إِنِّى وَجَدتُّ ٱمْرَأَةً تَمْلِكُهُمْ وَأُوتِيَتْ مِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَلَهَا عَرْشٌ عَظِيمٌ 23
Translations
Indeed, I found [there] a woman ruling them, and she has been given of all things, and she has a great throne.
Transliteration
Innee wajadtu imra'atan tamlikushum wa ootiyat min kulli shay'in wa laha 'arshun 'azeem
Tafsir (Explanation)
The hoopoe messenger reports to Prophet Solomon that he has discovered the Queen of Sheba, who possesses a kingdom and has been given great wealth and resources, including a magnificent throne. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note this verse establishes the Queen's authority and material grandeur, setting the stage for Solomon's diplomatic approach to her and her people. The mention of her extensive possessions and great throne emphasizes her worldly power, which would soon be superseded by Solomon's divine knowledge and supernatural abilities.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Surah An-Naml (The Ant), which recounts Solomon's inspection of the jinn, humans, and birds, and his discovery of the Queen of Sheba's kingdom. The context is thematic rather than tied to a specific historical revelation occasion; it forms part of the Quranic account of Solomon's prophetic mission and his interactions with various peoples and creatures.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly addresses this specific verse, the broader account of Solomon's story is referenced in various hadith collections. The narrative emphasizes Solomon's unique position as a prophet granted unprecedented authority over natural forces, as mentioned in multiple Quranic contexts and reflected in hadith discussions of prophetic miracles.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that earthly power, wealth, and magnificence, however impressive to human perception, remain secondary to divine wisdom and spiritual knowledge; the subsequent revelation of Solomon's superiority illustrates that true greatness lies in submission to Allah and the application of divine guidance rather than material accumulation.
Related Ayahs
وَكَانَ فِى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ تِسْعَةُ رَهْطٍ يُفْسِدُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا يُصْلِحُونَ
And there were in the city nine family heads causing corruption in the land and not amending [its affairs].
حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُو قَالَ أَكَذَّبْتُم بِـَٔايَـٰتِى وَلَمْ تُحِيطُوا۟ بِهَا عِلْمًا أَمَّاذَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
Until, when they arrive [at the place of Judgement], He will say, "Did you deny My signs while you encompassed them not in knowledge, or what [was it that] you were doing?"
أَمَّن جَعَلَ ٱلْأَرْضَ قَرَارًا وَجَعَلَ خِلَـٰلَهَآ أَنْهَـٰرًا وَجَعَلَ لَهَا رَوَٰسِىَ وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَ ٱلْبَحْرَيْنِ حَاجِزًا ۗ أَءِلَـٰهٌ مَّعَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Is He [not best] who made the earth a stable ground and placed within it rivers and made for it firmly set mountains and placed between the two seas a barrier? Is there a deity with Allāh? [No], but most of them do not know.
وَجَدتُّهَا وَقَوْمَهَا يَسْجُدُونَ لِلشَّمْسِ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ فَصَدَّهُمْ عَنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ فَهُمْ لَا يَهْتَدُونَ
I found her and her people prostrating to the sun instead of Allāh, and Satan has made their deeds pleasing to them and averted them from [His] way, so they are not guided,