and overwhelming might would fall upon me alone. "Indeed, I will send them a gift and see with what answer the messengers return."

She wanted to placate him and protect herself and her kingdom by dispatching a gift laden with precious offerings. She did not realize, however, that Solomon—peace be upon him—would in these circumstances accept from them neither ransom nor recompense, for they were unbelievers and he and his hosts were fully able to subdue them. Hence, when the envoys reached Solomon he said,

“Do you offer me wealth? What Allah has granted me is better than what He has granted you; it is you who rejoice in your gift” (al-Naml 27:36).

Yet those gifts contained matters of great value, as the exegetes have related (1).

He then said to her envoy, who stood before him while the people listened:

“Return to them, for we shall surely come against them with soldiers they can never withstand, and we shall drive them out from there in humiliation, utterly humbled” (al-Naml 27:37).

That is: take back the present you have brought to the one who presumed to bestow it, for Allah has favored me with wealth, treasures, and men many times greater—and far better—than the things over which you rejoice and by which you boast before your peers. “We shall surely come against them with soldiers they can never withstand”: I will send against them forces they can neither repel, nor face, nor resist in battle; I will expel them from their land, their domain, their commerce, and their sovereignty, “in humiliation, abased,” burdened with disgrace, shame, and ruin.

When this message from the Prophet of Allah reached them, they had no choice but to hear and obey. They hastened to comply at once, and came—queen and subjects together—listening, submitting, and humble. When Solomon heard of their approach, he said to those before him, jinn subject to his command, as Allah relates in the Qur’an:

“O assembly, which of you will bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?” (38)
A powerful one from among the jinn said, “I will bring it to you before you rise from your seat, and indeed I am strong and trustworthy for it.” (39)
He who possessed knowledge of the Book said, “I will bring it to you before your glance returns to you.” And when he saw it set firmly before him, he said, “This is by the bounty of my Lord, to test me whether I give thanks or deny. Whoever gives thanks, gives thanks only for his own soul; and whoever is ungrateful—surely my Lord is Self-Sufficient, Most Generous.” (40)
He said, “Disguise her throne for her; we shall see whether she is guided aright or is of those who are not guided.” (41)
When she arrived it was said, “Is your throne like this?” She replied, “It is as though it were the very one.” “We had been given knowledge before her, and we were already Muslims.” (42)
But that which she had worshipped other than Allah diverted her; she was indeed from a disbelieving people. (43)
It was said to her, “Enter the palace.” When she saw it, she thought it a pool of water and bared her calves. He said, “It is a palace paved smooth with glass.” She said, “My Lord, I have wronged myself, and I submit together with Solomon to Allah, Lord of all worlds.” (44) [al-Naml 27:38–44]

When Solomon asked the jinn to bring him the throne of Bilqīs—the royal seat upon which she sat to govern her kingdom before her arrival—“A mighty one from among the jinn said, ‘I will bring it to you before you rise from your council,’” meaning before your sitting of judgment ends. It is said that this session lasted from early morning until shortly before noon, during which he attended to the affairs and needs of the Children of Israel. “And indeed, I am strong and trustworthy concerning it,” that is, I have the power to bring it to you and will guard whatever precious jewels it contains. “He who possessed knowledge of the Book said…”—the well-known view is that he was Āṣif ibn Barkhiyā, Solomon’s maternal cousin. Others say he was a believer from among the jinn who, it is claimed, knew the Greatest Name. Still others say he was a man from the Children of