Prophet Sulaiman

Title: The Amazing Life of Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon) – From Birth to Death

Write By: Said Idrees sadat

Prophet Sulaiman (peace be upon him), known as Solomon in the Bible, was a great prophet and king mentioned in the Quran and many Islamic traditions. He was the son of Prophet Dawood (David), and he inherited not only his father's kingdom but also his wisdom and closeness to Allah. Sulaiman (PBUH) is remembered for his justice, knowledge, and powerful kingdom, but many people don't know some of the lesser-known facts about his incredible life.

Sources:

Quran, Surah Sad (38:30-40)

Quran, Surah An-Naml (27:15-44)

Quran, Surah Saba (34:12-14)

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Sahih al-Bukhari & Sahih Muslim (referenced indirectly through classical tafsir)

Birth and Early Life

Prophet Sulaiman (PBUH) was born in Jerusalem, and he was one of the many children of Prophet Dawood (PBUH). Even as a young boy, Sulaiman showed signs of deep wisdom and understanding. His father noticed this and trained him to become a fair and wise judge. According to Islamic tradition, even when Sulaiman was a child, he was able to make clever decisions that surprised many adults.

One famous story is about two women who came to Prophet Dawood with a baby. Both claimed to be the baby's mother. Prophet Dawood gave a ruling, but young Sulaiman suggested a different approach. He said to bring a knife and cut the baby in half so each woman would get part of the baby. One woman immediately screamed and said, "No! Let the other woman have the baby!" From this, Sulaiman understood that she was the real mother, because she wanted the child to live. (Reference: Tafsir Ibn Kathir on Surah Sad 38:30)

Becoming a Prophet and King

After the death of his father, Sulaiman became the king and prophet. Allah gifted him many blessings that no other human ever had before. He was able to understand and talk to animals and birds. He could command the wind to travel long distances in a short time. Even the jinn (invisible beings made of smokeless fire) were under his control.

(Quran, Surah Sad 38:36-38; Surah Saba 34:12-13)

Sulaiman used these powers to build great structures, spread justice, and help people. The Quran mentions that the jinn used to work for him, making buildings, statues, and even underground reservoirs. Despite having such power, he remained humble and always thanked Allah.

Communication with Animals

One of the most beautiful parts of his story is how he could talk to animals. In Surah An-Naml, the Quran tells the story of Sulaiman hearing an ant warn other ants that Sulaiman's army was approaching. He smiled and thanked Allah for giving him such special knowledge.

(Quran, Surah An-Naml 27:18-19)

He also had a bird called the Hoopoe (Hudhud), which played a major role in a very important mission.

The Queen of Sheba (Bilqis)

One of the most famous stories in Prophet Sulaiman's life is his meeting with the Queen of Sheba, also known as Bilqis. She was a powerful and intelligent queen who ruled over a rich kingdom. Sulaiman discovered that her people used to worship the sun instead of Allah.

(Quran, Surah An-Naml 27:20-44)

He sent her a letter inviting her to believe in one God. The queen was curious and came to visit him. Before she arrived, Sulaiman asked his jinn to bring her throne from far away in the blink of an eye. When she arrived and saw her own throne already there, she was shocked.

She realized that Sulaiman was not just a king, but a prophet with divine knowledge. Eventually, she accepted Islam and submitted to Allah. This story shows Sulaiman's intelligence, leadership, and ability to bring people to the truth without using war or force.

A Kingdom Like No Other

Prophet Sulaiman's kingdom was unique. With the help of jinn and humans, he built grand palaces and had a strong army of men, jinn, and birds. His control over the wind allowed him to travel great distances in very short times. This helped him spread justice and reach different lands quickly. (Quran, Surah Saba 34:12)

He also had a deep sense of fairness. He made sure that everyone, including the poor and weak, received justice. Many people today don't know that he was not only powerful, but he used his power for good.

Death of Prophet Sulaiman

Even Prophet Sulaiman’s death was a miracle. The Quran tells us that he died while standing with a stick in his hand, overseeing the work of the jinn. The jinn thought he was still alive and kept working. Only when a tiny creature, a termite, ate the stick and his body fell, did they realize he had passed away. This showed that even the jinn do not know the unseen (ghayb), only Allah does. (Quran, Surah Saba 34:14)

Lessons from His Life

Prophet Sulaiman (PBUH) teaches us many things:

Wisdom and justice should be used with kindness.

Power must be used to help others, not to hurt them.

Even with great blessings, we should always be humble and thankful to Allah.

Knowledge and faith together make a strong leader.

Conclusion

Prophet Sulaiman (PBUH) lived an extraordinary life full of miracles, leadership, and faith. From a wise child to a just king and prophet, his story continues to inspire Muslims around the world. His connection with animals, jinn, and nature shows how close he was to Allah. But most importantly, he used every gift not for pride, but for serving people and worshipping his Creator.

Further Reading:

Tafsir al-Jalalayn on Surah An-Naml

"Stories of the Prophets" by Ibn Kathir

Sahih al-Bukhari (references to jinn, Solomon’s dua, and unseen knowledge)

Quran.com for full verses