Explore Surah 34: Saba (Sheba) with a clear English translation and insightful comments. Discover its themes of gratitude, arrogance, divine justice, and the story of the people of Sheba in simple, easy language.
Surah 34: Saba (Sheba)
Introduction
Surah Saba is the 34th chapter of the Holy Qur’an. It was revealed in Makkah and contains 54 verses. The Surah is named after the ancient kingdom of Saba (Sheba), a rich and powerful nation that once existed in southern Arabia (modern-day Yemen). This nation is mentioned in the Surah as a lesson in gratitude and the consequences of turning away from Allah’s blessings.
The main themes of this Surah include:
- Belief in the Hereafter: The Surah strongly refutes the false claims of disbelievers who deny life after death. It emphasizes that the Day of Judgment will surely come, and everyone will be held accountable for their actions.
- The Power and Knowledge of Allah: Allah is described as the One who controls everything in the heavens and the earth. He knows all things, seen and unseen, and nothing escapes His knowledge.
- Prophet Dawud (David) and Prophet Sulayman (Solomon): The Surah mentions the favours Allah gave to these prophets, including control over nature, jinn, and iron. Their stories are reminders that power should be used with gratitude and righteousness.
- The People of Saba: Allah blessed them with fertile land and peace, but they became ungrateful. As a result, their gardens were destroyed, and they were scattered. This shows how ingratitude can lead to downfall.
- Refutation of False Beliefs: The disbelievers are warned not to rely on wealth, power, or false gods. None of these can help them against Allah’s judgment.
- The Mission of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): The Prophet is described as a warner to all of humanity, not just to the Arabs. He calls people to truth and warns them of the consequences of ignoring divine guidance.
This Surah reminds us to be grateful for Allah’s blessings, to believe in the unseen (especially the Hereafter), and to obey the messengers sent by Allah. It teaches that true success lies in faith, good deeds, and humility before the Almighty. 0 0 0
Surah 34: Saba (Sheba): Text
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
1. All praise belongs to Allah, to Whom belongs everything in the heavens and everything on the earth. And praise belongs to Him in the Hereafter too. He is the All-Wise, the All-Aware.
2. He knows what goes into the earth and what comes out of it, what descends from the sky and what ascends into it. And He is the Most Merciful, the All-Forgiving.
3. Those who disbelieve say, ‘The Hour (of Judgment) will never come to us.’ Say, ‘Yes, by my Lord, it will surely come to you! By the One Who knows the unseen. Not even the smallest particle escapes Him — whether in the heavens or in the earth — nor anything smaller or greater than that, but it is all written in a clear Book.’
4. So that He may reward those who believe and do good deeds. For them is forgiveness and an honourable provision.
5. But those who try to oppose Our verses, seeking to defeat the truth — for them will be a painful punishment of a foul kind.
6. And those who have been given knowledge see that what is revealed to you from your Lord is the truth, and it guides to the path of the Almighty, the Praiseworthy.
7. Those who disbelieve say, ‘Shall we show you a man who says that when you are completely torn apart into dust, you will be raised as a new creation again?’
8. ‘Has he invented a lie against Allah, or is he possessed?’ But those who disbelieve in the Hereafter are themselves in error and far from the right path.
9. Have they not seen what is before them and behind them of the sky and the earth? If We wish, We can cause the earth to swallow them or drop a piece of the sky upon them. Surely in this is a sign for every servant who turns to Allah.
10. And We certainly gave David a special favour from Us, saying, ‘O mountains, echo with him in praise!’ and ‘O birds, join him!’ And We made iron soft for him.
11. ‘Make full-length coats of armour and measure the links properly. And do good deeds — I am watching what you do.’
12. And for Solomon, We made the wind subservient — its morning journey was a month’s travel, and its evening journey was a month. And We made a stream of molten copper flow for him. And from among the jinn were those who worked under his command by his Lord’s permission. And whoever disobeyed Our command, We made him taste the punishment of the burning fire.
13. They made for him whatever he wanted — palaces, statues, basins like reservoirs, and huge cooking pots fixed in place. ‘Work thankfully, O family of David!’ But only a few of My servants are truly thankful.
14. Then when We decreed Solomon’s death, nothing showed them that he had died except a creature of the earth that ate away at his staff. When he fell, the jinn realized that if they had truly known the unseen, they would not have remained in this humiliating work.
15. There was certainly a sign for the people of Sheba in their homeland — two gardens, one on the right and one on the left. ‘Eat from the provisions of your Lord and be grateful to Him. What a good land and a forgiving Lord!’
16. But they turned away, so We sent upon them a devastating flood. And We replaced their two gardens with others that bore bitter fruits, tamarisks, and a few sparse thorny trees.
17. This was how We repaid them for their ungratefulness. Do We punish anyone except those who are ungrateful?
18. We had placed between them and the towns We had blessed, other cities within sight of one another, and We set up measured stages of travel between them. We said, ‘Travel between them by night and day in safety.’
19. But they said, ‘Our Lord, make the distance between our journeys longer,’ and they wronged themselves. So We made them stories (of the past) and scattered them completely. Surely in this are signs for every patient and thankful person.
20. And indeed, Iblis (Satan) found his assumption about them to be true. They followed him — except for a group of true believers.
21. He had no authority over them, but We did this to make clear who believes in the Hereafter and who is in doubt about it. And your Lord is Watchful over all things.
22. Say, ‘Call upon those you claim besides Allah. They do not own even the weight of a speck in the heavens or on the earth. Nor do they have any share in them, nor is He dependent on any of them as a helper.’
23. No intercession is of any benefit with Him — except for one whom He allows. When fear is removed from their hearts, they will say, ‘What did your Lord say?’ They will answer, ‘The truth. And He is the Most High, the Great.’
24. Say, ‘Who provides for you from the heavens and the earth?’ Say, ‘Allah. And surely, either we or you are rightly guided or clearly in error.’
25. Say, ‘You will not be asked about our sins, nor will we be asked about what you do.’
26. Say, ‘Our Lord will bring us all together. Then He will judge between us with truth. He is the Best Judge, the All-Knowing.’
27. Say, ‘Show me those whom you have joined with Him as partners. No! In fact, He is Allah, the Almighty, the All-Wise.’
28. And We have not sent you except as a bringer of good news and a warner to all people — but most people do not know.
29. And they say, ‘When will this promise be fulfilled, if what you say is true?’
30. Say, ‘You have an appointed Day, which you can neither delay by a moment nor bring forward.’
31. The disbelievers say, ‘We will never believe in this Qur’an or in what came before it.’ But if only you could see when the wrongdoers are made to stand before their Lord, throwing blame at each other! The weak will say to the arrogant, ‘Had it not been for you, we would have been believers.’
32. The arrogant ones will say to the weak, ‘Did we force you to disbelieve after the guidance came to you? No! You were yourselves sinful.’
33. And the weak will say to the arrogant, ‘No! It was your plotting, day and night, when you ordered us to disbelieve in Allah and set up equals with Him.’ They will all hide their regret when they see the punishment. And We will put chains around the necks of the disbelievers. Will they be repaid for anything except what they used to do?
34. We never sent a warner to any town without its rich people saying, ‘We disbelieve in what you have been sent with.’
35. And they said, ‘We have more wealth and children, and we will not be punished.’
36. Say, ‘My Lord gives plenty or limits provision to whomever He wills, but most people do not know.’
37. It is not your wealth or your children that will bring you closer to Us. But those who believe and do righteous deeds — they will have a double reward for what they did, and they will be safe in high dwellings.
38. But those who try to defeat Our signs — they will be brought into punishment.
39. Say, ‘Surely my Lord gives plenty of provision to whomever He wills of His servants, and He restricts it for others. And whatever you spend, He will replace it. He is the Best of Providers.’
40. And on the Day He gathers them all, He will say to the angels, ‘Did these people use to worship you?’
41. They will say, ‘Glory be to You! You are our Protector, not them. Rather, they used to worship the jinn — most of them believed in them.’
42. So today, none of you can benefit or harm one another. And We will say to the wrongdoers, ‘Taste the punishment of the Fire that you used to deny.’
43. When Our clear verses are recited to them, they say, ‘This is just a man who wants to turn you away from what your forefathers used to worship.’ And they say, ‘This is nothing but a made-up lie.’ And the disbelievers say of the truth when it comes to them, ‘This is nothing but clear magic.’
44. We never gave them any books which they studied, nor did We send to them any warner before you.
45. And those before them also denied the truth. And these people have not even reached one-tenth of what We gave their ancestors, but they still rejected My messengers. So how was My punishment?
46. Say, ‘I advise you of only one thing: stand for Allah, in pairs or alone, then reflect. Your companion is not mad. He is only a warner to you before a severe punishment.’
47. Say, ‘Whatever reward I ask from you, it is only for yourselves. My reward is with Allah alone, and He is a Witness over all things.’
48. Say, ‘My Lord hurls down the truth. He is the Knower of all unseen things.’
49. Say, ‘The truth has come, and falsehood can neither start anything nor bring it back.’
50. Say, ‘If I go astray, it is only to my own loss. But if I am guided, it is because of what my Lord has revealed to me. He is All-Hearing, Ever Near.’
51. If only you could see when they will be in terror with no escape, and they will be seized from a nearby place.
52. And they will say, ‘We now believe in it!’ But how can they reach it from such a far-off place?
53. They already disbelieved in it before, and they used to make guesses about the unseen from a distance.
54. And a barrier will be placed between them and what they desire, just as was done with those like them before. Surely, they were in deep doubt. 0 0 0
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Comment
Surah Saba offers a powerful reminder that worldly success — like wealth, status, or power — means nothing without faith and gratitude. The story of the people of Saba stands as a clear warning: even the most prosperous nation can fall if it turns away from Allah’s guidance. This Surah teaches us that every blessing we enjoy is a test — will we be thankful, or will we become arrogant?
The Surah also beautifully highlights the examples of Prophet Dawud and Prophet Sulayman, who were given great power but remained humble and obedient to Allah. Their stories teach us that true leadership is about service, gratitude, and justice — not pride.
Another strong message in this Surah is the certainty of the Day of Judgment. Many people ignore or mock the idea of resurrection, but this Surah warns them that the Hour will come, and no one can escape it. On that day, false excuses, blame, or pride will not help.
Finally, the Surah reminds us that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was sent for all people — a universal messenger — and that the Qur’an is a message of truth. It is a call to reflect, believe, and live a life of righteousness.
In short, Surah Saba teaches us to stay humble, be thankful, believe in the unseen, and follow the path of the prophets — for that is the path to success in this world and the next. 0 0 0
Surah 33: Saba: Additional Data
Frequently Asked Questions on Surah Saba (Sheba)
Q1. What is Surah 34: Saba (Sheba) about?
Ans: Surah 34: Saba (Sheba) is about gratitude to Allah, the consequences of arrogance, the story of the people of Sheba, and reminders of divine justice.
Q2. Why is Surah 34 called Saba (Sheba)?
Ans: Surah 34 is called Saba (Sheba) because it mentions the ancient people of Sheba, their prosperity, ingratitude, and eventual downfall.
Q3. What lessons can we learn from Surah 34: Saba (Sheba)?
Ans: Surah 34: Saba (Sheba) teaches lessons on thankfulness, the dangers of pride, the reality of resurrection, and the importance of following divine guidance.
Q4. How many verses are there in Surah 34: Saba (Sheba)?
Ans: Surah 34: Saba (Sheba) has 54 verses revealed in Makkah, emphasizing faith, accountability, and the signs of Allah in history.
Q5. What is the central message of Surah 34: Saba (Sheba)?
Ans: The central message of Surah 34: Saba (Sheba) is that true power and wealth belong only to Allah, and human arrogance leads to destruction.
Q6. How does Surah 34: Saba (Sheba) describe the people of Sheba?
Ans: Surah 34: Saba (Sheba) describes the people of Sheba as blessed with gardens and prosperity, but their ingratitude led to ruin and dispersal. 0 0 0
The People of Sheba: A Poem
In gardens green, with rivers wide,
The people of Sheba lived in pride.
Blessings poured from heaven’s hand,
A thriving home, a fruitful land.
Yet hearts grew cold, their thanks grew few,
They turned from truth, denied what’s true.
Walls of arrogance, towers of might,
Crumbled swiftly in Allah’s sight.
Prophets called with voices clear,
“Bow to the One, hold Him near.”
But wealth and power made them blind,
They left the path, ignored the sign.
The flood then came, their land was torn,
Their fields lay bare, their hearts forlorn.
A lesson etched in time’s vast sand,
That pride will fall, but faith will stand.
For Saba’s tale still speaks today,
That blessings bloom when thanks we pay.
And every soul shall one day see,
The truth of Allah’s majesty. 0 0 0
