WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.600 The Story of the Queen of Sheba 00:00:02.600 --> 00:00:12.339 The hoopoe was absent from the military parade. 00:00:12.339 --> 00:00:20.239 The story of the Queen of Sheba begins when the Prophet of Allah, Solomon (peace be upon him), was inspecting his troops from among the birds, 00:00:20.239 --> 00:00:25.039 and he noticed the hoopoe's disappearance from among the birds in the army. 00:00:25.039 --> 00:00:30.160 The Prophet of Allah, Solomon (peace be upon him), became angry at the hoopoe's absence, 00:00:30.160 --> 00:00:36.399 and he swore to punish him severely unless he had a valid excuse for his absence. 00:00:36.399 --> 00:00:38.750 Almighty Allah says: 00:00:38.750 --> 00:00:50.109 “And he sought among the birds and said: How is it that I see not the hoopoe, or is he among the absent?” (27:20) 00:00:50.109 --> 00:01:05.790 ﴿I will surely punish him with a severe punishment or slaughter him unless he brings me a clear authorization.﴾ 00:01:05.790 --> 00:01:11.629 Al-Sa'di (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "This demonstrates the perfection of his resolve and firmness, 00:01:11.629 --> 00:01:18.349 his good organization of his troops, and his personal management of both minor and major affairs, 00:01:18.510 --> 00:01:28.590 to the extent that he did not neglect even this matter—inspecting the birds and checking whether they were all present or if any were missing." 00:01:28.590 --> 00:01:38.609 This is the mark of a resolute man regarding his charge; so do not feel aggrieved, my noble sister, if you are blessed with a resolute husband 00:01:38.609 --> 00:01:45.969 who checks on you and checks on your offspring, for if he does not do so, the family will be ruined. 00:01:46.459 --> 00:01:52.459 This is his duty, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 00:01:52.459 --> 00:01:57.540 "Every one of you is a guardian and every one of you is responsible for his charge. 00:01:57.540 --> 00:02:01.299 The ruler is a guardian and responsible for his charge; 00:02:01.299 --> 00:02:06.340 the man is a guardian over his family and is responsible for his charge; 00:02:06.340 --> 00:02:12.740 and the woman is a guardian in her husband's home and is responsible for her charge." 00:02:12.740 --> 00:02:14.990 Narrative by al-Bukhari. 00:02:14.990 --> 00:02:18.189 In another narration in al-Bukhari: 00:02:18.189 --> 00:02:25.150 "And the woman is a guardian over the household of her husband and his children, and she is responsible for them." 00:02:25.150 --> 00:02:31.069 Inspecting one's charge is a praiseworthy quality that shows the guardian's care for them, 00:02:31.069 --> 00:02:37.389 monitoring their affairs, taking care of their needs, and resolving their problems. 00:02:37.389 --> 00:02:40.590 Al-Tahir Ibn 'Ashur (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 00:02:40.669 --> 00:02:44.990 "Inspecting the troops is one of the hallmarks of kings and commanders, 00:02:44.990 --> 00:02:48.909 and it is one of the objectives of assembling and deploying armies. 00:02:48.909 --> 00:02:54.030 The meaning is that he inspected the birds among all the other things he inspected, 00:02:54.030 --> 00:02:59.870 and he said to those in charge of the birds: 'Why do I not see the hoopoe?'" 00:02:59.870 --> 00:03:04.430 Among the duties of rulers is inspecting the condition of their subjects, 00:03:04.430 --> 00:03:07.629 and personally checking on officials and the like— 00:03:07.629 --> 00:03:13.229 as 'Umar did when he set out for the Levant in the year 17 AH— 00:03:13.229 --> 00:03:15.870 or delegating it to someone he trusts, 00:03:15.870 --> 00:03:23.340 for 'Umar assigned Muhammad ibn Maslamah al-Ansari to inspect the officials. 00:03:23.340 --> 00:03:27.659 The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), in the aforementioned hadith, 00:03:27.659 --> 00:03:31.900 distributed the responsibility of the family between the husband and the wife, 00:03:31.900 --> 00:03:37.259 describing each of them as a guardian with a charge. 00:03:37.259 --> 00:03:41.969 Thus, it is not fitting for a guardian to neglect inspecting his charge. 00:03:41.969 --> 00:03:45.250 The entire family is the man's charge, 00:03:45.250 --> 00:03:49.409 and it is his responsibility to check on his wife's state: 00:03:49.409 --> 00:03:54.530 whom she befriends, with whom she goes out, where she goes, 00:03:54.530 --> 00:03:58.289 and how she spends her day and night; 00:03:58.289 --> 00:04:00.930 to check on her health 00:04:00.930 --> 00:04:04.849 and what medication or treatment she needs; 00:04:04.849 --> 00:04:07.090 and to check on her emotional well-being— 00:04:07.090 --> 00:04:11.810 what distresses her about his actions and what she likes— 00:04:11.810 --> 00:04:14.930 so that he can bestow happiness upon her 00:04:14.930 --> 00:04:18.579 and upon himself within the marital home. 00:04:18.579 --> 00:04:23.779 A husband needs firmness in his decisions when taking care of his home, 00:04:23.779 --> 00:04:28.819 and this is what a wife needs and looks for in her husband; 00:04:28.819 --> 00:04:31.779 in fact, it brings her joy coming from him. 00:04:31.779 --> 00:04:37.459 An intelligent woman becomes distressed if her husband lacks firmness in household and family matters 00:04:37.459 --> 00:04:40.339 and fails to monitor her well-being. 00:04:40.339 --> 00:04:42.660 Firmness does not mean harshness; 00:04:42.660 --> 00:04:48.660 rather, it means avoiding laxity and not backing down from stances if they are correct. 00:04:48.660 --> 00:04:52.420 The finest firmness is that which is tempered with gentleness. 00:04:52.420 --> 00:04:57.459 You have an excellent example in the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), 00:04:57.459 --> 00:05:01.250 and in his wives, the Mothers of the Believers, a role model. 00:05:01.329 --> 00:05:06.050 The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to check on his wives, 00:05:06.050 --> 00:05:09.170 and they never felt aggrieved by that. 00:05:09.170 --> 00:05:13.970 On the authority of 'A'ishah, the wife of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), who said: 00:05:13.970 --> 00:05:20.290 "I was delayed during the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) one night after the 'Isha' prayer, 00:05:20.290 --> 00:05:23.970 then I came, and he said, 'Where were you?' 00:05:23.970 --> 00:05:28.529 I said, 'I was listening to the recitation of a man among your Companions; 00:05:28.529 --> 00:05:32.769 I have never heard a recitation or a voice like his from anyone.' 00:05:32.769 --> 00:05:38.129 She said: So he stood up and I stood with him until he listened to him, 00:05:38.129 --> 00:05:40.850 then he turned to me and said: 00:05:40.850 --> 00:05:44.779 'This is Salim, the freed slave of Abu Hudhayfah. 00:05:44.779 --> 00:05:49.699 Praise be to Allah who has placed the likes of this man in my Ummah.'" 00:05:49.699 --> 00:05:52.209 Narrated by Ibn Majah. 00:05:52.209 --> 00:05:56.129 The Prophet's saying to 'A'ishah, 00:05:56.209 --> 00:05:57.730 "Where were you?" 00:05:57.730 --> 00:06:02.689 is a form of questioning the wife about her late return home 00:06:02.689 --> 00:06:04.930 and the reason for this delay. 00:06:04.930 --> 00:06:06.610 This implies 00:06:06.610 --> 00:06:12.930 that a husband has the right to ask such questions when checking on his wife's situation, 00:06:12.930 --> 00:06:17.540 especially if he harbors suspicion regarding any of her actions. 00:06:17.540 --> 00:06:24.660 Consider how the Prophet (peace be upon him) stood with her to listen to this man's recitation, 00:06:24.740 --> 00:06:28.579 recognizing and engaging with what she mentioned— 00:06:28.579 --> 00:06:32.500 not to disbelieve her or doubt what she said, 00:06:32.500 --> 00:06:38.500 for there was nothing in her words or actions to arouse suspicion or doubt about her, 00:06:38.500 --> 00:06:42.480 far be it from her (may Allah be pleased with her). 00:06:42.480 --> 00:06:49.040 However, a man might doubt his wife's word or an action of hers, 00:06:49.040 --> 00:06:52.639 and thus wish to verify the truth of what she said. 00:06:52.639 --> 00:06:57.379 This is his right if he has a Islamically valid justification. 00:06:57.379 --> 00:07:01.060 On the authority of Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), he said: 00:07:01.060 --> 00:07:04.740 The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 00:07:04.740 --> 00:07:10.180 "If I were to stone anyone without clear proof, I would have stoned such-and-such a woman," 00:07:10.180 --> 00:07:16.660 for suspicion was evident in her speech, her appearance, and those who visited her. 00:07:16.660 --> 00:07:18.829 Narrated by Ibn Majah. 00:07:18.829 --> 00:07:24.269 Thus, regarding this woman, there appeared from her speech, her clothing, her appearance, 00:07:24.269 --> 00:07:29.790 and the men who visited her that which raised suspicion of her committing adultery; 00:07:29.790 --> 00:07:36.670 yet, the proof ordained by Allah to establish that—namely, four witnesses—was absent. 00:07:36.670 --> 00:07:42.379 Therefore, the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not apply the prescribed legal punishment to her. 00:07:42.379 --> 00:07:45.329 Ibn Battal (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 00:07:45.329 --> 00:07:51.649 "Meaning: If I were to surpass the right of Allah regarding her based on the indications that arose against her, 00:07:51.649 --> 00:07:57.019 I would have stoned this woman due to the evident indications of her immorality." 00:07:57.019 --> 00:08:02.459 Likewise, part of the wife's care for her husband is checking on his well-being. 00:08:02.459 --> 00:08:06.220 A husband's condition may change from one state to another, 00:08:06.220 --> 00:08:12.620 and the wife may notice certain signs indicating his change in any matter, 00:08:12.699 --> 00:08:18.540 whether in his relationship with her, his relationship with his Lord, or otherwise. 00:08:18.540 --> 00:08:26.699 It is essential to recognize this change and its cause, and to address it promptly before it worsens. 00:08:26.699 --> 00:08:34.460 Here is 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) noticing a change in the supplication of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) 00:08:34.460 --> 00:08:40.940 and his frequent repetition of a specific supplication, so she inquired from him to know the reason. 00:08:41.019 --> 00:08:43.899 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: 00:08:43.899 --> 00:08:51.330 "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to seek refuge most frequently from debt and sin. 00:08:51.330 --> 00:08:56.960 I said, 'O Messenger of Allah, how frequently you seek refuge from debt!' 00:08:56.960 --> 00:09:03.759 He said, 'If a man incurs debt, he speaks and lies, and he makes a promise and breaks it.'" 00:09:03.759 --> 00:09:06.139 Narrated by al-Bukhari. 00:09:06.220 --> 00:09:12.860 And here is Maymunah noticing a change in the face of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), 00:09:12.860 --> 00:09:18.059 so she asks him and makes him aware of her observation of his changed state. 00:09:18.059 --> 00:09:22.529 This reflects the acumen of Maymunah (may Allah be pleased with her). 00:09:22.529 --> 00:09:27.009 On the authority of 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), he said: 00:09:27.009 --> 00:09:30.370 Maymunah (may Allah be pleased with her) informed me 00:09:30.370 --> 00:09:36.049 that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) woke up one morning silent and sorrowful. 00:09:36.049 --> 00:09:43.309 Maymunah said, "O Messenger of Allah, I have noticed a change in your appearance today." 00:09:43.309 --> 00:09:46.990 The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: 00:09:46.990 --> 00:09:52.909 "Gabriel had promised to meet me last night, but he did not meet me. 00:09:52.909 --> 00:09:56.129 By Allah, he has never broken a promise to me." 00:09:56.129 --> 00:10:03.409 He said: So the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) spent that day in that state. 00:10:03.490 --> 00:10:08.210 Then it occurred to him that a puppy had crawled under a tent of ours. 00:10:08.210 --> 00:10:10.610 He ordered that it be taken out, 00:10:10.610 --> 00:10:14.610 then he took water in his hand and sprinkled the spot. 00:10:14.610 --> 00:10:18.210 When evening came, Gabriel met him. 00:10:18.210 --> 00:10:23.409 The Prophet said to him, "You promised to meet me last night." 00:10:23.409 --> 00:10:25.409 He replied, "Yes, 00:10:25.409 --> 00:10:30.740 but we do not enter a house in which there is a dog or a picture." 00:10:30.740 --> 00:10:35.139 The next morning, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) 00:10:35.139 --> 00:10:37.539 ordered the killing of dogs, 00:10:37.539 --> 00:10:41.940 to the point that he ordered the killing of a small garden's watch dog 00:10:41.940 --> 00:10:45.169 and spared a large garden's watch dog. 00:10:45.169 --> 00:10:47.299 Narrated by Muslim. 00:10:47.299 --> 00:10:53.950 So check on your husband's state before he changes toward you without you realizing it. 00:10:53.950 --> 00:10:57.950 Checking on the children is a joint responsibility of both spouses, 00:10:57.950 --> 00:11:01.950 even if the mother is closer to her children than the father, 00:11:01.950 --> 00:11:04.350 which is a natural matter, 00:11:04.350 --> 00:11:07.950 especially if she stays settled in her home, 00:11:07.950 --> 00:11:11.149 dedicated to taking care of her family. 00:11:11.149 --> 00:11:16.350 Therefore, the responsibility for the children was explicitly assigned to her, 00:11:16.350 --> 00:11:19.149 as in the narration of al-Bukhari: 00:11:19.149 --> 00:11:23.149 "And the woman is a guardian over the household of her husband and his children, 00:11:23.149 --> 00:11:26.019 and she is responsible for them." 00:11:26.019 --> 00:11:28.419 You are responsible for your children, 00:11:28.419 --> 00:11:32.419 for checking on their state, knowing whom they accompany 00:11:32.419 --> 00:11:34.419 and where they go; 00:11:34.419 --> 00:11:37.220 if they are late in returning home, 00:11:37.220 --> 00:11:41.009 you ask about them and the reason for their delay. 00:11:41.009 --> 00:11:45.409 If the mother senses any shortcoming or corruption in her children's lives, 00:11:45.409 --> 00:11:49.009 the advice for her is to inform her husband of it, 00:11:49.009 --> 00:11:54.610 and to avoid addressing the matter alone without consulting the husband. 00:11:54.610 --> 00:11:56.610 For such an action on her part 00:11:56.610 --> 00:12:01.870 may lead to the escalation of the issue beyond her control; 00:12:01.870 --> 00:12:05.070 furthermore, the father's delayed intervention in resolving the problem 00:12:05.070 --> 00:12:09.470 might create a new conflict between the father and his children, 00:12:09.470 --> 00:12:12.669 for which you would be the cause. 00:12:12.669 --> 00:12:16.500 You are likewise responsible for your home. 00:12:16.500 --> 00:12:22.100 Checking on the state of the home is an important issue in your marital life, 00:12:22.100 --> 00:12:24.100 for this inspection 00:12:24.100 --> 00:12:27.299 helps you identify deficiencies in the home, 00:12:27.299 --> 00:12:30.500 what needs repair or cleaning, 00:12:30.500 --> 00:12:32.899 or adding beauty to it, 00:12:32.899 --> 00:12:36.350 which brings joy to your husband and children. 00:12:36.350 --> 00:12:38.350 So ponder, my noble sister, 00:12:38.350 --> 00:12:42.750 this great lesson from the Prophet of Allah, Solomon (peace be upon him), 00:12:42.750 --> 00:12:45.149 in his inspection of the birds, 00:12:45.149 --> 00:12:48.750 and benefit from it in fulfilling your responsibilities 00:12:48.750 --> 00:12:52.299 toward those under your care. 00:12:52.299 --> 00:12:59.500 But what did the Prophet of Allah, Solomon (peace be upon him), do with the hoopoe after that? 00:12:59.500 --> 00:13:06.740 And how did the Prophet of Allah, Solomon (peace be upon him), govern his kingdom and his troops? 00:13:06.740 --> 00:13:10.740 We will continue in an upcoming gathering, Allah willing. 00:13:10.740 --> 00:13:14.740 Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. 00:13:14.740 --> 00:13:18.179 The Story of the Queen of Sheba 00:13:18.179 --> 00:13:22.179 with the Prophet of Allah, Solomon (peace be upon him).