1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:14,660 The story of the Queen of Sheba: the throne of Bilqis flies to the Prophet of Allah, Sulayman, peace be upon him. 2 00:00:14,660 --> 00:00:24,539 Allah revealed to His Prophet Sulayman, peace be upon him, that the Queen of Sheba was coming to him in submission. 3 00:00:24,539 --> 00:00:29,620 The Prophet of Allah, Sulayman, peace be upon him, then said to the assembly of his troops: 4 00:00:29,780 --> 00:00:36,880 “He said: O chiefs! Which of you will bring me her throne before they come unto me, surrendering?” (27:38) 5 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:43,280 The Prophet of Allah, Sulayman, peace be upon him, addressed the elite of his troops from among the jinn and mankind, 6 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:52,079 asking them to bring the throne of the Queen of Sheba—a major task not to be requested of the common folk. 7 00:00:52,079 --> 00:00:57,359 This is a wisdom required by leaders who deal with people. 8 00:00:57,439 --> 00:01:07,040 They should not entrust great tasks to the rabble, especially if the mission requires both strength and integrity. 9 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:14,189 For such tasks, one must select those known for these qualities so that the work is accomplished correctly. 10 00:01:14,189 --> 00:01:22,109 Our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, drew attention to this in the hadith of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him. 11 00:01:22,189 --> 00:01:29,340 When a Bedouin asked him about the Hour, Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said: 12 00:01:29,340 --> 00:01:37,739 While the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was in a gathering speaking to the people, a Bedouin came and asked: 13 00:01:37,739 --> 00:01:44,180 "When is the Hour?" The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, continued speaking. 14 00:01:44,180 --> 00:01:49,780 Some of the people said he heard what he said but disliked it. 15 00:01:49,859 --> 00:01:56,819 Others said he did not hear him; until, when he finished his speech, he said: 16 00:01:56,819 --> 00:02:03,629 "Where is the one who asked about the Hour?" He said, "Here I am, O Messenger of Allah." 17 00:02:03,629 --> 00:02:12,180 He said, "When the trust is lost, then wait for the Hour." He asked, "How is it lost?" 18 00:02:12,180 --> 00:02:18,689 He said, "When authority is given to those who do not deserve it, then wait for the Hour." 19 00:02:18,770 --> 00:02:23,949 Narrated by al-Bukhari. Ibn al-Mulaqqin, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 20 00:02:23,949 --> 00:02:27,469 Its meaning is: when authority is entrusted to those who are not fit for it, 21 00:02:27,469 --> 00:02:34,430 meaning it is taken over by those who lack religion and integrity, and by those who assist them in injustice and immorality. 22 00:02:34,430 --> 00:02:40,509 At that point, the leaders will have squandered the trust that Allah has imposed upon them, 23 00:02:40,509 --> 00:02:44,430 until the treacherous is trusted and the trustworthy is treated as treacherous. 24 00:02:44,509 --> 00:02:51,069 This only happens when ignorance prevails and the people of truth are too weak to uphold it. 25 00:02:51,069 --> 00:02:54,460 We ask Allah for well-being. 26 00:02:54,460 --> 00:02:59,340 Positions today that are linked to the rights and interests of the people 27 00:02:59,340 --> 00:03:03,099 should not be given to anyone other than the strong and the trustworthy. 28 00:03:03,099 --> 00:03:08,460 A position should not be granted due to favoritism, kinship, 29 00:03:08,460 --> 00:03:13,340 or to appease a tribe or other such reasons. 30 00:03:13,419 --> 00:03:18,020 If this occurs, it is considered a form of betrayal against the Ummah. 31 00:03:18,020 --> 00:03:21,379 Muhammad Rashid Rida, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 32 00:03:21,379 --> 00:03:24,419 "The departure of people's affairs from the hands of those fit for them— 33 00:03:24,419 --> 00:03:27,780 those capable of fulfilling them as they should be— 34 00:03:27,780 --> 00:03:30,259 is a cause for the corruption of their affairs, 35 00:03:30,259 --> 00:03:34,419 and a harbinger of the Hour in which they will perish through injustice, 36 00:03:34,419 --> 00:03:38,659 or through the loss of authority from their hands." 37 00:03:38,740 --> 00:03:44,580 Neglecting specialists and failing to appoint them to the positions they deserve 38 00:03:44,580 --> 00:03:49,300 is caused by the spread of ignorance regarding the rulings of the Shari'ah in societies, 39 00:03:49,300 --> 00:03:52,580 and the dominance of the ignorant over the scholars. 40 00:03:52,580 --> 00:03:59,889 Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him, said, commenting on al-Bukhari’s inclusion of this hadith in the 'Book of Knowledge': 41 00:03:59,889 --> 00:04:03,330 The relevance of this text to the 'Book of Knowledge' is 42 00:04:03,490 --> 00:04:06,289 that entrusting authority to those who are not fit for it 43 00:04:06,289 --> 00:04:10,370 only occurs when ignorance prevails and knowledge is lifted. 44 00:04:10,370 --> 00:04:12,849 This is among the signs of the Hour. 45 00:04:12,849 --> 00:04:16,689 The implication is that as long as knowledge remains, 46 00:04:16,689 --> 00:04:19,860 there is still room for the matter to be rectified. 47 00:04:19,860 --> 00:04:21,860 Here, a question arises: 48 00:04:21,860 --> 00:04:26,259 Why did the Prophet of Allah, Sulayman, peace be upon him, request 49 00:04:26,259 --> 00:04:28,980 the bringing of the Queen of Sheba's throne, 50 00:04:28,980 --> 00:04:33,329 even though she was on her way to him in submission? 51 00:04:33,329 --> 00:04:37,810 Abu Mansur al-Maturidi mentioned two reasons. 52 00:04:37,810 --> 00:04:40,529 He said, one of them is: 53 00:04:40,529 --> 00:04:44,610 He wanted to show them his power and authority, 54 00:04:44,610 --> 00:04:48,850 that one of his soldiers could lift her throne despite its grandeur, 55 00:04:48,850 --> 00:04:51,730 with them witnessing and observing it, 56 00:04:51,730 --> 00:04:53,889 and carrying it from among them, 57 00:04:53,889 --> 00:04:56,610 so that they would know that whoever is capable of that 58 00:04:56,610 --> 00:05:01,410 is also capable of bringing them armies they have no power to resist. 59 00:05:01,490 --> 00:05:03,810 And in confirmation of what he said, 60 00:05:03,810 --> 00:05:08,610 “Return unto them. We verily shall come unto them with hosts that they cannot resist, and we shall drive them out from thence with shame, and they will be abased.” (27:37) 61 00:05:08,610 --> 00:05:11,970 he is capable of overpowering and defeating them. 62 00:05:11,970 --> 00:05:13,329 The second reason: 63 00:05:13,329 --> 00:05:18,370 He wanted to show them a sign of his prophethood when they arrived, 64 00:05:18,370 --> 00:05:21,329 before they came as Muslims, 65 00:05:21,329 --> 00:05:26,339 so that they would know he is a Prophet, not merely a king. 66 00:05:26,339 --> 00:05:29,540 When the Prophet of Allah, Sulayman, peace be upon him, requested it, 67 00:05:30,180 --> 00:05:33,459 an 'Ifrit from the jinn said: 68 00:05:33,459 --> 00:05:39,680 “A stalwart of the jinn said: I will bring it thee before thou canst rise from thy place. Lo! I verily am strong and trusty for such work.” (27:39) 69 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:44,800 “A stalwart of the jinn said: I will bring it thee before thou canst rise from thy place. Lo! I verily am strong and trusty for such work.” (27:39) 70 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:50,639 “One with whom was knowledge of the Scripture said: I will bring it thee before thy gaze returneth unto thee. And when he saw it set in his presence, (Solomon) said: This is of the bounty of my Lord, that He may try me whether I give thanks or am ungrateful. Whosoever giveth thanks he only giveth thanks for (the good of) his own soul; and whosoever is ungrateful (is ungrateful only to his own soul's hurt). For lo! my Lord is Absolute in independence, Bountiful.” (27:40) 71 00:05:50,639 --> 00:05:54,939 “A stalwart of the jinn said: I will bring it thee before thou canst rise from thy place. Lo! I verily am strong and trusty for such work.” (27:39) 72 00:05:54,939 --> 00:05:59,100 “A stalwart of the jinn said: I will bring it thee before thou canst rise from thy place. Lo! I verily am strong and trusty for such work.” (27:39) 73 00:05:59,100 --> 00:06:05,790 “One with whom was knowledge of the Scripture said: I will bring it thee before thy gaze returneth unto thee. And when he saw it set in his presence, (Solomon) said: This is of the bounty of my Lord, that He may try me whether I give thanks or am ungrateful. Whosoever giveth thanks he only giveth thanks for (the good of) his own soul; and whosoever is ungrateful (is ungrateful only to his own soul's hurt). For lo! my Lord is Absolute in independence, Bountiful.” (27:40) 74 00:06:05,790 --> 00:06:10,750 Each of them offered their capabilities in the speed of executing the order, 75 00:06:10,750 --> 00:06:14,750 while meeting the condition of strength and integrity. 76 00:06:14,750 --> 00:06:20,350 Because this throne contained precious jewels and contents, 77 00:06:20,350 --> 00:06:22,350 it was a magnificent throne. 78 00:06:22,350 --> 00:06:25,790 Its magnificence required strength to carry it, 79 00:06:25,870 --> 00:06:29,709 and integrity to preserve its contents, 80 00:06:29,709 --> 00:06:33,870 especially since the Prophet of Allah, Sulayman, peace be upon him, 81 00:06:33,870 --> 00:06:36,509 was going to display it to the Queen of Sheba 82 00:06:36,509 --> 00:06:39,949 to demonstrate to her his power and the capability of his troops, 83 00:06:39,949 --> 00:06:43,009 so that perhaps she might enter into Islam. 84 00:06:43,009 --> 00:06:47,970 The first offer came from an 'Ifrit of the jinn, 85 00:06:47,970 --> 00:06:51,970 and he spoke of the time he needed to bring the throne: 86 00:06:52,050 --> 00:06:56,689 “A stalwart of the jinn said: I will bring it thee before thou canst rise from thy place. Lo! I verily am strong and trusty for such work.” (27:39) 87 00:06:56,689 --> 00:07:01,970 meaning before you finish the session you are in and leave it, 88 00:07:01,970 --> 00:07:05,069 the throne will be before you. 89 00:07:05,069 --> 00:07:08,350 The second offer was from the same troops, 90 00:07:08,350 --> 00:07:11,870 but he spoke of the time he needed: 91 00:07:11,870 --> 00:07:16,750 “One with whom was knowledge of the Scripture said: I will bring it thee before thy gaze returneth unto thee. And when he saw it set in his presence, (Solomon) said: This is of the bounty of my Lord, that He may try me whether I give thanks or am ungrateful. Whosoever giveth thanks he only giveth thanks for (the good of) his own soul; and whosoever is ungrateful (is ungrateful only to his own soul's hurt). For lo! my Lord is Absolute in independence, Bountiful.” (27:40) 92 00:07:16,750 --> 00:07:18,750 "The glance" is the blink of an eye. 93 00:07:18,750 --> 00:07:20,829 Meaning, in the blink of an eye, 94 00:07:20,990 --> 00:07:23,889 the throne will be before you. 95 00:07:23,889 --> 00:07:28,259 So what made the second one superior to the first? 96 00:07:28,259 --> 00:07:32,980 Allah explained to us in the verses the secret of the second one's superiority over the first: 97 00:07:32,980 --> 00:07:34,579 it is knowledge. 98 00:07:34,579 --> 00:07:38,819 “One with whom was knowledge of the Scripture said: I will bring it thee before thy gaze returneth unto thee. And when he saw it set in his presence, (Solomon) said: This is of the bounty of my Lord, that He may try me whether I give thanks or am ungrateful. Whosoever giveth thanks he only giveth thanks for (the good of) his own soul; and whosoever is ungrateful (is ungrateful only to his own soul's hurt). For lo! my Lord is Absolute in independence, Bountiful.” (27:40) 99 00:07:38,819 --> 00:07:43,540 This is the distinguishing piece of information that Allah has clarified for us, 100 00:07:43,540 --> 00:07:47,139 and it is sufficient to draw a lesson from the story. 101 00:07:47,139 --> 00:07:50,899 It is that knowledge elevates the status of the learner, 102 00:07:50,899 --> 00:07:57,060 and helps him fulfill his needs in a better and faster way than the ignorant, 103 00:07:57,060 --> 00:08:02,579 regardless of whether this learner is human or jinn. 104 00:08:02,579 --> 00:08:05,300 Knowledge shortens time for the knowledgeable 105 00:08:05,300 --> 00:08:08,819 so that they may attain the reward of the greatest righteous deeds, 106 00:08:08,819 --> 00:08:11,379 while the path is long for the ignorant 107 00:08:11,379 --> 00:08:15,069 as they seek reward from righteous deeds. 108 00:08:15,069 --> 00:08:19,870 This is because the knowledgeable person knows the honor of time and the honor of place, 109 00:08:20,029 --> 00:08:24,910 and which act of worship is to be offered at this time rather than another, 110 00:08:24,910 --> 00:08:27,949 and what are the best acts of worship to be performed, 111 00:08:27,949 --> 00:08:30,910 and whose reward is greater than others. 112 00:08:30,910 --> 00:08:36,990 So he walks his path to Allah with knowledge and insight that draws him closer to Allah, 113 00:08:36,990 --> 00:08:41,840 raises his rank, and weighs down the scales of his good deeds. 114 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:43,279 As for the ignorant, 115 00:08:43,279 --> 00:08:47,519 even if his intention is good in seeking reward, 116 00:08:47,519 --> 00:08:51,679 he takes the long and arduous paths, 117 00:08:51,679 --> 00:08:56,480 and misses out on much good due to his ignorance. 118 00:08:56,480 --> 00:09:00,080 And Satan may enter upon him through the door of whisperings, 119 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:03,490 wasting his time and his deeds. 120 00:09:03,490 --> 00:09:05,490 And Allah, the Exalted in His Majesty, 121 00:09:05,490 --> 00:09:11,570 when He mentioned to us this situation of the Prophet of Allah, Sulayman, peace be upon him, and his troops 122 00:09:11,570 --> 00:09:15,009 regarding the matter of bringing the throne of the Queen of Sheba, 123 00:09:15,009 --> 00:09:19,490 did not tell us who this person was who had knowledge from the Book— 124 00:09:19,490 --> 00:09:22,049 whether he was a jinn or a human, 125 00:09:22,049 --> 00:09:24,690 or what type of knowledge he possessed, 126 00:09:24,690 --> 00:09:28,480 or from which book he obtained this knowledge. 127 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:31,200 And as long as Allah, the Exalted in His Majesty, 128 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:33,679 the All-Knowing, the All-Wise, the All-Aware, 129 00:09:33,679 --> 00:09:37,759 did not mention these details when relating the story, 130 00:09:37,759 --> 00:09:41,840 then searching for them without evidence from the Book or the Sunnah 131 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:43,840 is a waste of time. 132 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:46,399 It will not return any benefit to us, 133 00:09:46,399 --> 00:09:49,759 and there is no hoped-for benefit in searching for it, 134 00:09:49,759 --> 00:09:53,360 nor is there a lesson added to the story. 135 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:55,600 What Allah has hidden from us, 136 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:58,879 we should not burden ourselves with searching for it, 137 00:09:58,879 --> 00:10:01,679 for this is one of the ways of Satan 138 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:04,720 to distract us from contemplation and reflection, 139 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:07,919 and from taking the lesson from what was mentioned in the verses, 140 00:10:07,919 --> 00:10:12,139 and what Allah has related to us in His Book. 141 00:10:12,220 --> 00:10:15,100 So contemplate this well, my sister, 142 00:10:15,100 --> 00:10:19,259 in your reflection upon the verses of Allah in the Noble Qur'an, 143 00:10:19,259 --> 00:10:22,379 and in your research into the stories of those who came before. 144 00:10:22,379 --> 00:10:24,990 You will succeed. 145 00:10:24,990 --> 00:10:29,549 But how did the Prophet of Allah, Sulayman, peace be upon him, receive 146 00:10:29,549 --> 00:10:31,230 the throne of the Queen of Sheba 147 00:10:31,230 --> 00:10:33,149 when it reached him? 148 00:10:33,149 --> 00:10:35,309 And what did he comment? 149 00:10:35,309 --> 00:10:38,750 And what did he want to convey to those around him from the world? 150 00:10:38,750 --> 00:10:40,750 After the arrival of the throne, 151 00:10:40,750 --> 00:10:43,389 what did he command his troops to do? 152 00:10:43,389 --> 00:10:46,990 We will continue in a future meeting, if Allah wills. 153 00:10:46,990 --> 00:10:49,710 And praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.