سُوْرَةُ النَّمْلِ
Surah An-Naml (27) — Ayah 22
فَمَكَثَ غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ فَقَالَ أَحَطتُ بِمَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِۦ وَجِئْتُكَ مِن سَبَإٍۭ بِنَبَإٍ يَقِينٍ ﴿22﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
But the hoopoe stayed not long: he (came up and) said: "I have grasped (the knowledge of a thing) which you have not grasped and I have come to you from Saba’ (Sheba) with true news.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَمَكَثَ
famakatha
So he stayed
غَيْرَ
ghayra
not
بَعِيدٍۢ
baʿīdin
long
فَقَالَ
faqāla
and he said
أَحَطتُ
aḥaṭtu
I have encompassed
بِمَا
bimā
that which
لَمْ
lam
not
تُحِطْ
tuḥiṭ
you have encompassed
بِهِۦ
bihi
it
وَجِئْتُكَ
waji'tuka
and I have come to you
مِن
min
from
سَبَإٍۭ
saba-in
Saba
بِنَبَإٍۢ
binaba-in
with news
يَقِينٍ
yaqīnin
certain
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
22. It was not long before (the hoopoe returned and) said, "I have discovered something you do not know, and I have brought you sure news from Sheba [24]."
[24]
The Boundaries of Sayyiduna Sulaiman’s (A.S.) Kingdom:
The kingdom of Prophet Sulaiman (A.S.) included Palestine, the region east of Jordan, and some parts of Syria. In Africa, some parts of Abyssinia and Egypt also came under his rule. However, the region of southern Yemen was very far from his kingdom. The hoopoe, having disappeared from the army of Sulaiman (A.S.), had reached the region of Saba in Yemen. The people here were traders and well-off. After some time, the hoopoe returned to Prophet Sulaiman and said that it had come after learning some definite facts about the people of Saba, of which he had no knowledge until now. And that certain news was that the land of Saba is a fertile and lush region, where the people have all necessities of life in abundance. They are ruled by a woman (Queen Bilqis), who sits on a magnificent throne and rules. Her throne is made of gold, embedded with diamonds and jewels, and at that time, no king possessed such a throne. Religiously, these people are polytheists and sun-worshippers, and they are pleased and proud of their religion. They consider sun-worship to be a virtuous and rewarding act. By saying these words, the hoopoe, in a way, encouraged Sulaiman (A.S.) to wage jihad against this nation.
[24]
The Boundaries of Sayyiduna Sulaiman’s (A.S.) Kingdom:
The kingdom of Prophet Sulaiman (A.S.) included Palestine, the region east of Jordan, and some parts of Syria. In Africa, some parts of Abyssinia and Egypt also came under his rule. However, the region of southern Yemen was very far from his kingdom. The hoopoe, having disappeared from the army of Sulaiman (A.S.), had reached the region of Saba in Yemen. The people here were traders and well-off. After some time, the hoopoe returned to Prophet Sulaiman and said that it had come after learning some definite facts about the people of Saba, of which he had no knowledge until now. And that certain news was that the land of Saba is a fertile and lush region, where the people have all necessities of life in abundance. They are ruled by a woman (Queen Bilqis), who sits on a magnificent throne and rules. Her throne is made of gold, embedded with diamonds and jewels, and at that time, no king possessed such a throne. Religiously, these people are polytheists and sun-worshippers, and they are pleased and proud of their religion. They consider sun-worship to be a virtuous and rewarding act. By saying these words, the hoopoe, in a way, encouraged Sulaiman (A.S.) to wage jihad against this nation.
