The story of the Prophet of Allah, Sulayman (peace be upon him), with the hoopoe, and the interpretation of His saying, the Exalted
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : As for the second issue I wish to speak about, it is Sulayman (peace and blessings be upon him) inspecting the birds. He inspected the birds and said: [An-Naml 27:20] This indicates the completeness of his administration of his kingdom, because Sulayman was given a great kingdom that no one after him should have. He inspected even the birds; he checked on them. Where did such-and-such bird go? Yes. Now, our children go to the markets, and we do not check on them. Our children are the soft spots of our hearts, yet we do not know where they are; we do not check on them. Sulayman checked on what? His kingdom, even the birds. He said: [An-Naml 27:20] meaning, did I neglect it, or was it absent? The word "am" here means "bal" (rather), so it is for emphasis, meaning rather it was absent. Then he threatened: "I will surely punish it with a severe punishment or slaughter it, or it will bring me a clear authority." If it brought him a clear authority, would he punish it and slaughter it? No? No. It remained not a short time, meaning a short period, and then the hoopoe came. And the hoopoe had traveled from Sham to Yemen. The hoopoe came and said to him: [An-Naml 27:22] He said this harsh word to Sulayman because what? Because it is a hoopoe, a bird. "I have encompassed what you have not encompassed" means, as if he is saying, "I know what you are ignorant of." Yes. [An-Naml 27:22] Then he related the story.
Consider this statement from the hoopoe and the statement of Ibrahim to his father:[Maryam 19:43] Is there a difference between the two expressions? Which of you is the intelligent one who knows the difference between the two expressions? The hoopoe said to Sulayman: And Ibrahim said to his father: [Maryam 19:43]. Please.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Which one is more severe and harsher?
The student: The statement of the hoopoe
TThe Shaykh : The statement of the hoopoe[An-Naml 27:22] is undoubtedly so, because Ibrahim did not say to his father, "You are ignorant." [Maryam 19:43] This is a good and gentle style. Therefore, a person should, when addressing someone above him, address him with gentle words that convey the intended meaning. Undoubtedly, saying "I have knowledge that you do not have" is milder than saying "You are ignorant." There is no doubt about this. So style has an effect on the listener's acceptance.
It is mentioned that a king among the kings saw a dream that terrified him. He saw that his teeth had fallen out; his teeth fell out, and he was greatly terrified. So he brought those who interpret dreams and asked them. One of them said, "Your family will die." He became more upset. He said, "Beat him." Why did he say, "Beat him"? Because it upset him greatly. The man was already upset, and this increased his affliction. He said, "Beat him." Bring someone else. They brought another one and presented the dream to him. He said, "The king will be the longest-lived of his family." He said, "May Allah bless you," or a word to that effect. The king will be the longest-lived of his family. Now, does this word convey the first meaning or not? Because if his family died before him, he became the longest-lived among them. So look at how the same speech differs according to the style. Therefore, a person should be tactful in his conversations, speaking words that achieve the objective without affecting the listener. If he wants his words to be accepted, especially in enjoining good and forbidding evil, then gentleness and kindness are important.
Why do I not see the hoopoe
مالي لا أرى الهدهدWhy do I not see the hoopoe - or is he among the absent?
مالي لا أرى الهدهد أم كان من الغائبينI have encompassed [in knowledge] that which you have not encompassed
أحطت بما لم تحط بهand I have come to you from Sheba with certain news.
وجئتك من سبأ بنبأ يقينConsider this statement from the hoopoe and the statement of Ibrahim to his father:
O my father, indeed there has come to me of knowledge that which has not come to you
يا أبت إني قد جائني من العلم ما لم يأتكI have encompassed what you have not encompassed
أحط بما لا تحطO my father, indeed there has come to me of knowledge that which has not come to you
يا أبت إني قد جاءني بالعلم ما لم يأتكThe student: ... .
The Shaykh : Which one is more severe and harsher?
The student: The statement of the hoopoe
TThe Shaykh : The statement of the hoopoe
I have encompassed [in knowledge] that which you have not encompassed
أحطت بما لم تحط بهthere has come to me of knowledge that which has not come to you
قد جاءني من العلم ما لم يأتكIt is mentioned that a king among the kings saw a dream that terrified him. He saw that his teeth had fallen out; his teeth fell out, and he was greatly terrified. So he brought those who interpret dreams and asked them. One of them said, "Your family will die." He became more upset. He said, "Beat him." Why did he say, "Beat him"? Because it upset him greatly. The man was already upset, and this increased his affliction. He said, "Beat him." Bring someone else. They brought another one and presented the dream to him. He said, "The king will be the longest-lived of his family." He said, "May Allah bless you," or a word to that effect. The king will be the longest-lived of his family. Now, does this word convey the first meaning or not? Because if his family died before him, he became the longest-lived among them. So look at how the same speech differs according to the style. Therefore, a person should be tactful in his conversations, speaking words that achieve the objective without affecting the listener. If he wants his words to be accepted, especially in enjoining good and forbidding evil, then gentleness and kindness are important.