Quran Universe

Saba (Sheba)

Nation of the Quran

Nation of the Quran

Saba (Sheba)سبأ

Traditional date, disputedMa'rib, Yemen

The hoopoe told Sulayman of a queen of Saba who worshipped the sun with her people (27:22-24). She came to Sulayman and submitted with him to Allah. Later generations lived between two gardens around Ma'rib, in a good land with a forgiving Lord, but turned away from gratitude.

What does the Quran say?

There was for [the tribe of] Saba' in their dwelling place a sign: two [fields of] gardens on the right and on the left. [They were told], "Eat from the provisions of your Lord and be grateful to Him. A good land [have you], and a forgiving Lord."

Quran 34:15

27:20-4434:15-19

How did they end?

Allah sent the flood of the dam upon them; their gardens became bitter scrub and their people were scattered across the land (34:16-19).

What do historians say?

The great dam of Ma'rib, whose stone sluices still stand, watered the oasis for over a thousand years. Inscriptions record its repairs, including one by Abraha in 548, before it finally failed around the late 6th century.

The lesson

Blessings are kept by gratitude and lost by turning away.

Who else is linked?

SulaymanSaba (Sheba)BilqisSaba and Ma'rib

Everyone and everything in the timeline

People named in the Quran and the hadith, the Prophet's ﷺ family and Companions, scholars, rulers, the nations of the Quran, the world's empires and the places where it all happened. Where scholars differ, each entry says so.

Nations of the Quran