**Prophet Solomon (Sulaiman) and His Stories in the Qur'an**
Prophet Solomon (Sulaiman), peace be upon him, is one of the great prophets and kings mentioned in the Qur'an. He held a special status due to the wisdom and abilities that God bestowed upon him. Solomon was the son of David (Dawood), peace be upon them both, and he inherited from him the kingdom and wisdom. God increased him in virtue by granting him powers that were not given to others. The Qur'an recounts several stories of Solomon, which reveal his strength, justice, wisdom, and his unique way of interacting with God's creatures, whether human, jinn, or even animals.
### **Upbringing and Kingdom**
At the outset, Solomon was the heir of his father, David, who was both a prophet and a king over the Israelites. The Qur'an mentions this in the verse:
**"And Solomon inherited David. He said, 'O people, we have been taught the speech of birds, and we have been given from all things. Indeed, this is evident bounty.'"** (Surah An-Naml: 16).
Solomon was granted the kingdom after David and was further blessed with knowledge and understanding, including the ability to communicate with birds and other creatures. This great favor was unique to him.
### **Wisdom and Judgment**
One of the famous stories that reflects Solomon's wisdom is the case of the two women disputing over a child. The two women came to David, each claiming the child was hers. After hearing their case, David ordered the child to be split between them. However, Solomon proposed a clever solution, reflecting his unique wisdom:
**"He said, 'Then cut the child in two and give half to each.'"**
Upon hearing this, the true mother preferred that the child be given to the other woman rather than see him killed, and thus Solomon knew she was the real mother. This story showcases Solomon’s deep insight into human nature.
### **The Jinn and Their Subjugation**
One of the most remarkable gifts God granted Solomon was the control over the jinn, who worked under his command and fulfilled his orders. This is mentioned in the verse:
**"And of the jinn were those who worked for him by the permission of his Lord. And whoever deviated among them from Our command, We will make him taste of the punishment of the Blaze."** (Surah Saba: 12).
Solomon employed the jinn not only for ordinary tasks but also for building palaces, crafting statues, and diving into the depths of the sea to retrieve treasures. They also engaged in other tasks like carving and construction.
### **The Story of the Hoopoe and the Queen of Sheba**
The story of Solomon with the hoopoe (Hudhud) and the Queen of Sheba is one of the most famous stories mentioned in the Qur'an. It reflects Solomon's wisdom and his ability to perceive the details of matters. In this story, Solomon noticed the absence of the hoopoe without his permission, and when it returned, it brought significant news about the Kingdom of Sheba and its queen, Bilqis. The Qur'an says:
**"But the hoopoe stayed not long and said, 'I have encompassed [in knowledge] that which you have not encompassed, and I have come to you from Sheba with certain news.'"** (Surah An-Naml: 22).
The hoopoe informed Solomon that the people of Sheba were worshipping the sun instead of God, which caught Solomon's attention. Solomon decided to send a letter to the Queen of Sheba, inviting her to embrace Islam and monotheism.
**"Indeed, it is from Solomon, and indeed it reads: 'In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful.'"** (Surah An-Naml: 30).
The Queen of Sheba, being wise, did not rush to a decision and sent gifts to Solomon to see his reaction. However, Solomon, uninterested in the gifts, returned them with a warning that he would come with a powerful army if they did not heed his invitation. Eventually, the Queen of Sheba came to Solomon’s palace, astonished by the grandeur and power of Solomon, and she declared her belief in Allah.
### **Solomon and the Winds**
The Qur'an mentions that God also subjected the winds to Solomon's command, and they would travel according to his will. This was something not granted to any other prophet. God says:
**"And to Solomon [We subjected] the wind – its morning [journey] was that of a month – and its afternoon [journey] was that of a month, and We made flow for him a spring of [liquid] copper."** (Surah Saba: 12).
The winds were used to facilitate transport and travel, covering great distances in a short time, further enhancing his dominion.
### **The Death of Solomon**
Solomon’s death was marked by a unique divine wisdom. He remained standing, leaning on his staff, until a tiny creature, the termite, gnawed through his staff, causing him to fall. Only then did the jinn realize his death. The Qur'an narrates this event in the verse:
**"And when We decreed for Solomon death, nothing indicated to the jinn his death except a creature of the earth eating away his staff. And when he fell, it became clear to the jinn that if they had known the unseen, they would not have remained in humiliating punishment."** (Surah Saba: 14).
This event highlighted the weakness of the jinn and their lack of knowledge about the unseen, despite their power.
### **Lessons from the Stories of Solomon**
From the stories of Solomon, we can derive many lessons and morals. He serves as a model of wisdom, justice, and humility, despite the great kingdom and authority granted to him. His aim was always to establish truth and monotheism and to use the powers God bestowed upon him in the service of faith and humanity.
- **Wisdom in decision-making:** Solomon consistently used his intellect and wisdom in every situation he encountered, whether it was in judging disputes or dealing with other kingdoms.
- **Using power for righteousness:** Despite possessing immense power, Solomon always sought peace and invited others to the truth with wisdom and kind preaching, as demonstrated in his interaction with the Queen of Sheba.
- **Reliance on God:** Even though Solomon was given a great kingdom, he was always in constant remembrance and gratitude to God, never becoming arrogant or over-reliant on his capabilities.
In conclusion, the stories of Solomon, peace be upon him, show how God can grant His faithful servants power and abilities beyond measure. However, the true test lies in how these blessings are used in obedience to God and in
the service of righteousness.