وَتَفَقَّدَ الطَّيْرَ فَقَالَ مَا لِىَ لَاۤ اَرَى الْهُدْهُدَ ۖ اَمْ كَانَ مِنَ الْغَآئِبِيْنَ (20) لَاُعَذِّبَـنَّهٗ عَذَابًا شَدِيْدًا اَوْ لَا۟اَذْبَحَنَّهٗۤ اَوْ لَيَاْتِيَنِّىْ بِسُلْطٰنٍ مُّبِيْنٍ (21) فَمَكَثَ غَيْرَ بَعِيْدٍ فَقَالَ اَحَطْتُّ بِمَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِه وَ جِئْتُكَ مِنْ سَبَاٍۢ بِنَبَاٍ يَّقِيْنٍ (22) اِنِّىْ وَجَدتُّ امْرَاَةً تَمْلِكُهُمْ وَاُوْتِيَتْ مِنْ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَّلَهَا عَرْشٌ عَظِيْمٌ (23) وَجَدْتُّهَا وَقَوْمَهَا يَسْجُدُوْنَ لِلشَّمْسِ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ وَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطٰنُ اَعْمَالَهُمْ فَصَدَّهُمْ عَنِ السَّبِيْلِ فَهُمْ لَا يَهْتَدُوْنَ (24) اَلَّا يَسْجُدُوْا لِلّٰهِ الَّذِىْ يُخْرِجُ الْخَبْءَ فِى السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تُخْفُوْنَ وَمَا تُعْلِنُوْنَ (25) اَللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيْمِ ۩ (26) قَالَ سَنَـنْظُرُ اَصَدَقْتَ اَمْ كُنْتَ مِنَ الْكٰذِبِيْنَ (27) اِذْهَبْ بِّكِتٰبِىْ هٰذَا فَاَلْقِهْ اِلَيْهِمْ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ فَانْظُرْ مَاذَا يَرْجِعُوْنَ (28) قَالَتْ يٰۤاَيُّهَا الْمَلَؤُا اِنِّىْۤ اُلْقِىَ اِلَىَّ كِتٰبٌ كَرِيْمٌ (29) اِنَّهٗ مِنْ سُلَيْمٰنَ وَاِنَّهٗ بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ (30) اَلَّا تَعْلُوْا عَلَىَّ وَاْتُوْنِىْ مُسْلِمِيْنَ (31)
Quran Ayah Data not found….for Surah:27, Ayah:20 and Translation:24
Quran Surah:27 Ayah:20-31
“And (once) he (Sulaiman) checked the birds and said, “How is it with me that I do not see the hudhud (hoopoe)?Rather he has disappeared. I will punish him with a severepunishment or slaughter him unless hebrings to me a clear plea.” Then the hoopoe did not take longand said (to Sulaiman), “I havediscovered what you did not, and havebrought to youa sure information fromSaba’ (Sheba). 23. I have found a woman ruling overthem, and all sorts of things are givento her, and she has a great throne. 24. I have found her and her peopleprostrating themselves to the sun,instead of Allah, and the Satan hasbeautified their deeds for them, andhas prevented them from the way, sothey do not take the right path, 25. that is, they do not prostrate toAllah who brings forth what is hiddenin the heavens and the earth, -and whoknows whatever you conceal andwhatever you reveal.” 26. Allah! There is no god but He, theLord of the Great Throne. 27. He (Sulaiman) said, “We shall seewhether you have told the truth or youare one of the liars. 28. Go with this letter of mine, anddeliver it down to them, then turn backfrom them, and see how they react.” 29. She (the queen) said (to herofficials after receiving the letter), “Ochieftains, there has been delivered tome an esteemed letter. 30. It is from Sulaiman, and it is (inthe following words ? With the nameof Allah, the All-Merciful, the Very-Merciful. 31. Do not rebel against me, and come to me in submission.”
In the verse appearing above, there has been mentioned an episode which took place during the reign of Hazrat Sulaiman (A.S.). On one hand, through this story we come to know about the excellence and supremacy of Hazrat Sulaiman (A.S.), we also see how remarkable sense of subjects on the other hand. Beside it, we also come to learn about the principles of his ruling and his aims and objectives.
In fact, this story carries so many points of guidance for us. Some of them are as follows:
- The rules should examine his subjects strictly as Hazrat Sulaiman (A.S.) did with his birds. He took a pledge to punish the woodpecker when he saw him absent without his permission. However, there should be some room on some reasonable excuse.
- A man is gifted with a limited knowledge. May be that another man is superior to him in knowledge. Despite Allah, the Almighty gifted Hazrat Sulaiman (A.S.) with special knowledge on his behalf and besides revelation taught him the language of Jinns, birds and other living creatures, neither he had comlete knowledge nor he was ‘Alim-ul-Ghaib’(one knowing the invisible). It was the reason that he was not aware of all the conditions of the reign of Saba in his neighboring country unless the woodpecker informed him about. Therefore, Allah, the Almighty said:
”فَوقَ کُلَّ ذِی عِلمٍ عَلِیم “
“Above every man of knowledge, thereis someone more knowledgeable.”
- The administrators should affirm any important piece of information through the agencies too so that a decision taken on the ground of this news well as one can take the further steps without any suspicion as Hazrat Sulaiman (A.S.), who, for the affirmation of a piece of information brought by the woodpecker corresponded to Bilquis. Through it, it is also pointed out that the correspondence may also be considered as a strong evidence in ordinary affairs too.
- As generally conceived that the birds are void of the faculties like the power of observation and distinguishing between right and wrong and power of speech, while, through this event, we come to know that the case was reverse with the woodpecker and therefore, Hazrat Sulaiman employed its skills as and where necessary. Even these days, there are some mind-boggling potentials of the birds explored through the recent discoveries. On ground of this fact, we can go into further studies and fully mare use out of them. It is advisable for Ulama to also pay their attention towards this direction and conduct research studies.
- Through this event, we also come to know some rules of guidance concerning correspondence. They are as follows:
- First and foremost, there should be mentioned the name of the correspondent as also practiced by the Holy Prophet ﷺ. It makes no difference to the reverence and respect, since even the blessed companions did so when they corresponded to the beloved Prophet ﷺ.
- The letter should be started with the name of Allah, the Almighty so that one may get His support and help. Initially, the Holy Prophet ﷺwould begin the letter with the words باسمک اللھمbut, when the verse was revealed as بسم اللہ الرحمٰن الرحیم, he would write the same.
- The subject matter in the letter should be concise, clear and in plain words.
- When required, an unrelated (mahram) man in authority may interact with a woman as also done by Hazrat Sulaiman (A.S.) with the queen of Saba, Bilquis.
Another thing we also come to learn through this event is that what motto a Muslim ruler should have if he has any disobeying reign in his neigbourhood. Either he should bring it to an end, occupy it or take it out from the swamp of disbelief? When Hazrat Sulaiman (A.S.) came to know the disbelief and sun-worshipping of the ruler and the inhabitants of his neigbouring country, he asked her not to Do not rebel against him and come to him in submission.
Even these days, the Muslim rulers should employ the same conduct as possessed by Hazrat Sulaiman (A.S.) in such condition i.e. they should make all-out efforts to enlighten them with Truth and guide them on the right path.