Al-Qur'an Surah An-Naml Verse 22

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Then the hoopoe did not take long and said (to Sulaimān), “I have discovered what you did not, and have brought to you a sure information from Saba’ (Sheba).

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

It was not long before the bird came and said, “I have found out something you do not know. I have just come to you from Sheba with sure news.

Ruwwad Translation Center

It was not long before the hoopoe came and said, “I have learned something that you do not; I come to you from Sheba with sure news.

A. J. Arberry

But he tarried not long, and said, 'I have comprehended that which thou hast not comprehended, and I have come from Sheba to thee with a sure tiding.

Abdul Haleem

But the hoopoe did not stay away long: he came and said, ‘I have learned something you did not know: I come to you from Sheba with firm news.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Buthe tarried not far, and he said: I have encompassed that which thou hast- not encompassed, and I come unto thee from Saba with a tidings sure.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

But the Hoopoe tarried not far; he (came up and) said; "I have compassed (territory) which thou hast not compassed, and I have come to thee from Saba with tidings true.

Abul Ala Maududi

Not before long the hoopoe came up and said: "I have obtained a knowledge which you could not. I have brought for you sure news about Sheba.

Ahmed Ali

But he was not long in coming, and reported: "I have been around where you have not been. I come from Saba with positive news.

Ahmed Raza Khan

So Hudhud did not stay absent for long, and presenting himself submitted, “I have witnessed a matter that your majesty has not seen, and I have brought definite information to you from the city of Saba.”

Ali Quli Qarai

He did not stay for long [before he turned up] and said, ‘I have alighted on something which you have not alighted on, and I have brought you from Sheba a definite report.

Ali Ünal

Before long the hoopoe came up and said: "I have obtained (some important information) which you do not have, and have come to you from Sheba with reliable news.

Amatul Rahman Omar

But he (- Solomon) had not to wait long (before Hudhud came) and said, `I have acquired that information which you do not possess. I have come to you from (the territory of a Yemanite tribe) Saba´ with sure and important news (to tell).

English Literal

So it waited/remained not far/distant, so it said: "I became aware/enveloped with what you did not become aware (of)/envelope with it, and I came to you from Sheba with sure/certain news/information."

Faridul Haque

So Hudhud did not stay absent for long, and presenting himself submitted, “I have witnessed a matter that your majesty has not seen, and I have brought definite information to you from the city of Saba.”

Hamid S. Aziz

I will surely punish him with a severe penalty; or I will slay him unless he brings me clear authority (or reason for his absence)."

Hilali & Khan

But the hoopoe stayed not long, he (came up and) said: "I have grasped (the knowledge of a thing) which you have not grasped and I have come to you from Saba' (Sheba) with true news.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And he reviewed the birds, then said: How is it I see not Hudhud, or is it that he is one of the absentees?

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And he tarried not long, then said: I comprehend that which you do not comprehend and I have brought to you a sure information from Sheba.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

But he was not long in coming, and he said: I have found out (a thing) that thou apprehendest not, and I come unto thee from Sheba with sure tidings.

Muhammad Sarwar

Not long after the hoopoe came forward and said, "I have information which you do not have. I have come from the land of Sheba with a true report.

Qaribullah & Darwish

He was not long in coming, and said: 'I know what you do not know. I come to you from Sheba with certain news.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

But (the hoopoe) stayed not long, he said: "I have grasped which you have not grasped and I have come to you from Saba' with true news."

Wahiduddin Khan

But he was not long in coming, and said, "I have learnt something you did not know. I have come to you from Sheba with reliable news.

Talal Itani

But he did not stay for long. He said, “I have learnt something you did not know. I have come to you from Sheba, with reliable information.

Tafsir jalalayn

But he did not remain (read fa-makutha or fa-makatha) long [in absence], in other words, [he was away only] for a short while, and came to Solomon humbly, with his head up and his wings and tail lowered. Solomon pardoned him and asked him about what he had encountered during his absence; and he said, `I have discovered something of which you have no knowledge, and I have brought you from Sheba (this may be read in declined form [min Saba'in] or left as indeclinable [min Saba'a]) -- a tribe in Yemen, whose name is taken from the name of one of their ancestors (which is also the reason why it may be declined) -- a verified report.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

How the Hoopoe came before Suleiman and told Him about Saba'

Allah says;

فَمَكَثَ غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ

But (the hoopoe) stayed not long,

meaning, he was absent for only a short time.

فَقَالَ

he said;

Then he came and said to Suleiman;

أَحَطتُ بِمَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِ

I have grasped which you have not grasped,

meaning, `I have come to know something that you and your troops do not know.'

وَجِيْتُكَ مِن سَبَإٍ بِنَبَإٍ يَقِينٍ



and I have come to you from Saba' with true news.

meaning, with true and certain news.
Saba' (Sheba) refers to Himyar, they were a dynasty in Yemen.

Then the hoopoe said