Story of the Queen of Sheba and Sulayman in the Quran

The story is in Surah an-Naml (the Ant), verses 20 to 44. Just before it, the Quran says that Allah gave knowledge to Dawud (David) and Sulayman, who praised Allah for favoring them (27:15). It says that Sulayman was taught the speech of birds and that his soldiers of jinn, men and birds were gathered for him (27:16-17).

The Quran calls her only "a woman ruling them" (27:23). Her name is not given in the Quran or in authentic hadith. The name Bilqis is found in later tradition, and we should not treat it as a certain part of the story.

Sulayman checked on the birds and noticed that the hoopoe was missing. He said that he would punish it severely unless it brought him a clear excuse (27:20-21). The hoopoe was not gone long. It came and said: "I have encompassed that which you have not encompassed, and I have come to you from Sheba with certain news" (27:22).

It reported that it found a woman ruling over them, who had been given of all things and had a great throne (27:23). It also said that she and her people prostrated to the sun instead of Allah, because Satan had made their deeds look good to them (27:24-25). It ended with the declaration that Allah, Lord of the Great Throne, is the only deity (27:26).

Sulayman did not accept the news without checking. He said: we will see whether you were truthful or among the liars, and sent his letter with the bird (27:27-28).

The queen told her chiefs that a noble letter had been delivered to her. She described its contents: it was from Sulayman, and it began "In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful", and asked them not to be haughty but to come to him in submission (27:29-31).

She did not decide alone. Her request was: "Advise me in my affair. I would not decide a matter until you witness for me" (27:32). Her chiefs answered that they were men of strength and great military might, but that the command was hers (27:33).

She replied that when kings enter a city they ruin it and humble its honored people (27:34), and chose a different path. She would send a gift and see what answer the messengers would bring back (27:35).

When the messengers came, Sulayman refused the gift. He said that what Allah had given him was better than what he had given them, and that they were the ones who rejoiced in the gift. He told the messengers to return, because otherwise armies would come that they could not face (27:36-37).

Sulayman then asked which of the assembly would bring her throne to him before they came in submission (27:38). A powerful one among the jinn said that he would bring it before Sulayman rose from his place (27:39). Then "one who had knowledge from the Scripture" said that he would bring it before Sulayman's glance returned to him. When Sulayman 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" (27:40).

The Quran does not say who the man with knowledge was, so we do not give a name. Sulayman then ordered that her throne be disguised, to see whether she would be guided (27:41).

When she came she was asked, "Is your throne like this?" and she said, "It is as though it was it" (27:42). She was then told to enter the palace. She thought its floor was a body of water and uncovered her shins, and Sulayman told her that it was a palace made smooth with glass (27:44).

Then she said: قِيلَ لَهَا ٱدْخُلِى ٱلصَّرْحَ ۖ فَلَمَّا رَأَتْهُ حَسِبَتْهُ لُجَّةًۭ وَكَشَفَتْ عَن سَاقَيْهَا ۚ قَالَ إِنَّهُۥ صَرْحٌۭ مُّمَرَّدٌۭ مِّن قَوَارِيرَ ۗ قَالَتْ رَبِّ إِنِّى ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِى وَأَسْلَمْتُ مَعَ سُلَيْمَٰنَ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ The meaning is: my Lord, I have wronged myself, and I submit with Sulayman to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.

The Quran does not state where Sheba was, the queen's name, her age, the length of her reign or the size of her kingdom. It does not say what happened to her after the final verse, and it does not mention any marriage. Later books add many of these details, but they are not part of the Quran or authentic hadith, so they are not used here.

What the verses do show is the path of a person who consulted others, was careful in her decisions, noticed what was true when she saw it, and admitted her past mistake. In 27:43 the Quran says that what she used to worship other than Allah had kept her from the truth, and that she came from a disbelieving people.

• Take news and messages seriously and check them. Sulayman tested the hoopoe's report, and the queen read the letter carefully and consulted her people.
• Consultation is a strength. She would not decide until her chiefs had given their view.
• Gifts and wealth are small compared with what Allah gives. Sulayman said that what Allah had given him was better.
• Thank Allah for every favor. When Sulayman saw the throne, he said it was a test of whether he would be grateful or ungrateful.
• It is never too late to admit a mistake and return to the truth. The queen said: "I have wronged myself," and submitted to Allah.