The 25 Prophets: (16) Suleiman (AS) (Solomon)

SULEIMAN (AS) (SOLOMON)

After the death of Daud (AS), his son Suleiman (AS) inherited from him and became King and Prophet of the Bani Israiyl. Suleiman (AS), was not however, the eldest of Daud’s sons but it was God’s wish that he became the heir, as is mentioned in verse 16 of Surat An-Naml (The Ant) (xxvii):

And Solomon was David’s heir...

His inheritance was not of riches but of Kingdom and Prophet. Suleiman (AS) was a pious man and liked to mix with his people, rich and poor. He was a very learned man, and used to understand the languages of the animals and of the birds and was able to use these animals and birds in his work.

One day when he was marching with his army he heard an ant say: “O you ants, get into your habitations, lest Suleiman and his army crush you (under foot) without knowing it.”

So he smiled, amused at her speech; and said: “O my Lord! So order me that I may be grateful for your favors, which you have bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may work the righteousness that will please You. And admit me, by Your Grace, to the ranks of Your Righteous Servants.”

He also had the powers of commanding the wind the way he wished, and whenever that he wanted to move with his army he used the wind to travel.

And to Solomon (We made) the Wind (obedient). Its early morning (stride) was a month’s (journey), and its evening (stride) was a month’s (journey); …… (Sabaa (xxxiv) 12)  

He had the Jinn who used to work for him as divers, builders and blacksmiths. He punished them and kept them chained if they disobeyed him, thus they were very scared of him. His army was made up of men, Jinn and even birds, made up into groups.

The Wisdom of Suleiman (AS)

God gave him the ability of judging people with equity. He was erudite from his childhood and even his father used to take advice from him at times. One day two people came to Daud (AS) with complaints. One of them said: “O Prophet of God! This man’s sheep went into my farm and destroyed everything in it; please judge us with equity.”

Daud (AS) turned to the owner of the sheep and said: “Is this correct what this man says?”

The man said: “Yes that is true, O Prophet of God!”

Daud (AS) then said to the owner of the sheep: “The judgment on you is that you have to give up your sheep to this man in compensation for his loss.”

Suleiman (AS) (still a small boy then) said: “No my father, I feel the owner of the sheep should take the farm, work on it until he brings it back to the state it was. The owner of the farm in the meantime would take possession of the sheep so that he gets from them the milk and wool for his compensation; he would keep them until his farm is ready. After that each one would take back his property.

To Solomon We inspired the (right) understanding of the matter to each (of them) We gave Judgment and Knowledge; …… (Al-Anbiyaa (xxi) 79)

During his time as King and Prophet, Suleiman (AS) had special sessions listening to the complaints of his people and arbitrates for them. One day two women with a baby came to Suleiman. Each of them claimed the baby to be hers.

Suleiman (AS) asked: “What seems to be the problem between the two of you?”

One of them said: “This is my baby, but this woman insists that it is hers.”

Suleiman (AS) turned to the other woman and said: “What do you say about this?”

She said: “I am the rightful mother of this baby.”

Suleiman (AS) then said: “I have a solution for the two of you.”

Both of them said in one voice: “Tell us! What is it?”

Suleiman (AS) said: “Bring me a knife, I will cut the baby in half and each of you will take one half.”

Here the real mother of the baby shouted: “No! I do not want my baby cut in half, let her have the baby in one piece.”

In this way Suleiman (AS) managed to know as to whom the baby belonged.

There was a time when there was drought and there was no water at all; thus Suleiman (AS) went out with his people to pray for rain. At that time he saw an ant standing on its hind legs, with its front legs raised up, praying: “O our Lord! We are your creatures, the same as these humans who are here praying. Please give us from your benevolence.”

Therefore God sent down rain for them, and Suleiman (AS) said to his people: “Go back to your homes; God has heard our appeal because of this ant.”

Suleiman (AS) was given an ability of working on copper, melting and mixing it with tin to make bronze, then making tools for war such as swords, daggers and such things. He used the Jinn to dive into deep seas and bring out pearls and coral, and to take out all kinds of minerals from the earth to be used for the good of his people.

Suleiman (AS) and Queen Balqees of Sheba

Suleiman (AS) wanted to build a shrine in Baitil-Maqdis, for people to worship in; he therefore built a large glorious building. Among his builders were the Jinn. The shrine (mosque) known as Masjid L-Aqsaa, which is in Palestine, was originally built by Yaakub (AS) and was destroyed by the tyrant rulers who came before Daud and Suleiman (AS). Therefore Suleiman (AS) rebuilt it and also built another shrine known as the shrine of Suleiman; and these both are still available in Baitil-Maqdis. When he completed it he prayed in it and circled round it as a sign of respect to God.

After this he left Palestine and went towards Yemen and entered Sanaa’. When he entered there he had problem finding a place with water so that he could settle there. Therefore he wanted to send scouts out to look for water. When he inspected the army of his birds he found one bird, the Hoopoe (the Hudhud) was missing in the parade. He said: “Why is it I do not see the Hoopoe? Or is he among the absentees? I will certainly punish him with a severe penalty, or execute him, unless he brings me a clear reason for his absence.”

But the Hoopoe tarried not far, came up and said: “I have compassed the territory, which you have not compassed, and I have come to you from Sabaa’ with true tidings. I found (there) a woman ruling over them and provided with every requisite; and she has a magnificent throne. I found her and her people worshiping the sun besides God.”

Suleiman (AS) was very amazed to hear this news of a woman who was a ruler with a magnificent throne!, enjoying great wealth and dignity, and the full confidence of her subjects!

Who could she be? He therefore said to the Hoopoe: “We shall soon see whether you have told the truth or lied! Go with this letter of mine, and deliver it to them. Then stay back and wait to see what answer they return.”

The Hoopoe took the letter and delivered it to Queen Balqees in her palace in Maarib, and stayed back to see her reaction. The queen immediately summoned her council and said to them: “O you chiefs! Here is a letter delivered to me worth of respect. It is from Suleiman, and is as follows: ‘In the name of God, Most Gracious, and Most Merciful. Do not be arrogant against me, but come to me in submission (to the true Religion).’ O you chiefs! Advise me in (this) my affair, for I have not decided on any affair except in your presence.”

They said: “We are a strong nation, and can fight against him, but the command is with you so consider what you will command.”

She said: “Kings when they enter a country, despoil it, and make the noblest of its people its meanest thus they do behave. But I am going to send him a present, and wait to see with what my ambassadors will return.”

But when the ambassadors came to Suleiman (AS), he sent them back with their presents. Queen Balqees thought that by sending her ambassadors with presents she would reconcile with Suleiman (AS) and at the same time pacify her warlike subjects.

But the effect was the very opposite; Suleiman (AS) took it as an insult that she should send her presents instead of her submission to the true religion. He flung back the presents at her, as much as to say, “Let these baubles delight your own hearts! God has blessed me with plenty worldly goods, and something infinitely better, viz. His Light and Guidance!

Suleiman (AS) then said to his own men: “O you Chiefs! Which of you can bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?”

Ifrit, a large powerful Jinni reputed to be wicked and crafty said: “I will bring it to you before you rise from your council; indeed I have full strength for the purpose and may be trusted.”

One who had knowledge of the Book said: “I will bring it to you within the twinkling of the eye!”

Then when Suleiman (AS) saw the throne firmly before him, he said: “This is by the grace of my Lord! — To test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful!”

He then said: “Transform her throne out of all recognition by her, let us see whether she will recognize it as her own.”

So when she arrived, she was asked: “Is this your throne?”

She said: “It was just like this; and knowledge was bestowed on us in advance of this, and we have submitted to God (in Islam).”

Before this episode, Suleiman (AS) had constructed a large palace with a courtyard in the middle. The floor was made of slabs of smooth polished glass, which glistened like water.

Therefore when Balqees came, having been received with honour on her arrival, and having accepted the transformation of her throne, she was asked to enter the lofty palace. When she saw it, she thought it was a lake of water, and she tucked up her skirts, uncovering her legs.

Suleiman (AS) said to her: “This is but a palace paved smooth with slabs of glass.”

She said: “O my Lord! I have indeed wronged my soul, I do now submit (in Islam), with Suleiman, to the Lord of the Worlds.”

Suleiman’s (AS) Death

Suleiman (AS) one day entered the shrine to pray and found in his hand a small plant. He asked it: “And what might be your name?” It replied: “I am known as Kharrouba (a destroyer).”

He said: “And why have you grown?”

It said: “To destroy this shrine.”

He said: “By the might of God the shrine will never be destroyed while I am alive.”

So Suleiman (AS) took the plant and kept it on the wall outside. He then went on to pray and said: “O my Lord! Do not reveal my death to the Jinn.”

After this, he stood leaning on his staff (stick) looking at the Jinn working; he died in that position with his eyes wide open as if he were alive. The Jinn were very scared of Suleiman (AS) therefore they went on working, not knowing the real truth. But at one time seeing that their master never changed his posture, they started whispering among themselves asking each other of the situation because none of them was sure if he was alive or dead. Suleiman remained in that position for one year and the Jinn were working for him, as none of them knew that he was dead. The only time they came to know that he was dead, was when a little worm of the earth (possibly white ant) which kept slowly gnawing away at his staff, had eaten it all and made him fall down. If they had known the unseen, they would have not remained in the humiliating Penalty of their Task. The Jinn knew nothing of the hidden secrets; they only saw the obvious, and had not given the significance of the little worm that slowly gnawed away Suleiman’s staff.

Suleiman (AS) died at the age of fifty-two years.

Reference: The Twenty five Prophets (The Parable of the Apostles Mentioned in the Holy Quraan)", by Nassir ibn Issa ibn Said Al-Kindy. (p 132-139)