Solomon and the Queen of Sheba

• 1 Kings 10:1

She is called the queen of Sheba; her personal name and the religious condition of her people are not stated.

• Q 27:23-24

She rules a people with a magnificent throne who worship the sun. The Qur'an does not name her Bilqis; that name comes from later tradition.

• 1 Kings 4:32-33

Solomon composes proverbs and songs and speaks about animals, but the Bible does not say he understands their speech.

• Q 27:16-19

Solomon says he has been taught the speech of birds and hears an ant warn its colony about his army.

• 1 Kings 4:1-28
• 1 Kings 9:15-28
• 1 Kings 10:26

The biblical accounts describe human officials, labor forces, chariots, horsemen, and fleets.

• Q 27:17

Solomon's assembled hosts include jinn, humans, and birds arranged in ranks.

• 1 Kings 10:1-13

No hoopoe scout, bird report, or threatened punishment for an absent bird appears.

• Q 27:20-28

A hoopoe reports the queen's throne and sun worship after Solomon notices the bird's absence.

• 1 Kings 10:1-2

The queen hears of Solomon's fame and travels voluntarily to test him; no prior letter demanding submission is narrated.

• Q 27:28-31

Solomon sends a letter in God's name commanding the queen not to exalt herself and to come in submission.

• 1 Kings 10:1-10

She arrives with a great caravan and presents spices, gold, and precious stones after testing Solomon.

• Q 27:32-37

She first consults her chiefs and sends a gift to test Solomon; he rejects it and threatens military action.

• 1 Kings 10:1-3

She tests Solomon with hard questions, and he answers all of them.

• Q 27:38-44

No difficult-question exchange is narrated. Instead, Solomon orders the queen's throne disguised and asks whether it is hers.

• 1 Kings 10:1-13

Her throne is not transported to Jerusalem before her arrival.

• Q 27:38-40

Solomon asks who can bring her throne; a powerful jinn and then one with knowledge offer, and the throne appears before him in an instant.

• 1 Kings 10:1-13

No disguised or altered throne recognition test occurs.

• Q 27:41-42

Solomon orders the throne altered and asks the queen whether it is hers; she gives a cautious recognition.

• 1 Kings 10:4-5

The queen admires Solomon's palace and service but does not mistake a glass floor for water or uncover her legs.

• Q 27:44

She mistakes a glass-paved court for a pool and uncovers her legs before Solomon explains the surface.

• 1 Kings 10:6-13

She blesses Yahweh for loving Israel and placing Solomon on the throne, then returns to her country; the text does not state that she abandons her prior religion.

• Q 27:44

She confesses she has wronged herself and submits with Solomon to God, Lord of the worlds.

• 1 Kings 10:10-13

The queen gives 120 talents of gold, spices, and stones; Solomon gives her everything she desires in addition to royal bounty.

• Q 27:35-37
• Q 27:42-44

The queen's initial gift is rejected, and no quantities or reciprocal royal gifts are recorded after her arrival.