Allah crowned Sulaiman (Alihissalam) with various favours and blessings.
Sulaiman (Alihissalam) was sheltered from (The heat of the scorching sun by a canopy of multitudes and colourful birds that kept fluttering over him.
.
The green carpet was his aerial means of transport which flew jubilantly over the submissive winds to distant places in no time.
Sulaiman (Alihissalam) the wealthiest king of all times, whose armies were recruited from men, jinn and birds.
For his sake Allah produced a fountain of molten brass which kept Mowing for three days and three nights every month. During his reign untold treasures of precious stones, gold, and silver were accumulated with the help of the servile jinn.
The jinn also assisted Sulaiman (Alihissalam) in the construction of many buildings. Various relics of these admirable operations are pointed out in Arabia, Jerusalem and other places. Sulaiman (Alihissalam) is also credited for the foundation of a Mosque in Alexandria. Masjid Al-Aksa formerly called, 'the temple of Solomon ' is said to have been built by blocks of stone which were hewn by means of a miraculous pebble called Samur (samir) which a jinn named Sakhr procured from the sea eagle.
Sulaiman (Alihissalam) inherited prophecy and wisdom from his father, Dawood(Alihissalam). Esoteric knowledge the only knowledgeable of the whereabouts of the treasures and it is He who decides whether to reveal them or to let them conceal. Allah's plan is the best.
THE SIGNET RING OF SULAIMAN (Alihissalam) AND HIS SOVEREIGNTY
Shortly after the accession of prophet Sulaiman (Alihissalam) son of prophet Dawood(Alihissalam), he proceeded to a beautiful valley between Hebron and Jerusalem where he received his authority over winds, waters, jinn and animals from the four guardian angels in charge of these spheres.
Allah conferred to Sulaiman (Alihissalam) such powers over nature and jinnby virtue of a most wonderful gift that came down to him from heaven. It was a blessed sealing ring, upon which was engraved the greatest name of Allah. The greatest name of Allah is known to only the elects of Allah.
Now the four angels in charge of wind, water, jinn and animal respectively, gave Sulaiman (Alihissalam) a jewel which he placed in his ring having the form of a six-pointed star. This form are often inscribed on the Muslim drinking cups and it was currently inscribed on the Islamic coins from the early Ummayad times. His blessed ring was composed of the metal Brass and Iron.
Sulaiman (Alihissalam) would issue commands to the good jinn by stamping the brass part of the ring, whereas with the iron part he would stamp his written commands to the evil jinn or devil. The pre-Islamic Arabs usually exclaimed, 'Iron! Iron! (Hadid ! Hadid!) or, 'Iron! Thou unlucky!' (Hadid! Ya Mashum!), to defend themselves against the jinn. It is supposed that the jinn had great dread of the metal- Iron.
This apprehension disturbing so much the jinn had its roots from the powerful command of Sulaiman (Alihissalam) who used the Iron part of his ring to perish the evil jinn.
However the most potent and infallible weapon against the devils beholds by all the Muslims unanimously is the uttering of the words, Allahu Akbar (Allah the Greatest). This mighty weapon will always work wonders against the devils.
Sulaiman (Alihissalam) imprisoned the evil jinn in laden vessels and they were hurled in the Red Sea which was assigned by Sulaiman (Alihissalam) as a place of incarceration for the demons.
When the queen of Sheba departed with twelve thousand kings each king having with him thousands of armies to meet Sulaiman (Alihissalam), the latter said:
" O, Nobles, which of you will bring to me the throne of Bilqis before they come to me submitting?'
One among the jinn named, Ifreet, answered:
" I will bring it to you before you shall rise from the place wherein you sit to judge from morning until
mid-day, for I am able to do it and trustworthy with respect to the jewels the throne comprised of.'
The magnificent throne of Bilqis had a length of eighty cubits and breadth of eighteen cubits. The height of the throne was thirty cubits and it was made of gold and silver set with fine pearls, rubies, chrysolites and emeralds. Upon it were closed seven doors.
Only three miles remained for Bilqis and her people to call on the prophet Sulaiman (Alihissalam) and Ifrit said he would bring the great throne of Bilqis before Sulaiman (Alihissalam) would rise from his place, but the prophet wanted a much more speedy work.
The aim of bringing the throne of Bilqis in the palace of Sulaiman (Alihissalam) before the coming of Bilqis is to test the ability of the queen as to whether she would recognise her throne despite they would change the looking of the throne.
Consequently, the Wasir of the king Sulaiman (Alihissalam), Asaf-bin-Barkhiya who had knowledge of the revealed scriptures and was acquainted with the most great names of Allah and permission to use the ring of Sulaiman (Alihissalam) on which was engraved the greatest Name of Allah was vouchsafed to him, invoked Allah and said to Sulaiman (Alihissalam):
Look at the sky.' So he looked at it, then withdrew his glance and found the throne of the queen of Sheba placed before him.
This was so, because as he was looking the sky, Asaf prayed Allah by mentioning His greatest Name inscribed on the ring and by the will of Allah it so happened! The throne passing from under the ground until it emerged before the throne of Sulaiman (Alihissalam).
SULAIMAN (Alihissalam) PUT INTO TRIAL
Allah tried Sulaiman (Alihissalam) son of Dawood(Alihissalam) by depriving him of his kingdom. This was so, because Sulaiman (Alihissalam) married a woman with whom he became enamoured. She was the very wife of Sulaiman (Alihissalam) who used to worship an idol for forty days in the palace of the king without the mere knowledge of Sulaiman (Alihissalam).
Sulaiman (Alihissalam) was informed of a city named Sidon(Alu-nuiivc name for Saida in Lebanon.) that was ruled by a powerful but idolatrous king, the kingdom of that king was rendered inaccessible to man due to position of the island and the huge waves.
Since Sulaiman (Alihissalam) was given authority over land, sea and air, he place himself on the carpet which flew to that island by the leave of Allah. He landed there with his troops of jinn and men. Sulaiman (Alihissalam) succeeded in his mission; he killed that king and took every thing as booty.
On his way back, Sulaiman (Alihissalam) brought with him the daughter of the king who was so beautiful that the prophet chose her for himself and invited her to Islam.
She accepted Islam but reluctantly and doubtfully.
Sulaiman (Alihissalam) was immersed in love with her and such great love that he had never shown to his wives. Despite she was the wife of such a great prophet her sadness knew no bounds!
Alarmed by her grievous situation, Sulaiman (Alihissalam) became distressed and uneasy. The prophet asked her: 'What is this sadness that leaves you not?'
"It is my father....! remember what his position was and what then happened to him and it makes me sad." She replied.
Sulaiman (Alihissalam) added, "Allah has exchanged it with a dominion for you which is greater than his, and, power which is greater than his. He has guided you to Islam which is better than all.'
She replied, "Certainly that is so, but whenever I remember him I feel aggrieved as you can see. Perhaps you could command the jinn to make the likeness of my father in my dwelling so that I may see it in the morning and evening. I hope this will wind up my sorrow and make me feel better.'
Sulaiman (Alihissalam) commanded:
"Make for her the likeness of her father in her dwelling in which nothing would be unrecognizable for her.'
Therefore the jinn made an image to the likeness of he father as if she was looking to her father except that the image had no soul.
After the image was ready, she directed to it and dressed the image with the kind of clothing her father used to have.
When Sulaiman (Alihissalam) would leave her palace, she would (urn herself to the image with the slave girls and they would bow clown to it as they used to do in dominion of the king of Sidon.
They repeated the same idolatrous rites morning and evening for forty days. Of course this was practised in the absence of the prophet of Allah.
However Sulaiman (Alihissalam) was informed about what was going on in his palace by Asaf, the counsellor. The king turned violent and angry; he proceeded to her dwelling and smashed down the image into pieces.
He also punished that woman together with the slave girls.
Accordingly the prophet was feeling much guilty of what had happened without his knowledge. He Ordered garments of purification to be brought to him.
Those garments were spun, woven and washed by virgins only. He wore the garments, proceeded to a deserted place and ordered ashes to be brought and spread out for him.
Then he repented to Allah and threw himself on the ashes humbling himself and asking forgiveness for what had happened in his kingdom.
Thus it came to pass! The dominion of Sulaiman (Alihissalam) was his signet ring which contained the greatest name of Allah and when Sulaiman (Alihissalam) was impure and went to his need, he would take out his ring and hand it to Aminah, his favourite and trusted wife.
He would ask for his ring after having purified himself, because he would never touch his signet ring in a state of impurity.
One day, as usual, Sulaiman (Alihissalam) gave his signet ring to his wife Aminah as he was going to his privy; after a while before the prophet purified himself and came asking for his ring, Sakhr, the jinn who was master of the sea, took the form of Sulaiman (Alihissalam) and came towards Aminah and said: "My signet-ring, O! Aminah.'
Without the least hesitation Aminah handed the ring to him for she had no knowledge that the one she gave the ring was other than Sulaiman (Alihissalam).
Sakhr put on the ring, went out and sat on the throne of Sulaiman (Alihissalam).
The birds, the jinn and men all surrounded him as he was at that moment not only taken Sulaiman (Alihissalam) form, but, also and mostly because he now possessed the powerful ring.
However , when the prophet Sulaiman (Alihissalam) came out after having purified himself his condition and appearance had much altered. He approached his wife Aminah and said:
"My signet- ring O, Aminah!'
much to his astonishment Aminah replied:
"And who are you?'
He replied, "I am Sulaiman (Alihissalam) !son of'Dawood(Alihissalam).'
Aminah replied, "You lie! You are not Sulaiman (Alihissalam)! Sulaiman (Alihissalam) came and took his ring; there he is, sitting on his throne in his dominion.'
At once Sulaiman (Alihissalam) realised that something wrong must have happened and that Allah tried him. Such was the situation of prophet Sulaiman (Alihissalam), he who had the power over the creatures of Allah, now none of the creature recognised him as the very king and prophet, not even.... his dearest wife.
He went out and began to stand at one of the houses of the Israelites saying, "I am Sulaiman (Alihissalam) son of Dawood(Alihissalam).' But the people threw dirt on him and insulted him
by saying:
"Look at this mad-man! He claims to be Sulaiman (Alihissalam) son of Dawood(Alihissalam).'
When Sulaiman (Alihissalam) felt that he had became stranger in his own land, he made his way to the sea.
Several days passed, and Sulaiman (Alihissalam) did not consume anything. He was very hungry. His hunger compelled him to turn to the fishermen asking them for food from their catch to appease his hunger.
Sulaiman (Alihissalam) said to the fishermen, "I am Sulaiman (Alihissalam).' One of the fishermen arose and stuck him with a staff which resulted in cutting open his head.
The prophet said not a word but began to wash the blood at the sea. The other fishermen blamed their companion for the cruel way he conducted towards Sulaiman (Alihissalam) by saying:
" How bad was what you did when you struck him!' The fisherman said: "It was because he claimed that he was Sulaiman (Alihissalam).'
At the palace of Sulaiman (Alihissalam) which was under the power of the jinn Sakhr, judgement was given to the detriment of the victims. Judgements were biased and not tally with the revealed scriptures. Asaf and the powerful men of the
Israelites found fault in the judgement of Allah's enemy-Sakhr, who they regarded as Sulaiman (Alihissalam) for forty days. Asaf said, "Assembly of the children of Israel! Have you noticed the same changes in the judgement of son of Dawood(Alihissalam) that I have myself noticed?' Their voices echoed in unity, "Yes."
Then Asaf said, " give me time to meet his wives so that I may ask whether they found the same fault in his private affairs that we have found in his public affairs with the people and his outward behaviour."
Asaf went to the wives of Sulaiman (Alihissalam) and said:
"Have you found something wrong in Sulaiman (Alihissalam) 's behaviour as wehave found wrong.'
The women wept upon hearing this and they said:
the worst of it is that he would not leave any among us who is menstruating and he will not wash him from impurity.' Asaf said, "Certainly we are from Allah and to Him do we return. This is a clear test.'
He then returned to the Israelites and said:
What he does in private is worse than he does in public.'
The devil Sakhr continued judging the people for forty days. Asaf with all the scholars and readers disapproved his judgement and they however reached Sakhr and surrounded him. They unrolled the Torah and started reading it.
SULAIMAN (Alihissalam) RECOVERES HIS KINGDOM
Sakhr could not bear with the truth in the council chamber held by the learned Israelites. He flew away from before them until he rested upon an embattlement with the blessed signet ring.
Then the treacherous jinn flew away until he reached the sea. By the will of Almighty Allah the ring became loose in his finger and it fell down into the sea! Allah ordered a fish to swallow the signet ring.
Sulaiman (Alihissalam) on the other hand, turned to the sea and would carry fish to the market for the sea faring men. Each day the fishermen would give him two fish and he would sell one fish for some bread and the other he would grill it to eat.
One evening as usual he was given two fish as payment for the work he did by carrying fish to the market. He sold one for some bread and the other he split it open at the seashore, but he was confronted by something in the fish! And when he look it out he saw his signet ring, (Glory to Allah who returned Sulaiman (Alihissalam) his signet ring in the most miraculous way.
Sulaiman (Alihissalam) at once wore his ring and fell down in prostration before Allah. Allah restored to him his kingdom and dominion. The birds and jinn surrounded him.
The people approached him and apologised for what they did to him, but Sulaiman (Alihissalam) said, "I shall not praise you for what you did nor will I blame you for what you did. This matter had to be."
All his people knew that what had happened to the prophet was because of what had happened in his household. Sulaiman (Alihissalam) returned to his dominion and manifested repentance, He recovered his lost kingdom!
Sakhr the very jinn who corrupted the kingdom of king Sulaiman (Alihissalam), who deceived people by his odd judgement and who impersonated the prophet for forty days now left the kingdom with apprehension and led to a far away distance after he lost the ring into the sea. Sulaiman (Alihissalam) after having recovered his ring and kingdom commanded the jinn saying: ''Bring me Sakhr!'
The jinn set for the search and finally found him. They caught him and brought him to Sulaiman (Alihissalam). The prophet then placed Sakhr in tin iron chest, shut it and locked it powerfully.
He sealed the iron chest with his signet ring and gave orders to cast it into the sea. The chest containing Sakhr was thrown into the lake of Tiberias(Sea of Galilee lake in north of Israel.).
Sakhr be there until the Hour arrives.
The jinn, animals, birds and the Wind became a new submissive to Sulaiman (Alihissalam) and his treasures know no bounds! His invocation to Allah was:
"Bestow upon me sovereignty such as shall not belong to anyone after me. Lo! You are theBestower."9
Sulaiman (Alihissalam) continued making justice and the jinn continued making for him what he willed:
"Places of worship, statues, basins like anchored cooking pots."
THE DEATH OF SULAIMAN (Alihissalam) AND SATAN'S PLOT .
Sulaiman (Alihissalam) would isolate himself in the Temple for a year or two, for a month or two, for more or less time. His food and drink would be brought to him. He perceived that his death was near. I mm the time he was in his Temple alone there was not a day when he woke up, a tree had not sprouted in the Temple. He used to go to the tree and asked, "What is name?" and the tree would say, "My name is such and such.' He would say, "Why have you sprouted? " and it would say, " for such and such purpose. " He would give orders regarding the tree and it would be cut down. If it were for planting , it would be planted; if it were for a remedy it would be written down.
One day while he was praying, he saw all of a sudden a tree sprouted in front of him. He said to the tree, "What is your name? " and the tree replied, "Kharrub11." He said, "For "what purpose are you?' it replied, "for the destruction of this house."
Sulaiman (Alihissalam) then said, "O, my Lord. Blind the jinn to my death, so that men may know that the jinn do not know what is hidden.'
He hewed the tree into a staff and was supported upon it for a year after he had died, while the jinn continued to work.
This was because the edifice of Sulaiman (Alihissalam) was not quite completed and he knew that his lather Dawood(Alihissalam) left the building to be finished by him. He knew he was about to die, he supplicated Allah to conceal his death so as the jinn could complete the construction of the temple.
The jinn did not know about Sulaiman (Alihissalam)'s death. They were working for him for one year and they could not stop as they feared he would come out and punish them. No jinn could look at Sulaiman (Alihissalam) in the prayer niche without being burned. But as one of the jinn did not hear Sulaiman (Alihissalam)s voice. He stood in the temple but he was not burned. He therefore looked at the prayer niche and found that Sulaiman (Alihissalam) had fallen down dead.
He went out and broke the news on the death of Sulaiman (Alihissalam). They opened the temple and brought the corpse out. However they discovered that a termite has eaten his staff but they were confused in estimating for how long the prophet had died. So they placed the termite on the staff and it ate the staff for one day and one night. They measured the length of the staff the termite had eaten for a day and a night; they reckoned on the basis of the calculation that he had died a year previously.
The jinn have been submitted to Sulaiman (Alihissalam) a year after his death. The people at large thereby concluded that the jinn had been lying, for had they known the unseen they would have known the death of Sulaiman (Alihissalam) and they Would have not remained in toil for a year working for him. For that is the word of Allah: "Nothing showed him his death but a creeping creature of the earth (which gnawed away his staff), if they had known the unseen, they would not have continued in despised toil..."
Then the jinn said to the termite, "If you eat food we will bring you the best food. If you drink wine, we willl bring you the best wine. But we will bring you water and clay.' They brought to the termite clay and water. The clay which is within wood is said to have been brought to the termite by the jinn out of) gratitude to him.
Sulaiman (Alihissalam) was thirteen years when he succeeded his father and he reigned for forty years. He died at the age of 53. The exact location of his tomb is uncertain.
Some place it is Jerusalem at the 'Dome of the Rock',
while others say his tomb is near the seas of Tiberias.
But the Prophet of Islam, Mohammad (peace be upon him) said according to a tradition mentioned in Chronique de Tabari, ; "The tomb is found in the midst of the sea..in a place excavated in a rock.
This place contains a throne on which Sulaiman (Alihissalam) is placed with his Royal Ring on his finger appearing as though he were alive, protected by twelve guardians night and day. No one had arrived at his tomb except two persons-Afan and Bulikiya
(Kubbat-al-Sakhrah)
After the death of the king and prophet Sulaiman (Alihissalam), Satan wrote an incantation and several books on witchcraft and buried it with his throne. Then Satan exhumed the throne and the books and misled people and said:
"It is by these books that Sulaiman (Alihissalam) derived his power and wealth.'
Thus the people of Sulaiman (Alihissalam) was made to practice magic.
The false accusations which Satan made the people of Sulaiman (Alihissalam) to stomach, was however removed by Allah who says in the Holy Quran chapter 2 verse 102:
"And follow that which the devils falsely related against the kingdom of Sulaiman (Alihissalam), Sulaiman (Alihissalam) disbelieved not: but the devils disbelieved, teaching magic and that which was revealed to the angels1' in Babel"
THE BEAST AND THE RING OF KING SULAIMAN (Alihissalam)
In Muslim Ahadith there is a prediction of our beloved prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him) relating a beast that will appear before Qiyamah as a sign. The beast will be in possession of the blessed 'Ring' of Sulaiman (Alihissalam).
Huzaifa narrates :
"We were talking about Qiyamah the Holy Prophet peeped and said,
'Qiyamah will not come till you see ten signs, which are-
1. Smoke that will remain spread throughout East and West for forty days.
2.Dajjal
3.Dabaa~(Afour-legged beast of the length of sixty yards. He will have the stick of prophet Moosa and the ring of prophet Sulaiman (Alihissalam), in running it will have no equal. He will strike Mumin with Moosa's stick and mark the word Mumin on his face and similarly the ring of Sulaiman (Alihissalam) will be used to stamp Kafir on the face
of non-believers.)
4.Rising of the sun in the west
5.Descend of prophet Isa
6.Yajuj wa Majuj
7.Sinking of the earth at three
places, one in the East
8.One in the West
9.One in the Arabian Gulf
10.That fire which will emanate from one side of Aden16 and drive people to Hashr-The Resurrection.
The ring of king Sulaiman (Alihissalam) will be used again by the 'Beast' before the last hour, to set believers and non-believers apart. The beast will mark a black dot on the nose or neck of the Kafir by the ring and his face will darken.
This was the Short Narration about Sulaiman Alihissalam
The Story of Jinn, the Flying carpet , Birds Ants and RING of the KING Sulaiman Alihissalam
its a good and true story for your children
this book was translated by Mohammad Yasin Owadally