Surah An-Naml >> Currently viewing Surah An-Naml Ayat 32 (27:32)

Surah An-Naml Ayat 32 in Arabic Text

قَالَتۡ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلۡمَلَؤُاْ أَفۡتُونِي فِيٓ أَمۡرِي مَا كُنتُ قَاطِعَةً أَمۡرًا حَتَّىٰ تَشۡهَدُونِ
Qaalat yaaa aiyuhal mala’u aftoonee fee amree maa kuntu qaati’atan amran hattaa tashhhadoon

English Translation

Here you can read various translations of verse 32

Sahih International
She said, “O eminent ones, advise me in my affair. I would not decide a matter until you witness [for] me.”

Yusuf Ali
She said: “Ye chiefs! advise me in (this) my affair: no affair have I decided except in your presence.”

Abul Ala Maududi
(After reading the letter) the Queen said: “Nobles, let me have your counsel in this matter for I make no firm decision without you.”

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

Pickthall
She said: O chieftains! Pronounce for me in my case. I decide no case till ye are present with me.

Dr. Ghali
She said, “O you chiefs, pronounce to me concerning my command; in no way have I affirmed (Literally: cutting) a command until you bear witness.”

Abdel Haleem
She said, ‘Counsellors, give me your counsel in the matter I now face: I only ever decide on matters in your presence.’

Muhammad Junagarhi
اس نے کہا اے میرے سردارو! تم میرے اس معاملہ میں مجھے مشوره دو۔ میں کسی امر کا قطعی فیصلہ جب تک تمہاری موجودگی اور رائے نہ ہو نہیں کیا کرتی

Quran 27 Verse 32 Explanation

For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah An-Naml ayat 32, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.

Ala-Maududi

(27:32) (After reading the letter) the Queen said: “Nobles, let me have your counsel in this matter for I make no firm decision without you.”[38]


38. The words used in the text are: hatta tash-hu-dun (until you are present, or unless you bear witness). That is: “I regard your presence necessary when I 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.

Ibn-Kathir

32. She said: “O chiefs! Advise me in case of mine. I decide no case till you are present with me.” 33. They said: “We have great strength, and great ability for war, but it is for you to command; so think over what you will command.” 34. She said: “Verily, kings, when they enter a town, they destroy it and make the most honorable among its people the lowest. And thus they do.” 35. “But verily, I am going to send him a present, and see with what (answer) the messengers return.”


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.”

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surah an-naml ayat 32
surah an-naml ayat 33
surah an-naml ayat 34
surah an-naml ayat 35
surah an-naml ayat 36

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