وَإِنِّى مُرْسِلَةٌ إِلَيْهِم بِهَدِيَّةٍ فَنَاظِرَةٌۢ بِمَ يَرْجِعُ ٱلْمُرْسَلُونَ 35
Translations
But indeed, I will send to them a gift and see with what [reply] the messengers will return."
Transliteration
Wa-inni mursilatun ilayhim bi-hadiyyatin fanaziratun bima yarji'u al-mursalun
Tafsir (Explanation)
The Queen of Sheba declares her intention to send a gift to Solomon (Sulayman) to test his response and observe how his messengers will return, thereby assessing his character and intentions. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari note that this was a diplomatic strategy to gauge whether Solomon would respond arrogantly (rejecting the gift) or with wisdom, providing insight into his nature as a leader and prophet. This ayah demonstrates the Queen's prudence and political acumen before committing to any major decision regarding Solomon's claims.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba (Ayat al-Malik), a major story in Surah An-Naml. The Queen has just received Solomon's letter inviting her to submit to Allah, and this verse captures her diplomatic response—sending a gift as a preliminary test before deciding whether to visit him or accept his message. The context illustrates the Queen's intelligence and measured approach to an extraordinary situation.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly addresses this specific verse, the overall narrative of the Queen of Sheba is referenced in various tafsir works. The Quranic account itself is the primary source, as this event is unique to the Qur'an and not detailed in other religious texts in the same manner.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that wisdom involves careful observation and prudent testing before making major decisions, and that intelligent leaders use subtle means to gather information rather than acting impulsively. Modern readers can learn that seeking understanding through thoughtful inquiry—before committing to a path—reflects both intelligence and respect for one's own judgment.
Related Ayahs
أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ ٱلرِّجَالَ شَهْوَةً مِّن دُونِ ٱلنِّسَآءِ ۚ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ تَجْهَلُونَ
Do you indeed approach men with desire instead of women? Rather, you are a people behaving ignorantly."
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].
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ زَيَّنَّا لَهُمْ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ فَهُمْ يَعْمَهُونَ
Indeed, for those who do not believe in the Hereafter, We have made pleasing to them their deeds, so they wander blindly.
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.