THE STORY OF BILQIS (Queen Sheba) AND SULEIMAN (AS)

Analyzing Suratul naml, Qur’an Chapter 27 verse 20-44

Part 4

THE TEST OF BILQIS

Allah tells:

قَالَ

He (Suleiman) said:

When Suleiman brought the throne of Bilqis before she and her people arrived, he issued orders that some of its features should be altered, so that he could test her and see whether she recognized it and how composed she would be when she saw it. Would she hasten to say either that it was her throne or that it was not! So he said:

نَكِّرُوا لَهَا عَرْشَهَا نَنظُرْ أَتَهْتَدِي أَمْ تَكُونُ مِنَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَهْتَدُونَ

Disguise her throne for her that we may see whether she will be guided, or she will be one of those not guided.

Ibn Abbas said:

“Remove some of its adornments and parts.”

Mujahid said:

“He issued orders that it should be changed, so whatever was red should be made yellow and vice versa, and whatever was green should be made red, so everything was altered.”

Ikrimah said,

“They added some things and took some things away.”

فَلَمَّا جَاءتْ قِيلَ أَهَكَذَا عَرْشُكِ

So when she came, it was said:”Is your throne like this?

Her throne, which had been altered and disguised, with some things added and others taken away, was shown to her. She was wise and steadfast, intelligent and strong-willed. She did not hasten to say that this was her throne, because it was far away from her. Neither did she hasten to say that it was not her throne, when she saw that some things had been altered and changed.

قَالَتْ كَأَنَّهُ هُوَ

She said:(It is) as though it were the very same.

This is the ultimate in intelligence and strong resolve.

وَأُوتِينَا الْعِلْمَ مِن قَبْلِهَا وَكُنَّا مُسْلِمِينَ

Knowledge was bestowed on us before her, and we had submitted to Allah.

Mujahid said,

“This was spoken by Suleiman.”

وَصَدَّهَا مَا كَانَت تَّعْبُدُ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ إِنَّهَا كَانَتْ مِن قَوْمٍ كَافِرِينَ

And “Saddaha” that which she used to worship besides Allah has prevented her, for she was of a disbelieving people.

This is a continuation of the words of Suleiman — according to the opinion of Mujahid and Sa`id bin Jubayr, may Allah be pleased with them both — i.e., Suleiman said:

وَأُوتِينَا الْعِلْمَ مِن قَبْلِهَا وَكُنَّا مُسْلِمِينَ
(Knowledge was bestowed on us before her, and we had submitted to Allah). and what stopped her from worshipping Allah alone was

مَا كَانَت تَّعْبُدُ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ إِنَّهَا كَانَتْ مِن قَوْمٍ كَافِرِينَ

(that which she used to worship besides Allah, for she was of a disbelieving people).

I say: The opinion of Mujahid is supported by the fact that she declared her Islam after she entered the ‘Sarh” as we shall see below

قِيلَ لَهَا ادْخُلِي الصَّرْحَ فَلَمَّا رَأَتْهُ حَسِبَتْهُ لُجَّةً وَكَشَفَتْ عَن سَاقَيْهَا

It was said to her: Enter “As-Sarh” but when she saw it, she thought it was a pool, and she (tucked up her clothes) uncovering her legs.

Suleiman had commanded the Shayatin to build for her a huge palace of glass beneath which water was flowing. Anyone who did not know the nature of the building would think that it was water, but in fact there was a layer of glass between a person walking and the water.

قَالَ إِنَّهُ صَرْحٌ مُّمَرَّدٌ مِّن قَوَارِيرَ

He (Suleiman) said:”Verily, it is a “Sarh Mumarrad” of “Qawarir.”

means a palace or any lofty construction.

Allah says of Fir`awn may Allah curse him that he said to his minister Haman:

ابْنِ لِى صَرْحاً لَّعَـلِّى أَبْلُغُ الاٌّسْبَـبَ

Build me a “Sarh” that I may arrive at the ways. (40:36-37)
“Sarh” is also used to refer to the high constructed palaces in Yemen.
“Mumarrad” means sturdily constructed and smooth.

مِّن قَوَارِيرَ

of “Qawarir”,

“Marid” is a fortress in Dawmat Al-Jandal. What is meant here is that Suleiman built a huge, lofty palace of glass for this queen, in order to show her the greatness of his authority and power. When she saw for herself what Allah had given him and how majestic his position was, she submitted to the command of Allah and acknowledged that he was a noble Prophet, so she submitted to Allah and said:

قَالَتْ رَبِّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي

She said:My Lord! Verily, I have wronged myself,

meaning, by her previous disbelief and “Shirk” and by the fact that she and her people had worshipped the sun instead of Allah.

وَأَسْلَمْتُ مَعَ سُلَيْمَانَ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

and I submit, together with Suleiman to Allah, the Lord of all that exists.

meaning, following the religion of Suleiman, worshipping Allah alone with no partner or associate, Who created everything and measured it exactly according to its due measurements.

Alhamdulillahi robil-alameen.

Bashir Habeebullah @ knowislam.com.ng

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…….really a well-established custom, it is an act which the Prophet PBUH has approved. The
honorable wives of the Prophet and his companions, may Allah be pleased with them,
used to take care of the housework and are obedient to their husbands.
Every Muslim woman will find in Fatimah (the daughter of Prophet PBUH), may Allah be
pleased with her, the best example. Sayidina Alli described her as follows:
“She was the daughter of the Messenger of Allah PBUH, and the most honorable member
of his family to him. She was my wife, she turned the quern until she injured her hand,
and carried the water skin until she hurt her back, and she swept the house until her
clothes were filled with dust, and she lit the fire under the cooking pot until her clothes
were black and she herself was hurt.
Asma’ bint Abi Bakr al-Siddiq served her husband al-Zubayr, and took care of the house.
Her husband had a horse, which she took care of, feeding it and exercising it. She also
repaired the water-bucket, made bread, and carried dates on her head from far away.
Al-Bukhaari and Muslim report this in her own words:
“Al-Zubayr married me, and he had no wealth, no slaves, nothing except his horse. I used
to feed his horse, looking after it and exercising it. I crushed date-stones to feed his
camel. I used to bring water and repair the bucket, and I used to make bread but I could
not bake it, so some of my Ansari neighbors, who were kind women, used to bake it for
me. I used to carry the dates from the garden that the Prophet (SAW) had given to
al-Zubayr on my head, and this garden was two-thirds of a farsakh away. One day I was
coming back with the dates on my head. I met the Messenger of Allah (SAW), who had a
group of his Companions with him. He called me, then told his camel to sit down so that
I could ride behind him. I told (al-Zubayr), ‘I felt shy, because I know that you are a jealous
man.’ He said, ‘It is worse for me to see you carrying the dates on your head than to see
you riding behind him.’ Later, Abu Bakr sent me a servant, who relieved me of having to
take care of the horse; it was as if I had been released from slavery.”
The Bible in many chapters also teaches that a husband should have authority over his
wife…
Colossians 3:18
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

The New Testament also teaches that a wife should obey her Husband

Ephesians 5:22-24

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife
as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church
submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

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Islamically, man has a confirmed right over his wife, and the Qur’an and Ahadith of the
Prophet PBUH has commanded her to obey him, treat him well and should obey her
husband l, even more than her own parents and brothers.
Allaah says in the Glorious Qur’an:
“Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allaah has made one of
them to excel the other, and because they spend (to support them) from their means”
[al-Nisa’ 4:34] Islam made it clear that the wife is under the obligation of obeying her husband, she is
required to obey him and exert her utmost effort to fulfill his needs so as to satisfy him
and be thankful. This is supported by the Hadeeth where the Prophet PBUH said:
“If the woman performs the five daily prayers, fasts the month of Ramadan, maintains
her chastity and obeys her husband, she will enter the Paradise of her Lord.”
Likewise, Allah Says in the Glorious Qur’an: (But if they obey you [once more], seek no
means against them.} [Quran 4:34] Moreover, the Prophet, said:
“Were I to order anyone to prostrate himself before anyone else, I would have ordered the
woman to prostrate herself before her husband.”
A woman should not fast except except with his permission, and never allow anyone to
enter his house except with his permission for it was narrated on the authority of Abu
Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace
of Allah be upon him, said: “It is not permissible for a woman to fast (supererogatory
fasts) without the permission of her husband when he is at home; and she should not
allow anyone to enter his house except with his permission” [Reported by Al-Bukhari,
Authentic].
، يحل للمرأة أن تصوم وزوجها شاهد إ بإذنه و تأذن في بيته إ بإذنه…» الراوي: أبو هريرة»
المحدث: البخاري، صحيح
However, if the husband is absent or on a trip, then she is allowed to fasts then.
All Muslim scholars agreed that a woman should serve her husband in the house. It is…… Continue reading

Husband is the most accrediting cert offered to a woman in the Islamic doctrine.

Unfortunately, westernization has evaded this and makes the submissive order by Allah a trivial one *Subhannallah* , and this now make women believe they have equal rights astheir husbands. All Islam’s doctrine are found in the Qur’an, Ahadith (Traditions) and the
Sira (the life history of Prophet Mohammad PBUH), the Trilogy. And all of these backed
up a man to be the head in any family tree and women to be submissive to such. The
principle of submission means that one must rule over the other. No surprise, the women
must submit to the men. Islam is absolutely logical and coherent in heaven, hell and
earth.

Many might perceive this assertion to be illogical to women right but guess what?

This is
the guideline laid down by Allah the uncreated creator, whose jurisdiction cannot be
questioned by any court of law.
Islam and the lifestyle that Allah planned for us has made the family a unit in which a
man and woman comes together according to the guidelines laid down by the Almighty
Allah. They become close to each other as garment is to the body, the couple honour and
share each other’s difficulty, prosperity and adversity. Hence in Islam the couple are
united as husband and wife in the presence of witnesses seeking Allah’s blessings to
increase in mutual love, affection and compassion, agreeing to care for each other in
sickness and adversity. In an Islamic family, the man is regarded as the head, while the
woman is to take care of the family. Even if the man has more responsibility which
makes him has power over his wife, it does not make him better than his her. The
Glorious Quran says:
“And in no wise covet those things in which Allah has bestowed His gifts more freely on
some of you than others: to men is allotted what they earn, and to women what they
earn…”[Noble Quran 4:32] Obedience is the first right that Islam acknowledges for the husband over his wife.
Muslim women are required to obey their husbands in everything unless they commands
them to disobey Allah subhanahu Wa taaa Allah.
‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him said that, the Messenger of Allah,may
the mercy and benediction of Allah be upon him, said:
“No obedience in what is sinful. Obedience is only in what is right.” [Agreed upon].
طاعة في معصية إنما الطاع في المعروف» متفق عليه»
Muslimah are expected to obey their husbands when they commands, fulfill their request
when they orders, abstain when they forbids and abide when they advises.

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BEAUTIFUL SUNNAHS OF OUR NOBLE PROPHET (S.A.W)AS EID-IL KABIR APPROACHES

Practice them all to earn all the embedded rewards.

DOING GHUSL

This is narrated in saheeh reports from some of the Sahaabah. 

A man asked ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) about bathing and he said: Bathe every day if you wish. He said: No, (I mean) bathing in the sense of ghusl (as an act of worship). He said: (Do ghusl) on Fridays, the day of ‘Arafah, the Day of Sacrifice (Eid al-Adha) and the day of al-Fitr (Eid al-Fitr). 

Narrated by ash-Shaafa‘i in his Musnad (p. 385); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel(1/176). 

FOOD EATING BEFORE GOING TO EID

There is no food before going for eid-kabir (We engage in a fast and the rembrance of Allah till after the nafl).

Unlike eid-el-fitri where we must Eat before going to eid.

PUTTING ON YOUR BEST OF CLOTH

Wear your best clothes (at least white ) if u can’t afford new clothes.

ADORNING ONESELF ON THE OCCASION OF EID

It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said that ‘Umar took a brocade cloak that was for sale in the market and brought it to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and said, “O Messenger of Allaah, buy this and adorn yourself with it for Eid and for receiving the delegations.” The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to him, “Rather this is the dress of one who has no share (of piety or of reward in the Hereafter)…” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 948. 

SUPPLICATE ON YOUR WAY TO EID

(Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar laillaha illalahu Allahu akbar walillahil hamd)

TAKBEER ON THE DAY OF EID

This is one of the greatest Sunnahs on the day of Eid because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“(He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allaah [i.e. to say Takbeer (Allaahu Akbar: Allaah is the Most Great)] for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him”

It was narrated that al-Waleed ibn Muslim said: I asked al-Awzaa’i and Maalik ibn Anas about saying Takbeer out loud on the two Eids. They said, Yes, ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar used to say it out loud on the day of al-Fitr until the imam came out (to lead the prayers). 

It was narrated in the Musannaf of Ibn Abi Shaybah with a saheeh isnaad from Ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) that he used to recite takbeer during the days of tashreeq: 

Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, laa ilaaha ill-Allaah, wa Allaahu akbar, Allaah akbar, wa Lillaah il-hamd (Allaah is Most Great, Allaah is most Great, there is no god but Allaah, Allaah is Most great, Allaah is most great, and to Allaah be praise).

NAFL ON EID GROUND

No naffilah on getting to the eid ground. Just sit on arrival and do as many Azkhar (remembrance of Allah) as you can afford….. no naffillah because the two rakahs to be led by the imam is nafl itself.

GOING TO PRAYING GROUND BY FOOT.

Going to praying ground by foot (walking) is recommended if not too far from our homes.

Ibn Majah (1295) narrated that Ibn Umar (RA) said: The Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to go out to the Eid (Prayer) walking and come back walking. GRADED as Saheeh by Albaani in Ibn Majah.

GOING TO THE PRAYING BY ONE ROUTE AND RETURNING BY ANOTHER

It was narrated that Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: On the day of Eid, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to vary his route. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 986.  

SPREAD GREETINGS AMONG MUSLIMS

Taqabbalallahu minna wa minkum

It was narrated that Jubayr ibn Nufayr said: When the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) met one another on the day of Eid, they would say to one another, “May Allaah accept (good deeds) from us and from you.” Ibn Hajar said, its isnaad is hasan. Al-Fath, 2/446. 

VISITING ONE ANOTHER

Visitation to friends, families and neighbors to spread love and felicitate with them.

It was narrated that Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: On the day of Eid, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to come back via a different route.

Narrated by al-Bukhaari (943). 

Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) said concerning the ruling on that: 

It was said that the wisdom behind that was so that he might visit his relatives, both living and dead; and it was said that it was in order to uphold ties of kinship.

Fath al-Baari (2/473) 

TWO RAK’AT OF NAFL WHEN AT HOME

Perform two raka’at when you are back from eid (I.e at home)

Bashir Habeebullah @knowislam.com.ng