The queen of Sheba: Consultation and reconsideration

When Solomon inspected the birds, he noticed the absence of the hoopoe. Upon its return, the bird brought news from Sheba: it described a female ruler, a magnificent throne, and a people who bowed down to the sun. Solomon sent a letter to verify the truth of the report. Thus, the information received was not immediately acted upon as a final decision.

The Queen of Sheba shared the letter with her advisors and asked for their opinions. They mentioned their military strength but left the final decision to her. The Queen stated that rulers can cause corruption when they enter a place and preferred to see the result by sending a gift first. The narrative prioritizes evaluation and diplomacy instead of turning immediately to aggression.

Solomon did not accept the gift, stating that what he possessed were blessings given by Allah. It was proposed that her throne be brought before she arrived, and subsequently, the appearance of the throne was altered. The Queen gave a cautious answer regarding the throne she encountered. The story thus displays her attitude toward evaluating information.

It is stated that her prior orientation toward things other than Allah had hindered her. When she entered the palace, the glass floor was explained to her as a deception of water. In the end, she declared that she had wronged herself and announced her submission with Solomon to the Lord of the worlds. The Quran does not provide the Queen's name in this passage. The event extends from the investigation of news to consultation and a change of faith.