David moved his capital from Hebron to Jerusalem. Solomon was born in Jerusalem.
To David We gave Solomon for a son, how excellent in Our service. Ever did he turn to Us.
(S 38, V 30)
The Holy Prophet PBUH said that Solomon’s mother advised him, “Son, do not sleep through the night, for sleeping most of the night deprives a person of his good deeds on the Day of Resurrection.” Solomon was in the lineage of Abraham through Jacob.
We gave him Isaac and Jacob, all three guided, and before him We guided Noah, and among his progeny David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, and Aaron. Thus do We reward those who do good.
(S 6, V 84)
Birds Language
Like David, God blessed Solomon with special gifts. God granted both David and Solomon the ability to understand the languages of birds and animals.
We gave in the past knowledge to David and Solomon, and they both said, “Praise be to God, who has favored us above many of His believing servants.”
(S 27, V 15)
David had other sons besides Solomon who desired the power of the crown. Absalom, Solomon’s brother, who was more influential, conspired and rebelled against his father. This revolt forced David to leave Jerusalem. The armies of father and son met in battle, and after fierce fighting Absalom was killed and David returned to Jerusalem.
David’s other son Adonijah rebelled when David had grown old and besieged the city. After these two revolts, David, after consulting his ministers, enthroned Solomon. When Solomon became king, he forgave his brothers.
Heritage
Solomon inherited knowledge, learning, prophethood, and kingship. God blessed him with understanding, sound reasoning, righteous opinion, good judgment, and decisive power. An incident from his youth is mentioned in the Holy Qur’an:
And remember David and Solomon, when they gave judgment about the field into which the sheep of certain people had strayed by night. We witnessed their judgment. To Solomon We inspired the right understanding of the matter. To each We gave judgment and knowledge. It was Our power that made the hills and the birds celebrate Our praises with David. It was We who did all these things.
(S 21, V 78 to 79)
Justice
The sheep of a poor man grazed a farmer’s fields. He complained and demanded compensation. The case was referred to David. David ruled that since the value of the sheep equaled the crop eaten, the sheep should be handed to the farmer as compensation.
When Solomon heard this decision he told his father that under such a ruling one party would be entirely deprived and the other would benefit beyond measure. He proposed a better remedy. The shepherd should cultivate the land until the crop is harvested and hand over the entire crop and the restored land to the farmer, while in the meantime the farmer may possess the sheep and use their milk and wool until the crop is delivered back to him.
Infant
Two women came to Solomon, each claiming to be the mother of an infant. One said, “We both gave birth to our sons one after the other. A wolf took the other woman’s child, and she now claims that the wolf took my child and that the living child is hers.” Solomon listened to both and ordered the child to be brought. He then gave the child to a swordsman and said to cut the child in two equal parts from head to toe and give each woman a part.
Hearing this, the real mother cried out in grief, “No, let the child stay with her. She is the real mother.” Solomon thus identified the true mother and returned the baby to her.
After David’s death, Solomon sat on the throne and ruled with justice and fairness for forty years. He worked to improve his people’s condition, established the rule of law, and secured the realm from conspiracies and rebellions. After peace was established, he expanded and consolidated his empire. Because of his governance and practical measures for the common good, people prospered, living standards improved, resources were abundant, and the people had ample provisions.
Egypt to Euphrates
Solomon’s reign is considered a golden era. His empire extended from the Euphrates to Egypt. History can hardly present a single example equal to the era of Solomon in simultaneous progress, expansion, and development within one empire. One of his distinguishing signs was God’s gift of command over the wind.
It was Our power that made the violent unruly wind flow tamely for Solomon, to his order, to the land We blessed, for We know all things.
(S 21, V 81)
And to Solomon We made the wind obedient. Its morning course was a month’s journey, and its evening course was a month’s journey.
(S 34, V 12)
Then We subjected the wind to his command, to flow gently wherever he willed.
(S 38, V 36)
Solomon could cover a month’s journey in a morning and a month’s journey in an evening when he willed.
Fleet of Ships
Solomon was the first ruler to maintain a fleet of ships and to pioneer sea routes for commerce. Fleets transported goods and were staffed by the best engineers. One fleet was called the Tarsus fleet. It sailed from the port of Rome to western lands, completing one voyage in three years, carrying gold, silver, ivory, cattle, and other merchandise.
The Qur’an highlights three things about Solomon
- The wind was subjected to him.
- He could command a storm to cease.
- He could command a breeze to move with the speed of wind to cover distances of many months in a few hours.
Copper Mines
In his time, copper mining was well developed. He had copper mines spanning fifty square miles. Thousands of furnaces smelted ore and hundreds of thousands of workers labored there. Factories refined copper and iron from raw ore. Copper and iron were major exports that strengthened the treasury.
And We made a font of molten brass flow for him, and there were jinns that worked before him by the permission of his Lord. If any of them turned aside from Our command, We made him taste the penalty of the blazing fire.
(S 34, V 12)
His army had contingents of jinns, men, beasts, and birds. Every living creature under his order obeyed him, by God’s leave. Jinns recovered pearls and corals from the sea and built grand structures. They made copper vessels for human use. Solomon could assign tasks to them as he wished.
Solomon’s Palace
Traditions state that Solomon’s palace was built with gold and silver bricks. Walls were adorned with gold and silver. Roofs were set with rubies and emeralds. The royal throne was decorated with pearls, emeralds, rubies, sapphire, and turquoise.
At the four corners of the throne, quartz carvings formed trees with transparent branches that emitted colored lights. There were nests with birds upon those branches. Incense of oud perfumed the court. Musk and ambergris freshened the air. Below the throne, seats for courtiers were arranged in ranks. When Solomon came to the throne with his crown, the birds on the crystal branches opened their wings spreading fragrance, and peacocks adorned with dazzling colors danced to welcome him.
The wall of Jerusalem was built in his reign. Cantonments and many new cities were founded in his era.
Dome of the Rock
David bequeathed that the Temple, which he could not complete due to political conditions, should be finished. Solomon resolved to build a grand city around the Temple and to reconstruct the Temple itself. He ordered jinns to bring beautiful large stones from distant places. This great Temple was completed in seven and a half years. He placed the Ark of the Covenant upon a stone pedestal specially made for it.
They worked for him as he desired, making arches, images, basins as large as reservoirs, and cooking cauldrons fixed in their places. Work, O family of David, in gratitude. Few of My servants are grateful.
(S 34, V 13)
Pool sized pots were made for charity feasts. Besides the Temple and the city around it, he built many other remarkable works.
And of the evil ones jinns were some who dived for him and did other work besides. We were their guardians.
And there were jinns that worked in front of him by the leave of his Lord. If any turned aside from Our command, We made him taste the penalty of the blazing fire. They worked for him as he desired, making arches, images, basins as large as reservoirs, and cooking cauldrons fixed in their places. Work, O sons of David, with thanks. Few of My servants are grateful.
(S 34, V 11 to 13)
And before Solomon were marshaled his hosts of jinns and men and birds, and they were all kept in order and ranks.
(S 27, V 17)
Thirty Thousand Laborers
Thirty thousand men labored on the Temple. About one hundred thousand sculpted the stones. More than seventy thousand elephants and camels transported materials. Thirty thousand quarried stone from the mountains. Many jinns were tasked with bringing precious stones and gems and dived for pearls.
There were six hundred eighty four columns set with precious stones in the Temple, and four thousand lamps illuminated it. Seven hundred sweepers maintained its cleanliness.
Wisdom of the Queen Ant
Once Solomon marched with his ordered hosts of jinns, men, and animals. Despite the multitude, all kept discipline in ranks and files. When they reached a valley of ants, the queen ant ordered her subjects to enter their homes lest they be crushed unknowingly.
And before Solomon were marshaled his hosts of jinns and men and birds, all kept in order and ranks. When they came to a valley of ants, an ant said, O ants, enter your dwellings, lest Solomon and his hosts crush you without knowing it.
So he smiled, amused at her speech, and said, O my Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed on me and on my parents, and to do righteousness that pleases You, and admit me by Your grace among Your righteous servants.
(S 27, V 16 to 19)
Solomon, who understood their language, picked up the queen ant, placed her on his palm, and asked, “Whose empire is greater, yours or mine.” She replied, “Only God knows whose empire is greater, but I know that at this moment the palm of King Solomon is my throne.”
Woodpecker
One day Solomon noticed the woodpecker absent from court. He said, “I do not see the woodpecker. If its absence is without excuse, I will punish it or slay it unless it brings a clear reason.”
Soon the woodpecker arrived and said, “I bring news you do not know. There is a queen in Sheba in Yemen. God has given her everything. She has a great throne. She and her people worship the sun. Satan has misled them from God.”
Saba was the capital of Sheba. They built dams on springs to irrigate their land. The greatest was the Dam of Ma rib. They had orchards and gardens. When they transgressed, the dam broke and they were ruined. They were wealthy traders but idolaters. The sun was regarded as the greatest deity.
Solomon said, “We will test your report. Take this letter to the people of Sheba and await their reply.”
When the woodpecker delivered the letter, the queen was leaving for her daily sun worship. The bird dropped the letter before her. She read it and told her council she had received a strange letter. It read, “This is from Solomon. In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent and Merciful. Do not be arrogant. Come to me in submission to God.”
She said to her council, “You know I always consult you in important matters. Advise me.” They replied, “Do not be impressed. We are strong enough to defend ourselves. The decision is yours and we will support you.”
She said, “The manner of this letter’s delivery warns us to be cautious. I will send an envoy with gifts.”
When Sheba’s envoys presented gifts, Solomon said, “Take your gifts back and tell your queen that if she refuses my message, I will come with my armies and you will not be able to resist.”
The envoys returned and described the grandeur of Solomon’s court and his command over men, jinns, and animals. The queen decided to go to Solomon in obedience and set out for Jerusalem.
Formula of Time and Space
When Solomon learned she was on her way, he said, “I want the throne of Sheba brought here before she arrives.”
A jinn said he could bring it before the session ended. Then a man named Asif bin Barkhiyah said, “I can bring it before you can blink, for I possess the knowledge of the Book of God.”
At once the throne appeared before Solomon. He ordered it altered in appearance to test whether the queen would recognize it. When she arrived he asked, “Is your throne like this.” She said, “It seems to be the same.” She added, “We had heard of your unmatched power, and now seeing it confirms the truth. We submit.”
Jinn Engineers
Solomon employed men and jinn engineers to construct a splendid palace. The entrance passage was paved with quartz slabs under which water flowed, making it seem that one would be soaked when walking through.
When the queen approached and saw flowing water in the courtyard, she lifted her skirt. Solomon told her the water would not wet her, for it flowed under transparent quartz. Her pride fell and she confessed, O my Lord, I have wronged myself. I now believe with Solomon in God, the Lord of the worlds.
Solomon was a great king and an exalted prophet of God. Every action reflected prophetic character. He attached his heart only to God and knew that all things are by Him.
To David We gave Solomon for a son, how excellent in Our service. Ever did he turn to Us. Behold, in the evening swift horses of the finest breed were presented to him. He said, Truly I love the love of good for the sake of my Lord, until the sun was hidden by night. Bring them back to me, and he passed his hand over their legs and necks.
(S 38, V 30 to 33)
Lost Ring
Although Solomon was an exalted prophet and a mighty ruler, God tested him with various trials. Once, while he bathed, he gave his royal ring to a maidservant. The king of the giants, named Hamdān or a similar name in reports, seized the ring, assumed Solomon’s appearance, and sat upon his throne. Solomon accepted this as a test and withdrew to the wilderness. Hungry, he asked at a house for food. The woman refused without her husband present but allowed him to rest in their garden. A snake guarded him as he slept. When the husband returned, he served Solomon and was so impressed he offered his daughter in marriage. Solomon stayed three days and departed.
Meanwhile, the impostor acted strangely. When asked to recite the Torah he failed and fled, throwing the ring into a river. Solomon earned his livelihood by fishing, caught some fish, and when his wife opened one, she found the ring inside. Solomon knew the test had ended and returned to his palace.
Seven Hundred Thousand Dishes
Solomon loved feeding people and arranging charity feasts. He asked God to allow him to host all creatures. God told him to leave this desire, as it exceeded his capacity, but he persisted, seeking the honor of service once. God allowed it. He ordered men and jinns to prepare, and commanded the wind to raise the table so every creature could partake.
It is said he prepared seven hundred thousand great cooking pots, each feeding more than a hundred persons. A fish rose from the sea and said, “I am told you will host me today. I am hungry.” Solomon welcomed it. The fish ate everything and said, “That was only one morsel. God provides me three such morsels every day. I am still hungry.” Solomon prostrated and said, Indeed, only You can provide for Your creation.
A prayer of Solomon after a trial appears in the Qur’an
O my Lord, forgive me, and grant me a kingdom that will not belong to anyone after me. You are the Bountiful Giver.
(S 38, V 35)
Some say Solomon fell severely ill and appeared like a lifeless body upon his throne. When God restored his health he thanked God, sought forgiveness, and prayed for a rule unique to him. The purpose of the trial was to teach that despite power and authority he controlled nothing, and that he must bow to the Divine Will like a persevering prophet.
Termite
The Qur’an narrates the manner of Solomon’s death. A great company of jinns worked on a building at his command. When his time came, he knew they would stop if they learned of his death. He leaned on his staff and his soul departed. The jinns continued working, fearing he watched them. After a time, a termite ate through his staff, it broke, and his body fell. Only then did they learn of his death and said, “Had we known the unseen, we would not have labored under this burden.”
Then when We decreed Solomon’s death, nothing showed his death to them except a creature of the earth that gnawed away his staff. When he fell, the jinns realized that had they known the unseen, they would not have remained in the humiliating toil.
(S 34, V 14)
Haroot and Maroot
Some people of Israel altered their scriptures for worldly gain and even alleged that David and Solomon were not prophets. They accused Solomon of sorcery and claimed he ruled men, jinns, animals, and winds through magic.
This talk began during Solomon’s life. They also believed jinns could foretell the unseen. When Solomon learned of these corrupt rumors he gathered all satanic scrolls, buried them under his throne, and decreed that anyone practicing sorcery or claiming jinns knew the unseen would be executed.
Buried Scrolls
After Solomon’s death, jinns unearthed those buried scrolls and spread the belief that this was the magic Solomon used to control men, jinns, animals, and winds.
When there came to them a messenger from God confirming what was with them, a group from the People of the Book threw away the Book of God behind their backs as if they did not know. They followed what the evil ones falsely attributed to the kingdom of Solomon. Solomon did not disbelieve, but the evil ones disbelieved, teaching men magic and what was revealed to the two angels at Babylon, Haroot and Maroot. They taught no one until they said, We are only a trial, so do not disbelieve. They learned from them how to cause separation between a man and his wife, but they could not harm anyone except by God’s permission. They learned what harmed them and did not benefit them, and they knew that whoever purchased magic would have no share in the Hereafter. Evil is the price for which they sold their souls, if they knew. If they had believed and been mindful, the reward from their Lord would have been better, if they knew.
(S 2, V 101 to 103)
Haroot and Maroot were two angels sent from heaven. They taught a knowledge based on the attributes and names of God in the Torah. This knowledge was superior to sorcery and had no harmful side effects. After teaching, they warned seekers, “Truth has been made clear to you. If you return to sorcery after learning this, you will be disbelievers, for God has clarified reality for you. We are a trial for you. It is up to you to follow the knowledge of God’s Book or pursue satanic magic.”
Yet some Israelites again strayed and used that pure knowledge for unjust and base desires.
Remember that nature and instinct differ. In our instincts at the mental level we resemble other species such as sheep, cows, dogs, cats, pigeons, and snakes. In our nature we possess a distinct status given by the All Wise and All Knowing. Animals also have understanding. In some aspects they exceed humans. Many animals perceive beyond human limits and have refined awareness. Ants and bees live in ordered societies, performing duties without supervisors, while humans still struggle with discipline and harmony.
The story of Solomon in the Qur’an and other scriptures is not told to amuse. God instructs us to learn from His limitless knowledge and to advance like those who, equipped with God given knowledge, served their fellow beings and harnessed the forces of nature.
In this regard God mentions jinns and shows that even these unseen beings can be commanded after acquiring the knowledge called the Knowledge of the Book. The account of the woodpecker, its absence, its news about Sheba and their sun worship, and its role as a messenger, all carry wisdom.
Butchering Thirty Thousand Heads of Cattle
It is related that to feed the army, thirty thousand animals were slaughtered daily, including five thousand camels, five thousand bulls, and twenty thousand goats and sheep.
Solomon once went to Makka for pilgrimage and stayed until completing the rites. He told the leaders that an apostle would be born there with clear signs, known far and wide for generations. He would give equal rights to relatives and strangers. Opposition would not harm him.
People asked about the religion of that Apostle. Solomon answered, “The religion of peace and righteousness. Blessed is the one who lives in his time, and even more blessed is the one who believes in him and follows what he teaches. Tell those who are absent that he will be the last in the chain of prophets and the leader of all apostles of God.”
This story also shows that even birds can recognize human error such as sun worship and can carry messages as emissaries.
It also tells that in Solomon’s army a jinn could fetch the throne of the Queen of Sheba from Yemen to Jerusalem, about fifteen hundred miles apart, within a set time.
We also learn that human reach can exceed the powers of jinns, provided one possesses the Knowledge of the Book. A man with that knowledge brought the throne almost instantly. God emphasizes that humankind can benefit from this knowledge without the condition of prophethood. Every person has the capacity to learn the Knowledge of the Book, also termed the Knowledge of the Names in the Holy Qur’an. By this knowledge a person may be seated on a station of power where time and space can be negated by God’s leave. He can command space to fold and time to expand or contract. He is granted influence over the universe by permission of God.
Thinking
If someone denies this capability on the pretext that it is unattainable, that would be incorrect. By mentioning a man in the story of Solomon, God clarifies that this potential is available to everyone who uses the intellect to seek and strive. Every human can benefit from the knowledge given through prophets and reach into the unseen by God’s permission.
God has related the foundational laws of invention in the Qur’an where David and Solomon are mentioned.
We gave David and Solomon a knowledge that was directly inspired to them from God.
Inspiration, whether through something seen or heard, is from God. Prophets received revelation. Every true idea that comes to a person’s mind is also a form of knowledge granted by God. Airplanes, telephones, television, wireless, computers, weapons, and lasers became possible when the idea to discover or invent arose in the minds of inventors. The existence of a thing is not possible without prior knowledge of it. It is a law of God that if a person seeks a thing wholeheartedly, making it the aim of life and exerting all abilities, he will attain it by God’s tradition that always persists.