Hudhud is the Arabic word for the hoopoe, the crested bird in Surah An-Naml (27:20–28). Prophet Sulayman (peace be upon him) noticed it was missing; it returned with news of a queen of Saba’ (Sheba) whose people worshipped the sun. Sulayman tested its report by sending it with his letter, and in the end the queen submitted to Allah (27:44).
Where is the hoopoe mentioned in the Qur’an?
Once by name, in Surah An-Naml (“The Ant”), chapter 27, verse 20, and its story runs through verses 20–28. It is part of the longer story of Prophet Sulayman (Solomon, peace be upon him) and the queen of Saba’ (27:15–44). Sulayman was a Prophet and king whom Allah taught “the speech of birds” (27:16), and his armies included jinn, people and birds (27:17).
What happens in Surah An-Naml 27:20–28, verse by verse?
Sulayman notices the hoopoe is missing; it returns with news of a sun-worshipping queen; he sends it back with a letter to test its report. Here is each verse in summary, from the meanings in standard English translations:
| Ayah | What happens |
|---|---|
| 27:20 | Sulayman inspects the birds and asks, “Why do I not see the hoopoe? Or is it among the absent?” |
| 27:21 | He says he will punish it severely, or slaughter it, unless it brings him a clear excuse. |
| 27:22 | The hoopoe soon returns: “I have learned what you have not, and I have come to you from Saba’ with certain news.” |
| 27:23 | “I found a woman ruling over them. She has been given of everything, and she has a great throne.” |
| 27:24 | “I found her and her people bowing down to the sun instead of Allah. Shaytan has made their deeds seem good to them and turned them from the way.” |
| 27:25 | So they do not bow to Allah, who brings out what is hidden in the heavens and the earth, and knows what you hide and what you show. |
| 27:26 | “Allah: there is no god but Him, Lord of the Mighty Throne.” |
| 27:27 | Sulayman says, “We will see whether you have told the truth or are one of the liars.” |
| 27:28 | “Take this letter of mine and deliver it to them, then withdraw and see what they answer.” |
Read the full Arabic and translations at quran.com/27/20-28.
How does the story end?
The queen received “a noble letter” from Sulayman, which began, “In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful” (27:29–31). She consulted her advisers and sent a gift, which Sulayman refused (27:32–37). Her throne was brought to Sulayman before she arrived (27:38–42), and when she came to his palace she said: “My Lord, I have wronged myself, and I submit with Sulayman to Allah, Lord of the worlds” (27:44). A small bird’s true report led a whole kingdom to hear about Allah.
What does Ibn Kathir say about the hoopoe?
In his tafsir on 27:20, Ibn Kathir reports from Ibn Abbas, through Mujahid, Sa’id ibn Jubayr and others, that the hoopoe’s task was to find water: when Sulayman’s army was in open country, it would look down and judge where water lay under the ground, and Sulayman would have it dug out. That is why its absence was noticed. This explanation comes from the early commentators, not from the words of the Qur’an itself.
What lessons does the hoopoe teach children?
- Small creatures matter. Sulayman, a great king, noticed one missing bird (27:20).
- Listen before you judge. Sulayman gave the hoopoe the chance to explain (27:21).
- Speak up, truthfully. The hoopoe told a king something he didn’t know (27:22).
- Care about what’s right. It was troubled that people bowed to the sun instead of Allah (27:24–25).
- Check news before acting. Sulayman tested the report (27:27), a lesson for every WhatsApp forward.
- Begin with Bismillah. Sulayman’s letter opened with Allah’s name (27:30).
How do you tell the hoopoe story to a 3–5-year-old vs a 6–9-year-old?
For under-fives, the hoopoe is a brave little bird who told the truth. For six- to nine-year-olds, it’s a story about checking news and fair judgement.
| Ages 3–5 | Ages 6–9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | A little bird flew far, saw something important and told the truth | Sulayman listens, then checks; the letter; the queen’s choice |
| The hard part | Leave out the threat in 27:21 | Explain that a king had to keep order, but still listened first |
| Try | Look at hoopoe photos and draw its crest | Read 27:15–44 in translation; play “Is it true?” |
What does the hadith say about hoopoes?
Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) forbade killing four creatures: the ant, the bee, the hoopoe and the surad, a bird translated as sparrowhawk or shrike (Sunan Abi Dawud 5267). Al-Albani graded it sahih. Scholars have used it to show that these creatures should not be harmed.
What does the Qur’an not say about the hoopoe?
The Qur’an does not name the queen; the name Bilqis comes from later tradition. Nor does it give the hoopoe a name: Shia tradition calls Sulayman’s hoopoe Ya’fur. In Persian poetry, Attar’s The Conference of the Birds makes the hoopoe a wise guide, and in some cultures hoopoes are thought lucky. These are literature and folk beliefs, not Islamic teaching.
What is a hoopoe, and are there hoopoes in the UK?
The Eurasian hoopoe (Upupa epops) has pinkish-orange feathers, black-and-white striped wings and a crest that opens like a fan. It probes the ground for insects with its long, curved beak, and its Arabic name echoes its soft “hoo-poo-poo” call. It lives across Africa, the Middle East, Asia and southern Europe. In Britain it is a scarce visitor: the RSPB says as many as 100 can turn up in spring, mostly on England’s south coast, when migrants from Africa overshoot.
Why is our book called Hudhud?
In the Qur’an, the hoopoe travels far and returns with true news. In Hudhud, a UK personalised Islamic storybook, a talking hoopoe taps at a child’s window at bedtime and carries them through the night to the stories of five Prophets: Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa and Muhammad (peace be upon them). Our Hudhud is a fictional character inspired by the Qur’anic bird, not the bird of Surah An-Naml itself. Read more in Prophet stories for kids and Islamic bedtime stories.
Activities
- Draw a hoopoe with its crest open.
- Find the ant’s story just before the hoopoe’s (27:18–19).
- Write a letter that starts with Bismillah, like Sulayman’s.
Sources and further reading
Frequently asked questions
What does Hudhud mean?
Hudhud is the Arabic word for the hoopoe, a crested bird. It is the bird mentioned in Surah An-Naml (27:20–28) in the story of Prophet Sulayman.
Where is the hoopoe mentioned in the Qur’an?
In Surah An-Naml, chapter 27. It is named in verse 20, and its story runs to verse 28: it brings Prophet Sulayman news of the queen of Saba’ (Sheba) and carries his letter to her.
Why was the hoopoe important to Prophet Sulayman?
Ibn Kathir reports from Ibn Abbas that the hoopoe found water under the ground for Sulayman’s army, so its absence was noticed. In the Qur’an it brings Sulayman news he did not know (27:22).
Is it haram to kill a hoopoe?
A hadith reported by Ibn Abbas says the Prophet forbade killing four creatures: the ant, the bee, the hoopoe and the surad (Sunan Abi Dawud 5267). Al-Albani graded it sahih, so Muslims should not harm hoopoes.
What lesson does the hoopoe teach?
Honesty and courage in speaking up, and caring about what is right. From Sulayman’s response we learn to listen before judging and to check news before acting on it (27:21; 27:27).
What was the name of the Queen of Sheba in the Qur’an?
The Qur’an does not name her; it calls her a woman ruling over Saba’ (27:23). The name Bilqis comes from later Islamic tradition.
Do hoopoes live in the UK?
Not usually. They are scarce visitors: the RSPB says as many as 100 can arrive in spring, mostly on England’s south coast, as migrants overshoot from Africa.
Is the Hudhud in the book the same as the Qur’an’s hoopoe?
No. The Hudhud in our book is a fictional talking hoopoe inspired by the bird in Surah An-Naml. He guides the child through the stories of five Prophets.