Solomon\u2019s Knowledge
\nSolomon inherited David\u2019s prophethood and dominion. This was not a material inheritance, as prophets do not bequeath their property. It is given away to the poor and needy, not to their relatives. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: \u201cThe prophets\u2019 property will not be inherited, and whatever we leave is to be used for charity.\u201d (Sahih Al-Bukhari).
\n\u201cAnd indeed We gave knowledge to David and Solomon, and they both said: \u201cAll the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has preferred us above many of His believing slaves!\u201d And Solomon inherited (the knowledge of) David. He said: \u201cO mankind! We have been taught the language of birds, and on us have been bestowed all things. This, verily, is an evident grace (from Allah).\u201d And there were gathered before Solomon his hosts of jinns and men, and birds, and they were all set in battle order (marching forwards). (Ch 27:15-17 Quran).
\nSolomon Becomes King
\nAfter his father\u2019s death, Solomon became king. He begged Allah for a kingdom such as none after him would have, and Allah granted his wish. Besides wisdom, Allah had blessed Solomon with many abilities. He could command the winds and understand and talk to birds and animals. Allah directed him to teach both men and jinns to mine the earth and extract its minerals to make tools and weapons. He also favored him with a mine of copper, which was a rare metal in those days.
\nSolomon\u2019s Admiration of Horses
\nDuring his time horses were the common mode of transportation. They were very essential for defense, to carry soldiers and cart provisions and weapons of war. The animals were well cared for and well trained. One day Solomon was reviewing a parade of his stable. The fitness, beauty and posture of the horses fascinated him so much that he kept on stroking and admiring them. The sun was nearly setting, and the time for the middle prayer was passing by. When he realized this, he exclaimed: \u201cI surely love the finer things of life than the service of my Lord! Return them to me.\u201d
\nAllah\u2019s Gifts to Solomon \u2013 Quranic
\nAlmighty Allah revealed:
\n\u201cAnd to David We gave Solomon. How excellent a slave! Verily, he was ever oft returning in
\nrepentance (to Us)! When there were displayed before him, in the afternoon, well-trained horses of the highest breed (for jihad in Allah\u2019s cause). And he said: \u201cAlas! I did love the good (these horses) instead of remembering my Lord (in my \u2018Asr prayer)\u201d till the time was over, and the sun had hidden in the veil of the night. Then he said: \u201cBring them (horses) back to me.\u201d Then he began to pass his hand over their legs and their necks (till the end of the display). And indeed We did try Solomon and We placed on his throne Jasadan (a devil, so he lost his kingdom for a while) but he did return (to his throne and kingdom by the Grace of Allah and he did return) to Allah with obedience and in repentance. He said: \u201cMy Lord! Forgive me, and bestow upon me a kingdom such as shall not belong to any other after me. Verily, You are the Bestower.\u201d So, We subjected to him the wind, it blew gently to his order whithersoever he willed, and also the devils from the jinns including every kind of builder and diver, and also other bound in fetters. (Saying of Allah to Solomon): \u201cThis is Our gift, so spend you or withhold, no account will be asked.\u201d And verily, he enjoyed a near access to Us, and a good final return Paradise. (Ch38:30-40 Quran).
\nSolomon Hears the Ant\u2019s Warning
\nOne day Solomon gathered his army, which had different battalions of men, jinns, birds, and animals. He marched them to the country of Askalon. While they were passing through a valley, an ant saw the approaching army and cried out to warn the other ants: \u201cRun to your homes! Otherwise, unaware, Solomon and his army might crush you!\u201d Solomon, hearing the cry of the ant, smiled. He was glad that the ant knew him to be a prophet who would not intentionally harm Allah\u2019s creation. He thanked Allah for saving the ants\u2019 lives.
\nSolomon Hears the Conversation of Ants \u2013 Quranic
\nAllah the Almighty narrated: And there were gathered before Solomon his hosts of jinns and men, and birds, and they all were set in battle order (marching forwards). Till, when they came to a valley of the ants, one of the ants said: \u201cO ants! Enter your dwellings, lest Solomon and his hosts crush you, while they perceive not.\u201d So he (Solomon) smiled, amused at her speech and said: \u201cMy Lord! Inspire and bestow upon me the power and ability that I maybe grateful for Your Favors which You have bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may do righteous good deeds that will please You, and admit me by Your Mercy among Your righteous slaves.\u201d (Ch 27:17-19 Quran).
\nSolomon\u2019s Travels
\nIn Jerusalem, on a huge rock, Solomon built a beautiful temple to draw the people to worship Allah. Today this building is known as \u201cThe Dome of the Rock.\u201d From there, a large band of followers joined Solomon on pilgrimage to the Holy Mosque in Mecca. After they had completed their hajj, they traveled to Yemen and arrived in the city of San\u2019a. Solomon was impressed by their clever method of channeling water all over their cities. He was keen to build similar water systems
\nin his own country but did not have enough springs.
\nThe Hoopoe Brings Information to Solomon
\nHe set out to find the hoopoe bird, which could detect water under the ground. He sent signals all over the hoopoe to call on him, but it was nowhere to be found. In anger, he declared that unless the bird had a good reason for its absence, he would punish it severely. The hoopoe eventually came to Solomon and explained the reason for its delay. \u201cI have discovered something of which you are not aware. I have come from Sheba (Sab\u2019a) with important news.\u201d Solomon became curious, and his anger subsided. The bird continued: \u201cSab\u2019a is ruled by a queen named Bilkis (Bilqis), who has plenty of everything, including a splendid throne. But in spite of all this wealth, Satan has entered her heart and the hearts of her people. She rules their minds completely. I was shocked to learn that they worship the sun instead of Allah the Almighty.\u201d To check the hoopoe\u2019s information, Solomon sent a letter to the queen with the bird. He instructed the bird to remain hidden and to watch everything.
\nThe Queen of Sheba Sends Gifts
\nThe hoopoe dropped the letter in front of the queen and flew away to hide. She excitedly opened and read it:
\n\u201cVerily! It is from Solomon, and verily! It reads: \u2018In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, and Most Merciful; be you not exalted against me, but come to me as Muslims (true believers who submit with full submission).’\u201d ( Ch 27:30-31 Quran).
\nThe queen was very disturbed and hurriedly summoned her advisors. They reacted as to a challenge, for they felt that there was someone challenging them, hinting at war and defeat, and asking them to submit to his conditions. They told her that they could only offer advice, but it was her right to command action. She sensed that they wanted to meet Solomon\u2019s invasion threat with a battle. However, she told them: \u201cPeace and friendship are better and wiser; war only brings humiliation, enslaves people and destroys the good things. I have decided to send gifts to Solomon, selected from our most precious treasure. The courtiers who will deliver the gifts will also have an opportunity to learn about Solomon and his military mighty.\u201d
\nSolomon\u2019s Rejects the Queen\u2019s Gifts
\nSolomon\u2019s reconnaissance team brought him the news of the arrival of Bilkis\u2019 messengers with a gift. He immediately realized that the queen had sent her men on a probing mission thus, he gave orders to rally the army. The envoys of Bilqis, entering amidst the well-equipped army, realized that their wealth was nothing in comparison to that of the kingdom of Solomon\u2019s palace floors, which were made of sandalwood and inlaid with gold. They noticed Solomon surveying his army, and they were surprised at the number and variety of soldiers, which included lions, tigers, and birds. The messengers stood in amazement, realizing
\nthat they were in front of an irresistible army.
\nThe envoys marveled at the splendor surrounding them. They eagerly presented their queen\u2019s precious gifts and told Solomon that the queen wished that he would accept them as an act of friendship. They were shocked by his reaction: he did not even ask to open the covers of the containers! He told them: \u201cAllah hagiven me plenty of wealth, a large kingdom, and prophethood. I am, therefore, beyond bribery. My only objective is to spread the belief in Tawheed, the Oneness of Allah.\u201d
\nHe also directed them to take back the gifts to the queen and to tell her that if she did not stop her kind of worship he would uproot her kingdom and drive its people out of the land.
\nThe Queen Decides to Visit Solomon
\nThe queen\u2019s envoys returned with the gifts and delivered the message. They also told her of the wonderful things they had seen. Instead of taking offense, she decided to visit Solomon. Accompanied by her royal officials and servants, she left Sheba, sending a messenger ahead to inform Solomon that she was on her way to meet him. Solomon asked the jinns in his employ whether anyone among them could bring her throne to he palace before she arrived. One of them said; \u201cI will bring it to you before this sitting is over.\u201d Solomon did not react to this offer; it appeared that he was waiting for a faster means. The jinns competed with each other to please him. One of them named Ifrit said: \u201cI will fetch it for you in the twinkling of an eye!\u201d No sooner had this one \u2013 who had the knowledge of the Book \u2013 finished his phrase than the throne stood before Solomon. The mission had, indeed, been completed in the blinking of an eye. Solomon\u2019s seat was in Palestine, and the throne of Bilqis had been in Yemen, two thousand miles away. This was a great miracle performed by one of those sitting with Solomon.
\nThe Queen\u2019s Visit with Solomon
\nWhen Bilqis arrived at Solomon\u2019s palace, she was welcomed with pomp and ceremony. Then, pointing to the altered throne, Solomon asked her whether her throne looked like that one. She looked at it again and again. In her mind she was convinced that her throne could not possibly be the one she was looking at, as hers was in her palace; et, she detected a striking similarity and replied: \u201cIt is as if it were the very one, and resembles mine in every respect.\u201d Solomon judged that she was intelligent and diplomatic. He then invited her into the great hall, the floor of which was laid in glass and shimmering. Thinking it was water, as she stepped on the floor, she lifted her skirt slightly above her heels, for fear of wetting it. Solomon pointed out to her that it was made of solid glass. She was amazed. She had never seen such things before. Bilqis realized that she was in the company of a very knowledgeable person who was not only a ruler of a great kingdom but a messenger of Allah, as well. She repented, gave up sun worship, accepted the faith of Allah, and asked her people to do the same. It was finished; Bilqis saw her people\u2019s creed fall apart before Solomon. She realized that the sun which her people worshipped was nothing but one of Allah\u2019s creatures.
\nThe sun eclipsed within her for the first time, and her heart was lit by a never fading light, the light of Islam.
\nSolomon is Informed About the Queen of Sheba \u2013 Quranic
\nAlmighty Allah told us this story in the Quran:
\n\u201d He inspected the birds, and said: \u201cWhat is the matter that I see not a hoopoe? Or is he among the absentees? I will surely punish him with a severe torment, or slaughter him, unless he brings me a clear reason.\u201d But the hoopoe stayed not long, he came up and said: \u201cI have grasped (the knowledge of a thing) which you have not grasped and I have come to you from Sheba with true news. I found a woman ruling over them, and she has been given all things that could be possessed by any ruler of the earth, and she has a great throne. I found her and her people worshipping the sun instead of Allah, and Satan has made their deeds fair seeming to them, and has barred them from Allah\u2019s Way, so they have no guidance.\u201d Al-La (this word has two interpretations) [As Satan has barred them from Allah\u2019s Way} so that they do not worship (prostrate before) Allah, or so that they may worship (prostrate before) Allah, Who brings light to what is hidden in the heavens and the earth, and knows what you conceal and what you reveal. Allah, La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Lord of the Supreme Throne! (Solomon) said: \u201cWe shall see whether you speak the truth or you are one of the liars. Go with this letter of mine, and deliver it to them, then draw back from them, and see what answer they return.\u201d She said: \u201cO chiefs! Verily! Here is a delivered to me a noble letter. Verily! It is from Solomon and verily! It (reads): \u2018In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful; Be you not exalted against me, but come to me as Muslims (true believers who submit to Allah with full submission).\u201d She said: \u201cO chiefs! Advise me in this case of mine. I decide no case till you are present with me.\u201d They said: \u201cWe have great strength, and great ability for war, but it is for you to command; so think over what you will command.\u201d She said: \u201cVerily! Kings, when they enter a town (country), they despoil it, and make the most honorable amongst its people low. And thus they do. But verily! I am going to send him a present, and see with what answer the messengers return.\u201d So when (the messengers with the present) came to Solomon, he said: \u201cWill you help me in wealth? What Allah has given me is better than that which He has given you! Nay, you rejoice in your gift!\u201d (Then Solomon said to the chief of her messengers who brought the present): \u201cGo back to them. We verily shall come to them with hosts that they cannot resist, and we shall drive them out from there is disgrace, and they will be abased.\u201d He said: \u201cO chiefs! Which of you can bring me her throne before they come to me surrendering themselves in obedience?\u201d An Ifrit (strong) from the jinns said: \u201cI will bring it to you before you rise from your place (council). And verily, I am indeed strong, and trustworthy for such work.\u201d One with whom was knowledge of the Scripture said: \u201cI will bring it to you within the twinkling
\nof an eye!\u201d then when Solomon saw it placed before him, he said: \u201cThis is by the Grace of my Lord, to test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful! And whoever is grateful, truly, his gratitude is for the good of his ownself, and whoever is ungrateful, he is ungrateful only for the loss of his ownself. Certainly! My Lord is Rich (Free of all wants), Bountiful!\u201d He said: \u201cDisguise her throne for her that we may see whether she will be guided (to recognize her throne), or she will be one of those not guided.\u201d So when she came, it was said to her: \u201cIs your throne like this?\u201d She said: \u201cIt is as though it was the very same.\u201d And Solomon said: \u201cKnowledge was bestowed on us before her, and we were submitted to Allah (in Islam as Muslims before her).\u201d And that which she used to worship besides Allah has prevented her from Islam, for she was of a disbelieving people. It was said to her: \u201cEnter As-Sarh\u201d (a glass surface with water underneath it) or a palace, but when she saw it, she thought it was a pool, and she tucked up her clothes, uncovering her legs. Solomon said: \u201cVerily, it is Sarh paved smooth with slab of glass.\u201d She said: \u201cMy Lord! Verily, I have wronged myself, and I submit (in Islam), together with Solomon, to Allah, the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, jinns, and all that exists).\u201d (Ch 27:20-44 Quran)
\nJinns and Solomon
\nSolomon\u2019s public work was largely carried out by the jinns. This was a punishment for their sins of making people believe that they were all-powerful, knew the unseen, and could foresee the future. As a prophet, it was Solomon\u2019s duty to remove such false beliefs from his followers.
\nSolomon\u2019s Death
\nSolomon lived amidst glory, and all creatures were subjected to him. Then Allah the Exalted ordained for him to die. His life and death were full of wonders and miracles; thus, his death harmonized with his life and glory. His death, like his life, was unique. The people had to learn that the future is known neither by the jinns, nor by the prophets, but by Allah alone. Solomon\u2019s effort in this direction did not end with his life, for even his death became an example. He was sitting holding his staff, overseeing the jinns at work in a mine. He died sitting in this position. For a long time no one was aware of his death, for he was seen sitting erect. The jinns continued with their sand toil, thinking that Solomon was watching over them. Many days later, a hungry ant began nibbling Solomon\u2019s staff. It continued to do so, eating the lower part of the staff, until it fell out of Solomon\u2019s hand, and his great body fell to the ground. People hurried to him, realizing that he had died a long time ago and that the jinns did not perceive the unseen, for had the jinns known the unseen, they would not have kept working, thinking that Solomon was alive.
\nSolomon\u2019s Death \u2013 Quranic
\nAllah the Exalted revealed:
\n\u201cAnd We caused a fount of molten brass to flow for him, and there were jinns that worked in front of him by the Leave of his Lord, and whosoever of them turned aside from Our Command, We shall cause him to taste of the torment of the blazing Fire. They worked for him what he desired, (making) high rooms, images, basins as large as reservoirs, and (making) cauldrons fixed (in their places). \u201cWork you, O family of David, with thanks!\u201d But few of My slaves are grateful. Then when we decreed death for him (Solomon), nothing informed them (jinns) of his death except a little worm of the earth, which kept slowly gnawing away at his stick, so when he fell down, the jinns saw clearly that if they had known the unseen, they would not have stayed in the humiliating torment. (Ch 34:12-14 Quran).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Solomon\u2019s Knowledge Solomon inherited David\u2019s prophethood and dominion. This was not a material inheritance, as prophets do not<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[59],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14570","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jislam.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14570","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jislam.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jislam.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jislam.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jislam.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14570"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.jislam.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14570\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14571,"href":"https:\/\/www.jislam.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14570\/revisions\/14571"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jislam.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14570"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jislam.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14570"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jislam.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14570"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}