سُوْرَةُ النَّمْلِ
Surah An-Naml (27) — Ayah 20
وَتَفَقَّدَ ٱلطَّيْرَ فَقَالَ مَا لِىَ لَآ أَرَى ٱلْهُدْهُدَ أَمْ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْغَآئِبِينَ ﴿20﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
He inspected the birds, and said: "What is the matter that I see not the hoopoe? Or is he among the absentees?
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَتَفَقَّدَ
watafaqqada
And he inspected
ٱلطَّيْرَ
l-ṭayra
the birds
فَقَالَ
faqāla
and said
مَا
mā
Why
لِىَ
liya
Why
لَآ
lā
not
أَرَى
arā
I see
ٱلْهُدْهُدَ
l-hud'huda
the hoopoe
أَمْ
am
or
كَانَ
kāna
is he
مِنَ
mina
from
ٱلْغَآئِبِينَ
l-ghāibīna
the absent
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 20) ➊ { وَ تَفَقَّدَ الطَّيْرَ فَقَالَ مَا لِيَ لَاۤ اَرَى … :} From this, it is evident that the utmost caution, discipline, and personal supervision of Sulayman (peace be upon him) over both the greatest and smallest matters, to the extent that even the absence of a single bird, the hoopoe, and a particular hoopoe among the hoopoes, did not remain hidden from him. The Rightly Guided Caliphs (may Allah be pleased with them) also kept personal knowledge of even the smallest matters. The circumstances of the Commander of the Faithful, Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), especially his journey to Syria, are the best example of this.
➋ { فَقَالَ مَا لِيَ لَاۤ اَرَى الْهُدْهُدَ:} That is, what is the matter—whether the hoopoe is present here and I am not seeing it, or is it among those who are absent? It is understood that, upon inspection, there were several others absent as well, but their questioning is not mentioned here. It is possible they were absent with permission, or there was no need to mention them. This incident negates the belief that the Prophets (peace be upon them) possess knowledge of the unseen, because if Sulayman (peace be upon him) had knowledge about the hoopoe, he would not have said this.
➌ Most commentators write that Sulayman (peace be upon him) had summoned the hoopoe because it could see water beneath the earth, but this statement is baseless. If it were so, Allah Almighty would have mentioned it, or the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would have stated it. The words of the verse are also contrary to this meaning, because it says that Sulayman (peace be upon him) inspected all the birds and found a particular hoopoe ({الْهُدْهُدَ}) missing. There is no mention of summoning the hoopoe for the need of water. The reason for asking about the hoopoe was the inspection of the army, and inspection of the army is a routine matter for the warriors. Moreover, Sulayman (peace be upon him) had no need to depend on the hoopoe to fulfill the need for water, because Allah Almighty had granted him such an army of jinn and strong ones that bringing water from anywhere was not difficult for them (as the coming of the throne of the Queen of Sheba in the blink of an eye is a clear example of this). If an ancient commentator narrates such a baseless Israelite story, later commentators blindly continue to transmit it, not even considering whether there is any evidence for it or not, to the extent that many such baseless things are considered unanimously agreed upon facts. (Tafsir al-Sa'di)
➋ { فَقَالَ مَا لِيَ لَاۤ اَرَى الْهُدْهُدَ:} That is, what is the matter—whether the hoopoe is present here and I am not seeing it, or is it among those who are absent? It is understood that, upon inspection, there were several others absent as well, but their questioning is not mentioned here. It is possible they were absent with permission, or there was no need to mention them. This incident negates the belief that the Prophets (peace be upon them) possess knowledge of the unseen, because if Sulayman (peace be upon him) had knowledge about the hoopoe, he would not have said this.
➌ Most commentators write that Sulayman (peace be upon him) had summoned the hoopoe because it could see water beneath the earth, but this statement is baseless. If it were so, Allah Almighty would have mentioned it, or the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would have stated it. The words of the verse are also contrary to this meaning, because it says that Sulayman (peace be upon him) inspected all the birds and found a particular hoopoe ({الْهُدْهُدَ}) missing. There is no mention of summoning the hoopoe for the need of water. The reason for asking about the hoopoe was the inspection of the army, and inspection of the army is a routine matter for the warriors. Moreover, Sulayman (peace be upon him) had no need to depend on the hoopoe to fulfill the need for water, because Allah Almighty had granted him such an army of jinn and strong ones that bringing water from anywhere was not difficult for them (as the coming of the throne of the Queen of Sheba in the blink of an eye is a clear example of this). If an ancient commentator narrates such a baseless Israelite story, later commentators blindly continue to transmit it, not even considering whether there is any evidence for it or not, to the extent that many such baseless things are considered unanimously agreed upon facts. (Tafsir al-Sa'di)
