Solomon & Queen of Sheba

[IsaImpliesHope]

A couple of questions about the story of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba in Surah 27 (quoted from Yusuf Ali's translation below),:

1. What can we learn from this story?
2. It is well known that this story matches closely the story of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba in the Second Targum of Esther (a Jewish apocryphal work). Is one of the stories dependent on the other? When was the Targum written?

15. We gave (in the past) knowledge to David and Solomon: And they both said: "Praise be to Allah, Who has favoured us above many of his servants who believe!"
16. And Solomon was David's heir. He said: "O ye people! We have been taught the speech of birds, and on us has been bestowed (a little) of all things: this is indeed Grace manifest (from Allah.)"
17. And before Solomon were marshalled his hosts,- of Jinns and men and birds, and they were all kept in order and ranks.
18. At length, when they came to a (lowly) valley of ants, one of the ants said: "O ye ants, get into your habitations, lest Solomon and his hosts crush you (under foot) without knowing it."
19. So he smiled, amused at her speech; and he said: "O my Lord! so order me that I may be grateful for Thy favours, which thou hast bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may work the righteousness that will please Thee: And admit me, by Thy Grace, to the ranks of Thy righteous Servants."
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 bring me a clear reason (for absence)."
22. But 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 in 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).'"
32. She said: "Ye chiefs! advise me in (this) my affair: no affair have I decided except in your presence."
33. They said: "We are endued with strength, and given to vehement war: but the command is with thee; so consider what thou wilt command."
34. She said: "Kings, when they enter a country, despoil it, and make the noblest of its people its meanest thus do they behave.
35. "But I am going to send him a present, and (wait) to see with what (answer) return (my) ambassadors."
36. Now when (the embassy) came to Solomon, he said: "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 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 (indeed)."
38. He said (to his own men): "Ye chiefs! which of you can bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?"
39. Said an 'Ifrit, of the Jinns: "I will bring it to thee before thou rise from thy council: indeed I have full strength for the purpose, and may be trusted."

40. Said one who had knowledge of the Book: "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: "Transform her throne out of all recognition by her: let us see whether she is guided (to the truth) or is one of those who receive no guidance."
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 (in Islam)."
43. And he diverted her from the worship of others besides Allah. for she was (sprung) of a people that had no faith.
44. She was asked to enter the lofty Palace: but when she saw it, she thought it was a lake of water, and she (tucked up her skirts), uncovering her legs. He said: "This is but a palace paved smooth with slabs of glass." She said: "O my Lord! I have indeed wronged my soul: I do (now) submit (in Islam), with Solomon, to the Lord of the Worlds."

[- Qatada -]

The story is similar because it is mentioned by the same God.

[IsaImpliesHope]

So Muslims see the Second Targum of Esther as authentic?

[- Qatada -]

Whatever from previous scriptures is in accordance with the Quran and Sunnah, then we can accept what is correct. Knowing that God sent the final message to confirm what came before, and as a perfect guidance for mankind in all aspects of life.

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[IsaImpliesHope]

Does it not seem strange, though, that the Jews have never considered the Second Targum an authentic or authoritative scripture? Indeed, it was widely recognised that the Targum was apocryphal - an entirely fictional story created by a human being.

[rpwelton]

Does it not seem strange, though, that the Jews have never considered the Second Targum an authentic or authoritative scripture? Indeed, it was widely recognised that the Targum was apocryphal - an entirely fictional story created by a human being.

EDIT: this is Ramadan and we shouldn't go down that road right now. If you want to debate this further, then create a thread after Ramadan in the Comparative Religion section.

[Rabi Mansur]

Maybe the second Targum of Esther is based on a true account but not all of it is correct or has not been passed down in pure form. So the Qur'an gives us the correct account.
I'm not familiar with the second targum of Esther. Are there significant differences between that account and the Qur'an?

[_ALI_]

Salam IsaImpliesHope

Does it not seem strange, though, that the Jews have never considered the Second Targum an authentic or authoritative scripture? Indeed, it was widely recognised that the Targum was apocryphal - an entirely fictional story created by a human being.

As you must know, Muslims believe that the Jewish scriptures have been tampered with. What we believe is that while they converted unauthentic scriptures into authentic scriptures, they also converted authentic scriptures into unauthentic scriptures. So if the story is unauthentic according to the Jews, that is irrelevant for the Muslims since we only believe in Quran/hadith. Whatever matches with Quran/hadith is true. It doesn't matter if what matches is considered unauthentic by Jews, Christians, Hindus or any other religion
Peace

[sur]

...Muslims believe that the Jewish scriptures have been tampered with...

Yep,
[Quran:5:41]......or it be among the Jews,- men who will listen to any lie,- will listen even to others who have never so much as come to thee. They change the words from their (right) times and places....:
= = = = = = = =
Books of jews also say this about themselves:-
Jeremiah 8:8"How can you say, 'We(Jews) are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us'? But, behold, the false pen of the scribes has made it into a lie.


DEUT 31:27 For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death?

DEUT 31:29 For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.

[IsaImpliesHope]

As per rpwelton's request, I'll not push the issue any further until the end of Ramadan. But I do feel that a number of the answers have been problematic. I would appreciate if noone else would post answers to my questions until the end of Ramadan also, as I would like to engage with all of your answers (and this maybe difficult if I have 10 or 20 replies to make at the same time).

Salaam, and I hope are all enjoying and will continue to enjoy your holy month.