Ibn 'Atiyyah said: The intent of the speech is that the hoopoe was absent, but he took the implication of his absence, which is that he did not see him, so he asked about it by way of inquiring regarding the implication, and this is a form of conciseness.

2862: 16223: He is present: 1: Tafsir Ibn Kathir: (3/360).

: 16224: A feather: 2: Tafsir al-Qurtubi: (7/4896).

: 16225: Anything: 3: The previous source.

: 16230: Her mother: 4: Tafsir Ibn Kathir: (3/360).

2863: 16231: I will surely kill him: 1: See the previous footnote no. 4.

: 16236: Long: 2: The saying of the Almighty: "He stayed not long," meaning the hoopoe. The meaning is: Solomon remained after the inspection and the threat for a short time, meaning not a long time.

2864: 16237: Upon him: 1: Tafsir Ibn Kathir: (3/360).

: 16241: Disbelieved: 2: Surah Saba, verses 15-17.

2865: 16244: A land: 1: Tafsir Ibn Kathir: (3/360).

: 16249: A kingdom: 2: Tafsir 'Abd al-Razzaq (2/68) and Tafsir Ibn Kathir (2/68).

: 16250: Rules over them: 3: Al-Qurtubi said: He informed Solomon of what he did not know, and he warded off from himself the punishment and slaughter with which he had threatened him.

2866: 16252: A thousand: 1: Tafsir Mujahid: (2/68).

: 16254: Rules over them: 2: Meaning: Bilqis bint Sharahil rules over the people of Saba.

It is said: How was her location hidden from Solomon while the distance between his station and her city was near, being a three-day journey between Sana'a and Ma'rib? The answer is that God the Almighty hid that from him for a benefit, just as He hid the location of Joseph from Jacob.