The Story of Suleyman (AS) His Superpowers |
Written by Nuraz |
Salaam (WRWB). When we imagine our favorite superheroes, we always think about Spiderman shooting his cool webs. And then you have Superman with his super strength. Or Batman for being cool and super rich. Whilst those superheroes are cool. There was once a prophet that was the son of another prophet, who was given special powers from Allah (SWT). His name goes by the name of Suleyman (AS).
He comes from Dawud (AS). Both names ring a bell in Jewish faith, hence the Star of David and the Temple of Solomon. So being the son of a prophet, Prophet Dawud (AS) was blessed with loads of wealth by Allah (SWT) thus when he had passed, Suleyman (AS) had inherited his wealth, thus having ownership of this vast kingdom. Allah (SWT) demonstrates in the Quran,
وَلَقَدۡ ءَاتَيۡنَا دَاوُۥدَ وَسُلَيۡمَٰنَ عِلۡمٗاۖ وَقَالَا ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِي فَضَّلَنَا عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٖ مِّنۡ عِبَادِهِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ
Meaning - And We had certainly given David and Solomon knowledge, and they said, “Praise is due to Allah, who has favored us over many of His believing servants.” (27:15)
As Surah Sad, mentions Suleyman (AS) and his powers, which that segment will be covered throughout the duration of the article.
And so these prophets were chosen by Allah (SWT). One lesson we should take away here is to worship and glorify Allah (SWT). By the way, there are many lessons that we can intake from this story, so stay alert for more lessons throughout. A fun fact about Prophet Sulayman (AS) is that some of his powers are one of a kind and unique to himself, as Allah (SWT) provides us in the Quran, Suleyman (AS)’s special dua,
قَالَ رَبِّ ٱغۡفِرۡ لِي وَهَبۡ لِي مُلۡكٗا لَّا يَنۢبَغِي لِأَحَدٖ مِّنۢ بَعۡدِيٓۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡوَهَّابُ
Meaning - He said, “My Lord, forgive me and grant me a kingdom that will not belong to anyone after me. Indeed, You are the Bestower.” (38:35)
All of this could mean a superpower, as Suleyman (AS) had his own army, these are the ordinary. I mean that it is possible you can have an army, obviously not as miraculous and great as Suleyman (AS)’s army, but you can have immense wealth. But with these powers, not even the Prophet’s can obtain them. There was a hadith reported on this, as the Prophet (PBUH) had shared,
"A strong jinn from among the jinns came to me last night, intending to interrupt my prayer. But Allah enabled me to overpower him, and I wanted to tie him to one of the pillars of the mosque so that you all could see him in the morning. But then I remembered the supplication of my brother Suleyman: 'My Lord, grant me a kingdom that no one after me will have.' So I let him go, disgraced." (Sahih al-Bukhari 3423, Sahih Muslim 541)
Now that we know who Suleyman (AS) is in brief, let us go over some of his super powers given by Allah (SWT).
1) Control over the Jinns
You might be asking me, Nuraz isn’t the Jinn like a completely different creation of Allah (SWT). Yes, it is. But what makes this so astonishing is that while Suleyman (AS) is gaining control over the Jinns, we can’t even see or hear them, but they can see and hear us. It’s like a one way mirror in solitary confinement.
The Jinns are captive, like working slaves, that had made projects like the infamous Masjid Al-Aqsa. And when jinns misbehave they were even punished. Allah (SWT) mentions in the Quran,
وَٱلشَّيَٰطِينَ كُلَّ بَنَّآءٖ وَغَوَّاصٖ
Meaning - And [also] the devils [of jinn] – every builder and diver. (38:37)
وَءَاخَرِينَ مُقَرَّنِينَ فِي ٱلۡأَصۡفَادِ
Meaning - And others bound together in shackles. (38:38)
هَٰذَا عَطَآؤُنَا فَٱمۡنُنۡ أَوۡ أَمۡسِكۡ بِغَيۡرِ حِسَابٖ
Meaning - [We said], “This is Our gift, so grant or withhold without account.” (38:39)
وَإِنَّ لَهُۥ عِندَنَا لَزُلۡفَىٰ وَحُسۡنَ مَـَٔابٖ
Meaning - And indeed, for him is nearness to Us and a good place of return. (38:40)
Thus, these jinn were given as a gift by Allah (SWT). Now again, you might have more questions, asking me, "Why is Suleyman (AS) privileged with such blessings?" And “what makes him stand out amongst the rest.”
Well later on in the same surah, Allah (SWT) mentions Prophet Suleyman (AS)’s attributes and thus a reason for him to get these benefits.
وَخُذۡ بِيَدِكَ ضِغۡثٗا فَٱضۡرِب بِّهِۦ وَلَا تَحۡنَثۡۗ إِنَّا وَجَدۡنَٰهُ صَابِرٗاۚ نِّعۡمَ ٱلۡعَبۡدُ إِنَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٞ
Meaning - [We said], “And take in your hand a bunch [of grass] and strike with it and do not break your oath.” Indeed, We found him patient, an excellent servant. Indeed, he was one repeatedly turning back [to Allah]. (38:44)
So we should all strive to be patient and also to glorify Allah (SWT), as we may not get cool powers like Suleyman (AS), but will get eternal blessings and rewards from Allah (SWT) in the afterlife and that is what counts the most for us at the end of the day.
There is a story about Suleyman (AS)’s death which can be considered to be a hidden miracle. What's so interesting about it, is that the jinn were absolutely clueless and hadn’t even realized his death until a termite had bitten on Suleyman (AS)’s staff.
Suleyman (AS) had been dead in the position of sitting in his throne with his staff wide open, whilst the jinn were at hard work at absolute rule from Suleyman (AS). Allah (SWT) mentions in the Quran,
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
Meaning - 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. (34:14)
There’s another lesson here. This goes to show no matter how much power or wealth you have in you, we will all return to Allah (SWT). This is the case here like Suleyman (AS).
2) Control over the Wind
A Bugatti or Ferrari is known for its speed and horsepower. Suleyman (AS) has the wind. While some modern supercar’s speed can be faster, with the power of their engine, Suleyman (AS) has it all natural. Supercars end up becoming old, requiring maintenance, and even on the road during the journey you’d need gas or electric or else your car will run out of energy. The thing we know about wind, it’s always infinite so it’s always ready and will remain steady.
وَلِسُلَيۡمَٰنَ ٱلرِّيحَ عَاصِفَةٗ تَجۡرِي بِأَمۡرِهِۦٓ إِلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ٱلَّتِي بَٰرَكۡنَا فِيهَاۚ وَكُنَّا بِكُلِّ شَيۡءٍ عَٰلِمِينَ
Meaning - 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. (21:81)
Another ayat to consider when weighing the two is how much power and speed the wind can provide. Allah (SWT) mentions that in Chapter 34,
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
Meaning - And to Solomon [We subjected] the wind – it's 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. (34:12)
So with the help of some calculations, yes by default a supercar is faster, but it isn't any efficient. Supercars are reliant on gas and fuel, stripping it away means it won’t work. While the wind runs on its own, and can travel any obstacle such as harsh terrain, thick fogs, and huge mountain ranges with ease, while you’d have to play it safe with a supercar or else you’ll derail and crash as Suleyman (AS) had gained the ability to fly. So with all things considered, with more weight on the wind, you can travel a lot in ease, such as Suleyman (AS)’s army. As with the wind there are absolutely no limits, and it’s even more convenient.
So at the end the benefits that wind travelling brings unleashes more power and is more efficient and convenient than a modern supercar.
And the wind is natural and is one of the most beautiful and meaningful pieces of nature from Allah (SWT). The wind is described in an ayat that recalls,
إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٖ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلۡعَرۡشِۖ يُغۡشِي ٱلَّيۡلَ ٱلنَّهَارَ يَطۡلُبُهُۥ حَثِيثٗا وَٱلشَّمۡسَ وَٱلۡقَمَرَ وَٱلنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَٰتِۭ بِأَمۡرِهِۦٓۗ أَلَا لَهُ ٱلۡخَلۡقُ وَٱلۡأَمۡرُۗ تَبَارَكَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ
Meaning - Indeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He covers the night with the day, [another night] chasing it rapidly; and [He created] the sun, the moon, and the stars, subjected by His command. Unquestionably, His is the creation and the command; blessed is Allah, Lord of the worlds. (7:57)
So having the bounty of the wind is really significant and another one of the many powers of Suleyman (AS).
3) Animal Communication
There are many ways that humans can communicate with animals. Take the example of dogs, which do not need any words to convey their emotions, as one of their famous gestures is wagging their tail. So when they do that you know they must be happy. Whilst humans can communicate with animals and emotionally understand them, we will never be able to understand animals like Suleyman (AS), whose communication with animals is on a completely different level.
Imagine you see a cow in the farm, you hear it moo and make random cow noises. Suleyman (AS), wouldn’t hear moos, he’d actually hear what they say and how they feel, just as how we understand each other's dialogue and true feelings as humans. There is a story about the ants communicating and Suleyman (AS) hearing them in the Quran, as Allah (SWT) mentions,
وَوَرِثَ سُلَيۡمَٰنُ دَاوُۥدَۖ وَقَالَ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ عُلِّمۡنَا مَنطِقَ ٱلطَّيۡرِ وَأُوتِينَا مِن كُلِّ شَيۡءٍۖ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ ٱلۡفَضۡلُ ٱلۡمُبِينُ
Meaning - 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 an evident bounty.” (27:16)
وَحُشِرَ لِسُلَيۡمَٰنَ جُنُودُهُۥ مِنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ وَٱلۡإِنسِ وَٱلطَّيۡرِ فَهُمۡ يُوزَعُونَ
Meaning - And gathered for Solomon were his soldiers of the jinn and men and birds, and they were [marching] in rows. (27:17)
حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَتَوۡاْ عَلَىٰ وَادِ ٱلنَّمۡلِ قَالَتۡ نَمۡلَةٌۭ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّمۡلُ ٱدۡخُلُواْ مَسَٰكِنَكُمۡ لَا يَحۡطِمَنَّكُمۡ سُلَيۡمَٰنُ وَجُنُودُهُۥ وَهُمۡ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ
Meaning - Until, when they came upon the valley of the ants, an ant said, “O ants, enter your dwellings so that you will not be crushed by Solomon and his soldiers while they perceive not.” (27:18)
فَتَبَسَّمَ ضَاحِكًۭا مِّن قَوۡلِهَا وَقَالَ رَبِّ أَوۡزِعۡنِىٓ أَنۡ أَشۡكُرَ نِعۡمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَىَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَٰلِدَىَّ وَأَنۡ أَعۡمَلَ صَٰلِحًۭا تَرۡضَىٰهُ وَأَدۡخِلۡنِى بِرَحۡمَتِكَ فِى عِبَادِكَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ
Meaning - 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.” (27:19)
This teaches to treat Allah (SWT)’s other creations, such as animals like dogs, birds, or cats with the most fair justice. As remember Allah (SWT) is watching us.
There is a story about a miracle of the moving of the throne and Sulayman (AS) trying to convert the Queen of Bilqis, Sheba into Islam. In the process of sending the letter, it was sent through the hoopoe bird. Which looks like this,
As it was commanded and then the bird had sent the letter. Afterwards she was curious of Islam and so went to meet with Sulayman (AS). From there on out, there are Quran ayats that are mentioned in this story.
قَالَ عِفۡرِيتٞ مِّنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ أَنَا۠ ءَاتِيكَ بِهِۦ قَبۡلَ أَن تَقُومَ مِن مَّقَامِكَۖ وَإِنِّي عَلَيۡهِ لَقَوِيٌّ أَمِينٞ
Meaning - A powerful one from among the jinn said, “I will bring it to you before you rise from your place, and indeed, I am for this [task] strong and trustworthy.” (27:39)
قَالَ ٱلَّذِي عِندَهُۥ عِلۡمٞ مِّنَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ أَنَا۠ ءَاتِيكَ بِهِۦ قَبۡلَ أَن يَرۡتَدَّ إِلَيۡكَ طَرۡفُكَۚ فَلَمَّا رَءَاهُ مُسۡتَقِرًّا عِندَهُۥ قَالَ هَٰذَا مِن فَضۡلِ رَبِّي لِيَبۡلُوَنِيٓ ءَأَشۡكُرُ أَمۡ أَكۡفُرُۖ وَمَن شَكَرَ فَإِنَّمَا يَشۡكُرُ لِنَفۡسِهِۦۖ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ رَبِّي غَنِيّٞ كَرِيمٞ
Meaning - Said one who had knowledge from the Scripture, “I will bring it to you before your glance returns to you.” And when [Solomon] saw it placed before him, he said, “This is from the favor of my Lord to test me whether I will be grateful or ungrateful. And whoever is grateful – his gratitude is only for [the benefit of] himself. And whoever is ungrateful – then indeed, my Lord is Free of need and Generous.” (27:40)
قَالَ نَكِّرُواْ لَهَا عَرۡشَهَا نَنظُرۡ أَتَهۡتَدِيٓ أَمۡ تَكُونُ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَهۡتَدُونَ
Meaning - He said, “Disguise her throne; we will see whether she will be guided [to truth] or will be of those who are not guided.” (27:41)
فَلَمَّا جَآءَتۡ قِيلَ أَهَٰكَذَا عَرۡشُكِۖ قَالَتۡ كَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَۚ وَأُوتِينَا ٱلۡعِلۡمَ مِن قَبۡلِهَا وَكُنَّا مُسۡلِمِينَ
Meaning - So when she arrived, it was said [to her], “Is your throne like this?” She said, “[It is] as though it was it.” [Solomon said], “And we were given knowledge before her, and we have been Muslims [in submission to Allah]. (27:42)
وَصَدَّهَا مَا كَانَت تَّعۡبُدُ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِۖ إِنَّهَا كَانَتۡ مِن قَوۡمٖ كَٰفِرِينَ
Meaning - And that which she was worshipping other than Allah had averted her [from submission to Him]. Indeed, she was from a disbelieving people.” (27:43)
قِيلَ لَهَا ٱدۡخُلِي ٱلصَّرۡحَۖ فَلَمَّا رَأَتۡهُ حَسِبَتۡهُ لُجَّةٗ وَكَشَفَتۡ عَن سَاقَيۡهَاۚ قَالَ إِنَّهُۥ صَرۡحٞ مُّمَرَّدٞ مِّن قَوَارِيرَۗ قَالَتۡ رَبِّ إِنِّي ظَلَمۡتُ نَفۡسِي وَأَسۡلَمۡتُ مَعَ سُلَيۡمَٰنَ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ
Meaning - She was told, “Enter the palace.” But when she saw it, she thought it was a body of water and uncovered her shins [to wade through]. He said, “Indeed, it is a palace [whose floor is] made smooth with glass.” She said, “My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, and I submit with Solomon to Allah, Lord of the worlds.” (27:44)
This also teaches us that it is never too late to revert back to Islam.
Now that we have gone over Suleyman (AS)’s superpowers, it is not by any means just a flex. It’s a sign to us that if we want the power of blessings in Jannah, then we must glorify Allah (SWT) and be patient with him. Superman, Spiderman, or Iron Man are cool, but the superpowers of Suleyman (AS) are cooler. And the power of the afterlife with its eternal destiny is the coolest. Salaam (WRWB)