Saba (surah)

2025-09-17T17:54:46Z

2603:9001:3200:52D:E83A:2CA4:4801:DDA0: /* Revelation history */

{{short description|34th chapter of the Qur'an}}
{{for|the ancient Yemenite kingdom|Sheba}}
{{Redirect|Q34|the bus service|Q25 and Q34 buses}}
{{infobox surah
| number = 34
| number-3 = 034
| name = Saba’
| name-ar = سَبَأ
| name-en =
| prev_sura = Quran 33
| next_sura = Quran 35
| classification = Meccan
| othernames-ar = 
| othernames = 
| juz = 22
| rukus = 6
| verses = 54
| words = 995
| letters = 3542
| muqattaat = 
| sajdahs = 
| audio = Chapter 34, Saba (Murattal) - Recitation of the Holy Qur'an.mp3
}}

{{Quran}}
'''Saba’''' ({{langx|ar|سبأ}}, {{Transliteration|ar|saba’}}) is the 34th chapter ([[sūrah]]) of the [[Qur'an]] with 54 verses (''[[āyāt]]''). It discusses the lives of [[Solomon in Islam|Solomon]] and [[David in Islam|David]], a story about the people of [[Sheba]], challenges and warnings against the disbelievers as well as the promises related to the [[Day of Judgment]].

Regarding the timing and contextual background of the [[asbāb al-nuzūl]] (circumstances of revelation), it is an earlier [[Meccan surah]], which means it was revealed in Mecca instead of later in [[Medina]].

==Summary==
[[File:Khalili Collection Islamic Art kfq 0094.5.jpg|thumb|right|Folio from Saba' in an 11th century North African manuscript, [[Khalili Collection of Islamic Art]]]]
The chapter begins with the phrase ''[[Alhamdulillah]]'' ("Praise be to God"), one of five chapters to do so; the others are [[Al Fātiḥah]], [[Al-An'am]], [[Al-Kahf]] and [[Fatir]].{{sfn|The Study Quran|p=1043, v. 1 commentary}} The first two verses assert [[God in Islam|God]]'s praiseworthiness and omnipotence.{{sfn|The Study Quran|p=1042}} The following verses (3–9) criticized the disbelievers for their rejection of the [[resurrection]], the [[Day of Judgement]] and of Muhammad's message.{{sfn|The Study Quran|p=1042}}{{sfn|The Study Quran|pp=1043–1044, vv. 5–9 commentary}} The ninth verse also mentions the orderliness of the universe as evidence of God's omnipotence.{{sfn|The Study Quran|pp=1044–1045, v. 9 commentary}} The following verses (10–14) briefly discuss [[David in Islam|David]] and [[Solomon in Islam|Solomon]], both of whom are among the prophets in Islam.{{sfn|The Study Quran|p=1042}}

Verses 15–19 contain a story about the eponymous people of [[Sheba]].{{sfn|The Study Quran|p=1042}} The story is based on the ancient [[Sabaeans]] who lived in the central lowlands of [[Yemen]].{{sfn|Schiettecatte|2016}}{{sfn|Beeston|1995|p=663}} According to the verses, they were originally prosperous, but turned away from worship and giving thanks to God, and as a result suffered a flood.{{sfn|The Study Quran|pp=1045–1046, vv. 15–17 commentary}} The story is presented as a warning against worldly pride and arrogance.{{sfn|Beeston|1995|p=665}}{{sfn|The Study Quran|p=1042}} Semitic philologist [[A. F. L. Beeston]] linked the story to the prosperous Sabeans of the [[Ma'rib]] oasis who settled on each side of the [[wadi]] (hence the reference to "the garden of the right" and "of the left" in verse 15.{{sfn|Beeston|1995|p=665}} Beeston, [[CNRS]] researcher Jérémie Schiettecatte, as well as the Quranic commentary ''[[The Study Quran]]'' argued that the flood corresponds to the failure of the dam system that irrigated the community.{{sfn|The Study Quran|pp=1045–1046, vv. 15–17 commentary}}{{sfn|Schiettecatte|2016}}{{sfn|Beeston|1995|p=665}} The dams were mentioned in inscriptions dated from around 450–540 CE, and ''The Study Quran'' further argues that the phrase "the flood of 'Arim" correspond to the [[triliteral root]] ʿ-r-m that appeared in the inscriptions to refer to the dam system.{{sfn|The Study Quran|pp=1045–1046, vv. 15–17 commentary}}

The rest of the chapter discusses various topics, including the nature of [[Iblis]] (the Devil in the Islamic tradition), challenges to those who reject the message of Islam, warnings of the consequences which will come to them in the Day of Judgement, as well as the nature of Muhammad's mission.{{sfn|The Study Quran|p=1042}}

==Ayat (verses)==
*'''1-2''' Praise to the All-wise and Sovereign God
*'''3''' Unbelievers shall not escape the [[Judgement Day in Islam|Judgement Day]]
*'''4-5''' The reward of believers and the punishment of infidels sure
*'''6''' Certain Jews accept the Quran as the word of God
*'''7''' The Quraish scoff at the doctrine of the resurrection
*'''8''' Muhammad accused of being a forger of the Quran and a madman
*'''8-9''' Divine judgments threatened against the unbelievers
*'''10-11''' David received blessing and knowledge from God
*'''12''' Solomon received dominion over the winds and the genii
*'''13''' The palaces, statues of Solomon etc constructed by [[genie|genii]]
*'''14''' Solomon’s death concealed from the genii
*'''15-16''' The people of [[Sheba#Muslim tradition|Sabá]] rebel against God and are punished
*'''19''' They are dispersed on account of covetousness
*'''20''' All but a few believers follow [[Iblís]]
*'''21''' The idolaters worship imaginary deities
*'''22''' Only those who are permitted shall intercede on the Judgment Day
*'''23-26''' The bountiful God will judge between true believers and the infidels
*'''27''' Muhammad sent to man as a warning
*'''28-29''' The infidels will feel God’s threatened punishment in the Judgment Day
*'''30-32''' Mutual enmity of the idolaters and their leaders on the day of judgment
*'''33''' God’s prophets have always been opposed by the affluent
*'''34-35''' The Makkans boast in their riches in vain
*'''36''' The righteous only shall be saved
*'''37''' Muhammad’s adversaries shall be punished
*'''38''' The Lord will reward the [[almsgivers in Islam|almsgivers]]
*'''39-40''' The angels shall repudiate their worshippers
*'''41''' Idolaters shall be unable to help one another in the judgment
*'''42''' The unbelievers call Muhammad a forger of the Quran and blasphemer
*'''43-44''' Rejecting their Prophet as did those before them, the Makkans shall receive like punishment
*'''45-49''' Muhammad protests the truth of his claims
*'''50-54''' Unbelievers shall repent when too late to avail<ref>{{cite book |last1=Wherry |first1=Elwood Morris |author1-link=Elwood Morris Wherry |title=A Complete Index to [[Sale's Text]], Preliminary Discourse, and Notes |date=1896 |publisher=Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner, and Co |location=London}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

== Revelation history ==
The chapter was revealed during the [[Muhammad in Mecca|Meccan period]] of [[Muhammad]]'s prophethood, therefore, a [[Meccan sura]]. Some commentators of the Quran, including [[Ahmad ibn Ajiba]], [[Mahmud al-Alusi]], [[Ibn al-Jawzi]], and [[Al-Qurtubi]] opined that the sixth verse was an exception and was revealed in the Medinan period.{{sfn|The Study Quran|p=1042}}

== Name ==
The name of the chapter refers to Sheba, a kingdom mentioned in the Quran and the Bible. Sheba is the subject of verses 15 to 21 of the chapter, although this passage likely does not refer to the kingdom under the famous [[Queen of Sheba]], but rather about a group of people in the same region in a later period.{{sfn|The Study Quran|p=1042}}{{sfn|The Study Quran|p=1046, v. 15 commentary}} [[Oriental studies|Orientalist]] [[A. F. L. Beeston]] and Jérémie Schiettecatte identified the people in these verses to be the [[Sabaeans]] who lived in the [[Ma'rib]] valley.{{sfn|Beeston|1995|p=665}}{{sfn|Schiettecatte|2016}}

==References==
*{{wikisource-inline|The Holy Qur'an (Maulana Muhammad Ali)/34. The Saba}}

=== Citations ===
{{reflist|30em}}

=== Bibliography ===
* {{cite book|editor1=Seyyed Hossein Nasr|editor2=Caner K. Dagli|editor3=Maria Massi Dakake|editor4=Joseph E.B. Lumbard|editor5=Mohammed Rustom|title=The Study Quran: A New Translation and Commentary|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GVSzBgAAQBAJ|date=2015|publisher=HarperCollins|isbn=978-0-06-112586-7|location=[[New York City|New York, NY]]|ref={{SfnRef|The Study Quran}}}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title = Sabaʾ | first = A. F. L. | last = Beeston | authorlink = Alfred Felix Landon Beeston | encyclopedia = The Encyclopedia of Islam, New Edition, Volume VII: Ned–Sam | publisher = BRILL | location = Leiden | year = 1995 | isbn = 90-04-09834-8 | pages=663–665 | doi=10.1163/2214-871X_ei1_SIM_5004 }}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title = Sabeans | first = Jérémie | last = Schiettecatte | encyclopedia = The Encyclopedia of Ancient History | publisher = John Wiley & Sons | year = 2016 | page = 1 | isbn = 9781405179355 | doi=10.1002/9781444338386.wbeah30170 | url =https://halshs.archives-ouvertes.fr/halshs-01387578/file/2016%20Schiettecatte%20EAH%20Sabeans_final.pdf }}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[https://quran.com/34 Quran 34] [[Clear Quran translation]]
*[https://www.islamawakened.com/quran/34/20/ Q34:20], 50+ translations, islamawakened.com

{{Sura|34|[[Al-Ahzab]]|[[Fatir]]}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Chapters in the Quran]]
[[Category:Sheba]]
[[Category:David]]
[[Category:Last Judgment]]
[[Category:Satan in religious literature|Saba]]

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Saba (surah)