Part of The story of the Queen of Sheba (series completed)
· Lesson 10 of 15
The story of the Queen of Sheba | Episode (10) | The matter is up to you, so see what you command
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Transcript
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The Story of the Queen of Sheba
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“They said: We are lords of might and lords of great prowess, but it is for thee to command; so consider what thou wilt command.” (27:33)
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Allah created humankind in two genders:
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male and female.
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He, the Exalted, said:
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“Thinketh man that he is to be left aimless?” (75:36)
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"Was he not a drop of emitted semen?
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Then he became a clinging clot, and Allah created his form and proportioned him."
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“And made of him a pair, the male and female.” (75:39)
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And He, the Glorious, said:
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“And that He createth the two spouses, the male and the female,” (53:45)
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“From a drop (of seed) when it is poured forth;” (53:46)
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And He, Exalted on High, endowed each gender with characteristics
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that distinguish it from the other.
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These inherent qualities have left their imprint upon
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the life of each type of human being,
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the male and the female,
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just as they have shaped the way of thinking
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in each of them.
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For the male thinks in a manner distinct
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from the female,
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and his perspective on matters differs from hers.
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This is part of the majesty of the Creator,
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Who created the two pairs, the male and the female.
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The male was created from all the varieties of earth's clay,
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so the qualities of the earth influenced him;
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while the female was created from the male's rib,
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so the qualities of the rib influenced her.
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It is truly regrettable today
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that there are Muslims
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who treat the female
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exactly as they treat the male,
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paying no heed to the innate biological and psychological differences
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between male and female.
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Consequently, such a person wrongs the woman,
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whether consciously or unconsciously,
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and may burden her with what she cannot bear,
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loading upon her what exceeds her endurance,
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simply because he failed to distinguish
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between male and female.
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As for those who demand
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the equality of woman with man
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in an absolute, identical sense,
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their injustice toward the woman
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is even greater than that of the first group,
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and far more harmful to her.
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The first merely treated her
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like a man,
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but the second has effaced
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her distinct identity entirely,
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turning her into an anomaly
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that is neither male nor female.
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And the most tragic thing that a woman loses
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from her identity
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in this call for absolute equality
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between her and the man
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is her femininity,
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which is the very essence that distinguishes her
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from the man.
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Once femininity is lost,
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everything is lost;
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there remains no spirit within her,
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no grace,
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no beauty, and no radiance.
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This call for identical equality between woman
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and man
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is the call of the blind who
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fail to perceive the truth,
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blindly imitating the West without
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reason or discernment.
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In the story of the Queen of Sheba,
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this reality is clearly manifested to us—
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the very truth explicitly stated
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in the words of the Exalted:
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"And the male is not like the female."
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It is plainly manifested to us
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in the contrasting ways
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the chieftains—
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who were men—
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reacted to the letter of the Prophet of Allah, Solomon, peace be upon him,
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and the way
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the Queen—being
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a woman—reacted to the very same letter.
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We have already explored
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in a previous episode
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how the Queen of Sheba dealt
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with that correspondence and how she reasoned.
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In this episode,
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we will examine how
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the men dealt with the letter.
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The Queen of Sheba asked
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the elite of her people
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to advise her on how
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to handle the demand of
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the Prophet of Allah, Solomon, peace be upon him.
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They said to her:
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"We are men of great strength
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and mighty in war,
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but the command is yours,
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so consider what you will command."
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The men inclined toward
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the use of brute force in responding
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to the letter of Allah's Prophet, Solomon,
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and toward refusing
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the demand of the Prophet of Allah, Solomon, peace be upon him,
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which called upon them to enter
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under his authority and divine law,
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and to surrender to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.
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Al-Sa'di,
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may Allah have mercy on him, said:
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“They said: We are lords of might and lords of great prowess, but it is for thee to command; so consider what thou wilt command.” (27:33)
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"'And mighty in war'—
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meaning:
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if you reject his demand
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and refuse to submit to his obedience,
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we possess the strength to fight."
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It was as though they leaned toward
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this course of action,
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which, had it been executed, would have brought
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their utter destruction.
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This is the logic of raw power
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that men typically resort to,
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unlike women,
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who tend to employ
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the logic of diplomacy, shrewdness, strategy,
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and subtle maneuvering to achieve
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their objectives.
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This became vividly evident
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in the response of the Queen of Sheba to her people.
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But before we examine
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the reply of the Queen of Sheba,
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let us consider the nature of the men
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whom this woman ruled.
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The nature
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of these men is revealed
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through their response to the Queen,
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when they said:
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"We are men of great strength
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and mighty in war."
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This signifies
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that they were a people of warfare and formidable military might
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across the land.
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Yet their hesitation to follow through
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on their own inclination to fight, as shown by their words:
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"but the command is yours, so consider
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what you will command,"
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reveals a deficiency in their capacity
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for wisdom and sound judgment.
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For this reason, they deferred the decision
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to the woman who governed them,
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believing that she was
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more prudent and far wiser than they were.
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Al-Sa'di,
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may Allah have mercy on him, said:
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"Yet they did not firmly settle
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on fighting; rather, they said:
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'but the command is yours,'
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because they knew her intellect,
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her resolve,
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and her sincere care for their welfare.
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'So consider'—with deep thought and reflection—
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'what you will command.'"
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If this was
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their mindset,
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then it is no surprise that they were ruled
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by a woman.
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That illusory power in which they
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took such pride
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was merely the power of violent assault and slaughter,
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devoid of wisdom
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and foresight.
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And when power is not governed by a firm,
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wise mind, it brings no benefit
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to its possessor; rather, it harms him,
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because it drags him
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into reckless devastation.
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Now that we understand the caliber of
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the men ruled by
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this woman, let us observe
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how she countered their viewpoint
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and executed her own decision with superior wisdom
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and an intellect that surpassed theirs.
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The Queen of Sheba began
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her response by citing
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a historical reality,
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drawing upon her deep awareness of the history
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of nations before her.
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By invoking this reality, she intended
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to ground her judgment
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in historical knowledge
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regarding the fates of empires.
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She said to them:
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“She said: Lo! kings, when they enter a township, ruin it and make the honour of its people shame. Thus will they do.” (27:34)
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"[Indeed, when kings enter] a city, they ruin it
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and render the noblest of its people
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humiliated."
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Yes, this is an undeniable fact:
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whenever an invader occupies
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a city or a nation,
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he executes its noble leaders
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and its scholars,
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dismantling the established order of their state
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so that he may have absolute, unhindered control
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over that conquered land,
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dominate its subjugated people,
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And to seize its resources and wealth.
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without any contradiction
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The Queen of Sheba said to them,
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Indeed, this is
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the typical nature of conquering kings
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those who occupy the land,
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and the servants of Allah.
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and their history clearly testifies to this.
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For I have not fabricated anything against them.
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For that reason,
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I will not resort to the logic of force.
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To begin with, in confronting
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This magnificent kingdom
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Sulayman
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Instead, I shall resort to another matter.
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He reveals to me the reality of this kingdom.
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Al-Sa'di said:
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May Allah have mercy upon him.
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She said to them, seeking to convince them.
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Regarding their opinion.
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And clarifying the dire consequences of fighting.
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Indeed, when kings enter a land, they ruin it.
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Enter the village, for they have corrupted it.
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They were killed and taken captive.
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and the plundering of its wealth.
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and the destruction of their homes.
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And they made the most honorable of its people [the lowest].
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They are humble.
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That is, they appointed the leaders and the masters.
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The most noble of people are those who are considered the most lowly.
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That is to say,
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This is an unsound opinion.
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Furthermore,
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I will not obey him until he has been tested.
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And the dispatching of someone to investigate.
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regarding his states and reflects upon them.
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And at that moment,
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We must possess clear insight.
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of our affairs
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And Ibn 'Ashur stated:
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May Allah have mercy upon him.
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She expressed her opinion to them, preferring [the other option].
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The aspect of peace alongside the aspect of war.
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And she was cautious about entering.
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Under the authority of Sulayman, by his own choice.
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For the end of
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War involves the possibility that
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Sulayman is victorious.
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Thus, it becomes the kingdom of Sheba.
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to Him
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Under the authority of Sulayman.
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The meeting for the Kingdom in
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His conduct.
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In both of these cases,
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A new transfer of ownership occurs.
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In her city.
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Thus, I came to know it through the analogy of corroborating evidence.
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History and experience.
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The nature of kings, when they
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They act as if they have authority over a kingdom that belongs to someone else.
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That they might overturn its system.
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in accordance with their best interests.
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And the tranquility of their souls.
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From the upheaval of the defeated Ummah.
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During times of weakness.
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Or the indicators of preoccupation.
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regarding significant historical events
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The first thing they do is
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The exclusion of those who were previously in power.
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For the danger is anticipated.
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On their part
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Where their authority was superseded by the new authority.
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Then they alter it.
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Laws and regulations
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which was the path upon which the state proceeded.
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As for when they take it
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by force, so it is inevitable that
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Taking from the spoils of war and captivity.
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That is a far more corrupting state of affairs.
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Both states have thus been incorporated.
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Regarding her statement
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When they enter a village
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They corrupted it.
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And they made the most honorable of its people [the lowest].
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Humble
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She did not accept their opinion regarding the war.
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It is not a matter of desire.
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Nor is any weight given to her opinion.
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However, she looked toward
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The history of the conquering kings.
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And what is it that they do?
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She based her opinion upon knowledge.
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And I resorted to a method
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The latter, in order to save her kingdom.
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regarding the consequences of war
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With the Prophet of Allah, Sulayman, peace be upon him.
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Peace be upon him.
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She was not content with war.
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And she did not consent to immediate surrender.
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For the Prophet of Allah, Sulayman, peace be upon him.
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Peace be upon him.
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along with her admiration for his strength and his eloquence.
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However, it is simply in the nature of things.
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The woman who does not change.
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Throughout the passage of time.
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I resorted to using a stratagem.
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To know the extent of a man's sincerity.
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Is he someone preoccupied with worldly affairs?
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You incline his heart toward you through wealth.
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Or a person of faith and conviction.
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It cannot be swayed.
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with all the wealth of this world
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This is the nature of the matter.
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Regarding the woman, it is appropriate
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That a man should be mindful of it.
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A woman might express her admiration for him.
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However, she conceals it.
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Another reality in and of itself.
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It is the identification of the key points.
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His weakness lies in his desire for control.
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upon him, so he resorts
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regarding many matters.
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By employing ruses and deceit.
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And the plotting.
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In order to attain the realization of its intended purpose.
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Who is this man?
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The one whose eloquence impressed her.
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And the strength of his personality.
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A woman is never exempt from these responsibilities.
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Regarding the utilization of this nature
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Regarding her conduct with men
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And whoever thinks that he is capable
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regarding how to confront the guile of women
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By His might, His power, and His strength.
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He is severely mistaken.
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Therefore, it is essential
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Seeking aid from Allah.
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That He may protect him from the trial of women.
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The husband who
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He assumes that his wife
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Do not plot against him.
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Through the illusion that I have lived.
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In it is his wife.
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He has fallen into the greatest of deceptions.
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And he is unaware.
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Indeed, this faculty that governs
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The most resolute of men.
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Those possessed of great might.
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You resort to artifice.
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Regarding strength.
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She says to her people
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And I am sending a messenger to them.
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with a gift
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Then he shall see what answer he returns with.
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The messengers
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'Abd al-'Aziz al-Tarifi said:
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When the letter from Solomon arrived
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to the Queen of Sheba
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And I read it.
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I sent a letter to him.
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It inclines his heart toward it.
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To ensure that which he desires of her joining him is attained.
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And her submission to Allah.
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She wished to test the sincerity of his claim.
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Is he a person preoccupied with worldly affairs?
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Thus, the gift brings tranquility to the heart.
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For the person who is preoccupied with this worldly life
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If what he desires comes to him.
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His greed was quieted.
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In order to achieve his intended purpose.
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Or a person of faith.
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His objective is the worship of Allah alone.
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This is the nature of a woman.
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Which does not change it.
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Neither time nor place.
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Nor the position of authority.
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A nature that is established in its manner of interaction.
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Standing firm in her interactions with men.
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based on emotion
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And inclining toward its heart.
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By utilizing every
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The possible methods.
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Even if it were prohibited.
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Except for those whose affairs are governed by the religion.
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The upright Islamic path
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He refined her character.
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And preventing her from utilizing her natural disposition.
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regarding what Allah has forbidden for her.
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A woman is not fit [for this role]
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for the sake of sovereignty and leadership.
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upon men, regardless of their position.
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A woman is a woman.
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With her naturally beautiful and sensitive disposition.
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And tenderness and emotional sensitivity.
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And the woman who is possessive and protective of her husband.
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The love for her husband.
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Showing compassion toward him.
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It occupies her throughout her entire life.
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She fills her heart
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with love for Him,
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so she thinks of nothing but Him,
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and does not occupy herself
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with anything other than what pleases Him.
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It is not fitting for her to be preoccupied
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with what corrupts
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her true life,
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her peace of mind,
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and her happiness in this world
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and the Hereafter.
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Indeed, men who do not understand
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the nature of women
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do not find fulfillment
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in their marital lives.
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As for the wicked who know
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the vulnerabilities of women,
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they have exploited that
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to reach them
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and enjoy them in ways Allah has forbidden,
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only to discard them,
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casting them aside
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after they have satisfied their desires with them.
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Whoever among women wishes to know
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this truth
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should look at the lives
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of secretaries
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in the world,
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the conditions they live in
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with their managers,
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and the end to which they have come.
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However,
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how did the Prophet of Allah,
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Sulayman, peace be upon him,
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respond to the ruse of the Queen of Sheba
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regarding this sent gift?
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We shall continue in a
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future meeting, if Allah wills.
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And all praise is due to Allah,
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Lord of the worlds.
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The story of the Queen of Sheba
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with the Prophet of Allah,
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Sulayman, peace be upon him.