Soloman and Queen Story

reilly654

salam

This has been really bothering me lately
Can someone explain this to me?

In verse 2720 of the Quran Soloman says about "I will punish him severely, or I will kill him, else he should have an clear excuse."

Does this mean that Solomon kills his soldiers if they leave him ?
This seem to indicate compulsion in deen and goes against other quran edicts

When Solomon sent the letter to the Queen of Sheba , she sent him a gift .Then Solomon said "Go back to them (and let them know that) we will come to them with forces they cannot imagine. We will evict them, humiliated and debased."
This seems to suggest aggression, which also goes against quranic edict because she was not treating him or attacking him. He seems to threaten her with a invasion.

She also seems to be fearing a invasion because in verse 2734 the queen confirms it when she says "The kings corrupt any land they invade, and subjugate its dignified people. This is what they usually do."

I hope someone can help me with this on the moral value of this story and what is its meaning

Thanks

reilly654

2715 And We bestowed upon David and Solomon knowledge, and they both said "Praise be to God who preferred us over many of His believing servants."
2716 And Solomon inherited from David, and he said "O people, we have been taught how to understand the speech of the creatures that fly, and we have been given from everything. This is indeed an evident grace."
2717 And Solomon's soldiers were gathered, comprising of humans and Jinn and birds, for they were to be spread out.
2718 Until they came to a valley of ants, a female ant said "O ants, enter your homes else you will be crushed by Solomon and his soldiers while they do not notice."
2719 He then smiled, amused by what she said. And he said "My Lord, help me to be thankful for the blessings You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and that I may do good work that pleases You, and admit me by Your Mercy with Your righteous servants."
2720 And he inspected the birds, then said "Why do I not see the hoopoe, or is he among those absent?"
2721 "I will punish him severely, or I will kill him, else he should have an clear excuse."
2722 But the hoopoe did not stay away long, then he said "I have seen what you do not know, and I have come to you from Sheba with news which is certain."
2723 "I found them ruled by a woman, and she was given all possession, and she had a great throne."
2724 "And I found her and her people prostrating to the sun instead of God! And the devil had made their work appear good to them, so he kept them away from the path, for they are not being guided."
2725 "Will they not prostrate to God who brings out what is hidden in the heavens and the Earth, and He knows what you hide and what you declare?"
2726 "God, there is no god but He, the Lord of the great throne."
2727 He said "We will see if you are being truthful or are one of those who lie."
2728 "Take this letter of mine and deliver it to them, then withdraw from them and observe what they respond with."
2729 She said "O commanders, a noble letter has been delivered to me."
2730 "It is from Solomon, and it reads "In the name of God, the Almighty, the Merciful""
2731 ""Do not be arrogant toward me and come to me as submitters""
2732 She said "O commanders, advise me in this matter of mine, for I will not take a decision until you give testimony."
2733 They said "We are people of strength and mighty in power. But the decision is yours, so see what you will command."
2734 She said "When the kings enter a town they destroy it and make its most noble people humiliated. It is such that they do."
2735 "And I will send to them a gift, then I will see with what the messengers will return."
2736 So when they came to Solomon he said "Are you providing me with wealth? What God has provided for me is far better than what He has given you. Now you are happy with your gift!"
2737 "Return to them. For we shall come to them with soldiers the like of which they have never seen, and we will drive them out humiliated, while they are feeble."
2738 He said "O commanders, which of you can bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?"
2739 A powerful being from among the Jinn said "I will bring it to you before you rise from your station. For I am strong and trustworthy."
2740 And one who had knowledge from the Scripture said "I will bring it to you before you blink." So when he saw it resting before him, he said "This is from the grace of my Lord, so that He tests me whether I am thankful or whether I reject. As for he who is thankful, he is thankful for himself, and as for he who rejects, then my Lord is Rich, Bountiful."
2741 He said "Disguise her throne so we may see if she will be guided or if she will be of those who are not guided."
2742 So when she came, it was said "Is your throne like this?" She said "It appears to be similar." And we were given knowledge before her, and we had submitted.
2743 And she was prevented by that which she served besides God. She was of the people who were rejecters.
2744 It was said to her "Enter the palace." So when she saw it she thought there was a pool, and she uncovered her legs. He said "It is a palace paved with crystal." She said "My Lord, I have wronged myself; and I submit with Solomon

TheNabi

Peace

I've got an interpretation by Kyle I think in my e-mail from an e-mail list. If I can find it I'll post it for you to consider.

Joe

Alen

Salam.

Yes, this has been bothering me too for the longest time.
Why would such a person as the messenger of GOD be so .... what is the right word? Angry and willing to fight a woman who wants no harm?

Is it possible that the translation is bad?

Peace.

Nurd

salam

This has been really bothering me lately
Can someone explain this to me?

In verse 2720 of the Quran Soloman says about "I will punish him severely, or I will kill him, else he should have an clear excuse."

Does this mean that Solomon kills his soldiers if they leave him ?
This seem to indicate compulsion in deen and goes against other quran edicts

This has nothing to do with religious compulsion. This is a commander speaking of a soldier in a time of war.

When Solomon sent the letter to the Queen of Sheba , she sent him a gift .Then Solomon said "Go back to them (and let them know that) we will come to them with forces they cannot imagine. We will evict them, humiliated and debased."
This seems to suggest aggression, which also goes against quranic edict because she was not treating him or attacking him. He seems to threaten her with a invasion.

He sent her a letter asking her and her people to change their ways, to submit to god. Specifically it said
31. ??Do not be arrogant toward me and come to me as submitters??

If I were to get a letter like this.. I would not immediately think it was a threat. But as a ruler watching Solomons Army gather, I might think differently.

She sent him a gift... We don't know what the gift was, but it appears that the act offended him, a gift from people who had rejected the word of God may have seemed like no gift at all. (We do not know the culture and customs of Solomon and his people)

She also seems to be fearing a invasion because in verse 2734 the queen confirms it when she says "The kings corrupt any land they invade, and subjugate its dignified people. This is what they usually do."

That's what kings have done in times long past, why would she not thing the same would happen?

I hope someone can help me with this on the moral value of this story and what is its meaning

Thanks

We also have to remember that the Quran sometimes picks out only the most important part of stories like this. It is entirely possible that Solomon and the people of Sheba had been at war for some time, and that this had occured only towards the end of the battle once Solomon had reached within sight of the capital.

Our job in these parts is to pick out the part of the story the Quran has pointed us to.. In this case the power God had granted onto Solomon, allowing him to speak to bird and beast. This shows to us another of the many things God has done to help us as a people find our way to him.

Thanks,

Nurd

nerspi

peace

this is from arnold's book

Solomon was David?s heir in continuation of Allah?s Revelation. He said, "O People! We have been given a great cavalry of ready horses with the best knowledge of training them, and given every blessing. This evidently is a great Bounty on our nation.? (Solomon ruled as King from 965 to 926 B.C.)
Solomon?s army included warrior tribes of the woods and the mountains, dwellers of townships, and great riders of the tribe of Taer. They were well disciplined, and dedicated to any appointed mission.
Once (when Solomon was on an expedition to the South), they came upon the valley ruled by Queen An-Naml. The Queen, (realizing the power of Solomon), ordered her armies, ?Go back in your barracks, lest Solomon and his armies crush you without knowing that we are a peaceful tribe.?
Solomon smiled joyously at her words and said, "My Lord! Enable me to be grateful for your blessings upon me and my parents. Enable me to work for the betterment of humanity and thus please You. Include me, by Your Grace, among your righteous servants."
(Leaving the peaceful tribe of An-Naml alone, Solomon marched forward.) As he examined the cavalry, he said, ?How is it that I do not see the commander Al-hoodhood, the Hoopoe? Is he one of the absentees??
(Absconding from the marching army was a breach of discipline.) Solomon said, "Unless the commander presented a good reason I would punish him or demote him to a low rank."
But before long Al-hoodhood showed up. (He was coming back from a reconnaissance mission to the Kingdom of Queen Bilqis, Sheba). He said, "I have come with the latest news, some important and reliable information from the land of Sheba that you are not aware of.? (Their armies were planning an expedition towards the North).
?Behold, the country is ruled by a Queen who has been given everything and she has a tremendous throne.?
"I found her and her people worshiping the sun instead of Allah. Their ego makes them think that they are doing right. Satan (the priesthood of the Sun Temple) hinders them from the Right Path. So they cannot find the Right Way."
"They do not understand that they must adore Allah Who brings forth from His Unseen treasures in the heavens and the earth, and Who knows all that you hide and declare."
"(They need to know that) there is no god but Allah, the Lord of the Supreme Control.?
Solomon listened to the report and decided to carry out further investigation to ascertain the truth. Said he, "We shall see whether you have told the truth or are one of the liars."
(He gave a letter to the Commander of the cavalry to take to the court of Sheba, and to watch their response), "Go with this letter of mine and make sure you convey it to them, and then come back with the answer they give."
(When Solomon found out that the Queen was coming), he said, ?O Chiefs! Which one of you can present the best plan to get her throne before they come to me surrendering?? (1500 miles between Ma'arib, the capital of Sheba to Jerusalem.)
One of the strong commanders of the mountain division said, "My troops can accomplish this mission with lightening speed, before you rise up to think of and assign anyone else. Behold, I am competent and trustworthy for this job."
Another powerful commander, who had knowledge of the

correspondence, said, "I can accomplish the mission even sooner, before your gaze returns to you (before you having to rethink)." (Solomon dispatched the forces, and the mission was smoothly accomplished. The Queen?s throne was brought to Jerusalem before she arrived and) he saw it set in his presence. He said, "This success is a blessing from my Lord, that He may try me whether I am grateful or ungrateful. Whoever is grateful is grateful for his own good, and whoever is ungrateful, should know that my Lord is Self-Sufficient, Supremely Honorable.?

reilly654

salam

I was thinking about this story in a different light, I dont know if any will agree but...

2742 So when she came, it was said "Is your throne like this?" She said "It appears to be similar." And we were given knowledge before her, and we had submitted.
2743 And she was prevented by that which she served besides God. She was of the people who were rejecters.
2744 It was said to her "Enter the palace." So when she saw it she thought there was a pool, and she uncovered her legs. He said "It is a palace paved with crystal." She said "My Lord, I have wronged myself; and I submit with Solomon

It says Solomans people were already submitters, while the queens people were rejecters.
Since it says Soloman already submitted why would he have to re-submit with the queen ("I submit with Solomon&quot unless he did some act the was heretical to the faith-i.e being aggressive. And the meaning of the story is that men and women(or different peoples) have different qualities and have to unite to form a perfect harmony together and reform each other on their negative qualities(like materialism and aggression). He gave her faith outside that material world and she gave him patience-since she all most literally tested the water of what he was preaching to her not just outrightly accepting because she perceived him a threat.

just my thoughts