380 Page Notes

27 Surah An-Naml (continued)

Page 380 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 380 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 380 of the standard Madinah Mushaf contains Surah An-Naml (27:36–44). This page marks the dramatic climax of the interaction between Prophet Sulayman (Solomon) and Queen Bilqis of Sheba.

The text covers Sulayman's stern rejection of her tributary gifts, his command to an assembly of Jinn and scholars to bring her magnificent throne to his court before she arrives, the instantaneous transport of the throne by "one who had knowledge of the Scripture," and Bilqis's ultimate arrival at Sulayman's crystal palace floor (Al-Sarh), which leads her to realize her misguidance and submit to Allah.

The Sunnah and classical traditions provide expansive legal, theological, and historical insights into these specific verses.

1. Hadiths Related to Rejecting Bribes and Integrity (Verses 36–37)

“So when [the messenger] came to Sulayman, he said, 'Do you provide me with wealth? But what Allah has given me is better than what He has given you. Rather, it is you who rejoice in your gift. Return to them, for we will surely come to them with soldiers that they will be powerless to resist...'” (27:36–37)

Prophetic Disdain for Material Inducements

When the queen's envoys arrived with lavish gifts to pacify him, Sulayman immediately recognized it as a distraction from his call to monotheism. The Sunnah firmly mirrors this attitude, strictly forbidding leaders, judges, and scholars from accepting gifts that are intended to influence their religious or political duties.

Hadith: The Prophet ($\rho$) appointed a man named Ibn al-Lutbiyyah to collect Zakat. When he returned, he kept some items for himself and said, "This is for you (the state), and this was gifted to me."

The Messenger of Allah ($\rho$) became very angry, ascended the pulpit, and said: “What is wrong with an official whom we appoint, and then he comes back saying, 'This is for you and this was gifted to me'? Why did he not sit in his father's or mother's house and see if he would be given any gifts or not? By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, no one takes anything from it illegally but he will bring it on the Day of Resurrection, carrying it on his neck...”

• Source Citation: Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 7174), Sahih Muslim (Hadith 1832).

2. Hadiths Related to Miraculous Actions and Jinn Capabilities (Verses 38–40)

“[Sulayman] said, 'O chiefs, which of you will bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?' A powerful one from among the jinn ('Ifrit) said, 'I will bring it to you before you rise from your place...' Said one who had knowledge from the Scripture, 'I will bring it to you before your glance returns to you.' And when [Sulayman] saw it placed before him, he said, 'This is from the favor of my Lord...'” (27:38–40)

The Supernatural Speed of the Jinn

The 'Ifrit in verse 39 offers to move a massive throne across hundreds of miles within a few hours ("before you rise from your place"). The Sunnah validates this Qur'anic depiction of the Jinn, confirming that Allah granted certain categories of Jinn the physical ability to travel vast distances instantaneously.

Hadith: The Messenger of Allah ($\rho$) said: “The Jinn are of three types: one type that has wings and flies through the air, another type that consists of snakes and dogs, and a third type that settles down and travels.”

• Source Citation: Al-Tabarani in Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir (Hadith 573). Authenticated by Al-Hakim in Al-Mustadrak (Hadith 3702) and classed as Sahih by Al-Albani in Sahih al-Jami' (Hadith 3114).

The Identity of "The One with Knowledge of the Scripture"

In verse 40, a man brings the throne in the blink of an eye. While the Qur'an leaves his identity anonymous, the Sunnah-adjacent narrations from the leading Companions (Athar) provide the historical consensus used by all classical commentators.

• Companion Consensus: Ibn Abbas (r.a.), the premier Quranic authority among the companions, explicitly stated that this man was Asif bin Barkhiya, Sulayman’s vizier and a righteous human scholar. He knew Allah's Greatest Name (Ism Allah al-A'zam); when he supplicated using it, Allah answered immediately.

• The Sunnah Concept of the Greatest Name: The Prophet ($\rho$) confirmed this spiritual mechanism in the Sunnah: “Allah has a Greatest Name which, if He is called by it, He answers; and if He is asked by it, He gives.” (Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1493, Sunan al-Tirmidhi Hadith 3475).

3. Hadiths Related to Testing Intelligence and Discernment (Verses 41–42)

“He said, 'Disguise for her her throne; we will see whether she will be guided [to recognize it] or will be of those who is not guided.' So when she arrived, it was said [to her], 'Is your throne like this?' She said, '[It is] as if it were it.' [Sulayman said], 'And we were given of knowledge before her, and we have been Muslims [in submission to Allah].'” (27:41–42)

Sulayman altered the throne slightly to test Bilqis’s visual acuity and intelligence. Her measured answer ("It is as if it were it") demonstrated extraordinary wisdom. The Sunnah highly praises mental astuteness and analytical intelligence (Fidnah), particularly in women and leaders, as a means to recognize truth.

Hadith: The Prophet ($\rho$) noted that deep, analytical discernment is an innate quality that Islam refines: “People are like mines of gold and silver; those who were the best of them in the days of Ignorance (Jahiliyyah) are the best of them in Islam, provided they comprehend/gain deep understanding.”

• Source Citation: Sahih Muslim (Hadith 2526).

4. Hadiths Related to the Architecture of the Palace Floor (Verse 44)

“It was said to her, 'Enter the palace.' But when she saw it, she thought it was a body of water and uncovered her shins. [Sulayman] said, 'Indeed, it is a palace [whose floor is] paved smooth with glass.' She said, 'My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, and I submit with Sulayman to Allah, Lord of the worlds.'” (27:44)

The Glass Floor (Al-Sarh)

Sulayman built a magnificent entryway out of crystal-clear glass laid over running water filled with fish. When Bilqis pulled up her skirt to avoid wetting her garments, she realized she was dealing with a Prophet backed by divine miracles, not an ordinary mortal king.

• The Prohibitions Raised by Early Scholars: In early Judaeo-Christian tales (Isra'iliyyat), it was falsely claimed that Sulayman built this glass floor to inspect her legs because rumors suggested she had hairy legs or the hooves of a donkey.

• The Direct Sunnah Correction: Classical Muhadditheen (Hadith scholars) like Ibn Kathir explicitly used the authentic Sunnah to dismantle these myths. The Sunnah establishes that Prophets do not behave out of crude curiosity or trickery. The smooth glass (Sarh) was constructed purely as a grand visual demonstration of the worldly kingdom Allah subjected to him, serving as a psychological catalyst to break her pride so she would accept monotheism—which she did in the very same verse.

References

• Al-Bukhari, M. (1997). Sahih al-Bukhari (Vols. 1-9). Darussalam Publishers.

• Al-Sijistani, A. D. (2008). Sunan Abi Dawud. Darussalam Publishers.

• Al-Tirmidhi, M. (2007). Sunan al-Tirmidhi. Darussalam Publishers.

• Ibn Kathir, I. (2000). Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim. Dar Taybah.

• Muslim, I. (2007). Sahih Muslim. Darussalam Publishers.