The Holy Quran 27:40 — Surah An-Naml

Arabic text

قَالَ ٱلَّذِى عِندَهُۥ عِلْمٌ مِّنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ أَنَا۠ ءَاتِيكَ بِهِۦ قَبْلَ أَن يَرْتَدَّ إِلَيْكَ طَرْفُكَ ۚ فَلَمَّا رَءَاهُ مُسْتَقِرًّا عِندَهُۥ قَالَ هَـٰذَا مِن فَضْلِ رَبِّى لِيَبْلُوَنِىٓ ءَأَشْكُرُ أَمْ أَكْفُرُ ۖ وَمَن شَكَرَ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ رَبِّى غَنِىٌّ كَرِيمٌ

Translation

(However,) Someone (whose identity cannot be proven beyond doubt) who possessed knowledge of the Book (the Zaboor) said, "(Before you stand up from your place is a long time because) I shall bring it to you before you can even blink your eye." (True to his word, the throne was present before the batting of an eye and) When he (Sulaymaan عليه الصلاة والسلام) saw it placed firmly in his presence, he said, "This is from the grace (favours) of my Rabb to test whether I will be grateful or ungrateful. Whoever is grateful shows gratitude only for his own good (because he will receive the benefit of showing gratitude). (On the other hand), Whoever is ungrateful, then indeed my Rabb is Independent (not in need of his gratitude), Bountiful (and can easily bestow the same favours on others)."

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

A companion's promise to bring the throne in the twinkling of an eye: the preferred view appears to be that this person was Sulayman's ﵇ companion and vizier Asaf ibn Barkhiya, a scholar of the heavenly Scriptures who knew the efficacy of the names and words of Allah. He said, “I can bring the throne in the twinkling of an eye.

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