أَلَّا تَعْلُوا۟ عَلَىَّ وَأْتُونِى مُسْلِمِينَ 31
Translations
Be not haughty with me but come to me in submission [as Muslims].'"
Transliteration
Allā ta'alō 'alayya wa'tūnī muslimīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah contains Prophet Sulayman's message to the Queen of Sheba, commanding her and her people not to be arrogant or transgressive toward him, and to come to him in submission to Allah. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this represents Sulayman's diplomatic yet authoritative call, demonstrating wisdom in addressing a ruler while maintaining the dignity of prophethood and the supremacy of divine authority. The phrase 'muslimīn' (those who submit) emphasizes submission to Allah's will rather than mere political surrender.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Prophet Sulayman's correspondence with the Queen of Sheba (Bilqis), which spans Surah An-Naml. The surah is Meccan and recounts the miraculous events during Sulayman's reign, including his communication with the jinn, birds, and this queen. The message was sent before Sulayman's army arrived, serving as a test of her response and an invitation to monotheistic faith.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this ayah, Sunan At-Tirmidhi contains traditions about Prophet Sulayman's character and wisdom in leadership. Additionally, hadiths regarding respectful communication and avoiding arrogance (e.g., in Sahih Muslim regarding humility) thematically complement this verse's message.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true strength lies in commanding others toward submission to Allah rather than personal domination, and that effective leadership combines firmness with an invitation to faith. It reminds us that arrogance is incompatible with submission to God, whether in rulers or common people.
Related Ayahs
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.
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلْعَرْشِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ ۩
Allāh - there is no deity except Him, Lord of the Great Throne."
وَقُلِ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ سَيُرِيكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ فَتَعْرِفُونَهَا ۚ وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
And say, "[All] praise is [due] to Allāh. He will show you His signs, and you will recognize them. And your Lord is not unaware of what you do."
فَمَكَثَ غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ فَقَالَ أَحَطتُ بِمَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِۦ وَجِئْتُكَ مِن سَبَإٍۭ بِنَبَإٍ يَقِينٍ
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.