Salaam,
Peace....
I am entirely against your opinion.... it doesn't match with my understanding of quran.... perhaps for you...
let me say why i am against... so, let me know whether your opinion or explanation befit
27:17 "And gathered for Solomon were his soldiers of the jinn and men and birds, and they were [marching] in rows."
27:20 "And he took attendance of the birds and said, "Why do I not see the hoopoe - or is he among the absent?"
If HudHud was either Man or Jin why it was called as bird... Was there Birds among Sulaiman's Soldiers? Yes... God clearly used Men, Jin and Bird...
Further What did Sulaiman Check? He checked ATTENDANCE from the BIRDS? and found HudHud was missing... Sulaiman didn't check from Men or Jinn..
Regarding Naml...
Do you have the courage to say that Sulaiman and his soldiers were ruthless to crush a innocent human tribe who are so visible to their eyes? Were they boasting in a way saying let everyone aside, we are in a processission ... That's not suited for a messenger and his soldiers...Then why Sulaiman was so impressed at her speech? and immediately thanking God after listening to her... why God used as sulaiman was amazed at HER speech if it was a tribe? no idea whether tribe is feminine or masculine in quran... But for me your assumption is far from truth...
Human cannot judge whether birds have free will or not.... as per quran it seems YES..
Peace jkhan,
As I said "consider" not that the alternative explanations are complete.
Tair and Hudhud https://www.islamawakened.com/quran/27/17/default.htmwaḥushira lisulaymāna junūduhu mina l-jini wal-insi wa al-ṭayri fahum yūzaʿūnaوَحُشِرَ لِسُلَيْمَانَ جُنُودُهُ مِنَ الْجِنِّ وَالْإِنسِ وَالطَّيْرِ فَهُمْ يُوزَعُونَ---
https://www.islamawakened.com/quran/27/20/default.htmwatafaqqada al-ṭayra faqāla mā liya lā arā l-hud'huda am kāna mina l-ghāibīnaوَتَفَقَّدَ الطَّيْرَ فَقَالَ مَا لِيَ لَا أَرَى الْهُدْهُدَ أَمْ كَانَ مِنَ الْغَائِبِينَal-tayr / الطير which most translate as birds has also other meanings
http://arabiclexicon.hawramani.com/search/%D8%B7%D9%8A%D8%B1?cat=50Arabic-English Lexicon by Edward William Laneطير...
b2: It is also said of other things than those which have wings; as in the saying of El-'Amberee (Kureyt Ibn-Uneyf, Ham p. 3):
طَارُوا إِلَيْهِ زَرَافَاتٍ وَوُحْدَانَا [They fly to it in companies and one by one]; (TA;) i. e. they hasten to it:
for
طِرْتُ إِلَى كَذَا means (assumed tropical:) I hastened to such a thing:
and
طِرْتُ بِكَذَا (assumed tropical:) I outstripped, or became foremost, with such a thing.
(Ham p. 6.) And
طار عَلَى مَتْنِ فَرَسِهِ (tropical:) He fled upon the back of his horse.
(TA, from a trad.) And
طار القَوْمُ (assumed tropical:) The people took fright and ran away quickly.
(Msb.) And
طَارُوا سِرَاعًا (assumed tropical:) They went away quickly. (TA.)
...
طَيَّارٌ (tropical:)
A sharp, spirited, vigorous, horse, (K, TA,)
that is almost made to fly by reason of the vehemence of his running;
Solomon's horses 38: 31-33https://www.islamawakened.com/quran/38/31/https://www.islamawakened.com/quran/38/32/https://www.islamawakened.com/quran/38/33/--------
Some translate/ explain Tair, Hudhud this way:-----Shabbir Ahmed----------
27:16 Solomon was David's heir in continuation of Allah's Revelation. He said, "O People! We have been given a great cavalry of ready horses with the best knowledge of training them, and given every blessing. This evidently is a great Bounty on our nation." ((21:79), (34:10). Solomon ruled as King from 965 to 926 B.C.) )
27:17 Solomon's army included warrior tribes of the woods and the mountains, dwellers of townships, and great riders of the tribe of Taer. They were well disciplined, and dedicated to any appointed mission....
27:20 (Leaving the peaceful tribe of An-Naml alone, Solomon marched forward.) As he examined the cavalry, he said, "How is it that I do not see the commander
27:21 (Absconding from the marching army was a breach of discipline.) Solomon said, "Unless the commander presented a good reason I would punish him or demote him to a low rank."
-----Ghulam Ahmad Parwez----------
27:16 And after David, Solomon became his successor. (This was not because he was David’s son but because he was competent for this exalted position.) He said to the people, “Just look at the strength and the might of this kingdom and the abundance of everything that is available here. We possess a very strong cavalry and we are fully aware of its capability and discipline. (In those days the cavalry was considered the backbone of the army – 21:79, 34:10.)
All these bounties, power and ability to defend are indeed evident, and these are sure signs of God’s favour.
27:17 Solomon’s army consisted of civilized people from the cities; savage and mighty brutes from the mountainous jungles; and swift horse riders from the tribe of Tair. All of them were kept in camps so that, after proper training, their capabilities could be gainfully utilized.
...
27:20 (One day, while on the march, Solomon asked of some cavalry men who were not present at the time.) When they arrived, he asked them, “Where is your chief Hud-Hud (Hoopoe)? Has he gone somewhere for a while or is he absent from his duty?”
27:21 If he is absent (then according to the rules of the army) I will punish him severely. Moreover, if he does not produce any explicit authority (valid reason for absence), he may even be sentenced to death.------Amatul Rahman Omar---------
27:16 And Solomon succeeded David and he said, `O you people! we have been taught the language of the birds (and also the technique of horsemanship), and bestowed with everything (essential for us). This indeed is a distinct favour (of God and His grace).'
27:17 And there were gathered together before Solomon his hosts comprising of jinn (- haughty) and (ordinary) men and birds and swift footed horses, and they were then arranged in separate well-disciplined columns.
...
27:20 And (once) he reviewed the birds and the (cavalry of) swift running horses and said, `How is it that I do not see (my officer named) Hudhud? Is he deliberately absent?
27:21 I will certainly punish him very severely, rather I will execute him or else he must give me some valid excuse (for remaining absent).Neutral:
----Ahmed Ali--------
27:16 Solomon was heir to David, and he said: "O people, we have been taught the language of Tair, and have been given of everything. This is a clear favour indeed."
27:17 His armies of jinns and men and Tair assembled, formed into ranks, (and marched)
...
27:20 When he reviewed the Tair, he said: "How is it I do not see Hud-hud? Is he absent?
27:21 I will punish him severely, or cut his throat, unless he bring a valid excuse."---------------
Naml:See also this discussion about Naml in Arabic:
https://vb.tafsir.net/tafsir57827/Though with tanslation tools one could understand what is most relevant.
https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=nl&sl=ar&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fvb.tafsir.net%2Ftafsir57827%2F----
Note also that : "fatabassama ḍāḥikan" is "smiled, amused / laughing"
not "impressed, amazed"
----
Some translate/ explain about Naml this way:-----Shabbir Ahmed----------
27:18 Once (when Solomon was on an expedition to the South), they came upon the valley ruled by Queen An-Naml. The Queen, (realizing the power of Solomon), ordered her armies, "Go back in your barracks, lest Solomon and his armies crush you without knowing that we are a peaceful tribe."
27:19 Solomon smiled joyously at her words and said, "My Lord! Enable me to be grateful for your blessings upon me and my parents. Enable me to work for the betterment of humanity and thus please You. Include me, by Your Grace, among your righteous servants."-----Ghulam Ahmad Parwez----------
27:18 At one time Solomon learnt that the state of Sheba was planning to attack. So as a precaution he took his army towards them. The valley of Namal was on the way and like that of the state of Sheba; its head of state was a woman. When she received news of this army, she ordered her subjects to remain in their dwellings to save themselves. She did not ascertain whether they had any connection or alliance with their enemy the state of Sheba, and she was afraid that the troops might crush them.
27:19 Solomon smiled when he heard this. (These poor souls were right. They had heard and seen that whenever the royal army passed an area, it brought nothing but destruction. However, did they not understand that this was the army of a messenger of Allah’s, whose purpose was not to disturb the innocent but to give them protection?) Then he prayed to his God, “O my Rabb! You have granted me a great empire. Therefore also grant me adequate restraint and self-control so that instead of causing destruction to mankind, the strength and stately splendour you have bestowed on me and my parents can be utilized for people’s benefit and for reforming their affairs. Every step of mine should be in conformity with Your laws, so that I can be included amongst the subjects whose abilities develop through your rabubiyya and rahma; and those who are responsible for reforming the affairs of mankind.------Amatul Rahman Omar---------
27:18 (Once he was marching with them) until when they (his armies) reached the valley of (the tribe named) al-Naml, a distinguished Namlite said, `O al-Naml! get into your habitations lest Solomon and his hosts should crush you unknowingly.'
27:19 Thereupon he (- Solomon) wondered and was pleased with (the good opinion the Namlite expressed about his own and his army's power and piety) and said (praying), `My Lord! rouse me up that I may offer thanks for the favours You have shown me and my forefathers and that I should do such deeds as are righteous and may please You, and count me through Your mercy with Your righteous servants.'Neutral:
----Ahmed Ali--------
27:18 Till they reached the Valley of Naml. Said the lady of Naml: "O Naml, go into your dwellings lest Solomon and his hordes should crush you unawares."
27:19 (Solomon) smiled, amused at her speech, and said: "O Lord grant me that I should be grateful for the favours You have bestowed on me and my parents, and do good things of Your pleasing; and admit me among Your righteous devotees by Your grace."---------------
والله اعلم
Allah knows best.
