Hazrat Bilqees

Last updated on August 31st, 2026 at 09:47 am

Reading Time: 2 minutes

She was the queen of the country of Saba. The Hud-hud bird informed Hazrat Sulaimaan (Alaihis Salaam) that it saw a female ruler and that she worships the sun. Hazrat Sulaimaan (Alaihis Salaam) wrote a letter and gave it to Hud-hud telling it: “Drop it by her.”

In the letter was written: “Become Muslims and come over here.” When she read the letter, she consulted her ministers and officers. After much deliberation, she said: “I am going to send some gifts to him. If he accepts and keeps the gifts, then I will take it that he is a worldly king. If he does not keep the gifts, then I will understand him to be a Prophet.”

When the gifts came to Hazrat Sulaimaan (Alaihis Salaam) he returned everything and send the response: “If you do not become Muslims then I am going to bring an army against you.”

When she heard this response, she became convinced that he was a Messenger of Allah and she departed from her city to become a Muslim.

After she departed, Hazrat Sulaimaan (Alaihis Salaam) miraculously arranged for her huge and expensive throne to be brought to his court so that Bilqees can witness this miracle.

The precious stones studded on the throne were removed and other gems were fixed in place. When Bilqees arrived, Hazrat Sulaimaan tested her by asking whether it was her throne. She looked carefully and replied: “It looks like it.” She said so because the appearance of it was changed.

This answer of hers revealed that she was very intelligent.

(To be continued, Insha Allah)

Then Sulaimaan (Alaihis Salaam) wanted to show Bilqees that the royalty and majesty of what Allah Ta’ala gave him was also greater than her royalty. To demonstrate this, he ordered that a pond be filled with water, and over it a crystal-clear glass be set in such a manner that it is not noticeable.

Sulaiman (Alaihis Salaam) then seated himself where, anyone who wanted to come before him, had to cross the pond. He then instructed Bilqees to come there.

When Bilqees came to the pond, she could not discern the glass over it. She thought that she had to wade through the water to get to him. She started rolling up her trousers. Spontaneously it was said: “There is a surface of glass set over the pond. Walk over it!”

Bilqees had seen the miracle of her throne having been brought there, and now she witnessed this artistry. She understood that he (Sulaimaan Alaihis Salaam) has indeed superior royalty and kingly paraphernalia than her. She at once read the Kalimah and became a Muslim.

(To be continued, Insha Allah)

Then some Ulama say that Hazrat Sulaimaan (Alaihis Salaam) himself married Hazrat Bilqees, while some say that he married her to a king of Yemen. Allah Ta’ala knows best what happened.

Lessons

1. Look at her self-sacrifice!
2. In spite of being rich and a queen, when she learnt of the Deen she immediately accepted.
3. She did not behave arrogantly and reject it.
4. She did not cling to the custom of her father and grandfather.
5. Ladies! You too should keep this your policy.
6. When you hear of something to be an act of Deen, then do not discard it out of shame or embarrassment, or by following the family custom.
7. None of these will be of benefit to you.
8. Only the Deen will prevail.

(Behshti Zewar)