation)
When the throne was brought before the Queen of Sheba, she was asked if her throne was like this magnificent one, and she recognized it immediately, saying it appeared to be the same as hers. This ayah highlights how Sulayman's knowledge and faith surpassed ordinary human capability—he possessed knowledge from Allah (referring to the knowledge of the Unseen regarding the throne's swift transport). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that the Queen's recognition and her subsequent submission to Allah demonstrates the power of divine signs and the acceptance of truth when presented clearly.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Sulayman (Solomon) and the Queen of Sheba (Bilqis), a Meccan surah that illustrates divine miracles and the invitation to monotheism. The context shows Sulayman's army of jinn, humans, and birds, and how he sought to test the Queen's faith by bringing her throne before she arrived, demonstrating Allah's power and wisdom.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly addresses this specific verse, related traditions discuss Sulayman's miracles and his unique status as a prophet-king. The Qur'anic narrative itself (27:16-44) serves as the primary source, with Islamic scholarship drawing on the general principles of divine knowledge and submission found throughout hadith collections.
Themes
Key Lesson
When confronted with clear signs of Allah's power and truth, the wise response is immediate recognition and submission, as demonstrated by the Queen of Sheba—teaching us that intellectual honesty and openness to divine guidance are marks of true wisdom and virtue.