What is the meaning of the saying of Allah the Exalted in Surat al-Naml: “I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the outcast”?
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The questioner : What is the meaning of the saying of Allah the Exalted in Surat al-Naml: “I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the outcast”: [An-Naml 27:44]?
The Shaykh : The meaning of this verse is that when Sulayman (peace be upon him) learned of the polytheist Queen of Saba, who prostrated to the sun along with her people instead of Allah, he sent a message to her. The story is well known in Surat al-Naml. She came to Sulayman (peace be upon him), and he built a palace of glass that looked like water to the observer. When this woman came, she thought it was water and uncovered her legs. He said:[An-Naml 27:44].
And Sulayman’s intention, may Allah know best, was to show her her weakness so that her arrogance would be broken and it would become clear to her that she is weak. For this reason, she said:[An-Naml 27:44].
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
She was told, "Enter the palace." But when she saw it, she thought it was a body of water and uncovered her shins [to wade through]. He said, "Indeed, it is a palace [whose floor is] made smooth with glass."
قِيلَ لَهَا ادْخُلِي الصَّرْحَ فَلَمَّا رَأَتْهُ حَسِبَتْهُ لُجَّةً وَكَشَفَتْ عَنْ سَاقَيْهَا قَالَ إِنَّهُ صَرْحٌ مُمَرَّدٌ مِنْ قَوَارِيرَThe Shaykh : The meaning of this verse is that when Sulayman (peace be upon him) learned of the polytheist Queen of Saba, who prostrated to the sun along with her people instead of Allah, he sent a message to her. The story is well known in Surat al-Naml. She came to Sulayman (peace be upon him), and he built a palace of glass that looked like water to the observer. When this woman came, she thought it was water and uncovered her legs. He said:
it is a palace [whose floor is] made smooth with glass
إنه صرحٌ ممردٌ من قواريرAnd Sulayman’s intention, may Allah know best, was to show her her weakness so that her arrogance would be broken and it would become clear to her that she is weak. For this reason, she said:
My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, and I submit with Solomon to Allah, Lord of the worlds."
رَبِّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي وَأَسْلَمْتُ مَعَ سُلَيْمَانَ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَThe questioner : May Allah bless you.