Allah tells us what Sulayman said to the hoopoe when he told him about the
people of Saba' and their queen:
[قَالَ سَنَنظُرُ
أَصَدَقْتَ أَمْ كُنتَ مِنَ الْكَـذِبِينَ ]
((Sulayman) said: "We shall see whether you speak the truth or you are (one)
of the liars.'') meaning, `are you telling the truth'
[أَمْ كُنتَ مِنَ
الْكَـذِبِينَ]
(or you are (one) of the liars.) meaning, `or are you telling a lie in order
to save yourself from the threat I made against you'
[اذْهَب بِّكِتَابِى
هَـذَا فَأَلْقِهْ إِلَيْهِمْ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ فَانْظُرْ مَاذَا يَرْجِعُونَ
]
(Go you with this letter of mine and deliver it to them then draw back from
them and see what they return.) Sulayman wrote a letter to Bilqis and her people
and gave it to the hoopoe to deliver. It was said that he carried it on his
wings, as is the way with birds, or that he carried it in his beak. He went to
their land and found the palace of Bilqis, then he went to her private chambers
and threw the letter through a small window, then he stepped to one side out of
good manners. Bilqis was amazed and confused when she saw that, then she went
and picked up the letter, opened its seal and read it. The letter said:
[إِنَّهُ مِن
سُلَيْمَانَ وَإِنَّهُ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ - أَلاَّ تَعْلُواْ
عَلَىَّ وَأْتُونِى مُسْلِمِينَ ]
(it is from Sulayman, and it (reads): `In the Name of Allah, the Most
Gracious, the Most Merciful; Be you not exalted against me, but come to me
submitting (as Muslims).') So she gathered her commanders and ministers and the
leaders of her land, and said to them:
[يأَيُّهَا الْمَلأُ
إِنَّى أُلْقِىَ إِلَىَّ كِتَابٌ كَرِيمٌ]
("O chiefs! Verily, here is delivered to me a noble letter.'') She described
it as such because of the wondrous things she had seen, that it was delivered by
a bird who threw it to her, then stood aside out of good manners. This was
something that no king could do. Then she read the letter to them:
[إِنَّهُ مِن
سُلَيْمَانَ وَإِنَّهُ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ - أَلاَّ تَعْلُواْ
عَلَىَّ وَأْتُونِى مُسْلِمِينَ ]
(Verily, it is from Sulayman, and it (reads): `In the Name of Allah, the Most
Gracious, the Most Merciful; Be you not exalted against me, but come to me
submitting (as Muslims).') Thus they knew that it was from Allah's Prophet
Sulayman, upon him be peace, and that they could not match him. This letter was
the utmost in brevity and eloquence, coming straight to the point.
[أَلاَّ تَعْلُواْ
عَلَىَّ]
(Be you not exalted against me,) Qatadah said: "Do not be arrogant with me.
[وَأْتُونِى
مُسْلِمِينَ]
(but come to me submitting (as Muslims). )'' `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam
said: "Do not refuse or be too arrogant to come to me
[وَأْتُونِى
مُسْلِمِينَ]
(but come to me submitting (as Muslims).)''
[قَالَتْ يأَيُّهَا
الْمَلأ أَفْتُونِى فِى أَمْرِى مَا كُنتُ قَـطِعَةً أَمْراً حَتَّى تَشْهَدُونِ -
قَالُواْ نَحْنُ أُوْلُواْ قُوَّةٍ وَأُولُو بَأْسٍ شَدِيدٍ وَالاٌّمْرُ إِلَيْكِ
فَانظُرِى مَاذَا تَأْمُرِينَ - قَالَتْ إِنَّ الْمُلُوكَ إِذَا دَخَلُواْ قَرْيَةً
أَفْسَدُوهَا وَجَعَلُواْ أَعِزَّةَ أَهْلِهَآ أَذِلَّةً وَكَذلِكَ يَفْعَلُونَ -
وَإِنِّى مُرْسِلَةٌ إِلَيْهِمْ بِهَدِيَّةٍ فَنَاظِرَةٌ بِمَ يَرْجِعُ
الْمُرْسَلُونَ ]
(32. She said: "O chiefs! Advise me in case of mine. I decide no case till
you are present with me.'') (33. They said: "We have great strength, and great
ability for war, but it is for you to command; so think over what you will
command.'') (34. She said: "Verily, kings, when they enter a town, they destroy
it and make the most honorable among its people the lowest. And thus they do.'')
(35. "But verily, I am going to send him a present, and see with what (answer)
the messengers return.'')
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