THE STORY OF THE PROPHET SOLOMON - Prophet Solomon Died and His Staff Was Eaten by Termites

Prophet Solomon is a human who is able to force the jinns to work in his kingdom, so that the jinns are afraid and obedient to him. They have been ordered to build places of worship, buildings, statues, and look for pearls on the sea floor. Being able to do something beyond human reason, the jinns feel stronger than humans.

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.

This turned out to be arguable. When the competition to bring the throne of Queen Balqis from Yemen to Palestine, it is precisely the faithful man who wins it, he is able to carry it within that distance in just one eye blink.

Jinns think that they are nobler and better than humans. They think that their knowledge is more than humans. But Allah SWT has shown to the genie that they know nothing except what He has taught them.

One day, Prophet Solomon finished worshiping and went to the place where the jinn worked. Prophet Solomon leaned on his staff while watching over the genies who were working in his palace. Jinns are busy working on various things. When they saw Prophet Solomon, they were increasingly afraid and worked better. At that time, Allah SWT sent the angel of death to take the life of Prophet Solomon. Prophet Solomon died, his spirit was not in his body. He has rested from the life of the world forever. But the body of Prophet Solomon still rested on his staff for a long time.

The jinns saw Prophet Solomon who was still leaning on his staff, so they went to do their other assignments. Nobody knows that Prophet Solomon died, because his position looks like a person who is still alive.

Allah SWT wants to make His servants, namely humans and jinns understand that they do not know the unseen. Allah SWT wants to show the truth through small animals namely termites. Termites began to walk on the palace floor. They walked towards Prophet Solomon's staff and began to eat it. Prophet Solomon still leaned on his staff. So, termites gnaw on the staff of Prophet Solomon and the jinns are still busy working.

In a long time, some part of the staff have been eaten by termites so that it cannot support the body of Prophet Solomon. Suddenly the body of Prophet Solomon fell to the floor. People and jinns were surprised at the event. Finally they understood that Prophet Solomon had died. It turned out that the Jinn did not know the occult about the death of Prophet Solomon. If it wasn't for the termites, the genies would continue to feel tormented because they worked continuously.

Surah Saba' verse 14:

فَلَمَّا قَضَيۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ مَا دَلَّهُمۡ عَلَىٰ مَوۡتِهِۦٓ إِلَّا دَآبَّةُ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ تَأۡكُلُ مِنسَأَتَهُۥۖ فَلَمَّا خَرَّ تَبَيَّنَتِ ٱلۡجِنُّ أَن لَّوۡ كَانُواْ يَعۡلَمُونَ ٱلۡغَيۡبَ مَا لَبِثُواْ فِي ٱلۡعَذَابِ ٱلۡمُهِينِ  ١٤

14.  And when We decreed for Solomon death, nothing indicated to the jinn his death except a creature of the earth eating his staff. But when he fell, it became clear to the jinn that if they had known the unseen, they would not have remained in humiliating punishment.

Believers are saddened by the death of the Prophet Solomon. While the jinns were happy for his death, because they did not have to work again with humans.

Prophet Solomon once prayed to Allah SWT so that after him no one had a great kingdom like his kingdom. Until now, there was no kingdom capable of possessing troops from animals and genies. Even though it is rich and has many privileges, Prophet Solomon remains humble and submissive and obedient to Allah SWT.

Surah Shad verse 35:

قَالَ رَبِّ ٱغۡفِرۡ لِي وَهَبۡ لِي مُلۡكٗا لَّا يَنۢبَغِي لِأَحَدٖ مِّنۢ بَعۡدِيٓۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡوَهَّابُ  ٣٥

35.  He said, "My Lord, forgive me and grant me a kingdom such as will not belong to anyone after me. Indeed, You are the Bestower."

This is the end of the story of Prophet Solomon who controlled the kingdom that was very great. May welfare always be bestowed upon him.

Reference:

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

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