An Exchange With a Powerful Queen

An Exchange With a Powerful Queen

Commentary by Sayyid Qutb
http://www.arabnews .com/?page= 5§ion=0&article=68325&d=12&m=8&y=20&pix=islam.jpg&category=Islam

In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Beneficent

(The Queen of Sheba) said: “Know, my nobles, that a worthy letter has been delivered to me. It is from Solomon, and it reads, ‘In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the beneficent: Do not exalt yourselves against me, but come to me in submission (to God).’ Nobles, counsel me in this my affair; no decision on any matter do I take unless you are present.”

They said: “We are endowed with power and with mighty prowess in war; but the command is yours. Consider, then, what you would command.”

Said she: “When kings enter a country, they despoil it, and make the noble ones of its people the most abject. Thus do they behave. Hence, I am going to send these people a gift and wait to see what the envoys bring back.”

When (the queen’s envoy) came to Solomon, he said: “Is it gold that you would give me? What God has given me is much better than all that He has given you. Yet you rejoice with your own gift. Go back to them, for we shall certainly come to them with forces they cannot match, and we shall certainly drive them from the land in disgrace, and they will be utterly humbled.” (The Ants; Al-Naml: 27: 29-37)

When Solomon heard the hoopoe’s story informing him of the Queen of Sheba and her people who worshipped the sun in place of God, Solomon decided to test the situation so that he could first establish how truthful the hoopoe has been, and then learn what the Sheba people’s reply will be to his orders. He, therefore, sends the hoopoe back to them with instructions to drop it so that the queen will read it. On looking at the letter, the queen summoned her counselors to discuss a matter that she deemed to be very serious indeed.

What the letter said was very clear, simple and powerful. It began with the name of God, the Most Merciful, and made a single demand: That the queen and her people must not take a hostile or belligerent attitude toward its sender; rather, they should go to him declaring their submission to God, in whose name he addressed them.

Having reported on the letter and its contents, the queen went on requesting advice, and declaring that she would not make a decision without their advice and consent: “Nobles, counsel me in this my affair; no decision on any matter do I take unless you are present.” (Verse 32) Thus she appears to be a very wise queen. It is clear at the outset that she was greatly impressed by the letter that was delivered to her in some mysterious way, yet appears serious and decisive. She imparted this to her advisers by describing the letter as “worthy”. It is clear that she wants neither opposition nor belligerency. But she does not say this openly; she only prepares the way for it by the line she takes. She then requests their advice.

As customary with courtiers, they declared their readiness to do whatever is demanded of them, but they left the final decision to the queen: “They said: We are endowed with power and with mighty prowess in war; but the command is yours. Consider, then, what you would command.” (Verse 33)

Now we see the woman, rather than the queen, expressing her feeling. A woman hates war and the destruction it brings in its trail. Therefore, she resorts to tactics of peace and conciliation rather than resistance and conflict: “Said she: When kings enter a country, they despoil it, and make the noble ones of its people the most abject. Thus do they behave. Hence, I am going to send these people a gift and wait to see what the envoys bring back.” (Verses 34-35)

The queen is fully aware that when kings occupy a city or a country, they wreak havoc, destroying everything, and breaking its resistance. They particularly target its chiefs and humiliate them because they are the ones who put up resistance. This is clearly the habit of all domineering kings. She is also aware that a gift wins hearts and stresses friendship. It may also remove the threat of war. It is certainly worth a try. If Solomon accepts the gift, then he is after something that belongs to this world. She would then know that normal worldly means could be effective. If he refuses the gift, then it is all a question of faith which he will pursue with diligence, and will accept no compromise.

This scene is concluded at this point. When the curtains are lifted again we see the queen’s emissaries bringing her gift to Solomon who takes them to task for thinking that they could buy his peace with money so as to divert him from calling on them to believe in God. He announces his final ultimatum, which is clear and powerful: “When (the queen’s envoy) came to Solomon, he said: ‘Is it gold that you would give me? What God has given me is much better than all that He has given you. Yet you rejoice with your own gift. Go back to them, for we shall certainly come to them with forces they cannot match, and we shall certainly drive them from the land in disgrace, and they will be utterly humbled.’” (Verses 36-37)

His answer derides money and scorns using it in a situation involving the advocacy of faith, where it can be of no use: “Is it gold that you would give me?” Are you making me such a trivial offer? “What God has given me is much better than all that He has given you.” He has given me things that are far superior to wealth, namely, knowledge, prophethood and the service of the jinn and birds. No material thing, rich as it may be, presents any attraction to me: “Yet you rejoice with your own gift.” Such worldly luxuries may please the like of you who have no bond with God and receive no gifts from Him.

He follows this with a new ultimatum, saying to the queen’s envoy: “Go back to them,” and take your gift with you, and tell them to await their inevitable defeat: “We shall certainly come to them with forces they cannot match.” (Verse 37) Such forces have never been placed under any person’s command. The queen and her powerful army are no match to them. “And we shall certainly drive them from the land in disgrace, and they will be utterly humbled.” (Verse 37)

The curtains are drawn, and the envoys are dismissed. The surah does not add a word about them, as if the whole matter is settled and needs no further comment.

AB – withheld62@yahoo. com
First They Came for the EXTREMIST, FUNDAMENTALIST & MODERATE Muslims. And I DIDN’T Speak Out Because I Wasn't An Extremist, Fundamentalist or a Moderate Muslim. Then FINALLY They Came for Me the NON-PRACTICING Muslim And NO Muslims Were Left to Speak Out for ME.