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formed of men and jinns. His palace was built using
the most advanced technologies of that era and dis-

played a great aesthetic style. In the Qur'an Allah re-
lates that Balqis, the queen of Saba, entered into an
economical and political dialogue with the Prophet
Solomon (pbuh). No doubt, there is much wisdom
and advice in this information for believers.
Allah reveals that a hoopoe in the Prophet
Solomon's (pbuh) army brought him some important
news about the queen of Saba:

However, it was not long delayed, and then it [the
hoopoe] said: "I have comprehended something you
have not and bring you accurate intelligence from
Saba. I found a woman ruling over them who has
been given everything. She possesses a mighty
throne. I found both her and her people prostrating
to the sun instead of Allah. Satan has made their ac-
tions seem good to them and debarred them from
the Way, so they are not guided and do not prostrate
to Allah, Who brings out what is hidden in the heav-
ens and Earth, and knows what you conceal and
what you divulge." (Surat an-Naml: 22-25)

First, the hoopoe gave the Prophet Solomon
(pbuh) some information about the queen's qualities:
She had everything in abundance, ruled the kingdom
of Saba, and had a great throne. He drew the attention
thereby to the power of her kingdom and her rule.
Based on this information, the Prophet Solomon
(pbuh) wrote a letter to Balqis and invited her to be-

lieve in Allah and surrender to him. The queen im-
mediately realized the significance of this letter and

Mary: An Exemplary Muslim Woman