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
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].
وَمَآ أَنتَ بِهَـٰدِى ٱلْعُمْىِ عَن ضَلَـٰلَتِهِمْ ۖ إِن تُسْمِعُ إِلَّا مَن يُؤْمِنُ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا فَهُم مُّسْلِمُونَ
And you cannot guide the blind away from their error. You will only make hear those who believe in Our verses so they are Muslims [i.e., submitting to Allāh].
وَإِنَّكَ لَتُلَقَّى ٱلْقُرْءَانَ مِن لَّدُنْ حَكِيمٍ عَلِيمٍ
And indeed, [O Muḥammad], you receive the Qur’ān from one Wise and Knowing.
قَالُوا۟ نَحْنُ أُو۟لُوا۟ قُوَّةٍ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ بَأْسٍ شَدِيدٍ وَٱلْأَمْرُ إِلَيْكِ فَٱنظُرِى مَاذَا تَأْمُرِينَ
They said, "We are men of strength and of great military might, but the command is yours, so see what you will command."