Surah Naml ayat 32 Tafsir Quran 27:32

﴿قَالَتْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْمَلَأُ أَفْتُونِي فِي أَمْرِي مَا كُنتُ قَاطِعَةً أَمْرًا حَتَّىٰ تَشْهَدُونِ﴾
[ النمل: 32]

27:32 She said, "O eminent ones, advise me in my affair. I would not decide a matter until you witness [for] me."

She said ‘O members of the council give me an opinion read yā ayyuhā’l-mala’u aftūnī pronouncing both hamzas or by not pronouncing the second and changing it into a wāw in other words guide me in this matter of mine. I never decide on a matter I never conclude it until you are present’.

Her anxiety prompted her to consult with her counselors. She said: O you counselors, I seek counsel from you in this matter. I never decided upon a course of action before presenting it to you for an opinion

Bilqis consults with Her Chiefs When she read Sulayman's letter to them and consulted with them about this news, she said: يأَيُّهَا الْمَلأ أَفْتُونِى فِى أَمْرِى مَا كُنتُ قَـطِعَةً أَمْراً حَتَّى تَشْهَدُونِ ( "O chiefs! Advise me in (this ) case of mine.
I decide no case till you are present with me.") meaning, `until you come together and offer me your advice.' قَالُواْ نَحْنُ أُوْلُواْ قُوَّةٍ وَأُولُو بَأْسٍ شَدِيدٍ ( They said: "We have great strength, and great ability for war..." ) They reminded her of their great numbers, preparedness and strength, then they referred the matter to her and said: وَالاٌّمْرُ إِلَيْكِ فَانظُرِى مَاذَا تَأْمُرِينَ ( but it is for you to command; so think over what you will command. ) meaning, `we have the power and strength, if you want to go to him and fight him.' The matter is yours to decide, so instruct us as you see fit and we will obey.
Ibn `Abbas said: "Bilqis said: إِنَّ الْمُلُوكَ إِذَا دَخَلُواْ قَرْيَةً أَفْسَدُوهَا وَجَعَلُواْ أَعِزَّةَ أَهْلِهَآ أَذِلَّةً ( Verily, kings, when they enter a town, they destroy it and make the most honorable amongst its people the lowest. ) And Allah said: وَكَذلِكَ يَفْعَلُونَ ( And thus they do.
) Then she resorted to peaceful means, seeking a truce and trying to placate Sulayman, and said: وَإِنِّى مُرْسِلَةٌ إِلَيْهِمْ بِهَدِيَّةٍ فَنَاظِرَةٌ بِمَ يَرْجِعُ الْمُرْسَلُونَ ( But verily, I am going to send him a present, and see with what the messengers return. ) meaning, `I will send him a gift befitting for one of his status, and will wait and see what his response will be.
Perhaps he will accept that and leave us alone, or he will impose a tax which we can pay him every year, so that he will not fight us and wage war against us.' Qatadah said: "May Allah have mercy on her and be pleased with her -- how wise she was as a Muslim and ( before that ) as an idolator! She understood how gift-giving has a good effect on people." Ibn `Abbas and others said: "She said to her people, if he accepts the gift, he is a king, so fight him; but if he does not accept it, he is a Prophet, so follow him."

(27:32) (Having read out the letter) the queen said, "O chiefs, counsel me in this matter; I do not take a decision in any matter without (consulting) you." *38

She said, "O eminent ones, advise me meaning

*38) The words used in the Text are: hatta tash-hu-dun ( unless you are present, or unless you bear witness ).
That is: " 1 regard your presence necessary when 1 take a decision in important matters, and also that whatever decision I take you should be there to testify that it is right and correct. " This shows that though the system of government among Saba' was kingship, it was not tyrannical; but the ruler of the time decided matters in consultation with the important people in the government.

 

Bilqis consults with Her Chiefs When she read Sulayman's letter to them and consulted with them about this news, she said: يأَيُّهَا الْمَلأ أَفْتُونِى فِى أَمْرِى مَا كُنتُ قَـطِعَةً أَمْراً حَتَّى تَشْهَدُونِ ( "O chiefs! Advise me in (this ) case of mine.
I decide no case till you are present with me.") meaning, `until you come together and offer me your advice.' قَالُواْ نَحْنُ أُوْلُواْ قُوَّةٍ وَأُولُو بَأْسٍ شَدِيدٍ ( They said: "We have great strength, and great ability for war..." ) They reminded her of their great numbers, preparedness and strength, then they referred the matter to her and said: وَالاٌّمْرُ إِلَيْكِ فَانظُرِى مَاذَا تَأْمُرِينَ ( but it is for you to command; so think over what you will command. ) meaning, `we have the power and strength, if you want to go to him and fight him.' The matter is yours to decide, so instruct us as you see fit and we will obey.
Ibn `Abbas said: "Bilqis said: إِنَّ الْمُلُوكَ إِذَا دَخَلُواْ قَرْيَةً أَفْسَدُوهَا وَجَعَلُواْ أَعِزَّةَ أَهْلِهَآ أَذِلَّةً ( Verily, kings, when they enter a town, they destroy it and make the most honorable amongst its people the lowest. ) And Allah said: وَكَذلِكَ يَفْعَلُونَ ( And thus they do.
) Then she resorted to peaceful means, seeking a truce and trying to placate Sulayman, and said: وَإِنِّى مُرْسِلَةٌ إِلَيْهِمْ بِهَدِيَّةٍ فَنَاظِرَةٌ بِمَ يَرْجِعُ الْمُرْسَلُونَ ( But verily, I am going to send him a present, and see with what the messengers return. ) meaning, `I will send him a gift befitting for one of his status, and will wait and see what his response will be.
Perhaps he will accept that and leave us alone, or he will impose a tax which we can pay him every year, so that he will not fight us and wage war against us.' Qatadah said: "May Allah have mercy on her and be pleased with her -- how wise she was as a Muslim and ( before that ) as an idolator! She understood how gift-giving has a good effect on people." Ibn `Abbas and others said: "She said to her people, if he accepts the gift, he is a king, so fight him; but if he does not accept it, he is a Prophet, so follow him."

( She said: O chieftains! Pronounce for me in my case ) inform me about what I should do; it is also said that this means: advise me about what to do. ( I decide no case ) I will not do anything ( till ye are present with me ) and advise me.

She said: "O chiefs! Advise me in (this) case of mine. I decide no case till you are present with me."

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