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Solomon in Islam

In Islam, Sulaimān ibn Dāwūd (Arabic: سُلَيْمَان بْن دَاوُوْد, lit.'Solomon, son of David') is described as a nabī (نَبِيّ, lit.'prophet') and ruler of the Israelites in the Quran. Since the rise of Islam, various Muslim historians have regarded Solomon as one of the greatest rulers in history.[1] Solomon's rule inspired several Islamic leaders throghout history.

Sulaimān

Enslaving the shayatin, communicating with animals and djinn, and conquering the Kingdom of Sheba

  • Dawud (father)

Solomon is regarded to have been bestowed by God the gift to speak to animals and djinn. Furthermore was granted the ability to enslave the devils (Arabic: شَيَاطِين, romanizedšayāṭīn, Persian: دیو, romanizeddīv, lit.'devils') with the help of a staff or ring given by God.[2] Solomon's battle with the demons plays an important role Sufistic interpretations of Islam as the internal struggle of the self against demonic urges.


Generally, Islamic tradition holds that he was the third ruler of the Israelites and a wise one.[3] In contrast to Talmudic tradition, Muslims maintain that Solomon remained a faithful to God throughout his life and was blessed with authority given to none before nor after him. Desipite his miraculous abilities, his success stems from him solely relying on God, as seen in the challange of bringing the Throne of Sheba. For that he was, according to the Quran, promised nearness to God in Jannah (جَنّة, lit.'Paradise') at the end of his life.[4]

Quran and interpretation[edit]

Judgment on the field[edit]

In the earliest narrative involving Sulaiman, the Quran (21:78) briefly alludes to a story that Sulaiman was in the company of his father, when two men came to ask David to judge between them regarding a ḥarth (حَرْث, field).[5] Later Muslim commentators expanded on the allusion, including al-Tabari, Baidawi, and Ibn Kathir.[6][7][8] They said that the first of the two men said that he owned a vineyard of which he took great care the whole year through. But one day, when he was absent, the other man's sheep had strayed into the vineyard and devoured the grapes. He asked to be compensated for this damage.[9]: 62  Upon hearing the man's complaint, Solomon suggested that the owner of the sheep take the other man's vineyard to repair and cultivate until the vines returned to their former state, whereupon he should return it to its owner. At the same time, the owner of the vineyard would care for the sheep and benefit from their wool and milk until his land was returned to him, at which point he would return the sheep to their owner. This response shows Solomon's level of judgment, which, the Quran says,[10] would characterize Sulaiman throughout his life. Ḥikmah (Wisdom), according to Muslim tradition, would always be associated with Solomon, who would later even be referred to as Sulaimān al-Ḥakīm (سُلَيْمَان ٱلْحَكِيْم, "Sulaiman the Wise"). This story is adapted in the Kebra Nagast, but as a dispute adjudicated by a son of Sulaiman.

Appraisals for Solomon: , 6:84, 21:81-82, 27:15-16, 27:18-23, 27:36-39, 27:44, 34:12-13, 38:30-31, 38:35-40

2:102

Solomon's preaching: , 27:25, 27:31, 27:44

4:163

Solomon judged:

21:78-79

to Solomon: 38:32-34

Fitnah

Solomon and the Queen of Sheba: , 27:34-44

27:28-31

The Kingdom of Sheba: , 34:15, 34:18

27:23

Solomon's death:

34:14

Biblical narratives and the Quran

Harut and Marut

Legends and the Quran

("Stories of the Prophets")

Qiṣaṣ al-Anbiyāʾ

Queen of Sheba

Sulayman

Sūrat ("Chapter of the Ant")

an-Naml

The Kingdom of Solomon