Ibn Abbas replied, “Woe to you! When divine decree comes, it blinds the sight.” In another narration: “When divine judgment and decree descend, reason departs and sight is blinded.” (1)

Solomon once halted at a place and needed water. They searched but found none, so he inspected the hoopoe, that it might guide them to water. He said, “Why is it that I do not see the hoopoe?”—on the assumption that it was among his troops, though he could not see it. Then he began to suspect that it was absent, and said, “Or is he among the absent?” That is, “Is he among the absent?” The mīm is pleonastic. It was also said that “or” here means “rather.” He then threatened it for its absence, saying:

“I will certainly punish him severely, or slaughter him, unless he brings me clear authority.” (21)

“I will certainly punish him severely”: They differed over the punishment with which he threatened it. The strongest view is that he would pluck out its feathers and tail, then cast it, stripped bare, into the sun, unable to defend itself against ants or the creeping creatures of the earth. (2) Muqatil and Ibn Hayyan said: “I will smear it with tar and expose it to the sun.” It was also said: “I will confine it in a cage.” And it was said: “I will separate it from its mate.” And it was said: “I will imprison it with its natural enemy.”

“Or slaughter him”: that is, “I will cut its throat.” “Unless he brings me clear authority”: that is, a clear proof for its absence and an evident excuse. Ibn Kathir read it with two nūns, the first being geminated (55/b), whereas the others read it with one geminated nūn.

The reason for the hoopoe’s absence, as the scholars have mentioned, (3) was that, when Solomon had completed the construction of the Sacred House in Jerusalem, he resolved to set out for the Sacred Precinct. He prepared for the journey and took with him jinn, men, devils, birds, and wild beasts in such numbers that his encampment extended for one hundred farsakhs. The wind carried them, and when he reached the Sacred Precinct, he remained there for as long as Allah willed. Each day, during his stay in Mecca, he would sacrifice five thousand camels, slaughter five thousand cattle, and twenty thousand sheep. (4)

He said to the noblemen of his people who were present: “From this place an Arab Prophet will arise, whose description is such and such. He will be granted victory over all who oppose him, and his awe will reach the distance of a month’s journey. In matters of truth, the near and the distant will be equal before him, and he will not fear the blame of any blamer for Allah’s sake.”

They asked, “By what religion will he worship, O Prophet of Allah?” He replied, “He will follow the religion of the upright way of pure monotheism. Blessed is whoever lives to see him and believes in him.” They asked, “How long will it be between us and his appearance, O Prophet of Allah?” He said, “A thousand years. Let those of you who are present convey this to those who are absent, for he will be the master of the prophets and the Seal of the Messengers.”

He remained in Mecca until he had completed his rites. Then he departed from Mecca in the morning and travelled toward Yemen, reaching Sana’a at midday—a journey of a month. There he saw a beautiful land, radiant with greenery, and wished