The story of the hoopoe bird and Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon).
The Story of the Hoopoe and Prophet Solomon (Sulaiman) – A Quranic Tale of Wisdom and Belief
The story of the hoopoe bird and Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon) is one of the most fascinating tales in the Quran. It is mentioned in Surah An-Naml (The Ant) and teaches valuable lessons about observation, responsibility, and the importance of spreading faith.
🕊️ What Happened Between Sulaiman and the Hoopoe?
One day, Prophet Sulaiman (peace be upon him) gathered the birds in his court. As he looked around, he noticed one bird missing. It was the hoopoe (hud-hud). Sulaiman said:
"Why do I not see the hoopoe? Or is he among the absent? I will punish him severely or even kill him unless he brings me a clear reason." (Quran 27:20-21)
Soon, the hoopoe arrived. The other birds rushed to tell him how angry the Prophet was. The hoopoe then approached Sulaiman and said:
"I have discovered something you and your army do not know! I bring you true and important news."
The hoopoe explained that he had seen a powerful queen in the land of Sheba (modern-day Yemen). She ruled over a rich nation, lived in a grand palace, and had a throne decorated with jewels. But sadly, she and her people worshipped the sun instead of Allah.
📜 Sulaiman Sends a Letter to the Queen
Prophet Sulaiman wanted to verify the bird's claim. He wrote a letter to the Queen of Sheba, inviting her to believe in Allah, the One and Only God.
He handed the letter to the hoopoe and instructed:
"Take this letter, deliver it quietly, then wait and see how they respond."
When Queen Bilqis received the letter, she read it and gathered her advisors. She asked for their opinion. They said:
"We are strong and brave. You are our queen; tell us what you decide."
She chose to send valuable gifts to Sulaiman to test him.
💎 Sulaiman's Response and the Throne Miracle
When the gifts arrived, Sulaiman rejected them:
"Do you think you can tempt me with wealth? Allah has given me more than you."
Then, he ordered his powerful jinn to bring the Queen's throne to him. One of the jinn brought it instantly—before her arrival—proving the greatness of Allah.
Sulaiman had the throne slightly altered. When Bilqis arrived, he asked:
"Is this your throne?"
She said: "It looks like it!"
Sulaiman confirmed that it was, and she realized his truth and power. She immediately accepted faith and said:
“My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, and I submit with Solomon to Allah, Lord of the worlds.” (Quran 27:44)
🌟 Lessons from the Story:
Give others the benefit of the doubt. Prophet Sulaiman allowed the hoopoe to explain himself before punishing him.
If you see something wrong, try to fix it. The hoopoe didn’t stay silent when he saw people worshipping the sun; he informed someone wiser—Sulaiman.
This powerful story from the Quran reminds us that even the smallest creature can bring about great change, and that faith and humility are far greater than riches or power.
