Prophet Sulayman
سليمانعليه السلام
Son of Dawud. Given dominion over jinn, animals, and wind. Built a magnificent kingdom while remaining devoted to Allah. Known for his wisdom.
Dominion Over Creation
Sulayman, son of Dawud, was given a kingdom unlike any before or after. Allah subjected the wind, the jinn, and animals to his command. He could understand the speech of birds and ants, and commanded armies of humans, jinn, and birds. Despite this unparalleled power, he remained a devout servant of Allah.
قَالَ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَهَبْ لِي مُلْكًا لَّا يَنبَغِي لِأَحَدٍ مِّن بَعْدِي ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْوَهَّابُ
“He said, 'My Lord, forgive me and grant me a kingdom such as will not belong to anyone after me. Indeed, You are the Bestower.'”
The Ant and the Hoopoe
While marching with his armies, Sulayman heard an ant warning its colony to enter their dwellings lest Sulayman's armies crush them unknowingly. Sulayman smiled and prayed for gratitude. He also discovered that the hoopoe bird was absent from his army and later learned it had found the Queen of Sheba (Bilqis), who ruled a kingdom that worshipped the sun.
قَالَتْ نَمْلَةٌ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّمْلُ ادْخُلُوا مَسَاكِنَكُمْ لَا يَحْطِمَنَّكُمْ سُلَيْمَانُ وَجُنُودُهُ وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
“An ant said, 'O ants, enter your dwellings that you not be crushed by Sulayman and his soldiers while they perceive not.'”
The Queen of Sheba
Sulayman invited Queen Bilqis to submit to Allah. He demonstrated his God-given power by having her throne transported to his palace before her arrival. When she visited and saw the crystal floor that appeared to be water, she recognized the truth and submitted to Allah, abandoning sun worship.
قَالَتْ رَبِّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي وَأَسْلَمْتُ مَعَ سُلَيْمَانَ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
“She said, 'My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, and I submit with Sulayman to Allah, Lord of the worlds.'”
Death and the Jinn
Sulayman died while leaning on his staff, and the jinn who were working for him did not realize he had died until a creature of the earth (a termite) ate through the staff and his body fell. This revealed that the jinn did not possess knowledge of the unseen, as they continued working under the assumption he was alive.
فَلَمَّا قَضَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ الْمَوْتَ مَا دَلَّهُمْ عَلَىٰ مَوْتِهِ إِلَّا دَابَّةُ الْأَرْضِ تَأْكُلُ مِنسَأَتَهُ
“And when We decreed for him death, nothing indicated to them his death except a creature of the earth eating his staff.”
Key Lessons
- ◆Power and wealth are tests — they can be used for good or lead to arrogance
- ◆Gratitude to Allah must increase with every blessing
- ◆Knowledge of the unseen belongs to Allah alone — even the jinn are limited
- ◆Da'wah can use wisdom and demonstration, not just words
References & Sources
- Quran: Surah An-Naml (27:15-44), Saba (34:12-14), Sad (38:30-40), Al-Anbiya (21:81-82)
- Ibn Kathir, Qasas al-Anbiya