قَالَتْ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْمَلَؤُا۟ أَفْتُونِى فِىٓ أَمْرِى مَا كُنتُ قَاطِعَةً أَمْرًا حَتَّىٰ تَشْهَدُونِ 32
Translations
She said, "O eminent ones, advise me in my affair. I would not decide a matter until you witness [for] me."
Transliteration
Qalat ya ayyuha almalao aftuni fi amri ma kuntu qati'atan amran hatta tashhadu
Tafsir (Explanation)
Queen Bilqis addresses her council, seeking their counsel before making a decisive decision regarding the letter from Prophet Solomon. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this demonstrates her wisdom and justice as a ruler—she refuses to act unilaterally in matters of state importance without consulting her ministers and military leaders. Her statement reflects an Islamic principle of consultation (shura) in governance, as she wanted witnesses to her decision-making process.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Solomon's letter to the Queen of Sheba, where he invites her to submit to Allah. The context illustrates how a pagan ruler recognized the importance of consultation and deliberation in state affairs, serving as an implicit lesson to Muslim rulers about the necessity of shura in Islamic governance.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to the principle of shura mentioned in Surah Ash-Shura (42:38): 'And those who respond to their Lord and establish prayer and whose affair is [determined by] consultation among themselves.' While no specific hadith directly addresses this ayah, Prophet Muhammad emphasized consultation in governance and decision-making in various traditions recorded in Sahih Bukhari and Sunan Abu Dawud.
Themes
Key Lesson
Even non-Muslim rulers can demonstrate wisdom through seeking counsel and avoiding hasty decisions; Muslim leaders should embrace consultation and involve their people in important matters rather than acting unilaterally, as this was valued even before Islam was established.
Related Ayahs
قَالَ ٱلَّذِى عِندَهُۥ عِلْمٌ مِّنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ أَنَا۠ ءَاتِيكَ بِهِۦ قَبْلَ أَن يَرْتَدَّ إِلَيْكَ طَرْفُكَ ۚ فَلَمَّا رَءَاهُ مُسْتَقِرًّا عِندَهُۥ قَالَ هَـٰذَا مِن فَضْلِ رَبِّى لِيَبْلُوَنِىٓ ءَأَشْكُرُ أَمْ أَكْفُرُ ۖ وَمَن شَكَرَ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ رَبِّى غَنِىٌّ كَرِيمٌ
Said one who had knowledge from the Scripture, "I will bring it to you before your glance returns to you." And when [Solomon] 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. And whoever is grateful - his gratitude is only for [the benefit of] himself. And whoever is ungrateful - then indeed, my Lord is Free of need and Generous."
فَتِلْكَ بُيُوتُهُمْ خَاوِيَةًۢ بِمَا ظَلَمُوٓا۟ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ
So those are their houses, desolate because of the wrong they had done. Indeed in that is a sign for people who know.
وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا دَاوُۥدَ وَسُلَيْمَـٰنَ عِلْمًا ۖ وَقَالَا ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى فَضَّلَنَا عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍ مِّنْ عِبَادِهِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
And We had certainly given to David and Solomon knowledge, and they said, "Praise [is due] to Allāh, who has favored us over many of His believing servants."
۞ وَإِذَا وَقَعَ ٱلْقَوْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ أَخْرَجْنَا لَهُمْ دَآبَّةً مِّنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ تُكَلِّمُهُمْ أَنَّ ٱلنَّاسَ كَانُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا لَا يُوقِنُونَ
And when the word [i.e., decree] befalls them, We will bring forth for them a creature from the earth speaking to them, [saying] that the people were, of Our verses, not certain [in faith].