The Hoopoe with News
الهدهد
A missing bird returns from Sheba with surprising news, and the report is tested before anyone acts.
An-Naml 27:20–28
One bird was missing
Sulayman checked the birds and noticed that the hoopoe was not there. He expected the bird to bring a clear reason.
Can you find the empty perch before you find the bird?
The hoopoe had seen Sheba
The hoopoe returned with news of a land ruled by a woman with a great throne. The bird had seen her people bowing to the sun instead of God.
Follow the water from the gardens to the palace. What details might a bird notice from high above?
A report is not the end
Sulayman said they would see whether the hoopoe was truthful. He sent a letter and told the bird to watch what answer came back.
The seal is closed and has no writing. Where do you think the hoopoe will land?
The hoopoe notices something important. Sulayman listens, but listening is followed by checking.
For grown-upsThe verses each picture rests on, what the art adds, and a deeper idea for older readers.
1 One bird was missing
وَتَفَقَّدَ ٱلطَّيْرَ فَقَالَ مَا لِىَ لَآ أَرَى ٱلْهُدْهُدَ أَمْ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْغَآئِبِينَ
And he took attendance of the birds and said, "Why do I not see the hoopoe - or is he among the absent?
An-Naml · 27:20 · read in contextلَأُعَذِّبَنَّهُۥ عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا أَوْ لَأَا۟ذْبَحَنَّهُۥٓ أَوْ لَيَأْتِيَنِّى بِسُلْطَٰنٍ مُّبِينٍ
I will surely punish him with a severe punishment or slaughter him unless he brings me clear authorization."
An-Naml · 27:21 · read in contextPicture note: The verse names the roll call of the birds and the one that was missing. The perch, the orchard, and the birds gathered nearby are the illustrator's; the Quran says only that Sulayman looked for the hoopoe among them.
Look deeper The account begins with attention: absence is noticed. Responsibility applies even to a small member of a vast kingdom.
2 The hoopoe had seen Sheba
فَمَكَثَ غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ فَقَالَ أَحَطتُ بِمَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِۦ وَجِئْتُكَ مِن سَبَإٍۭ بِنَبَإٍ يَقِينٍ
But the hoopoe stayed not long and said, "I have encompassed [in knowledge] that which you have not encompassed, and I have come to you from Sheba with certain news.
An-Naml · 27:22 · read in contextإِنِّى وَجَدتُّ ٱمْرَأَةً تَمْلِكُهُمْ وَأُوتِيَتْ مِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَلَهَا عَرْشٌ عَظِيمٌ
Indeed, I found [there] a woman ruling them, and she has been given of all things, and she has a great throne.
An-Naml · 27:23 · read in contextوَجَدتُّهَا وَقَوْمَهَا يَسْجُدُونَ لِلشَّمْسِ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ أَعْمَٰلَهُمْ فَصَدَّهُمْ عَنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ فَهُمْ لَا يَهْتَدُونَ
I found her and her people prostrating to the sun instead of Allah, and Satan has made their deeds pleasing to them and averted them from [His] way, so they are not guided,
An-Naml · 27:24 · read in contextأَلَّا يَسْجُدُوا۟ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى يُخْرِجُ ٱلْخَبْءَ فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تُخْفُونَ وَمَا تُعْلِنُونَ
[And] so they do not prostrate to Allah, who brings forth what is hidden within the heavens and the earth and knows what you conceal and what you declare -
An-Naml · 27:25 · read in contextٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلْعَرْشِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ
Allah - there is no deity except Him, Lord of the Great Throne."
An-Naml · 27:26 · read in contextPicture note: The verse names Sheba, a woman ruling there, her great throne, and a people bowing to the sun. The walls, water channels, and domes are the illustrator's picture of a city; the Quran does not describe its buildings.
Look deeper The hoopoe’s report moves from observation to meaning: a ruler, a throne, a public act of worship, and then a claim about who truly knows what is hidden.
3 A report is not the end
قَالَ سَنَنظُرُ أَصَدَقْتَ أَمْ كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلْكَٰذِبِينَ
[Solomon] said, "We will see whether you were truthful or were of the liars.
An-Naml · 27:27 · read in contextٱذْهَب بِّكِتَٰبِى هَٰذَا فَأَلْقِهْ إِلَيْهِمْ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ فَٱنظُرْ مَاذَا يَرْجِعُونَ
Take this letter of mine and deliver it to them. Then leave them and see what [answer] they will return."
An-Naml · 27:28 · read in contextPicture note: The verse names the letter, the errand, and the instruction to watch for an answer. The seal, the gardens, and the lattice shadow are the illustrator's; the Quran does not say how the letter was closed or what it passed over.
Look deeper The Quranic sequence models a useful discipline: hear the claim, reserve judgment, create a fair test, and pay attention to the response.