The story of the hoopoe and the Queen of Sheba in Arab heritage and legacies

Throughout history, Arab culture has been rich with stories and legends that have been passed down through generations. One such tale is the story of the hoopoe and the Queen of Sheba, a captivating narrative that has captivated audiences for centuries. In this article, we delve into the origins of this ancient story, exploring its cultural significance and enduring legacy in Arab folklore. Join us on a journey through time as we unravel the intricate layers of this timeless tale, shedding light on the values and beliefs that have shaped Arab heritage for centuries.

Hoopoe among birds

The hoopoe is one of the most famous and important birds in the Arab heritage because of its story with the Prophet of God Solomon, peace be upon him, and the Queen of Sheba, who was called "Bilqis" and became close to the hearts of the Arabs after that distinctive story that was mentioned in the Holy Quran with his dialogue with the Prophet of God Solomon and his appearance with that eloquence and ingenuity.

It is also mentioned about him that he sees water in the ground, and he has many nicknames such as "Abu al-Akhbar", "Abu Thumama", "Abu al-Rabi'", "Abu Ruh", "Abu Sajjada" and "Abu Abada". The birds were mentioned in a certain order that follows a certain symbolism of that order in an Islamic framework in which the Prophet of God Solomon was a Muslim prophet before the advent of Islam. And he became like Adam being offered to him by creatures and he knew them by their names and regions.  The order was as follows the hook or "hadda", then the eagle, the king of birds, then the eagle, followed by the phoenix, then the crow, followed by the dove, followed by the hoopoe, and after it came at the end of this series the rooster.

The Hoopoe of the Arabs

It is said that in a review of the Prophet of God Solomon of birds and animals in a legendary way, the birds were non-foreign, or that some of the chosen people could understand their language and speech, and that an expansion in the interpretation of some verses about Muslim narrators as mentioned in Surat An-Naml in the Holy Qur'an, and Solomon inherited Dawood and said, O people, teach us the logic of the bird and we have come from everything that this is the virtue shown) (An-Naml/16).

The legend of Solomon, hoopoe and Bilqis is consistent with the mythical symbolic meanings that existed about the Arabs before Islam, and some believe that behind the arrangement of birds is another symbolism that it may be linked to an implicit doctrinal arrangement, starting with the dove, because of its relationship with prophets and messengers such as Adam, Noah and Abraham, peace be upon them all, and they are a model for monotheism, then the eagle and punishment, and they are a symbol of the sun and the king after prophecy and then the phoenix, that mythical bird that exists in mythology and has long been associated with the stories of the beginning of creation, and then The crow is a reminder of Noah's crow, then the encircled dove, then the hoopoe of Solomon, then the rooster, which is one of the Islamic symbols, as it is one of the symbols of the muezzin.

The story of the hoopoe and Solomon - peace be upon him - and Bilqis

The story of the hoopoe with the Prophet of God Solomon (peace be upon him) is one of the most famous stories about the hoopoe in history, and thanks to its aura and sacredness, killing or hunting it has become forbidden to humans customarily without a text or order that prohibits it. It is said about the hoopoe that he says in his shouting, "When fate blinds the sight", it is known that the hoopoe was a guide and guide for the Prophet of God Solomon to search for water and find it, as the hoopoe bird has the ability to see water in the ground, however, it cannot see or notice the traps that are woven for it in order to be hunted, so it does not notice them well.

Based on these stories and sayings about the hoopoe, "Nafi' ibn al-Azraq", one of the Kharijites, said about this legend that it is an indication and a lesson for the intellectual conflict between all beings between algebra and choice, and that is also similar to the myth of the pen and the writing of destiny and all the works of the servants from Adam to the last human beings from eternity until the end.

The story of the hoopoe with our master Solomon, peace be upon him, is one of the most famous stories about birds in the Qur'an and revolves around that our master Suleiman was reassuring his soldiers and armies of humans, birds, animals and jinn, but he did not find the hoopoe between the rows, although he did not ask his permission, so Solomon (peace be upon him) was very angry and promised him severe punishment because of his absence from the class without permission, and when the hoopoe arrived, Solomon asked him about the reason for his absence, and the hoopoe said that he came with great news that the Prophet does not know about Allah is something and that news was that he arrived in Yemen and found people in it who worship the sun and are ruled by a great queen called Bilqis and she has a great throne and that they used to worship her and do not worship God Almighty.

Solomon, peace be upon him, decided to send to Bilqis a message with the hoopoe calling them to faith to worship the one Sunday God, and indeed the hoopoe carried out the matter and threw the message to the people of Sheba, and thus the hoopoe became a way to guide the people of the Kingdom of Sheba, headed by their queen Bilqis, who was able with her intelligence to understand the message of Solomon, peace be upon him, correctly to believe then she and her people and after her famous visit to the Kingdom of Solomon. As that began only with vision and news of intelligent hoopoe discernment.