Sūrah Sabaʾ Sheba
سبأ
54 verses, Makkī. The people of Sabaʾ (Yemen) were given prosperity, two gardens, and ease but they turned away. Their gardens were destroyed and replaced with thorns. Dāwūd ﷺ and Sulaymān ﷺ are mentioned as prophets of gratitude. Ibn Kathīr covers Shaytān's vow and its limit and the parable of those who deny resurrection.
Surah Overview
Key Themes from Ibn Kathīr
The two gardens of Sabaʾ (34:15–16): "Indeed there was for the people of Sabaʾ in their dwelling place a sign two gardens on the right and the left. Eat from the provision of your Lord and be grateful to Him a good land and a forgiving Lord." But they turned away so Allah sent the flood dam (sayl al-ʿArim) and replaced their two gardens with two gardens of bitter fruit, tamarisk, and a few lote trees.
Dāwūd ﷺ and gratitude (34:10–11): "Work, O family of Dāwūd, in gratitude and few of my servants are grateful." The mountains and birds glorified with him. Iron was made soft for him make coats of mail. Ibn Kathīr: the command to work in gratitude shukr requires action, not just feeling or speech.
- Sulaymān ﷺ and the jinn (34:12–14): Wind was made subservient to Sulaymān a month's journey by morning and a month's by evening. When he died, the jinn who were building for him did not know until a worm of the earth ate through his staff and he fell. Ibn Kathīr: even the jinn, with their abilities, did not know the unseen.
- Shaytān's power is only suggestion (34:20–21): "Iblīs proved true his assumption about them and they all followed him, except a party of believers. And he had over them no authority except that We might make evident who believes in the Hereafter from who is in doubt." The limit of Shaytān's power suggestion only.
- Universal prophethood (34:28): The Prophet ﷺ was sent to all mankind not to the Arabs alone. This verse establishes the global and universal character of the Islamic message.
- Wealth and children are not signs of proximity to Allah (34:37): "And it is not your wealth or your children that bring you nearer to Us in position but it is those who believe and do righteous deeds." Ibn Kathīr: the Quraysh boasted of their prosperity as divine favour this verse directly refutes that logic.
- The Day of reckoning: neither intercession nor wealth helps (34:42): "So today none of you can hold back benefit or harm for another, and We will say to those who wronged taste the punishment of the Fire which you used to deny." The denial ended the reality arrived.