Page 225 - Mary: An Exemplary Muslim Woman

223

Then when she came, she was asked: "Is
your throne like this?" She said: "It is ex-
actly like it. We were given the knowl-
edge before it, and we were submissive."
And what she worshipped besides Allah
impeded her. She was from an unbeliev-
ing people. (Surat an-Naml: 42-43)

In spite of being from a land of sun
worshippers, the queen of Saba was quite
affected by the genuine manner of the
Prophet Solomon's (pbuh) letter, his ratio-
nal style, power, and most impressive
palace. All of this led her to believe and be-
come a Muslim. Allah reveals her submis-
sion to him:
She was told: "Enter the courtyard." But
when she saw it, she supposed it to be a
pool and bared her legs. He said: "It is a
courtyard paved with glass." She said:
"My Lord, I have wronged myself, but I
have submitted with Solomon to the
Lord of all the worlds." (Surat an-Naml:
44)

This account of the queen of Saba and
the Prophet Solomon (pbuh) contains wis-
dom and advice. The queen's ability to rea-
son correctly enabled her to see the truth
and act accordingly. In spite of her very
different beliefs, she surrendered to Allah
and believed in Him without hesitation
when she realized the truth. This is an ex-
ample of exemplary behavior.