فَمَكَثَ غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ فَقَالَ أَحَطتُ بِمَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِۦ وَجِئْتُكَ مِن سَبَإٍۭ بِنَبَإٍ يَقِينٍ 22
Translations
But he [i.e., the hoopoe] stayed not long and said, "I have encompassed [in knowledge] that which you have not encompassed, and I have come to you from Sheba with certain news.
Transliteration
Famakatha ghayra baʿīdin faqāla aḥaṭtu bimā lam tuḥiṭ bihi wa jāʾtuka min sabaʾin binbaʾin yaqīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the hoopoe bird's report to Prophet Sulaiman (AS) about the people of Saba (Sheba). The hoopoe had been absent from the gathering of birds and feared punishment, but upon returning, it proudly announced that it had acquired knowledge about Saba that Sulaiman did not possess, and brought certain news about Queen Bilqis and her people. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note that the hoopoe's statement reflects the divine order of creation wherein knowledge is distributed among creatures, and this serves as a prelude to the miraculous account of the throne of Bilqis being brought before Sulaiman.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Sulaiman (AS) and the hoopoe in Surah An-Naml, which details the preparation for the encounter with the Queen of Saba. The surah is Meccan and addresses themes of divine power, wisdom, and the marvels of creation. The context shows Sulaiman mustering his forces of jinns, humans, and animals, with the hoopoe arriving with news that would lead to the famous account of the throne's transportation.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly references this specific ayah, the account of Sulaiman (AS) and the Queen of Saba is confirmed in Islamic tradition. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) referenced this story in various contexts affirming its truth and the miraculous nature of Sulaiman's dominion (Jami' at-Tirmidhi and other collections mention Sulaiman's exceptional status among prophets).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that knowledge and capabilities are distributed by Allah among His creation in different measures, and that even the smallest creature may possess knowledge that others lack—encouraging humility and openness to learning from unexpected sources. It also emphasizes the importance of bringing verified information before making decisions, as the hoopoe brought 'certain news' rather than mere speculation.