Page 223 - Mary: An Exemplary Muslim Woman

221

discussed it with her inner circle. This event is related in the
Qur'an:

She said: "O council! A noble letter has been delivered to me.
It is from Solomon and says: 'In the name of Allah, the
Merciful, the Compassionate. Do not rise up against me, but
come to me in submission.'" She said: "O council. Give me
your opinion about this matter. It is not my habit to make a
final decision until I have heard what you have to say."
(Surat an-Naml: 29-32)
Her council responded: "We possess strength and great
force. But the matter is in your hands, so consider what you
command" (Surat an-Naml: 33). This shows that she had
great power over her kingdom.
She took up the advice of her aids and chose caution:

"When kings enter a city, they lay waste to it and make its
mightiest inhabitants the most abased. That is what they too
will do. I will send them a gift, and then wait and see what
the messengers bring back." (Surat an-Naml: 34-35)
Her primary goal was to discover his true intention. The

Prophet Solomon (pbuh), who understood her strategy, re-
jected the gifts and sent her another message:
[Solomon said to the messenger:] "Return to them. We will
come to them with troops they cannot face, and will expel
them from it abased and humiliated." (Surat an-Naml: 37)
He warned her once more of his army's irresistible pow-
er and warned her to surrender. He also requested that his
army's leaders bring her throne to him, for it symbolized her
rule. A demon from among the jinns brought it in the time it
takes to blink, and the Prophet Solomon (pbuh) then had it al-
tered. When Balqis finally came to him, he asked her whether
this throne belonged to her:

Harun Yahya (Adnan Oktar)