Hadhrat Bilquis (May peace be upon her) - The ruler of Sheba

East of Yemen, a grand kingdom by the name of “Saba” existed from a long time.  The founder of this kingdom was Abdul Shams and his title was Sheba (Saba in Arabic).  Thus, this sultanate also became known as Sheba. This kingdom stretched to Hadhramaut on one side and on the other side to Africa.  As per some traditions, in 950 BC this kingdom was ruled by a lady named Bilquis, who was very intelligent and a great administrator.

 

Her mention, the incident of her embracing Islam and its reasons are mentioned briefly in the Holy Quran and in considerable detail in the Hadith and exegetic literature.

 

Among those Prophets, whom Almighty Allah has blessed with both Prophethood and kingship, is Hadhrat Sulaiman (Solomon) (May peace be upon him).  Not only the hearts of the populace, but also their bodies obeyed him.  The grandeur of his court was such that not only the intelligentsia from among the humans, animals, birds, genies would be standing in rows with their hands folded.  The exegetes have written that when the army of Hadhrat Sulaiman (May peace be upon him) stopped for the night, that army would cover 100 Farsakh – which is roughly around 400 miles.  One quarter i.e. 100 miles would be full of men, 100 miles full of genies, 100 miles full of animals and 100 miles full of birds.

 

When Hadhrat Sulaiman (May peace be upon him) would pass under the sun, the birds would shield and shade him with their wings.  They would spread their wings in such a manner that the rays of the sun would not reach the ground.

 

Once, when the army stopped for the day, Hadhrat Sulaiman (May peace be upon him) didn’t find the bird hoopoe (Hud Hud in Arabic).  This is mentioned in the Holy Quran in the following verse:

 

And Sulayman (Solomon) inspected the birds and said: ‘How is it that I do not see the hoopoe? Or has he (really) vanished?  Surah Naml (27:20)

 

It is mentioned in Traditions that it was the duty of the hoopoe to go forward before stopped for the day and select a place with good supply of water.  The way a naked eye can see through glass, in the same way the hoopoe could see water beneath the ground.  It would mark the spot with its beak and then the men and genie would dig and get water.  This time, there was no water where the army had stopped.  The hoopoe was needed, but it was not around.  (Tafseer Khazin, Surah Naml-20)

 

Hadhrat Sulaiman (May peace be upon him) said:  If the hoopoe doesn’t come with any important news, I will punish it.  Within a short time, the hoopoe respectfully entered the presence of Hadhrat Sulaiman (May peace be upon him) dragging its wings behind it.  It said:  I have seen that which you haven’t seen.  I have seen the amazing throne of a wonderful kingdom called Saba.  Its throne is 30 yards long and wide.  It is bejeweled with diamonds, rubies, pearls, etc.  More astonishing is that a woman looks after it.  She is the ruler of the kingdom.  She and all her nation worship the sun.  All this is mentioned in Surah Naml in the following verses:

 

But the Hoopoe tarried not far: he (came up and) said: I have compassed (territory) which thou hast not compassed, and I have come to thee from Saba with tidings true. (22) "I found (there) a woman ruling over them and provided with every requisite; and she has a magnificent throne. (23) "I found her and her people worshipping the sun besides Allah: Satan has made their deeds seem pleasing in their eyes, and has kept them away from the Path― so they receive no guidance― (24)  Surah Naml (27:22-24)

 

The female ruler mentioned by the hoopoe was Bilquis.

 

[To be continued….]