Although all birds were obedient to Sayyiduna Sulayman , but his woodpecker was famous for his extraordinary submission and good service. It was the woodpecker who informed Sayyiduna Sulayman about the queen Bilqees of the country named ‘Saba’ that she ruled over the empire sitting on a huge throne. In addition, she possessed everything that a monarch should have. But unfortunately, she and people of her nation would worship the stars. Hearing this news, Sayyiduna Sulayman wrote a letter to Bilqees and the same woodpecker delivered it. The Holy Quran mentions the instructions of Sayyiduna Sulayman to the woodpecker in following words:
Go with this order of mine and drop it upon them, then move aside from them and see how they respond.
[Kanz-ul-Iman (Translation of Quran)J (Part 19, Surah An-Nam/, Ayah 28)
Therefore, the woodpecker took the letter and dropped it in the lap of Bilqees from the top. At that time, she gathered all the statesmen and aristocrats of her empire around her and after reading the letter, she was horrified and said to the members of her court that:
0 chiefs, indeed a noble letter has been dropped upon me. Indeed it is from Sulayman, and it commences with the name of Allah the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. That; exalt not yourselves against me, and present yourselves in my respected court; in submission.
[Kanz-ul-Iman (Translation of Quran)J (Part 19, Surah An-Nam/, Ayah 29-31)
After reading out the letter in front of the aristocrats and the ministers of her state, she sought their suggestion in this regard. Boasting upon their physical and military power, the aristocrats suggested declaring a war on Sayyiduna Sulayman – Bilqees, who was a wise and sane woman, warned and directed her aristocrats and ministers by saying that war is not viable because it will make cities desolated and the aristocrats and well-esteemed people of cities will become victim of humiliation and notoriety. Therefore, I think it would be a prudent option to send some gifts and presents to verify whether Sulayman is only some sort of worldly king or also a Nabi of Allah . As if he is a Nabi of Allah , then he will never accept my gifts. On the contrary, he will insist to follow his religion. And if he is merely a worldly king, then he will turn mild by accepting my gifts. Therefore, through a messenger, Bilqees sent five hundred slaves, five hundred well-ornamented bondmaids and five hundred golden bricks with them, loads of jewels, perfumes (musk and ambergris) and a studded crown along with a letter by her. Seeing all this, the woodpecker departed from there and revealed everything in the court of Sayyiduna Sulayman – Therefore, after few days, when the envoy of Bilqees arrived in the court of Sayyiduna Sulayman loaded with lots of goods, Sayyiduna Sulayman said to the messenger furiously:
Said Sulayman, ‘Do you help me with wealth? What Allah has bestowed upon me is better than what He has given you; rather, it is you who rejoice at your (worldly) gift. Return to them (with these gifts and tell them), so we shall definitely bring upon them such an army that they will have no power (to challenge), and We shall certainly drive them out from that city in disgrace; they will be utterly humiliated in this way.’
[Kanz-ul-Iman (Translation ofQuran)J (Part 19, SurahAn-Naml, Ayah36-37)
Therefore, upon his return, when the messenger told the whole incident to Bilqees, she then presented herself in the court of Sayyiduna Sulayman . After seeing the court of Sayyiduna Sulayman and its wonders, she was assured that no doubt, Sayyiduna Sulayman is a true Nabi of Allah and his empire is bestowed unto him by Allah. When Sayyiduna Sulayman advised her to embrace Islam, she embraced Islam without any hesitation. After this, Sayyiduna Sulayman married Bilqees and kept her in his palace.
In this perspective, all the great tasks accomplished by the woodpecker are no doubt among the wonders of the world which are in fact the miracles of Sayyiduna Sulayman .
Go with this order of mine and drop it upon them, then move aside from them and see how they respond.
[Kanz-ul-Iman (Translation of Quran)J (Part 19, Surah An-Nam/, Ayah 28)
Therefore, the woodpecker took the letter and dropped it in the lap of Bilqees from the top. At that time, she gathered all the statesmen and aristocrats of her empire around her and after reading the letter, she was horrified and said to the members of her court that:
0 chiefs, indeed a noble letter has been dropped upon me. Indeed it is from Sulayman, and it commences with the name of Allah the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. That; exalt not yourselves against me, and present yourselves in my respected court; in submission.
[Kanz-ul-Iman (Translation of Quran)J (Part 19, Surah An-Nam/, Ayah 29-31)
After reading out the letter in front of the aristocrats and the ministers of her state, she sought their suggestion in this regard. Boasting upon their physical and military power, the aristocrats suggested declaring a war on Sayyiduna Sulayman – Bilqees, who was a wise and sane woman, warned and directed her aristocrats and ministers by saying that war is not viable because it will make cities desolated and the aristocrats and well-esteemed people of cities will become victim of humiliation and notoriety. Therefore, I think it would be a prudent option to send some gifts and presents to verify whether Sulayman is only some sort of worldly king or also a Nabi of Allah . As if he is a Nabi of Allah , then he will never accept my gifts. On the contrary, he will insist to follow his religion. And if he is merely a worldly king, then he will turn mild by accepting my gifts. Therefore, through a messenger, Bilqees sent five hundred slaves, five hundred well-ornamented bondmaids and five hundred golden bricks with them, loads of jewels, perfumes (musk and ambergris) and a studded crown along with a letter by her. Seeing all this, the woodpecker departed from there and revealed everything in the court of Sayyiduna Sulayman – Therefore, after few days, when the envoy of Bilqees arrived in the court of Sayyiduna Sulayman loaded with lots of goods, Sayyiduna Sulayman said to the messenger furiously:
Said Sulayman, ‘Do you help me with wealth? What Allah has bestowed upon me is better than what He has given you; rather, it is you who rejoice at your (worldly) gift. Return to them (with these gifts and tell them), so we shall definitely bring upon them such an army that they will have no power (to challenge), and We shall certainly drive them out from that city in disgrace; they will be utterly humiliated in this way.’
[Kanz-ul-Iman (Translation ofQuran)J (Part 19, SurahAn-Naml, Ayah36-37)
Therefore, upon his return, when the messenger told the whole incident to Bilqees, she then presented herself in the court of Sayyiduna Sulayman . After seeing the court of Sayyiduna Sulayman and its wonders, she was assured that no doubt, Sayyiduna Sulayman is a true Nabi of Allah and his empire is bestowed unto him by Allah. When Sayyiduna Sulayman advised her to embrace Islam, she embraced Islam without any hesitation. After this, Sayyiduna Sulayman married Bilqees and kept her in his palace.
In this perspective, all the great tasks accomplished by the woodpecker are no doubt among the wonders of the world which are in fact the miracles of Sayyiduna Sulayman .
