Sulayman (Solomon)

01Knowledge, inheritance and a remarkable kingdom

Sulayman inherited Dawud's prophetic and royal responsibilities and was taught the language of birds. The inheritance here should not be reduced to money or possessions.

His forces included jinn, human beings and birds, assembled in order. These extraordinary gifts called for gratitude rather than self-importance.

The Qur'an describes a test involving a body placed on his throne, followed by his return to Allah. Stories about a stolen ring and a demon seizing his identity should not be treated as established details of that verse.

Sulayman asked forgiveness and prayed for a kingdom unlike any after him. The wind and jinn were subjected to him by Allah. This was a prophetic miracle, not a technique people can learn to control such beings.

He understood blessing as a test: would he give thanks or be ungrateful? Allah has no need of anyone's gratitude.

His story presents power as a trust to serve worship and justice, rather than a reason for arrogance.

02The ant and the missing hoopoe

The exact relative dates of these episodes are not specified. Their sequence follows the Qur'anic telling rather than an invented calendar.

An ant warned the other ants to enter their dwellings so that Sulayman and his troops would not crush them unknowingly. The warning did not accuse the army of deliberate cruelty.

Sulayman smiled at its words and prayed for help in thanking Allah, doing good and entering the company of His righteous servants.

When he inspected the birds, the hoopoe was absent. Sulayman spoke of punishment unless it brought a clear explanation.

The bird returned with news from Sheba that Sulayman did not yet know. Prophetic knowledge is what Allah grants; it is not independent knowledge of everything hidden.

It described a queen with an impressive throne and a people worshipping the sun. Their worship, rather than the splendour of their wealth, was the central concern.

Sulayman did not accept the report without examination. He sent a letter and instructed the hoopoe to observe the response.

03The queen of Sheba and the invitation to faith

The Qur'an gives a sequence of events, but not exact calendar dates for this encounter.

Sulayman's letter began in Allah's name and called on the queen and her people not to act arrogantly, but to come in submission. She consulted her advisers before deciding how to respond.

Her advisers declared their strength while leaving the decision to her. She sent a gift, testing whether she faced a ruler seeking wealth or a messenger whose purpose was different.

Sulayman rejected the gift, explaining that Allah's gifts were better than theirs. He warned of forces they could not resist.

Before her arrival, he asked for her throne to be brought. A powerful jinn offered to bring it before he rose from his seat; one with knowledge of the scripture brought it before his glance returned. Sulayman recognised this as a favour and test from his Lord.

The throne was altered, and the queen answered cautiously that it seemed to be hers. Later, she mistook a glass floor for water and uncovered her lower legs to cross it; Sulayman explained what it was.

She acknowledged that she had wronged herself and submitted with Sulayman to Allah, Lord of all worlds. Her conclusion was worship of Allah, not worship of Sulayman.

04The jinn and the end of Sulayman's life

Allah subjected the wind and jinn to Sulayman as a special gift. Their service was by Allah's permission, not an independent power of the prophet.

They made structures, images, large basins and firmly set cooking pots. The passage calls Dawud's household to work in gratitude.

Sulayman died while leaning on his staff. The jinn continued their work until a creature ate through the staff and his body fell.

The Qur'an does not specify how long this lasted. It does state the lesson: if the jinn had known the unseen, they would not have remained in humiliating labour.

Jinn may perceive things that human beings do not, but that does not give them unrestricted knowledge of the unseen, which belongs to Allah.

Claims that sorcerers or jinn can reliably disclose the future should not be built on this story. Its lesson exposes that claim rather than supporting deception or practices of shirk.