THE STORY OF THE PROPHET SOLOMON - Power and Privileges of Prophet Solomon

Prophet Solomon was the son of Prophet David. His genealogy is Sulaiman (Solomon) ibn Daud ibn Isha ibn ‘Uwaid ibn 'Abir ibn Salmun ibn Nakhshyun ibn ‘Uwainadzab ibn Irm ibn Hasrun ibn Farish ibn Yahudza (Judaiah) ibn Ya'qub (Jacob) ibn Ishaq (Isaac) ibn Ibrahim (Abraham). Since he was young, Solomon showed his ability and intelligence in the sector of law. If the decision of the Prophet David was deemed inappropriate, then Solomon would give a more appropriate decision.

After Prophet David died, Solomon was appointed as king and began to be responsible for leading his country under the auspices of Allah SWT. Prophet Solomon strengthened his army and intended to teach religion from Allah SWT to various regions. Not only the kingdom, Prophet Solomon also inherited the knowledge and teachings of the book of Zabur from his father.

Prophet Solomon was a prophet who was always grateful and humble as well as a fair and wise king. So Allah SWT has strengthened his kingdom and blessed his country. Prophet Solomon wanted to protect and empower believers in his country so that his kingdom was advanced and prosperous. Allah SWT is pleased to give His gift to Prophet Solomon, which is to teach various required knowledge. Allah SWT also taught the language of birds to Prophet Solomon.

Surah An-Naml verse 16:

وَوَرِثَ سُلَيۡمَٰنُ دَاوُۥدَۖ وَقَالَ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ عُلِّمۡنَا مَنطِقَ ٱلطَّيۡرِ وَأُوتِينَا مِن كُلِّ شَيۡءٍۖ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ ٱلۡفَضۡلُ ٱلۡمُبِينُ  ١٦

16.  And Solomon inherited David. He said, "O people, we have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given from all things. Indeed, this is evident bounty."

That said, Prophet Solomon also understood various languages of other animals, one of which was ants. One day, there was an ant who saw the troops of Prophet Solomon walking towards him. The ant warns the other ants to immediately enter their nest so that it is not stepped on. Prophet Solomon heard and understood the words of the ant, so he prayed to Allah SWT.

Surah An-Naml verses 17-19:

وَحُشِرَ لِسُلَيۡمَٰنَ جُنُودُهُۥ مِنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ وَٱلۡإِنسِ وَٱلطَّيۡرِ فَهُمۡ يُوزَعُونَ  ١٧ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَتَوۡاْ عَلَىٰ وَادِ ٱلنَّمۡلِ قَالَتۡ نَمۡلَةٞ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّمۡلُ ٱدۡخُلُواْ مَسَٰكِنَكُمۡ لَا يَحۡطِمَنَّكُمۡ سُلَيۡمَٰنُ وَجُنُودُهُۥ وَهُمۡ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ  ١٨ فَتَبَسَّمَ ضَاحِكٗا مِّن قَوۡلِهَا وَقَالَ رَبِّ أَوۡزِعۡنِيٓ أَنۡ أَشۡكُرَ نِعۡمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِيٓ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَٰلِدَيَّ وَأَنۡ أَعۡمَلَ صَٰلِحٗا تَرۡضَىٰهُ وَأَدۡخِلۡنِي بِرَحۡمَتِكَ فِي عِبَادِكَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ  ١٩

17.  And gathered for Solomon were his soldiers of the jinn and men and birds, and they were [marching] in rows.

18.  Until, when they came upon the valley of the ants, an ant said, "O ants, enter your dwellings that you not be crushed by Solomon and his soldiers while they perceive not."

19.  So [Solomon] smiled, amused at her speech, and said, "My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to do righteousness of which You approve. And admit me by Your mercy into [the ranks of] Your righteous servants."

Prophet Solomon had a royal army that had extraordinary powers. Its members consist of groups of humans, jinn, and birds. They line up neatly, orderly and regularly. It is said that the jinn and humans walked with Prophet Solomon while the troops of birds flew over and sheltered them with their wings. In order for an orderly line, there are troops in front of the line so that no one crosses the prescribed limit and there are troops behind so that no one is left behind.

Allah SWT bowed the wind to be useful for Prophet Solomon, which is as a vehicle that can travel very quickly. The wind blows in any direction and can stop as instructed by the Prophet Solomon, even the speed can be set as long as it is still in accordance with the decision of Allah SWT. If Prophet Solomon traveled from morning to midday with the wind, then the distance traveled was equal to the distance of ordinary trips for a month, also the same as traveling with the wind from midday to late afternoon.

Surah Al-Anbiya' verse 81:

وَلِسُلَيۡمَٰنَ ٱلرِّيحَ عَاصِفَةٗ تَجۡرِي بِأَمۡرِهِۦٓ إِلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ٱلَّتِي بَٰرَكۡنَا فِيهَاۚ وَكُنَّا بِكُلِّ شَيۡءٍ عَٰلِمِينَ  ٨١

81.  And to Solomon [We subjected] the wind, blowing forcefully, proceeding by his command toward the land which We had blessed. And We are ever, of all things, Knowing.

Surah Saba' verse 12:

وَلِسُلَيۡمَٰنَ ٱلرِّيحَ غُدُوُّهَا شَهۡرٞ وَرَوَاحُهَا شَهۡرٞۖ وَأَسَلۡنَا لَهُۥ عَيۡنَ ٱلۡقِطۡرِۖ وَمِنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ مَن يَعۡمَلُ بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِ بِإِذۡنِ رَبِّهِۦۖ وَمَن يَزِغۡ مِنۡهُمۡ عَنۡ أَمۡرِنَا نُذِقۡهُ مِنۡ عَذَابِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ  ١٢

12.  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. And among 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 Shad verse 36:

فَسَخَّرۡنَا لَهُ ٱلرِّيحَ تَجۡرِي بِأَمۡرِهِۦ رُخَآءً حَيۡثُ أَصَابَ  ٣٦

36.  So We subjected to him the wind blowing by his command, gently, wherever he directed,

Allah SWT has commanded for the genies to submit and obey Prophet Solomon. The jinns carry out various commands of Prophet Solomon without any defiance and deception. If the Jinns rebel, they will get tormented and Prophet Solomon will punish them. The palace of Prophet Solomon was made into a magnificent and luxurious residence with a variety of beautiful ornaments. The jinns make tall and majestic buildings, and make various decorations and facilities, such as beautiful statues, plates that are as large as ponds, and pots. A beautiful throne made for Prophet Solomon. Not only on land, the genies were also ordered to dive into the sea to issue valuables, such as pearls. The demons who did evil were shackled and imprisoned by Prophet Solomon.

Surah Al-Anbiya' verse 82:

وَمِنَ ٱلشَّيَٰطِينِ مَن يَغُوصُونَ لَهُۥ وَيَعۡمَلُونَ عَمَلٗا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَۖ وَكُنَّا لَهُمۡ حَٰفِظِينَ  ٨٢

82.  And of the devils were those who dived for him and did work other than that. And We were of them a guardian.

Surah Saba' verse 13:

يَعۡمَلُونَ لَهُۥ مَا يَشَآءُ مِن مَّحَٰرِيبَ وَتَمَٰثِيلَ وَجِفَانٖ كَٱلۡجَوَابِ وَقُدُورٖ رَّاسِيَٰتٍۚ ٱعۡمَلُوٓاْ ءَالَ دَاوُۥدَ شُكۡرٗاۚ وَقَلِيلٞ مِّنۡ عِبَادِيَ ٱلشَّكُورُ  ١٣

13.  They made for him what he willed of elevated chambers, statues, bowls like reservoirs, and stationary kettles. [We said], "Work, O family of David, in gratitude." And few of My servants are grateful.

Surah Shad verses 37-39:

وَٱلشَّيَٰطِينَ كُلَّ بَنَّآءٖ وَغَوَّاصٖ  ٣٧ وَءَاخَرِينَ مُقَرَّنِينَ فِي ٱلۡأَصۡفَادِ  ٣٨ هَٰذَا عَطَآؤُنَا فَٱمۡنُنۡ أَوۡ أَمۡسِكۡ بِغَيۡرِ حِسَابٖ  ٣٩

37.  And [also] the devils [of jinn] - every builder and diver

38.  And others bound together in shackles.

39.  [We said], "This is Our gift, so grant or withhold without account."

Various privileges do not make Prophet Solomon become arrogant and forgetful. He is always grateful and keeps diligently worshiping Allah SWT.

Reference:

·        As Sayyid, Kamal and Anis, Selma (Translator). 2005. Kisah-kisah Terbaik Alquran. Jakarta: Pustaka Zahra.

·        Katsir, Ibnu and Hudzaifah, Lc., Abu (Translator). 2007. Kisah Para Nabi dan Rasul. Jakarta: Pustaka as-Sunnah.

·        AR., MB. Rahimsyah. Sejarah Islam Kisah 25 Nabi dan Rasul. Surabaya: CV Pustaka Agung Harapan