سُوْرَةُ النَّمْلِ
Surah An-Naml (27) — Ayah 42
فَلَمَّا جَآءَتْ قِيلَ أَهَـٰكَذَا عَرْشُكِ ۖ قَالَتْ كَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ ۚ وَأُوتِينَا ٱلْعِلْمَ مِن قَبْلِهَا وَكُنَّا مُسْلِمِينَ ﴿42﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
So when she came, it was said (to her): "Is your throne like this?" She said: "(It is) as though it were the very same." And [Sulaimân (Solomon) said]: "Knowledge was bestowed on us before her, and we were submitted to Allâh (in Islâm as Muslims before her)."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَلَمَّا
falammā
So when
جَآءَتْ
jāat
she came
قِيلَ
qīla
it was said
أَهَـٰكَذَا
ahākadhā
Is like this
عَرْشُكِ ۖ
ʿarshuki
your throne
قَالَتْ
qālat
She said
كَأَنَّهُۥ
ka-annahu
It is like
هُوَ ۚ
huwa
it
وَأُوتِينَا
waūtīnā
And we were given
ٱلْعِلْمَ
l-ʿil'ma
the knowledge
مِن
min
before her
قَبْلِهَا
qablihā
before her
وَكُنَّا
wakunnā
and we have been
مُسْلِمِينَ
mus'limīna
Muslims
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 42) ➊ { فَلَمَّا جَآءَتْ قِيْلَ اَهٰكَذَا عَرْشُكِ …:} When the Queen of Sheba arrived, Solomon (peace be upon him) asked her: "Is your throne like this?" Solomon’s (peace be upon him) question demonstrates his exceptional intelligence; he did not say, "Is this your throne?" because that would have hinted at the answer, and she could have simply said, "Yes! This is my throne." Instead, Solomon (peace be upon him) presented the current throne as a different one and asked, "Is your throne like this?" The queen’s answer shows her wisdom; if she had said, "Yes, my throne is like this," it would have proven that she did not recognize her own throne, and if she had said, "This is the one," it would have been difficult to say so due to the change in appearance. Therefore, she replied with a slight hint of doubt: "It seems to be the same." In this way, she succeeded in the test.
➋ {وَ اُوْتِيْنَا الْعِلْمَ مِنْ قَبْلِهَا وَ كُنَّا مُسْلِمِيْنَ:} That is, even before this, we had come to know of your power, might, and great kingdom, and we had already become obedient, which is why we have come into your service.
➋ {وَ اُوْتِيْنَا الْعِلْمَ مِنْ قَبْلِهَا وَ كُنَّا مُسْلِمِيْنَ:} That is, even before this, we had come to know of your power, might, and great kingdom, and we had already become obedient, which is why we have come into your service.
