A kingdom like no one after him would have, and every gift of it treated as a test.
هَٰذَا مِن فَضْلِ رَبِّي لِيَبْلُوَنِي أَأَشْكُرُ أَمْ أَكْفُرُ
His story
Sulayman inherited from Dawud and was taught the speech of birds 27:16. He asked for a kingdom no one after him would have 38:35, and the wind, the jinn and the birds were placed under his command (38:36-38, 27:17).
Once his army marched through a valley of ants. An ant called out: "Ants, enter your homes so Sulayman and his soldiers do not crush you without noticing." He smiled at her words, and prayed: "My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favour" 27:18-19. A king with an army, and he stopped for an ant.
The hoopoe was missing. Sulayman said he would punish him, unless he brought a clear reason 27:20-21. The hoopoe came back with news of the Queen of Sheba, and Sulayman listened before he judged.
When the queen's throne was brought to him in the blink of an eye, his first words were: "This is from the favour of my Lord, to test me whether I will be grateful or ungrateful" 27:40.
Moments
- 01
The valley of the ants
Sulayman marched with his army of jinn, people and birds until they came to a valley of ants. An ant called out: "Ants, enter your homes, so Sulayman and his soldiers do not crush you without knowing." Sulayman heard it and smiled, laughing, and prayed: "My Lord, inspire me to be grateful for Your favour upon me and my parents, and to do good that pleases You."
- 02
The hoopoe
He inspected the birds and found the hoopoe missing. "I will punish him, unless he brings me a clear excuse." The hoopoe came back with news of a queen in Sheba and a people who worshipped the sun. Sulayman did not punish first. He said: "We will see whether you have told the truth or are among the liars."
- 03
The Queen of Sheba
He wrote to the Queen of Sheba: "In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Do not be arrogant towards me, and come to me in submission." She consulted her people, sent a gift he refused, and finally came. Shown his palace, she said: "My Lord, I have wronged myself, and I submit with Sulayman to Allah, Lord of the worlds."
- 04
The crops
A dispute came to Dawud: sheep had strayed into a field at night and eaten the crops. Father and son both judged, and Allah says: "We made Sulayman understand it, and to each of them We gave judgement and knowledge." Wisdom given to a young man, without taking anything from his father.
What he did when…
When the throne of the queen was brought to him in the blink of an eye, Sulayman did not celebrate himself. He said: "This is from the favour of my Lord, to test me whether I will be grateful or ungrateful." Every success, he called a test.
A king with armies of people, jinn and birds stopped for an ant. He heard it warn its people, smiled, and his first words were a prayer of thanks. He was grateful even for an ant's good opinion of him.
His bird was missing without permission, and he was angry. But he did not punish before he heard the reason: "unless he brings me a clear excuse." When the hoopoe came back with news, Sulayman checked it before acting. Hear people out before you judge them.
His words, for you to keep
رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ
If your child carries this name
سليمان Sulayman
Sulayman is a name of wisdom and gentleness with power. A child named Sulayman should notice the small, like the ant.
Sources on this page
Quran 21:78-79Quran 27:17-19Quran 27:19Quran 27:20-28Quran 27:20-22Quran 27:29-44Quran 27:40
Quran meanings are given in plain English, close to the Arabic. Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com.