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 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.
42. So when the queen arrived (in submission), Sulaiman asked her, "Is your throne like this?" She replied, "It is as though it is the very same." "And we had already come to know the truth before this, and we had submitted [40]."
[40]
The Test of the Intelligence of the Queen of Sheba:
When Bilqis arrived at the court of Prophet Sulaiman, the very first question asked after showing her the throne was whether she also had such a throne. She was a very intelligent woman and immediately recognized that this was her own throne, although some changes had been made to it. Therefore, she answered in accordance with the question, saying that it looks exactly like hers. If she had been asked, “Is this your throne?” then she would have replied, “Yes, this is my throne.” Through this test, Prophet Sulaiman realized her intelligence. After this question, what Sulaimanؑ wanted to explain to her, she herself expressed, saying that bringing the throne here is indeed a miraculous act, which is proof of your prophethood. But we had already obtained much information about you before this, and we have come here as your obedient subjects.
[40]
The Test of the Intelligence of the Queen of Sheba:
When Bilqis arrived at the court of Prophet Sulaiman, the very first question asked after showing her the throne was whether she also had such a throne. She was a very intelligent woman and immediately recognized that this was her own throne, although some changes had been made to it. Therefore, she answered in accordance with the question, saying that it looks exactly like hers. If she had been asked, “Is this your throne?” then she would have replied, “Yes, this is my throne.” Through this test, Prophet Sulaiman realized her intelligence. After this question, what Sulaimanؑ wanted to explain to her, she herself expressed, saying that bringing the throne here is indeed a miraculous act, which is proof of your prophethood. But we had already obtained much information about you before this, and we have come here as your obedient subjects.
