Tafseer of The Ant · An-Naml · 27:32
She said, "O eminent ones, advise me in my affair. I would not decide a matter until you witness [for] me."
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: the Queen of Sabaʾ said to the nobles of her people: يَا أَيُّهَا الْمَلَأُ أَفْتُونِي فِي أَمْرِي — she says: advise me concerning the matter that has come upon me, regarding the sender of this letter that has been cast to me. She made the consultation into a fatwā (legal verdict).
And His word مَا كُنتُ قَاطِعَةً أَمْرًا حَتَّىٰ تَشْهَدُونِ: she says: I was not one to take a decision in that matter before you are present, so that I may consult you in it.
As Yūnus related to me, he said: Ibn Wahb informed us, he said: Ibn Zayd said: she summoned her people in order to consult them: يَا أَيُّهَا الْمَلَأُ أَفْتُونِي فِي أَمْرِي مَا كُنتُ قَاطِعَةً أَمْرًا حَتَّىٰ تَشْهَدُونِ — the words say: I would never take a decision without you, nor settle any matter; and therefore she said: مَا كُنتُ قَاطِعَةً أَمْرًا in the meaning of: deciding.
