ABOUT PROPHET SULAIMAN (PEACE BE UPON HIM) (SOLOMON) AND THAT WHICH HE WAS HONORED WITH
Allah, High and Exalted says:
“So, We subjected to him the wind; it blew gently by his order whithersoever he willed, And also the
Shayateen (devils) from the Jinns (including) every kind of builder and diver. And also others bound in fetters. (Allah said to Sulaiman) “This is Our gift: so spend you or withhold, no account will be asked (of
you).” And verily, for him is a near access to Us, and a good (final) return (Paradise).” (Soorah Sad 38:36-40)
He (SWT) also says:
“And to Sulaiman (We subjected) the wind strongly raging, running by his command toward the land which We had blessed. And of everything We are the All-Knower. And of the Shayateen (devils from the
Jinns) were some who dived for him, and did other work besides that; and it was We Who guarded them.”
(Soorah Al-Anbiya’ 21:81-82)
In another place in the Qur’an, He (SWT) says:
“And to Solomon (We subjected) the wind, its morning (stride from sunrise till midnoon) was a month’s (journey), and its afternoon (stride from the midday decline of the sun to sunset) was a month’s (journey i.e. in one day he could travel two months’ journey). And 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 (cooking) cauldrons fixed (in their places). “Work you, O family of Dawood (David), with thanks!” But few of My slaves are grateful.” (Soorah Saba’ 34:12-13)
Abdullah Ibn Amr bin Al-As narrated that the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “When Sulaiman finished from building Jerusalem, he asked Allah for three things: He asked Allah to bless him with a judgment that would correspond with His, and that request was granted; he asked Allah for a kingdom the like of which no one would be blessed with after him, and it was also granted; and after he finished building the mosque, he invoked Allah for anyone who would come to the mosque for the purpose of praying therein and not for other purpose that Allah should cleanse him from his sin as he was the day he was born.”
Abu Nu‘aim said: If it is said that the wind was subjected to Sulaiman (Peace be upon him) that he traveled on the wind throughout the land of Allah that he could travel two month’s journey in one day, the response is that Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) achieved what was greater than that. He was made to travel in a single night between the Sacred Mosque in Makkah and Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, which is a month’s journey, and from there he was taken to the heavens, which is a journey of fifty thousand years, in less than a third of the night. He entered the heavens one by one and saw their wonders. He was allowed to see Paradise and Hell, actions of his followers were showed to him, and he led the Prophets in prayer; and was made to penetrate the Divine barrier. All this happened in one single night. Then which of the two miraculous journeys is greater and more astounding?!
As for subjecting to Sulaiman the Jinns that worked for him what he desired, making high rooms, images, basins as large as reservoirs, and cooking cauldrons fixed in their places, Allah blessed Muhammad with what was more. He sent the favored Angels down to support him on more than one occasion: During the Battles of Uhud, Badr and Hunain as it has been adequately discussed in their proper places. And this is greater and more awe-inspiring than subjecting the Jinns.
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Last night a big demon (‘ifreet) from the Jinns came to me and wanted to interrupt my prayers (or said something similar) but Allah enabled me to overpower him. I wanted to fasten him to one of the pillars of the mosque so that all of you could see him in the morning but I remembered the statement of my brother Sulaiman (as stated in Qur’an): My Lord! Forgive me and bestow on me a kingdom such as shall not belong to anybody after me. (Soorah Sad 38:35)” (The sub-narrator) Rawh said, “He (the demon) was dismissed and humiliated.”
Abu Sa‘eed Al-Khudri narrated that he was performing the Fajr prayers behind the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) and he was interrupted in his recitation in that prayer. When he finished praying, he said: “If you had only seen me struggling with Shaitan and trying to strangle him with my hands that I felt the coldness of his saliva inbetween my two fingers – the thumb and the index fingers. Had it not been for the supplication of my brother Sulaiman, I would have had him tied to one of the pillars of the mosque so that the children of Al-Madinah would find something to play with.”
It is authentically reported that the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) also said: “When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained.” This is a manifestation of the blessings of Allah ordained for His Prophet of fasting in the month of Ramadan and praying during its nights.
It is true that Allah combined Prophethood and kingdom for Sulaiman as he did for his father, Dawood (Peace be upon him). However, He has asked His servant Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) to choose between being made a king and a prophet or a servant of Allah and His messenger. He consulted Angel Gabriel on this and the latter advised him to choose being a servant and a messenger. There is no doubt that the status of Messengership is higher. Our Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) was also offered the treasures of the Earth and he rejected them saying: “Had I wanted, I would have made Allah turned the mountains of the Earth into gold for me. But I prefer to go hungry on a day and eat my fill on the other.”
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “While I was sleeping, the keys of the treasures of the world were brought to me and put in my hand.”
It was also reported on the authority of Jabir that the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “I was given keys of the treasures of the world upon a piebald horse. They were brought to me by Gabriel in a piece of silk brocade.”
Abu Umamah narrated that the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “My Lord offered to turn the plain of Makkah into gold for me and I said, ‘No, My Lord. But I would prefer to go hungry on a day and eat my fill on the other. Whenever I am hungry I will humbly beseech You and remember You; and whenever I eat my fill, I will praise and thank You’.”
Abu Nu‘aim said: It is known that Sulaiman (Peace be upon him) understood the languages of birds and ants; for Allah says: He said: “O mankind! We have been taught the language of birds.” (Soorah An-Naml 27:16)
However, Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) was given the like of that and more. We have earlier mentioned how animals, the trunk and trees spoke to him and how pebbles glorified Allah in his hands, how these creatures called him and he responded to their calls, how a wolf affirmed his Prophethood, how birds glorified Allah in obedience to him, how a gazelle spoke with him and complained to him and how a lizard addressed him and testified to his Prophethood.
Not only that, a goat’s arm informed him that it was poisoned and the Jews who put poison in the said meat confessed to that. The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) also said: “Indeed, I know a rock in Makkah that used to salute me before I was commissioned (as a Prophet). I can still recognize it now.” And this is greater and more astounding. Because the rock is absolutely lifeless when compared to birds and ants that are animals that have lives.
By Ibn Katheer
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