Prophet Sulayman (Solomon, peace be upon him)

Prophet Sulayman (Solomon)

Sulayman ibn Dawud (peace be upon them both) was a prophet and king of the Israelites whom Allah blessed with a dominion unlike any granted to another human being. He inherited prophethood and kingship from his father Dawud, and the Quran records his famous supplication: "My Lord, forgive me and grant me a kingdom such as will not belong to anyone after me. Indeed, You are the Bestower" (Sad 38:35). Allah answered this prayer and gave him authority over forces that no ruler before or after has commanded.

The Kingdom Without Equal

Allah subjected the wind to Sulayman's command. It would travel at his order, covering in the morning the distance of a month's journey and in the evening the same (Saba 34:12). The jinn were placed under his authority as well. They built for him structures, sanctuaries, statues, basins like reservoirs, and massive cooking pots fixed in place (Saba 34:13). Those among the jinn who disobeyed were bound in chains (Sad 38:38). A fountain of molten copper was made to flow for him (Saba 34:12), and the devils dived into the sea to bring him pearls and carried out construction beyond human capability (Al-Anbiya 21:82).

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) related that Sulayman once said he would visit seventy wives in one night, each of whom would bear a warrior who would fight for the sake of Allah. When he did not say "in sha Allah" (if Allah wills), only one wife bore a child, and it was born incomplete. The Prophet commented: "Had he said 'in sha Allah,' it would have been as he wished" (Sahih al-Bukhari 3424, Sahih Muslim 1654). This narration illustrates that even a prophet of Sulayman's stature was reminded of complete dependence on Allah.

The Language of Birds and Beasts

Among Sulayman's unique gifts was understanding the speech of birds and animals. He said: "O people, we have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given from all things. Indeed, this is evident bounty" (An-Naml 27:16). His armies comprised humans, jinn, and birds, all marshalled in organized ranks.

The Quran preserves a remarkable scene: as Sulayman's army marched through a valley, an ant called out to its colony: "O ants, enter your dwellings so that Sulayman and his soldiers do not crush you while they are unaware" (An-Naml 27:18). Sulayman heard this, smiled, and turned to Allah in gratitude: "My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favour which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and to do righteousness of which You approve" (An-Naml 27:19). This incident reveals a ruler whose immense power did not diminish his humility or his awareness of even the smallest of creatures.

Sulayman and the Queen of Sheba

One of the most detailed narratives in the Quran concerns Sulayman and the Queen of Sheba, known in Islamic tradition as Bilqis. When the hoopoe bird reported to Sulayman that it had found a people ruled by a great queen who worshipped the sun instead of Allah (An-Naml 27:22–24), Sulayman sent her a letter calling her to submit to Allah.

Bilqis consulted her advisors, then sent Sulayman a gift to test him. He rejected it, declaring that what Allah had given him was far greater than what she possessed (An-Naml 27:36). Before her arrival, Sulayman asked who among his court could bring her throne. One powerful jinn offered to bring it before Sulayman could rise from his seat. But one who had knowledge of the Scripture brought it in the blink of an eye (An-Naml 27:39–40). Her throne was then disguised to test her recognition.

When Bilqis arrived and was asked to enter the palace, she saw its crystal floor and thought it was a body of water, lifting her garments. She was told it was merely smooth crystal. Witnessing all of this, she declared: "My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, and I submit with Sulayman to Allah, Lord of the worlds" (An-Naml 27:44).

The Construction of Bayt al-Maqdis

Sulayman oversaw the building of al-Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Sulayman ibn Dawud asked Allah for three things and was given two… and he asked Allah that no one should come to this mosque (al-Masjid al-Aqsa), intending only to pray in it, except that he would emerge free of sin as the day his mother bore him" (Sunan an-Nasa'i 693, graded sahih). This sacred site remains among the three mosques to which Muslims are encouraged to travel for prayer.

His Death

The Quran describes how Sulayman's death was concealed from the jinn who laboured under his command. He died while leaning on his staff, and the jinn continued working, not realising he had passed until a creature of the earth gnawed through the staff and his body fell (Saba 34:14). This exposed the reality that the jinn had no knowledge of the unseen. Had they known, they would not have continued in humiliating toil.

Legacy

Sulayman's life stands as a testament to the principle that worldly authority and sincere worship of Allah are not contradictory. He was given more than any king in history, yet he remained a grateful servant. His story corrects the distortions found in other traditions that attribute sorcery or idolatry to him. The Quran states plainly: "Sulayman did not disbelieve, but the devils disbelieved" (Al-Baqarah 2:102). He was a prophet, a just ruler, and a devoted worshipper of Allah alone.