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Herein is the first surprise of King Solomon to show up the Queen how powerful he is.

The Queen of Sheba is coming submitted to Solomon. A big surprise was waiting for her!

Before she came, King Solomon brought her throne from Yemen to his palace in fraction of a second!

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King Solomon said, ‘O members of the council, which of you will bring me her throne (from Yemen) before they come to me in submission (submissive to Allah) and seeking peace?’

a brave Efreet from among the jinn – a [jinn who is] powerful and stalwart said: I will bring it before you rise from your place (before you leave your seat of judgment, for he used to sit for judgments until noon). i.e. within few hours! Then the jinni said: Indeed I have the strength for it, that is, for carrying it, and I am trustworthy’, over what it may contain of jewels and other [precious] things.

King Solomon said, ‘I want something faster than that!’

The one who had knowledge of the, revealed, Scripture, a righteous man with knowledge of Allah’s Greatest Name, which when invoked [in supplication] for something it is [immediately] granted – said: ‘I will bring it to you before your glance returns to you, after you look at something. Then, in a fraction of a second, when King Solomon saw it standing, still, before him, he said, ‘This, bringing it to me, is of my Lord’s bounty, that He may try me, test me, whether I give thanks or am ungrateful, for the favor. And whoever gives thanks, gives thanks only for his own sake, because the reward for his thanks shall be his, and whoever is ungrateful, for the favor, [should know] then my Lord is surely Independent, with no need of his thanks, Generous’, by being bounteous to those who are ungrateful for it.

He said, ‘Disguise her throne for her – in other words, transform it such that when she sees it, it will be in an unrecognizable form – that we may see whether she will be guided, to recognizing it, or be of those who cannot be guided’, to recognize when things are transformed around them. He [Solomon] sought thereby to test her mind, for it was said to have something wrong with it. Thus they transformed it by adding or taking away [certain things] and in other ways.

So when she came, it was said, to her: ‘Is your throne like this?’ She said, ‘It as though it is the one’. She had, in fact, recognized it; but she made a pretence to them just as they made a pretence to her, given that [when she was asked about the throne] it was not said, ‘Is this your throne?’, for had it been so, she would have replied, ‘Yes, it is’. When Solomon realized that she was perceptive and knowledgeable, he said: ‘And we were given the knowledge before her and we had submitted [to God].

(And (all) that she was wont to worship) the sun (instead of Allah hindered her) Solomon stopped her; it is also said that this means: Allah stopped her; (for she came of disbelieving folk) her folk were Zoroastrians.

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Surah (Chapter) 27:38-42

38] He (King Solomon) said (to his own Companion): “ye chiefs! which of you will bring me her throne before they come to me in submission (submissive to Allah)?”

39] a brave Efreet (an extremely strong jinni) among the jinn replied: ‘I will bring it to you before you rise from your council; indeed I have the strength for the purpose and am trustworthy. ‘

40] One (of the Companion) who had knowledge of the book said: “I will bring it to thee within the twinkling of an eye!” then when (Solomon) saw it placed firmly before him, he said: “this is by the grace of my lord!- to test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful! and if any is grateful, truly his gratitude is (a gain) for his own soul; but if any is ungrateful, truly my lord is free of all needs, supreme in honour!”

41] He said: alter her throne for her; we will see whether she follows the right way or is of those who do not go aright

42] So when she arrived, she was asked, “is this thy throne?” she said, “it was just like this; and knowledge was bestowed on us in advance of this, and we have submitted to Allah.”

43] And he diverted her from the worship of others besides Allah: for she was (sprung) of a people that had no faith.

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It is amazing that the Quran declares these facts about the power of the unique companion of King Solomon.

One of them was able to bring him the throne of the Queen from Yemen to his palace in fraction of a second. King Solomon brought her throne to examine her! On the other hand, the Bible says that it was the Queen of Sheba who examined King Solomon!

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Back to the main issue of my series of articles; this is my question to you smart readers: “Is the Quran quoted from the Bible?”

By the way, the disbelieved ignorant Arabs stated that the Quran quoted from the Bible more than 1400 years ago! (Read my article about chapter 25).

King Solomon was very enthusiastic to spread the Lord’s Religion, to lead the unbelievers to know their Lord and submit to him and have faith and obey the Law.

This was the main objective of King Solomon.

All of his companions and hosts know this fact very well and they had done their best to let him achieve his main target. Anyone of his companions and hosts becomes lazy in doing that, King Solomon would have punished him severely!

Look at the Hoopoe when accidentally went to Yemen and saw the Queen of Sheba and the people there worshipping the sun; the Hoopoe was surprised and upset and went immediately to tell his boss King Solomon.

On the other hand, King Solomon was inspecting his Hosts; and he reviewed the birds. The Hoopoe was absent! King Solomon threatened to punish the Hoopoe severely or to kill him unless he has a reasonable excuse!

The Hoopoe came back and he acted like a news reporter which has got breaking news, he said that he found a woman ruling over the people in Yemen and she and her people were prostrating to the sun instead of Allah.

Now Solomon was very surprised to hear this news!

He wondered if there people on the earth which are not worshipping the Lord, the Creator!

Immediately, he wrote a letter and commanded the hoopoe to take it and deliver it to the Queen, and see what kind of response she shall give.

The Hoopoe did as Solomon commanded, dropped the letter and the Queen took it and read it, she was scared and went to meet her entourage for an emergency meeting.

The Queen of Sheba told her chieftains that a noble letter that is worthy of respect has been delivered to her.

What was the content of the letter?

1] It is from Solomon

2] And its first line says: “In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, and the Merciful.

3] And its text says: “Do not exalt yourselves against me; do not feel too haughty towards me, and come unto me (in surrender) in submission (to the true religion).

This letter was very short but comprehensive.

King Solomon commanded the Queen to follow the religion of Allah and submit to Allah!

The Queen decided to send Solomon a gift and wait to see with what he is going to do.

She thought that if he is interested in money he will be happy with the gifts but if he is devoted to Allah he will reject her gifts.

When the Queen’s envoy, came with the gifts, Solomon said, ‘Are you supplying me with gifts?

Go back to them, with the gifts that you have brought, for I shall assuredly come to them with hosts (that they cannot resist) which they will not be able to face and they have no power to stop and we shall expel them from there, from the land of Sheba humiliated, and they shall be utterly abased’, (with shame) with their hands tied to their necks, unless they come to me in submission to Allah’s religion.

What is the Wisdom of this story:

This story has many deep meanings, e.g.

1] King Solomon was devoted to Allah

2] The main objective of King Solomon was to spread his Lord religion everywhere on the earth.

3] King Solomon’s hosts knew that and they did their best to help him.

4] The Hoopoe (one of his hosts) came to him with breaking news about the people of Yemen who looked at the sun as god!

5] Solomon did not waste a second; he immediately sent them a letter inviting them to submit to Allah instead of worshipping the sun!

6] Solomon took the hoopoe news very seriously.

7] Although Solomon was very powerful, full of knowledge and wisdom, however, a hoopoe knew what he did not know. It is a general rule that is applicable in any field of knowledge and at any time. This rule is put by the Quran many centuries ago!

Surah (Chapter) 12:76

“Over every knowledgeable person, there is one more knowing.”

8] Solomon never felt embarrassed that the hoopoe knew what he did not; the most important in his eyes is to spread his Lord’s religion and to convince the unbelievers to become believers.

If the smart reader likes to read the details of Solomon’ stories with the hoopoe and the Queen of Sheba he (she) could find them in my articles:

Not in Bible but in Quran (11); King Solomon and His Unique Hoopoe

Not in Bible but in Quran (12); King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba

Not in Bible but in Quran (13); King Solomon’s Companion and the First Surprise!

Not in Bible but in Quran (14); King Solomon’s Castle and the Second Surprise!

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It is amazing that the Quran declares that King Solomon did his best and never wasted a second to spread the Lord’s religion. Also he refused to take the gifts of the Queen of Sheba.

On the other hand, the Bible never says that King Solomon attempted to spread the Lord’s religion and also he took the gifts of the Queen of Sheba!

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Back to the main issue of my series of articles; this is my question to you smart readers: “Is the Quran quoted from the Bible?”

By the way, the disbelieved ignorant Arabs stated that the Quran quoted from the Bible more than 1400 years ago! (Read my article about chapter 25).

The Quran says that the Hoopoe is intelligent, smart, knows and worships his Creator, and communicated with King Solomon.

Leviticus 11

Unclean and Detested bird:

13 “These are the birds you are to detest and not eat because they are detestable: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture, 14 the red kite, any kind of black kite, 15 any kind of raven, 16 the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, 17 the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, 18 the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey, 19 the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.

Deuteronomy 14

Unclean Food:

11 You may eat any clean bird. 12 But these you may not eat: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture, 13 the red kite, the black kite, any kind of falcon, 14 any kind of raven, 15 the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, 16 the little owl, the great owl, the white owl, 17 the desert owl, the osprey, the cormorant, 18 the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.

In the Bible dictionary it is said: “Although the hoopoe bird is only referred to once in the Bible, it is known to be a faithful companion of people all over the world”.

However, the dictionary does not tell that the hoopoe is detested according to Leviticus 11 and also, there is no verse in the Bible which says that is a faithful companion of people all over the world. I bet that the writers of the Bible dictionary have read the Noble Quran and put such an observation about the hoopoe as a faithful companion of people all over the world.

The story of the hoopoe with King Solomon illustrates how faithful, smart was the hoopoe.

Hoopoe in the Quran:

The Hoopoe is mentioned once in the Noble Quran, in Surah 27.

Prophet Solomon was a king whose armies consisted of troops made of men and Jinns and birds. It is possible that the birds were employed for communicating the messages, hunting and for other suitable services.

Detective and Messenger of Prophets

[20] And he took a muster of the Birds; and he said: “Why is it I see not the Hoopoe? Or is he among the absentees?

[21] “I will certainly punish him with a severe penalty, or execute him, unless he brings me a clear reason (for absence).”

[22] But he (the hoopoe) tarried not far: he (came up and) said: “I have compassed (territory) which thou hast not compassed, and I have come to thee from Saba with tidings true.

[23] “I found (there) a woman ruling over them and provided with every requisite; and she has a magnificent throne.

[24] “I found her and her people worshipping the sun besides Allah: Satan has made their deeds seem pleasing to their eyes, and has kept them away from the Path, so they receive no guidance,

[25] “(Kept them away from the Path) that they should not worship Allah, Who brings to light what is hidden in the heavens and the earth, and knows what ye hide and what ye reveal.

[26] “Allah! – there is no god but He! – Lord of the Throne supreme!”

[27] (Solomon) said: “Soon shall we see whether thou hast told the truth or lied!

28] “Go thou, with this letter of mine, and deliver it to them: then draw back from them, and (wait to) see what answer they return”…

[29] (The Queen) said: “Ye chiefs! here is – delivered to me – a letter worthy of respect.

[30] “It is from Solomon, and is (as follows): ‘In the name of Allah, Most Gracious Most Merciful:

[31] “`Be ye not arrogant against me, but come to me in submission (to the true Religion).”

The story of how Solomon and the Queen of Saba (Yemen) met: One day Solomon inspected his birds but did not find the Hoopoe. When the bird came back he said, “With truthful news I come to you from Saba, where I found a woman reigning over people and they worship the sun instead of Allah.

Solomon ordered the Hoopoe to return to her and give her a message calling her not to exalt herself above him (Solomon), but come to him in all submission. The Hoopoe did his job perfectly.

In the Qur’an (27:20) we read that Prophet Solomon reviewed his birds and found Hoopoe missing. His most movable arm was the birds, which were light on the wing and flew and saw everything like talented scouts. Prophet Solomon conveys his anger and his yearning to punish Hoopoe severely if he does not present himself before Prophet Solomon with a realistic explanation. Within a short time, the Hoopoe came back and said, “I have got knowledge of things which you have no idea about. I have brought sure information about Saba (Yemen now). There, I have seen a woman ruling over her people: she has been given all sorts of provisions, and she has a wonderful throne. I saw that she and her people prostrate themselves before the sun and worshiped the sun, instead of Allah.!”

Prophet Solomon said, “We shall just now see whether what you say is true, or that you are a liar. Take this letter of mine and cast it before them; then get aside and see what reaction they show.” Qur’an, 27: 27-28.

Here, ends the role of Hoopoe in the story.

In this story, the Noble Quran gives the Hoopoe some characters that need intense research to be elucidated by the scientists. The Hoopoe had the powers of observation, discrimination and expression that it should pass over a country and should come to know that it is the land of Saba, it has such and such a scheme of government, it is ruled by a certain woman, its faith is sun-worship, that it should have worshipped One Lord, Allah instead of having gone off track, and then on its return to Prophet Solomon it should so clearly make a report of all its observations before him.

In spite of great advances in science and technology, man cannot tell with absolute certainty what powers and abilities the different species of animals and their different individuals have got? Man has not so far been able to know through any certain means what different animals know and what they see and hear, and what they feel and think and understand, and know how the mind of each one of them works. Yet, whatever little observation has been made of the life of the different species of animals, it has revealed some of their wonderful abilities. Now, when Allah, Who is the Creator of these animals, tells us that He had taught the speech of the birds to one of His Prophets and blessed him with the ability to speak to them, and the Prophet’s taming and training had so enabled a Hoopoe that it could make certain observations in the foreign lands and could report them to the Prophet, then we should be prepared to revise our little knowledge about the animals in the light of Allah’s statement.

“… We raise to degrees (of wisdom) whom We please: but over all endued with knowledge is One, the All-Knowing.” Surah 12:76

Back to our main issue; one may ask this: Is the Quran quoted from the Bible? And which book precedes the sciences? The book which that the hoopoe is a detested bird or the book which precedes the sciences and says that the hoopoe has the powers of observation, discrimination and expression and it is one of the best detective and messenger?

The Quran says that the Hoopoe is intelligent, smart, knows and worships his Creator, and communicated with King Solomon.

Leviticus 11

Unclean and Detested bird:

13 “These are the birds you are to detest and not eat because they are detestable: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture, 14 the red kite, any kind of black kite, 15 any kind of raven, 16 the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, 17 the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, 18 the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey, 19 the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.

Deuteronomy 14

Unclean Food:

11 You may eat any clean bird. 12 But these you may not eat: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture, 13 the red kite, the black kite, any kind of falcon, 14 any kind of raven, 15 the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, 16 the little owl, the great owl, the white owl, 17 the desert owl, the osprey, the cormorant, 18 the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.

In the Bible dictionary it is said: “Although the hoopoe bird is only referred to once in the Bible, it is known to be a faithful companion of people all over the world”.

However, the dictionary does not tell that the hoopoe is detested according to Leviticus 11 and also, there is no verse in the Bible which says that is a faithful companion of people all over the world. I bet that the writers of the Bible dictionary have read the Noble Quran and put such an observation about the hoopoe as a faithful companion of people all over the world.

The story of the hoopoe with King Solomon illustrates how faithful, smart was the hoopoe.

Hoopoe in the Quran:

The Hoopoe is mentioned once in the Noble Quran, in Surah 27.

Prophet Solomon was a king whose armies consisted of troops made of men and Jinns and birds. It is possible that the birds were employed for communicating the messages, hunting and for other suitable services.

Detective and Messenger of Prophets

[20] And he took a muster of the Birds; and he said: “Why is it I see not the Hoopoe? Or is he among the absentees?

[21] “I will certainly punish him with a severe penalty, or execute him, unless he brings me a clear reason (for absence).”

[22] But he (the hoopoe) tarried not far: he (came up and) said: “I have compassed (territory) which thou hast not compassed, and I have come to thee from Saba with tidings true.

[23] “I found (there) a woman ruling over them and provided with every requisite; and she has a magnificent throne.

[24] “I found her and her people worshipping the sun besides Allah: Satan has made their deeds seem pleasing to their eyes, and has kept them away from the Path, so they receive no guidance,

[25] “(Kept them away from the Path) that they should not worship Allah, Who brings to light what is hidden in the heavens and the earth, and knows what ye hide and what ye reveal.

[26] “Allah! – there is no god but He! – Lord of the Throne supreme!”

[27] (Solomon) said: “Soon shall we see whether thou hast told the truth or lied!

28] “Go thou, with this letter of mine, and deliver it to them: then draw back from them, and (wait to) see what answer they return”…

[29] (The Queen) said: “Ye chiefs! here is – delivered to me – a letter worthy of respect.

[30] “It is from Solomon, and is (as follows): ‘In the name of Allah, Most Gracious Most Merciful:

[31] “`Be ye not arrogant against me, but come to me in submission (to the true Religion).”

The story of how Solomon and the Queen of Saba (Yemen) met: One day Solomon inspected his birds but did not find the Hoopoe. When the bird came back he said, “With truthful news I come to you from Saba, where I found a woman reigning over people and they worship the sun instead of Allah.

Solomon ordered the Hoopoe to return to her and give her a message calling her not to exalt herself above him (Solomon), but come to him in all submission. The Hoopoe did his job perfectly.

In the Qur’an (27:20) we read that Prophet Solomon reviewed his birds and found Hoopoe missing. His most movable arm was the birds, which were light on the wing and flew and saw everything like talented scouts. Prophet Solomon conveys his anger and his yearning to punish Hoopoe severely if he does not present himself before Prophet Solomon with a realistic explanation. Within a short time, the Hoopoe came back and said, “I have got knowledge of things which you have no idea about. I have brought sure information about Saba (Yemen now). There, I have seen a woman ruling over her people: she has been given all sorts of provisions, and she has a wonderful throne. I saw that she and her people prostrate themselves before the sun and worshiped the sun, instead of Allah.!”

Prophet Solomon said, “We shall just now see whether what you say is true, or that you are a liar. Take this letter of mine and cast it before them; then get aside and see what reaction they show.” Qur’an, 27: 27-28.

Here, ends the role of Hoopoe in the story.

In this story, the Noble Quran gives the Hoopoe some characters that need intense research to be elucidated by the scientists. The Hoopoe had the powers of observation, discrimination and expression that it should pass over a country and should come to know that it is the land of Saba, it has such and such a scheme of government, it is ruled by a certain woman, its faith is sun-worship, that it should have worshipped One Lord, Allah instead of having gone off track, and then on its return to Prophet Solomon it should so clearly make a report of all its observations before him.

In spite of great advances in science and technology, man cannot tell with absolute certainty what powers and abilities the different species of animals and their different individuals have got? Man has not so far been able to know through any certain means what different animals know and what they see and hear, and what they feel and think and understand, and know how the mind of each one of them works. Yet, whatever little observation has been made of the life of the different species of animals, it has revealed some of their wonderful abilities. Now, when Allah, Who is the Creator of these animals, tells us that He had taught the speech of the birds to one of His Prophets and blessed him with the ability to speak to them, and the Prophet’s taming and training had so enabled a Hoopoe that it could make certain observations in the foreign lands and could report them to the Prophet, then we should be prepared to revise our little knowledge about the animals in the light of Allah’s statement.

“… We raise to degrees (of wisdom) whom We please: but over all endued with knowledge is One, the All-Knowing.” Surah 12:76

Back to our main issue; one may ask this: Is the Quran quoted from the Bible? And which book precedes the sciences? The book which that the hoopoe is a detested bird or the book which precedes the sciences and says that the hoopoe has the powers of observation, discrimination and expression and it is one of the best detective and messenger?

One of the inherited doctrines of mankind is that the Quran is quoted or borrowed from the Bible. The Bible says that the Hoopoe is detested and unclean and forbid eating the Hoopoe.

The Quran says that the Hoopoe is intelligent, smart, knows and worships his Creator, and communicated with King Solomon.

Leviticus 11

Unclean and Detested bird:

13 “These are the birds you are to detest and not eat because they are detestable: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture, 14 the red kite, any kind of black kite, 15 any kind of raven, 16 the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, 17 the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, 18 the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey, 19 the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.

Deuteronomy 14

Unclean Food:

11 You may eat any clean bird. 12 But these you may not eat: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture, 13 the red kite, the black kite, any kind of falcon, 14 any kind of raven, 15 the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, 16 the little owl, the great owl, the white owl, 17 the desert owl, the osprey, the cormorant, 18 the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.

In the Bible dictionary it is said: “Although the hoopoe bird is only referred to once in the Bible, it is known to be a faithful companion of people all over the world”.

However, the dictionary does not tell that the hoopoe is detested according to Leviticus 11 and also, there is no verse in the Bible which says that is a faithful companion of people all over the world. I bet that the writers of the Bible dictionary have read the Noble Quran and put such an observation about the hoopoe as a faithful companion of people all over the world.

The story of the hoopoe with King Solomon illustrates how faithful, smart was the hoopoe.

The Hoopoe in the Quran:

The Hoopoe is mentioned once in the Noble Quran, in Surah 27.

Prophet Solomon was a king whose armies consisted of troops made of men and Jinns and birds. It is possible that the birds were employed for communicating the messages, hunting and for other suitable services.

Detective and Messenger of Prophets

[20] And he took a muster of the Birds; and he said: “Why is it I see not the Hoopoe? Or is he among the absentees?

[21] “I will certainly punish him with a severe penalty, or execute him, unless he brings me a clear reason (for absence).”

[22] But he (the hoopoe) tarried not far: he (came up and) said: “I have compassed (territory) which thou hast not compassed, and I have come to thee from Saba with tidings true.

[23] “I found (there) a woman ruling over them and provided with every requisite; and she has a magnificent throne.

[24] “I found her and her people worshipping the sun besides Allah: Satan has made their deeds seem pleasing to their eyes, and has kept them away from the Path, so they receive no guidance,

[25] “(Kept them away from the Path) that they should not worship Allah, Who brings to light what is hidden in the heavens and the earth, and knows what ye hide and what ye reveal.

[26] “Allah! – there is no god but He! – Lord of the Throne supreme!”

[27] (Solomon) said: “Soon shall we see whether thou hast told the truth or lied!

28] “Go thou, with this letter of mine, and deliver it to them: then draw back from them, and (wait to) see what answer they return”…

[29] (The Queen) said: “Ye chiefs! here is – delivered to me – a letter worthy of respect.

[30] “It is from Solomon, and is (as follows): ‘In the name of Allah, Most Gracious Most Merciful:

[31] “`Be ye not arrogant against me, but come to me in submission (to the true Religion).”

The story of how Solomon and the Queen of Saba (Yemen) met: One day Solomon inspected his birds but did not find the Hoopoe. When the bird came back he said, “With truthful news I come to you from Saba, where I found a woman reigning over people and they worship the sun instead of Allah.

Solomon ordered the Hoopoe to return to her and give her a message calling her not to exalt herself above him (Solomon), but come to him in all submission. The Hoopoe did his job perfectly.

In the Qur’an (27:20) we read that Prophet Solomon reviewed his birds and found Hoopoe missing. His most movable arm was the birds, which were light on the wing and flew and saw everything like talented scouts. Prophet Solomon conveys his anger and his yearning to punish Hoopoe severely if he does not present himself before Prophet Solomon with a realistic explanation. Within a short time, the Hoopoe came back and said, “I have got knowledge of things which you have no idea about. I have brought sure information about Saba (Yemen now). There, I have seen a woman ruling over her people: she has been given all sorts of provisions, and she has a wonderful throne. I saw that she and her people prostrate themselves before the sun and worshiped the sun, instead of Allah.!”

Prophet Solomon said, “We shall just now see whether what you say is true, or that you are a liar. Take this letter of mine and cast it before them; then get aside and see what reaction they show.” Qur’an, 27: 27-28.

Here, ends the role of Hoopoe in the story.

In this story, the Noble Quran gives the Hoopoe some characters that need intense research to be elucidated by the scientists. The Hoopoe had the powers of observation, discrimination and expression that it should pass over a country and should come to know that it is the land of Saba, it has such and such a scheme of government, it is ruled by a certain woman, its faith is sun-worship, that it should have worshipped One Lord, Allah instead of having gone off track, and then on its return to Prophet Solomon it should so clearly make a report of all its observations before him.

In spite of great advances in science and technology, man cannot tell with absolute certainty what powers and abilities the different species of animals and their different individuals have got? Man has not so far been able to know through any certain means what different animals know and what they see and hear, and what they feel and think and understand, and know how the mind of each one of them works. Yet, whatever little observation has been made of the life of the different species of animals, it has revealed some of their wonderful abilities. Now, when Allah, Who is the Creator of these animals, tells us that He had taught the speech of the birds to one of His Prophets and blessed him with the ability to speak to them, and the Prophet’s taming and training had so enabled a Hoopoe that it could make certain observations in the foreign lands and could report them to the Prophet, then we should be prepared to revise our little knowledge about the animals in the light of Allah’s statement.

“… We raise to degrees (of wisdom) whom We please: but over all endued with knowledge is One, the All-Knowing.” Surah 12:76

Back to our main issue; one may ask this: Is the Quran quoted from the Bible? And which book precedes the sciences? The book which that the hoopoe is a detested bird or the book which precedes the sciences and says that the hoopoe has the powers of observation, discrimination and expression and it is one of the best detective and messenger?

The Hoopoe is unclean and a Detested Bird!

Leviticus 11

Unclean and Detested bird:

13 “These are the birds you are to detest and not eat because they are detestable: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture, 14 the red kite, any kind of black kite, 15 any kind of raven, 16 the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, 17 the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, 18 the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey, 19 the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.

Deuteronomy 14

Unclean Food:

11 You may eat any clean bird. 12 But these you may not eat: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture, 13 the red kite, the black kite, any kind of falcon, 14 any kind of raven, 15 the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, 16 the little owl, the great owl, the white owl, 17 the desert owl, the osprey, the cormorant, 18 the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.

In the Bible dictionary it is said: “Although the hoopoe bird is only referred to once in the Bible, it is known to be a faithful companion of people all over the world”.

However, the dictionary does not tell that the hoopoe is detested according to Leviticus 11 and also, there is no verse in the Bible which says that is a faithful companion of people all over the world. I bet that the writers of the Bible dictionary have read the Noble Quran and put such an observation about the hoopoe as a faithful companion of people all over the world.

The story of the hoopoe with King Solomon illustrates how faithful, smart was the hoopoe.

The Hoopoe in the Quran:

The Hoopoe is mentioned once in the Noble Quran, in Surah 27.

Prophet Solomon was a king whose armies consisted of troops made of men and Jinns and birds. It is possible that the birds were employed for communicating the messages, hunting and for other suitable services.

Detective and Messenger of Prophets

[20] And he took a muster of the Birds; and he said: “Why is it I see not the Hoopoe? Or is he among the absentees?

[21] “I will certainly punish him with a severe penalty, or execute him, unless he brings me a clear reason (for absence).”

[22] But he (the hoopoe) tarried not far: he (came up and) said: “I have compassed (territory) which thou hast not compassed, and I have come to thee from Saba with tidings true.

[23] “I found (there) a woman ruling over them and provided with every requisite; and she has a magnificent throne.

[24] “I found her and her people worshipping the sun besides Allah: Satan has made their deeds seem pleasing to their eyes, and has kept them away from the Path, so they receive no guidance,

[25] “(Kept them away from the Path) that they should not worship Allah, Who brings to light what is hidden in the heavens and the earth, and knows what ye hide and what ye reveal.

[26] “Allah! – there is no god but He! – Lord of the Throne supreme!”

[27] (Solomon) said: “Soon shall we see whether thou hast told the truth or lied!

28] “Go thou, with this letter of mine, and deliver it to them: then draw back from them, and (wait to) see what answer they return”…

[29] (The Queen) said: “Ye chiefs! here is – delivered to me – a letter worthy of respect.

[30] “It is from Solomon, and is (as follows): ‘In the name of Allah, Most Gracious Most Merciful:

[31] “`Be ye not arrogant against me, but come to me in submission (to the true Religion).”

The story of how Solomon and the Queen of Saba (Yemen) met: One day Solomon inspected his birds but did not find the Hoopoe. When the bird came back he said, “With truthful news I come to you from Saba, where I found a woman reigning over people and they worship the sun instead of Allah.

Solomon ordered the Hoopoe to return to her and give her a message calling her not to exalt herself above him (Solomon), but come to him in all submission. The Hoopoe did his job perfectly.

In the Qur’an (27:20) we read that Prophet Solomon reviewed his birds and found Hoopoe missing. His most movable arm was the birds, which were light on the wing and flew and saw everything like talented scouts. Prophet Solomon conveys his anger and his yearning to punish Hoopoe severely if he does not present himself before Prophet Solomon with a realistic explanation. Within a short time, the Hoopoe came back and said, “I have got knowledge of things which you have no idea about. I have brought sure information about Saba (Yemen now). There, I have seen a woman ruling over her people: she has been given all sorts of provisions, and she has a wonderful throne. I saw that she and her people prostrate themselves before the sun and worshiped the sun, instead of Allah.!”

Prophet Solomon said, “We shall just now see whether what you say is true, or that you are a liar. Take this letter of mine and cast it before them; then get aside and see what reaction they show.” Qur’an, 27: 27-28.

Here, ends the role of Hoopoe in the story.

In this story, the Noble Quran gives the Hoopoe some characters that need intense research to be elucidated by the scientists. The Hoopoe had the powers of observation, discrimination and expression that it should pass over a country and should come to know that it is the land of Saba, it has such and such a scheme of government, it is ruled by a certain woman, its faith is sun-worship, that it should have worshipped One Lord, Allah instead of having gone off track, and then on its return to Prophet Solomon it should so clearly make a report of all its observations before him.

In spite of great advances in science and technology, man cannot tell with absolute certainty what powers and abilities the different species of animals and their different individuals have got? Man has not so far been able to know through any certain means what different animals know and what they see and hear, and what they feel and think and understand, and know how the mind of each one of them works. Yet, whatever little observation has been made of the life of the different species of animals, it has revealed some of their wonderful abilities. Now, when Allah, Who is the Creator of these animals, tells us that He had taught the speech of the birds to one of His Prophets and blessed him with the ability to speak to them, and the Prophet’s taming and training had so enabled a Hoopoe that it could make certain observations in the foreign lands and could report them to the Prophet, then we should be prepared to revise our little knowledge about the animals in the light of Allah’s statement.

“… We raise to degrees (of wisdom) whom We please: but over all endued with knowledge is One, the All-Knowing.” Surah 12:76

Back to our main issue; one may ask this: Is the Quran quoted from the Bible? And which book precedes the sciences? The book which that the hoopoe is a detested bird or the book which precedes the sciences and says that the hoopoe has the powers of observation, discrimination and expression and it is one of the best detective and messenger?

The Hoopoe is unclean and a Detested Bird!

Leviticus 11

Unclean and Detested bird:

13 “These are the birds you are to detest and not eat because they are detestable: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture, 14 the red kite, any kind of black kite, 15 any kind of raven, 16 the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, 17 the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, 18 the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey, 19 the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.

Deuteronomy 14

Unclean Food:

11 You may eat any clean bird. 12 But these you may not eat: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture, 13 the red kite, the black kite, any kind of falcon, 14 any kind of raven, 15 the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, 16 the little owl, the great owl, the white owl, 17 the desert owl, the osprey, the cormorant, 18 the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.

In the Bible dictionary it is said: “Although the hoopoe bird is only referred to once in the Bible, it is known to be a faithful companion of people all over the world”.

However, the dictionary does not tell that the hoopoe is detested according to Leviticus 11 and also, there is no verse in the Bible which says that is a faithful companion of people all over the world. I bet that the writers of the Bible dictionary have read the Noble Quran and put such an observation about the hoopoe as a faithful companion of people all over the world.

The story of the hoopoe with King Solomon illustrates how faithful, smart was the hoopoe.

The Hoopoe in the Quran:

The Hoopoe is mentioned once in the Noble Quran, in Surah 27.

Prophet Solomon was a king whose armies consisted of troops made of men and Jinns and birds. It is possible that the birds were employed for communicating the messages, hunting and for other suitable services.

Detective and Messenger of Prophets

[20] And he took a muster of the Birds; and he said: “Why is it I see not the Hoopoe? Or is he among the absentees?

[21] “I will certainly punish him with a severe penalty, or execute him, unless he brings me a clear reason (for absence).”

[22] But he (the hoopoe) tarried not far: he (came up and) said: “I have compassed (territory) which thou hast not compassed, and I have come to thee from Saba with tidings true.

[23] “I found (there) a woman ruling over them and provided with every requisite; and she has a magnificent throne.

[24] “I found her and her people worshipping the sun besides Allah: Satan has made their deeds seem pleasing to their eyes, and has kept them away from the Path, so they receive no guidance,

[25] “(Kept them away from the Path) that they should not worship Allah, Who brings to light what is hidden in the heavens and the earth, and knows what ye hide and what ye reveal.

[26] “Allah! – there is no god but He! – Lord of the Throne supreme!”

[27] (Solomon) said: “Soon shall we see whether thou hast told the truth or lied!

28] “Go thou, with this letter of mine, and deliver it to them: then draw back from them, and (wait to) see what answer they return”…

[29] (The Queen) said: “Ye chiefs! here is – delivered to me – a letter worthy of respect.

[30] “It is from Solomon, and is (as follows): ‘In the name of Allah, Most Gracious Most Merciful:

[31] “`Be ye not arrogant against me, but come to me in submission (to the true Religion).”

The story of how Solomon and the Queen of Saba (Yemen) met: One day Solomon inspected his birds but did not find the Hoopoe. When the bird came back he said, “With truthful news I come to you from Saba, where I found a woman reigning over people and they worship the sun instead of Allah.

Solomon ordered the Hoopoe to return to her and give her a message calling her not to exalt herself above him (Solomon), but come to him in all submission. The Hoopoe did his job perfectly.

In the Qur’an (27:20) we read that Prophet Solomon reviewed his birds and found Hoopoe missing. His most movable arm was the birds, which were light on the wing and flew and saw everything like talented scouts. Prophet Solomon conveys his anger and his yearning to punish Hoopoe severely if he does not present himself before Prophet Solomon with a realistic explanation. Within a short time, the Hoopoe came back and said, “I have got knowledge of things which you have no idea about. I have brought sure information about Saba (Yemen now). There, I have seen a woman ruling over her people: she has been given all sorts of provisions, and she has a wonderful throne. I saw that she and her people prostrate themselves before the sun and worshiped the sun, instead of Allah.!”

Prophet Solomon said, “We shall just now see whether what you say is true, or that you are a liar. Take this letter of mine and cast it before them; then get aside and see what reaction they show.” Qur’an, 27: 27-28.

Here, ends the role of Hoopoe in the story.

In this story, the Noble Quran gives the Hoopoe some characters that need intense research to be elucidated by the scientists. The Hoopoe had the powers of observation, discrimination and expression that it should pass over a country and should come to know that it is the land of Saba, it has such and such a scheme of government, it is ruled by a certain woman, its faith is sun-worship, that it should have worshipped One Lord, Allah instead of having gone off track, and then on its return to Prophet Solomon it should so clearly make a report of all its observations before him.

In spite of great advances in science and technology, man cannot tell with absolute certainty what powers and abilities the different species of animals and their different individuals have got? Man has not so far been able to know through any certain means what different animals know and what they see and hear, and what they feel and think and understand, and know how the mind of each one of them works. Yet, whatever little observation has been made of the life of the different species of animals, it has revealed some of their wonderful abilities. Now, when Allah, Who is the Creator of these animals, tells us that He had taught the speech of the birds to one of His Prophets and blessed him with the ability to speak to them, and the Prophet’s taming and training had so enabled a Hoopoe that it could make certain observations in the foreign lands and could report them to the Prophet, then we should be prepared to revise our little knowledge about the animals in the light of Allah’s statement.

“… We raise to degrees (of wisdom) whom We please: but over all endued with knowledge is One, the All-Knowing.” Surah 12:76

Back to our main issue; one may ask this: Is the Quran quoted from the Bible? And which book precedes the sciences? The book which that the hoopoe is a detested bird or the book which precedes the sciences and says that the hoopoe has the powers of observation, discrimination and expression and it is one of the best detective and messenger?

The Hoopoe did as Solomon commanded, dropped the letter and the Queen took that letter, read it and went to meet her entourage for an emergency meeting. The Queen of Sheba told her chieftains that a noble letter that is worthy of respect has been delivered to her. It is from Solomon and its (first line) text says: “In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, and the Merciful. And its text is frightful, it says: “Do not exalt yourselves against me; do not feel too haughty towards me, and come unto me (in surrender) in submission (to the true religion).

She said, ‘O [members of the] council, give me an opinion and advise me about what to do. I never decide on a matter, I never conclude it, until you are present and advise me.’

They said: We are the masters of might and of great prowess; we have weapons and we are enduring and hardy in war. The matter is for you to decide. So see what you will command’, us, and we will obey you.

Then she pronounced words of wisdom. (She said: Lo! Kings) worldly kings, (when they enter a country) by force in instances of war and fighting, (ruin it) destroy it (and make the honour of its people shame and humiliate its nobles) by beating, killing and exposing them to other things. And thus they (always) do; this is how worldly kings behave because of arrogance.

Now I will send Solomon a gift and wait to see with what [response] the envoys return’, in the way of accepting the gift or rejecting it. If Solomon is only a king seeking power and wealth, he will accept it; but if he is a prophet, he will reject it. Thus, she sent male and female servants, one thousand in total, together with five hundred bricks of gold, a crown studded with jewels, and musk, ambergris and other things with an envoy carrying a letter. The hoopoe thus hurried back to bring the news to Solomon.

But when the envoy, came to Solomon, with the gift and the servants, he said, ‘Are you supplying me with wealth? What Allah has given me, of prophet hood and kingship, is better than what He has given you, of [the things of] this world. Nay, but it is you [and not I] who exult in your gift, for you pride yourselves upon [the possession of] the ornaments of this world!

Go back to them, with the gifts that you have brought, for We shall assuredly come to them with hosts (that they cannot resist) which they will not be able to face and they have no power to stop and we shall expel them from there, from the land of Sheba humiliated, and they shall be utterly abased’, (with shame) with their hands tied to their necks, unless they come to me in submission. When the envoy returned to her with the gift, she had her throne placed inside seven doors inside her palace, with her palace inside seven palaces, and had all the doors locked with guards at them. She then prepared to make the journey to Solomon to see what he would command her. She departed with twelve thousand chieftains, each accompanied by thousands [of men] until when she came to within few miles of him, he sensed her arrival.

Now, King Solomon thought to surprise her!

(The rest of the story is coming in the next article).

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Surah (Chapter) 27:29-37

29] She (the queen of Sheba) said: ‘o council, look, an honorable letter has been dropped to me.

30] Lo! It is from Solomon and it is “in the name of Allah, the merciful, the most merciful.”

31] “Exalt not yourselves against me and come to me (in surrender) in submission (to the true religion).’”

32] She said: “ye chiefs! Advise me in my affair: no affair have I decided except in your presence.”

33] They said: we are possessors of force and possessors of mighty prowess, and the command is yours, therefore see what you will command

34] She said: “kings, when they enter a country, damage it, ruin it and humiliate its nobles. And thus they (always) do;

35] But lo! I am going to send him a present, and (wait) to see with what (answer) my messengers return.

36] Now when (the envoy) came to Solomon, he said: “what! Would ye help me with wealth? Will ye give me abundance in wealth? But that which Allah has given me is better than that which he has given you! Nay it is ye who exult and rejoice in your gift!

37] “go back to them, and be sure we shall come to them with such hosts as they will never be able to meet: we shall expel them from there in disgrace, and they will feel humbled and shall be in a state of ignominy (indeed).”

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King Solomon and the Queen in the Bible:

The Biblical story is found in 1 Kings 10:1-13 (and also in 2 Chronicles 9); it can be summarized as follows:

The queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove him with hard questions. And Solomon told her all her questions. She realized that Solomon’s wisdom and prosperity exceeds the fame which she heard. Then she gave the King a lot of gifts. Moreover, Solomon gave the queen all her desire, beside that which He gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned

King Solomon was inspecting his unique Hosts; and he reviewed the birds, He had a glance see the hoopoe but he could not see him. And when he became certain of the hoopoe’s absence, He said: I verily will punish him with hard punishment I will pluck out [all] his feathers as well as his tail plucked and leaving him out in the sun, where he would not be able to escape from reptiles, or I verily will slaughter him, by slitting his throat, or he verily shall bring me an acceptable excuse and a good reason (for absence).

The Hoopoe did not remain long [in absence], in other words, [he was away only] for a short while, and came to Solomon humbly, with his head up and his wings and tail lowered. Solomon pardoned him and asked him about what he had encountered during his absence: and he said, ‘I have discovered something of which you have no knowledge, and I have brought you from Sheba a verified report and sure tidings.

Sheba (Saba) is Yemen today.

The Hoopoe said: Lo! I found a woman ruling over them and she has been given abundance of everything; she has been given the knowledge of all things in her country, and has a mighty throne adorned with gems, pearls, gold and silver.

I found her and her people prostrating to the sun instead of Allah, and Satan has adorned for them their deeds and he has barred them from the Way, from the path of truth, so that they are not guided

So that they do not worship Allah; why do they not prostrate to Allah?” the Hoopoe said! Who brings forth the hidden in the heavens, the rain and the earth vegetation, and knows what they conceal, within their hearts, of good and evil and what they proclaim with their tongues of good and evil.

Allah – there is no god except Him, the Lord of the Mighty Throne’ (this clause constitutes an [independent] new sentence, which is a eulogy comprising [praise of] the Throne of the Compassionate One to counter the [description of the] throne of the Queen of Yemen: between the two, however, is an unfathomable difference.

He, Solomon, said, to the hoopoe: ‘We shall see whether you have spoken the truth, in what you have informed us, or whether you are of the liars

Solomon then composed a letter in the following form: ‘From the servant of Allah, Solomon, the son of David, to the Queen of Sheba. In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful: Peace be upon those who follow Guidance. To wit: do not rise up against me [in defiance], but come to me in submission’. He then stamped it with musk and sealed it with his ring, and said to the hoopoe:

Take this letter of mine and deliver it to them, then turn away, withdraw, from them, but remain close by them, and see what kind of response they shall give. Thus, he took it and approached the Queen. But as her soldiers were all around her, he cast it into her private chamber. When she saw it, she shuddered and was consumed by fear. She read what it said.

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This interesting story of King Solomon, the Queen and the Hoopoe are found in the following verses:

Surah (Chapter) 27:20-28

20] And he (King Solomon) reviewed the birds then said: “why is it I see not the hoopoe here? Or is he among the absentees?”

21] I verily will punish him with a terrible punishment or I verily will slay him, or he verily shall bring me a plain excuse and a good reason (for absence).’

22] He (the Hoopoe) was not long in coming, and said: ‘I know what you do not know. I come to you from Sheba (Yemen today) with certain news and sure tidings.

23] There I found a woman ruling over them. And she is provided with every requisite; and she has a magnificent throne.

24] But she and her people prostrate to the sun instead of Allah. And Satan has made their deeds seem pleasing to them and barred them from the path, and therefore they are not guided.

25] Do they not prostrate themselves to Allah who brings forth all that is concealed in the heavens and earth and he knows what they hide and what they reveal?

26] But he: he is Allah, there is no god but he: he is the lord of the mighty throne. ‘

27] (Solomon) said: ‘we shall see if what you have said is true or whether you are among those who lie.

28] Go with this my letter and throw it down unto them; then turn aside and (wait to) see what answer they return,

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It is amazing that the Quran declares these facts about the unique Hoopoe of King Solomon, it was very Truthful, faithful, obedient, acting as a spy and messenger and the most important is the fact that the Hoopoe knows Allah, his Creator!

On the other hand, the Bible in Leviticus 11 declares that the Hoopoe is a Detested and Unclean bird.

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Back to the main issue of my series of articles; this is my question to you smart readers: “Is the Quran quoted from the Bible?”

By the way, the disbelieved ignorant Arabs stated that the Quran quoted from the Bible more than 1400 years ago! (Read my article about chapter 25).