The Twenty-Eighth Flash

The Fifth Subtlety

During the discussion of the preceding Subtlety, the subject of the hoopoe (hudhudThe hoopoe, a bird mentioned in the Qur’an (27:20–28) in the story of Prophet Sulaymān (as). It brought him news of the kingdom of Sheba and its queen.) of Sulaymān (as)The son of Prophet Dāwūd (as), a prophet and king of the Children of Israel. Allah granted him extraordinary wisdom, a vast kingdom, and the ability to understand the speech of birds and animals and command the wind and jinn. He is known for his justice, gratitude, and devotion to Allah. arose. Thereupon, a persistent and inquisitive brother of ours, RefetRefet Barutçu, one of the foremost students of Bediuzzaman., asked the following question:

Why does the hudhudThe hoopoe, a bird mentioned in the Qur’an (27:20–28) in the story of Prophet Sulaymān (as). It brought him news of the kingdom of Sheba and its queen., in describing Allah in so important a passage and among such momentous Divine attributes, mention this seemingly lesser attribute, saying:

يَخْرُجُ الْخَبْءَ فِى السَّمٰوَاتِ وَاْلاَرَضِWho brings forth what is hidden in the heavens and the earth. — The Qur’an 27:25.

Answer:

One of the principles of eloquence is that a speaker's words bear the imprint of the craft or skill with which he is most familiar.

The hudhudThe hoopoe, a bird mentioned in the Qur’an (27:20–28) in the story of Prophet Sulaymān (as). It brought him news of the kingdom of Sheba and its queen. of Sulaymān (as)The son of Prophet Dāwūd (as), a prophet and king of the Children of Israel. Allah granted him extraordinary wisdom, a vast kingdom, and the ability to understand the speech of birds and animals and command the wind and jinn. He is known for his justice, gratitude, and devotion to Allah. was an expert among birds and animals, resembling those skilled Bedouins who, through their keen discernment, could discover hidden sources of water in the arid deserts of the Arabian Peninsula. He was a blessed bird entrusted with a particular duty: to serve Sulaymān (as)The son of Prophet Dāwūd (as), a prophet and king of the Children of Israel. Allah granted him extraordinary wisdom, a vast kingdom, and the ability to understand the speech of birds and animals and command the wind and jinn. He is known for his justice, gratitude, and devotion to Allah. by locating sources of water and indicating where wells should be dug.

Thus, judging by the measure of his own modest craft, he perceived and proclaimed that Allah, by bringing forth what lies hidden in the heavens and the earth, demonstrates that He alone is truly worthy of worship and that before Him alone all should prostrate.

Indeed, the hoopoe had grasped this truth with profound insight. For, according to the ordinary course of things, the countless seeds, kernels, and minerals concealed beneath the earth cannot rise from its depths to the surface of their own accord. Heavy bodies possess neither will nor soul; they cannot ascend by themselves, but naturally descend from above to below.

It is impossible for a body buried beneath the immense weight of the earth to cast off that burden and rise to the surface through its own power. It can therefore be brought forth only by an extraordinary power.

Thus, through the insight afforded by his own craft, the hoopoe discovered and understood one of the most subtle and momentous proofs that Allah alone is worthy of worship. It is for this reason that the Wise Qur’an has invested the hoopoe's words with a miraculous depth of meaning.