Tafseer of The Ant · An-Naml · 27:23
Indeed, I found [there] a woman ruling them, and she has been given of all things, and she has a great throne.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The Exalted says, while reporting what the hoopoe said to Sulaymān to justify its absence: إِنِّي وَجَدتُّ امْرَأَةً تَمْلِكُهُمْ — he means: she who reigns over Sabaʾ. The reason that this report from the hoopoe was accepted by Sulaymān as an excuse and a proof, and averted from it the announced punishment, was that Sulaymān did not believe that anyone on earth possessed a kingdom besides his own. Moreover, he — may Allah bless him and grant him peace — was a man who loved jihād and military campaigns, so that, when the hoopoe pointed out to him a kingdom in a place on the earth belonging to another, and a people of unbelievers who worshipped something other than Allah, by fighting and combating whom, and by adding the kingdom of another to his own dominion, he would earn a great reward and immense recompense in the Hereafter — he deemed the hoopoe's excuse valid and found its proof for Sulaymān's absence sound.
And His word وَأُوتِيَتْ مِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ: he says: she has been given of everything that befits a king in the life of this world, of the equipment and means that they possess.
In accordance with what we have said about this, the people of interpretation also spoke.
Mention of who said that:
Al-Qāsim related to us, saying: al-Ḥusayn related to us, saying: Ḥajjāj related to me, from Abū ʿUbayda al-Bājī, from al-Ḥasan, concerning His word وَأُوتِيَتْ مِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ: he meant: of all the matters of the life of this world.
And His word وَلَهَا عَرْشٌ عَظِيمٌ: he says: she has a magnificent throne. By "magnificent" what is meant in this place is: magnificent in its worth and great in its significance, not great in size and extent.
In accordance with what we have said about this, the people of interpretation also spoke.
Mention of who said that:
Al-Qāsim related to us, saying: al-Ḥusayn related to us, saying: Ḥajjāj related to me, from Ibn Jurayj, from ʿAṭāʾ al-Khurāsānī, from Ibn ʿAbbās, concerning His word وَلَهَا عَرْشٌ عَظِيمٌ: he said: a noble throne, he said: of fine make. Her throne was a seat of gold, with legs of precious stones and pearls.
He said: Ḥajjāj related to me, from Abū ʿUbayda al-Bājī, from al-Ḥasan, concerning His word وَلَهَا عَرْشٌ عَظِيمٌ: he meant: a magnificent seat.
