seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Quran 27:32. She said, “O counselors, advise me in this matter of mine. I never make a decision unless you are present.”
33. They said, “We are a people of might and great courage, but the decision is yours, so consider what you wish to command.”
34. She said, “When kings enter a city, they devastate it, and subjugate its dignified people. Thus they always do.
35. I am sending them a gift, and will see what the envoys bring back.”
36. When he came to Solomon, he said, “Are you supplying me with money? What God has given me is better than what He has given you. It is you who delight in your gift.
37. Go back to them. We will come upon them with troops they cannot resist; and we will expel them from there, disgraced and humiliated.”
38. He said, “O notables, which one of you will bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?”
39. An imp of the sprites said, “I will bring it to you before you rise from your seat. I am strong and reliable enough to do it.”
40. He who had knowledge from the Book said, “I will bring it to you before your glance returns to you.” And when he saw it settled before him, he said, “This is from the grace of my Lord, to test me, whether I am grateful or ungrateful. He who is grateful, his gratitude is to his own credit; but he who is ungrateful—my Lord is Independent and Generous.”
41. He said, “Disguise her throne for her, and we shall see whether she will be guided, or remains one of the misguided.”
42. When she arrived, it was said, “Is your throne like this?” She said, “As if this is it.” “We were given knowledge before her, and we were submissive.”
43. But she was prevented by what she worshiped besides God; she belonged to a disbelieving people.
44. It was said to her, “Go inside the palace.” And when she saw it, she thought it was a deep pond, and she bared her legs. He said, “It is a palace paved with glass.” She said, “My Lord, I have done wrong to myself, and I have submitted with Solomon, to God, Lord of the Worlds."
Cool Story..... there is a lot of commentary.
Why was Solomon angry on receiving a present from the queen? Later events, as narrated further on, show that the present sent to Solomon was a throne which was decorated either with nude art or with idolatrous paintings, or was offensive in some other way. Solomon’s order in v. 38 to bring her throne to him shows clearly that by it was meant the throne which she had sent to him as a present, and his order in v. 41 to make alterations in this throne shows that the paintings on the throne were abhorrent to a true worshipper of God.
As usual, the narrative here omits the return of the messengers to the queen, and her willingness to submit to Solomon on receiving the threat mentioned in the last verse, and continues at the point where Solomon makes preparations to receive her. By her throne is meant the throne which she had sent as a present.
The rising up from the place does not signify his standing up from the sitting posture, but his marching away from the place where he was at the time. The reference to being trusty shows that the execution of the work required an honest worker. The audacious jinn is apparently one of the Amalekites, who were men of large stature.
By one having knowledge of the Book is meant an Israelite as against the Amalekite referred to in the previous verses. The literal meaning of the concluding words of the sentence is, before thy gaze returns to thee. It is the same as in the twinkling of an eye, the idea conveyed being that he could do it without delay.
Strange and curious legends are introduced by some commentators on the supposition that the events narrated took place in immediate succession. The words so when he saw it settled beside him do not indicate that he saw it settled in the course of the conversation given in the previous passage. It is an altogether different incident.
As pointed out in 36a, Solomon was offended by the throne which the queen sent him as a present because of the indecent or idolatrous paintings on it, and therefore before she came to him, he caused certain alterations to be made in the throne. The purpose of the alteration is given here in express words, whether she follows the right way. In fact, she seems to have invited Solomon in the symbolic language of the paintings on the throne to her religion of idolatry, and by making alterations Solomon indicated that he could not make a compromise with idolatry.
By putting the question, was thy throne like this? Solomon wanted to draw her attention pointedly to the alterations made. The queen’s answer shows that her envoy had already told her that Solomon was offended by the present which she had sent — we were given the knowledge before about it. The submission referred to in the act of surrendering her kingdom does not mean that she had turned a Muslim. This is made clear in v. 43; she was prevented from becoming a true Muslim owing to her worship of the sun. Hence submission to God comes later.
The use of the word såq to signify difficulty or distress in many phrases is a commonplace of Arabic literature, and only crass ignorance of the Arabic language would make anyone adopt the literal significance of the word såq (i.e., shank) in the face of the recognized idiomatic uses of the word. Al-kashf ‘ani-l-såq is a well-known idiom, and refers to a man when difficulty befalls him — meaning he prepared himself for the difficulty — “they mention the såq when they mean to express the difficulty of a case or an event, and to tell of the terror occasioned thereby” (T, LL). Thus the statement in 68:42, yauma yukshafu ‘an såq-in, means on a day when difficulty or calamity shall be disclosed (I‘Ab). And similarly, qåmati-l-√arbu ‘alå såq-in signifies the battle became vehement (LL).
Solomon was a wealthy king and he had undoubtedly his palaces. It appears that, in order to impress upon the queen that it was the unseen hand of God that worked in nature, he made water to flow under the smooth glass floor. Thus he conveyed to her the message that God was the real force behind all in symbolic language, as she had conveyed to him the message of idolatry in the symbolic language of the throne which she had sent him as a present. The queen mistook the glass for the water which ran beneath; and when Solomon drew her attention to it, she at once realized her own error in worshipping outward objects, like the sun, while the real force or the source of life was Allåh, Whose hand worked in these objects. Perhaps in words, too, he impressed on her the great message of Divine Unity. The result was that the queen accepted the religion of Solomon — I submit with Solomon to Allåh, the Lord of the worlds.
In this the Qur’ån contradicts the Bible, the latter holding that Solomon had gone over to idol-worship on account of his non-Israelitish wives, while the Qur’ån states that his wives were converts to his religion and believers in Divine Unity. Higher criticism of the Bible upholds the Quranic view.
Solomon wound up building temples to other gods so that his wives would be comfortable and submissive. This story of the throne.... is really interesting.... and the way she reacted to the infinity pool... well that was delightful.
Sheba sent Solomon an offensive gift. She didn't know it was offensive until she got wind of his abhorrent reaction to it.
Now to me.... lifting her skirt so as not to get it wet.... well that was a provocative action back in the days of Solomon.... I know he noticed because it's in the story.... but would he have noticed if a peasant did the same thing? After all... Solomon had 300 wives and 700 concubines.
Solomon had a different wife for each new day.... why on earth would he spend so much time with Sheba.... had it not been for the conquest of her territory.
I bet Solomon was snooty.... until he saw her reaction to the infinity pool covered by glass. That must have brought him to a delightful state. A queen lifting her skirt.
Sorry it's so long... couldn't see a good place to split it.
This is about the throne Sheba sent Solomon.... a peace offering.
Sheba's throne....
Please pray for my niece's newborn twins. They are back in the NICU. Please ask God to let them strive!
TIA
Becky