Allah (most gracious and powerful) made all the creatures and gave them each unique features to be a lesson to those who has understanding, as Allah noted in the Holy Quran: (Do they not look at the birds, held poised in the midst of (the air and) the sky? Nothing holds them up but (the power of) Allah. Verily in this are signs for those who believe.) 79 An-Nahl; and (Do they not observe the birds above them, spreading their wings and folding them in? None can uphold them except (Allah) Most Gracious. Truly it is He that watches over all things.) Al-Mulk: 19 All creatures were given their unique characteristics that allows them to function in their environment and benefit other surrounding creatures, for life to keep moving on. As I was reading the Holy Quran, I was amazed by the story of a bird that was the messenger between a prophet and a queen, calling her to believe in the one, true Allah.
Scientists discovered several sub-species of the hoopoes, and the Holy Quran mentioned this bird as a messenger of Prophet Suleiman (AS) to the Queen of Sheba; as the Holy Quran notes the words of Allah (most gracious and powerful), about Suleiman (AS) as he inspected his troops: (He (Suleiman) inspected the birds, and said: “What is the matter that I see not the hoopoe? Or is he among the absentees? I will inflict a severe punishment on him or maybe even slaughter him unless he comes forth with a convincing reason (for his absence)) The text is explained that Suleiman (AS) was keen to check on his subjects big or small, and upon inspection he noticed that the hoopoe was missing, so he wondered: (“What is the matter that I see not the hoopoe? Or is he among the absentees?”)
We can see that the Prophet Suleiman (AS) was not hasty in his judgement, but he said first: Why do I not see the hoopoe? maybe he is hidden from my eyes. But upon confirming the absence of the hoopoe, the Prophet Suleiman (AS) said: I will inflict a severe punishment on him or maybe even slaughter him unless he comes forth with a convincing reason for his absence.
Not before long the hoopoe came up and said: "I have obtained a knowledge which you could not. I have brought for you sure news about Sheba. I found there a woman ruling over them, one who has been endowed with all things and has a mighty throne. I found that she and her people prostrate themselves before the sun rather than Allah. I wanted to inform you as a believer in Allah, and since you are a man of jihad, because Satan has made their deeds appear attractive to them and has, thus, debarred them from the Right Path. These people should prostrate themselves before Allah Who brings to light all that is hidden in the heavens and the earth and knows all that you conceal and all that you reveal. Allah - none is worthy of worship save He; He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne.
Upon hearing the hoopoe’s words and apology the Prophet Suleiman (AS) was pleased, but he wanted to test his honesty. Suleiman (AS) told the bird: "Soon shall we see whether you have spoken the truth or are one of those that lie”. He gave the hoopoe a letter and said: “Take this letter of mine, deliver it to them, and then draw back from them, and observe what they do."
This was the end of the hoopoe’s role in this regard; however his actions helped convert an entire nation to Islam, guiding them to the Right Path; as their queen believed, following several interaction, in Allah and said: "My Lord, I have been inflicting much wrong on myself. Now I submit myself with Solomon to Allah, the Lord of the whole Universe." An-Naml: 44.
This bird, one of Allah’s creatures that were mentioned in the Holy Quran, and his actions were the to convert the nation of Sheba and its queen to Islam.
