Overview (Verses 20 - 26)

The Story Unfolds
 
All this was a prelude to Solomon’s story with the Queen of Sheba in which the hoopoe plays an important role. The story is told in six scenes with certain aspects deliberately left out, but which do not impair our understanding. Indeed, these gaps serve to enhance the artistic beauty of the story. Furthermore, some scenes carry a commentary, alerting us to their spiritual significance and enhancing the moral portrayed. These stylistic features combine in such a way as to ensure the perfect harmony of the verses.
 
Since the reference to Solomon began by mentioning the jinn, humans and birds, as well as highlighting the importance of knowledge, the story gives roles to all three aspects of creation, thus showing the value of knowledge. It is as if the opening verses deliberately identify the key actors in the story. This, then, is one of the Qur’ān’s finer artistic features in storytelling.
 
As told in the sūrah, the story paints the personal and distinctive features of the main characters: Solomon, the queen, the hoopoe and the queen’s courtiers. It portrays the different reactions from these characters in the various situations presented.
 
The first scene begins with the military parade, after the procession has passed the valley of the ants:
 
He inspected the birds and said: ‘Why is it that I do not see the hoopoe? Is he among the absentees? I will certainly punish him severely, or I will kill him, unless He brings me a clear warrant’ [for his absence]. (Verses 20-21)
 
We see Solomon, a prophet and a king, marshalling his troops, and inspecting the birds only to discover the hoopoe’s absence. We understand that this is a special hoopoe, with a specific position assigned to it in the procession. It was not just one of thousands or millions of hoopoes on the face of the earth. We note that Solomon was alert enough to miss a mere soldier in the great multitude composed of jinn, men and birds. His enquiry is of the type that befits a commander: it is flexible, looking at the different possibilities: “Why is it that I do not see the hoopoe? Is he among the absentees?” (Verse 20)
 
It soon becomes clear to all that the hoopoe is absent without permission. The matter needed to be dealt with firmly so as to keep matters under control, particularly because its absence was no longer a secret. Hence, Solomon threatens the absent hoopoe: “I will certainly punish him severely, or I will kill him.” (Verse 21) But Solomon is not a tyrant; he is a prophet. He does not issue a final judgement on the hoopoe before listening to what it has to say in its defence. Therefore, we immediately see Solomon as a just ruler: “Unless he brings me a clear warrant,” to justify his absence.
 
The curtains are drawn here, or maybe the scene continues as the hoopoe arrives. He carries an important and surprising piece of news for Solomon, as also for us who are observing events as they unfold:
 
But the hoopoe did not take long in coming. He said: ‘I have just learnt things that are unknown to you, and I come to you from Sheba with accurate information. I found there a woman ruling over them; and she has been given of all good things, and hers is a magnificent throne. I found her and her people prostrating themselves to the sun instead of God; and Satan has made their deeds seem goodly to them, thus turning them away from the path [of God], so that they cannot find the right way. That they should not prostrate themselves in worship of God who brings forth all that is hidden in the heavens and the earth, and knows what you conceal and what you reveal. God, other than whom there is no deity, the Lord of the [truly] magnificent Throne.’ (Verses 22-26)
 
The hoopoe is fully aware of the king’s firm and serious demeanour. Therefore, he begins his report with a surprise that overshadows the fault of his absence and ensures that the king will listen to him: ‘I have just learnt things that are unknown to you.” What king would not listen when one of his subjects tells him that he has learnt something that he could not know? Now that the hoopoe has the king’s attention, it proceeds to give the news he brought from Sheba, in Yemen. He mentions first that “I found there a woman ruling over them,” and he further adds that “she has been given of all good things,” which tells that her kingdom was affluent, powerful and civilized. Furthermore, the queen’s “is a magnificent throne.” (Verse 23) She sits on a magnificent couch which indicates the presence of skilled workers. The hoopoe adds that he found both the queen and her people “prostrating themselves to the sun instead of God.” (Verse 24) He explains that these people had erred because Satan had deceived them, making their deeds seem fair to them. Thus, they are bereft of guidance, and as such they do not worship God Almighty “who brings forth all that is hidden in the heavens and the earth.” (Verse 25) What is hidden’ refers to everything that is concealed, including the rain from the sky and the plants of the earth. It also includes the secrets of the heavens and the earth. He also “knows what you conceal and what you reveal.” (Verse 25) This mirrors what is hidden in the heavens and earth as it refers to what is hidden within one’s own soul.
 
Until this point the hoopoe remains in the position of someone who has broken the rules and is still awaiting the king’s judgement. Hence, it concludes the news it brought with a reference to God Almighty, the Lord of all, and the Lord of the magnificent throne, to which no human throne can be compared: “God, other than whom there is no deity, the Lord of the [truly] magnificent Throne.” (Verse 26) This reference is meant as a reminder to the king so as to moderate his attitude as he remembers God’s great power. It is, in short, a subtle appeal for compassion.
 
What we see here is a remarkable, intelligent hoopoe who has faith. He presents what he saw very skilfully, aware of its position, and relying on subtle expression. It understands that the woman is a queen and the people around her are her subjects, and it is fully aware that they prostrate themselves before the sun, instead of God. It also knows that such worship should be offered only to God who is the Lord of all the universe. This is not how hoopoes generally look at matters and understand them. Such understanding by a hoopoe is indeed miraculous.