When (the queen’s envoy) came to Solomon, he said: “Is it gold that you would give me? What God has given me is much better than all that He has given you. Yet you rejoice with your own gift. Go back to them, for we shall certainly come to them with forces they cannot match, and we shall certainly drive them from the land in disgrace, and they will be utterly humbled.”
Solomon said: “Which of you, nobles, can bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?” Said an efreet of the jinn: “I shall bring it to you before you rise from your position. I am powerful enough to do it, and worthy of trust.”
But the one who was deeply versed in the Book said: “I shall bring it to you within the twinkling of your eye.” When he saw it standing before him, he said: “This is by the grace of my Lord, so as to test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful. He who is grateful (to God) is but grateful for his own good. As for him who is ungrateful... My Lord is self-sufficient, most generous.’ (The Ants; Al-Naml: 27: 36-40)
As we have seen last week, on receiving Solomon’s letter, the Queen of Sheba decided to try to woo Solomon, sending him a rich gift. She aimed to test him and find out whether he simply wanted to grab some of her riches, or he was a man of principle. He immediately returned her emissaries, with the gift they carried, threatening to raise against them armies for which they were no match and to drive them away from their land.
We now see Solomon fully aware that his answer will settle the matter with the queen, whom he realized had no wish for conflict. He felt that she was more likely to respond to his call. The surah, however, does not mention how her envoys returned, what they said to her, and how she made up her mind. There is a gap here, but we learn from what comes afterward that she planned to go to Solomon, and that he was aware of her intention. Hence, he discusses with his commanders how to bring her throne which she left well guarded in her palace: “Solomon said: ‘Which of you, nobles, can bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?’ Said an efreet of the jinn: ‘I shall bring it to you before you rise from your position. I am powerful enough to do it, and worthy of trust.’ But the one who was deeply versed in the Book said: ‘I shall bring it to you within the twinkling of your eye.’” (Verses 38-40)
What was Solomon’s objective behind bringing her throne before she arrives and declares her submission to God? Most probably he wanted to show her some aspects of the superior power placed at his command. This was likely to win her heart and influence her to believe in God.
An efreet from among the jinn offered to bring the throne to him before he had finished the session he was attending. It is reported that he sat from morning till noon to judge in disputes that are put to him. Apparently Solomon felt that this was unnecessarily long. Therefore, a person “who was deeply versed in the Book” offered to bring it in a twinkling of an eye. The surah does not mention the name of that person, nor does it say which was the book known to him. We understand, however, that he was a believer who had a strong bond with God, and had some divine secret that allowed him to use something of the great power that transcends barriers and distances. This is something that occurs at times to some people with very strong faith. No explanation is offered for it, because it goes beyond what is familiar to people. This is all what we can say without delving into the realm of legends and superstitions.
Some commentators on the Qur’an add certain details. Some said that the book mentioned in the verse was the Torah; others said that he knew God’s greatest name; and others still offered other suggestions. None of these give us any explanation that carries any degree of certainty. Yet the matter is much simpler than all such explanations. Numerous are the secrets we know nothing about in the universe around us, and numerous also are the powers that we do not use. Indeed within the human soul there are many secrets and powers that we cannot fathom. When God wants to inform any of His servants of one of these secrets or powers that person will accomplish something of miraculous nature that goes beyond what is familiar to us. It is accomplished by God’s will and design. No one other than that servant of God will be able to accomplish it.
This person in Solomon’s story who is described as “deeply versed in the Book” was able, by the knowledge imparted to him, to use some secrets and powers that enabled him to accomplish the miraculous bringing of the queen’s throne. His knowledge of the Book established a bond between him and his Lord that made him able to do what was required.
Some commentators suggest that this person was Solomon himself, but we think it was more likely that it was a different person. Had it been Solomon, the surah would have mentioned his name when the whole story is about him. There is no need to withhold his name at this remarkable juncture. Some say that he was Assaf ben Berachia, but we have no evidence to support that.
“When he saw it standing before him, he said: This is by the grace of my Lord, so as to test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful. He who is grateful (to God) is but grateful for his own good. As for him who is ungrateful... My Lord is self-sufficient, most generous.” (Verse 40)
It was a great surprise that Solomon profoundly felt. He was in awe of God’s majesty as He fulfilled his requests in such a supernatural manner. He also felt that such grace means a very serious test to which he is put. To pass such a test successfully he needs to be very alert, and needs help from God. He also needs to recognize God’s favors and to be genuinely grateful for them. Needless to say, God needs no thanks from anyone, but the one who thanks God for His favors does so for his own good, because his thanks ensure that more favors will come his way. He would thus be better able to pass his own test. As for those who are ungrateful, they should know that God is in no need of them or their gratitude, and that He is most generous, and He grants favors expecting no returns and no gratitude.