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
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.
قِيلَ لَهَا ٱدْخُلِى ٱلصَّرْحَ ۖ فَلَمَّا رَأَتْهُ حَسِبَتْهُ لُجَّةً وَكَشَفَتْ عَن سَاقَيْهَا ۚ قَالَ إِنَّهُۥ صَرْحٌ مُّمَرَّدٌ مِّن قَوَارِيرَ ۗ قَالَتْ رَبِّ إِنِّى ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِى وَأَسْلَمْتُ مَعَ سُلَيْمَـٰنَ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
She was told, "Enter the palace." But when she saw it, she thought it was a body of water and uncovered her shins [to wade through]. He said, "Indeed, it is a palace [whose floor is] made smooth with glass." She said, "My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, and I submit with Solomon to Allāh, Lord of the worlds."
وَتَفَقَّدَ ٱلطَّيْرَ فَقَالَ مَا لِىَ لَآ أَرَى ٱلْهُدْهُدَ أَمْ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْغَآئِبِينَ
And he took attendance of the birds and said, "Why do I not see the hoopoe - or is he among the absent?
أَمَّنْ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَأَنزَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَأَنۢبَتْنَا بِهِۦ حَدَآئِقَ ذَاتَ بَهْجَةٍ مَّا كَانَ لَكُمْ أَن تُنۢبِتُوا۟ شَجَرَهَآ ۗ أَءِلَـٰهٌ مَّعَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ يَعْدِلُونَ
[More precisely], is He [not best] who created the heavens and the earth and sent down for you rain from the sky, causing to grow thereby gardens of joyful beauty which you could not [otherwise] have grown the trees thereof? Is there a deity with Allāh? [No], but they are a people who ascribe equals [to Him].