Surah 27 · Verse 34

[27:31-37] Did Solomon violate the principle of "no compulsion in religion" by issuing such a threat? Or, was he just bluffing? Even if he did not mean what he said, didn't he risk the possibility of a war? Solomon could not have violated the divine principles, such as freedom of choosing one's own religion (2:256), the freedom to reject the truth (2:193; 10:99; 18:29), and the promotion of peace among people (2:208). The above questions raised in the first edition of the QRT pulled the attention of some other students of the Quran. For instance, El Mehdi Haddou, pulled my attention to the word taMLiKuhum in verse 27:23 and reminded me its meaning, "own them, posess them." He proposed "owning" instead of "leading." Indeed, the derivatives of this word occur 44 times in the Quran and all are related to ownership and posession. I would like to quote from Mehdi's article on this verse, which is published in an anthology containing articles of thirty authors, Critical Thinkers for Islamic Reform, Brainbow Press, 2009: "What really made Solomon angry is the state of slavery that affects the people owned by the Queen of Sheba and not their religion. Solomon’s reaction against slavery and oppression should be an example for every leader who has the power, the means and the potential to free slaves and fight for the rights of oppressed people even if they are living in another country. What Solomon did in the past is what the United States should do in our time. Their resemblance is reflected in their military power but the difference resides in the fact that only Solomon has submitted to God’s laws. If Solomon was living in the 21st century, who would you think will be at the top of his black list? Yes, many from the so called Muslim countries." [27:34] It is interesting that Queen is criticizing Kings for their corruption and aggression. The Queen is depicted by the Quran as someone who is not a tyrant, but a reasonable leader who consults others in her affairs, which is one of the main principles in the Quran (42:38). The Queen of Sheba tested Solomon by sending him some gifts. When she learned that he was not interested in her wealth or her country's resources, she became curious about Solomon and accepted his invitation. The event implies more communication between the two leaders and the emergence of a trust between them. Ultimately, she realizes that Solomon is not one of those corrupt kings, but a servant of God with great morals. The Bible mentions this meeting but it contains some differences. For instance, in I Kings 10:1-13 we learn that Solomon accepted her valuable gifts, but the Quran tells us that Solomon showed no interest. The same biblical passage is repeated at II Chronicles 9:1-12.