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<strong>the</strong> present]: "Go back to <strong>the</strong>m. We verily shall come to <strong>the</strong>m withhosts that <strong>the</strong>y cannot resist, and we shall drive <strong>the</strong>m out from <strong>the</strong>re indisgrace, and <strong>the</strong>y will be abased." He said: "O chiefs! Which <strong>of</strong> you canbring me her throne before <strong>the</strong>y come to me surrendering <strong>the</strong>mselvesin obedience?" A`Ifrit (strong one) from <strong>the</strong> jinn said: I will bring it toyou before you rise from your place (council). And verily, I am indeedstrong, and trustworthy for such work." One with whom wasknowledge <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Scripture said: "I will bring it to you within <strong>the</strong>twinkling <strong>of</strong> an eye!" Then when he [Sulaiman (Solomon)] saw itplaced before him, he said: "This is by <strong>the</strong> Grace <strong>of</strong> my Lord -to test mewhe<strong>the</strong>r I am grateful or ungrateful! And whoever is grateful, truly, hisgratitude is for (<strong>the</strong> good <strong>of</strong>) his own self, and whoever is ungrateful,(he is ungrateful only for <strong>the</strong> loss <strong>of</strong> his own self. Certainly my Lord isRich (Free <strong>of</strong> all needs), Bountiful." He said: "Disguise her throne forher that we may see whe<strong>the</strong>r she will be guided (to recognize herthrone), or she will be one <strong>of</strong> those not guided." So when she came, itwas said (to her): "Is your throne like this?" She said: "(It is) asthough it were <strong>the</strong> very same." And [Sulaiman (Solomon)] said:"Knowledge was bestowed on us before her, and we were submitted toAllah (in <strong>Islam</strong> as Muslims before her)." And that which she used toworship besides Allah has prevented her (from <strong>Islam</strong>), for she was <strong>of</strong>adisbelieving people. It was said to her: "Enter As-Sarh" (a glass surfacewith water underneath it or a palace): but when she saw it, shethought it was a pool, and she (tucked up her clo<strong>the</strong>s) uncoveringher legs. (Sulaiman (Solomon)) said: "Verily, it is a Sarh (a glasssurface with water underneath it or a palace)." She said: "MyLord! Verily, I have wronged myself, and I submit [in <strong>Islam</strong>,toge<strong>the</strong>r with Sulaiman (Solomon)] to Allah, <strong>the</strong> Lord <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>`Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists)}. (An-Naml. 20-44)Allah <strong>the</strong> Almighty narrates what had happened between Sulaiman and <strong>the</strong>hoopoe. All kinds <strong>of</strong> birds had pioneers or chosen ones who were charged withcertain tasks and who periodically attend <strong>the</strong>mselves before Sulaiman, as a habit<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> troops with <strong>the</strong>ir kings. Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) ando<strong>the</strong>rs mentioned that <strong>the</strong> mission <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> hoopoe was to search for water indeserts and barren areas. Indeed, <strong>the</strong> hoopoe has <strong>the</strong> ability -as granted byAllah <strong>the</strong> Almighty -to see and identify <strong>the</strong> locations <strong>of</strong> underground waters.Sulaiman's hoopoe used to search for underground water and <strong>the</strong>n to lead histroops <strong>the</strong>reto; <strong>the</strong>y dig <strong>the</strong> land to get <strong>the</strong> water out and use it in fulfilling <strong>the</strong>irneeds.One day, Sulaiman (Peace be upon him) wanted <strong>the</strong> hoopoe, he missed himand did not find him in his appointed position so, he said: {What is <strong>the</strong> matterthat I see not <strong>the</strong> hoopoe? Or is he among <strong>the</strong> absentees?} i.e. he is no<strong>the</strong>re, or I can not see him. {I will surely punish him with a severewww.islambasics.com
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