THE PROPHET SOLOMON (pbuh)

PROPHET SOLOMON (PBUH)

We gave knowledge to David and Solomon, who said: "Praise be to God, Who has favored us over many of His servants who are believers." Solomon was David's heir… (Qur'an, 27:15-16)

Prophet Solomon (pbuh) was a son of Prophet David (pbuh), to whom God gave great knowledge, wealth and wisdom (Qur'an, 2:251), favor (Qur'an, 34:10), and to whom He revealed the Psalms. In the Qur'an, God decrees: "We gave [to] David Solomon" (Qur'an, 38:30).

… We raise in rank anyone We will. Your Lord is All-Wise, All-Knowing. We gave him [Abraham] Isaac and Jacob, each of whom We guided. And before him We had guided Noah. And among his descendants were David and Solomon, Job and Joseph, and Moses and Aaron. That is how We recompense the good-doers. And Zachariah, John, Jesus, and Elias-all of them were among the righteous. And Ishmael, Elisha, Jonah, and Lot-all of them We favored over all beings. And some of their forebears, descendants, and brothers-We chose them and guided them to a straight path. (Qur'an, 6:83-87)

As He did with Prophet David (pbuh), God sent Prophet Solomon (pbuh) to the Israelites. God put him on the right path, counted him as one of His faithful servants and made him superior to other people. In fact, God tells believers:

They are the ones God has guided, so be guided by their guidance. Say: "I do not ask you for any wage for it. It is simply a reminder to all beings." (Qur'an, 6:90)

Like all other prophets, Prophet Solomon (pbuh) invited people to believe in God, avoid associating any other thing or being with Him, and obey His commands and recommendations.

PROPHET SOLOMON'S (PBUH) SUPERIOR KNOWLEDGE AND BLESSING

He [Solomon] said: "My Lord, forgive me and give me a kingdom the like of which will never be granted to anyone after me. Truly, You are the Ever-Giving." (Qur'an, 38:35)

His prayer was accepted by God and He bestowed upon him great blessings, superior wisdom, more possessions than anyone else could attain, and a glorious kingdom in which he exercised an incomparable reign. Other verses give more information about his God-given wealth, power, and knowledge.

The Ability to Judge

We gave Solomon understanding of it [judgment]. We gave each of them judgment and knowledge... (Qur'an, 21:79)

When we examine the prophets' lives, we see clearly that God gave them superior wisdom to use in their conversations, decisions, and carrying out their decisions. Prophet Solomon (pbuh), a recipient of this divinely inspired judgment and knowledge, "judged with truth" (Qur'an, 38:26), like his father Prophet David (pbuh), and solved all disputes most justly.

And David and Solomon when they gave judgment about the field, when the people's sheep strayed into it at night. We were Witness to their judgment. (Qur'an, 21:78)

A system of justice, if it is to operate properly, must be directed by people with faith and who can judge justly. Prophet Solomon's (pbuh) time was one in which this understanding of justice was lived fully, for God says: "Every nation has a Messenger, and when their Messenger comes everything is decided between them justly. They are not wronged" (Qur'an, 10:47). Two people who presided over hearings and gave just decisions were Prophet David (pbuh) and Prophet Solomon (pbuh).

Prophet Solomon's (pbuh) words, upon learning that a hoopoe bird had disappeared without his permission, draws our attention to this matter:

He inspected the birds and said: "How is it that I do not see the hoopoe? Or is it absent without leave? I will certainly punish it most severely or slaughter it if it does not bring me clear authority." (Qur'an, 27:20-21)

This is just one example of his justice: He gave the hoopoe an opportunity to defend itself, listened to it carefully, and inflicted no sudden penalty. Instead, he waited for it to produce clear proof

Solomon (pbuh) and the Language of Birds

God taught Prophet Solomon (pbuh) to speak the language of birds, and because of this, he formed an army squadron composed of birds. Thus, he established a relationship with them that allowed him to command them as he wished. Fully aware that this ability was the result of God's mercy, he explained to his people that this knowledge came from God and was not the result of his own effort. In this way, he clearly expressed his submission to, and need for, God.

… O people, we have been taught the speech of birds and have been given everything. This is indeed a clear favor. (Qur'an, 27:16)

We can draw some important conclusions from this account:

Birds speak to one another on a special wave length that people cannot hear. God allowed Prophet Solomon (pbuh) to understand these conversations. This might have been made possible by technological means.

Since Prophet Solomon (pbuh) could understand these conversations, he may have given them special tasks to fulfill. (God knows the truth.)

Prophet Solomon (pbuh) achieved important results by using birds to both carry messages and gather information. This knowledge facilitated communication with other countries and reaching distant areas. (God knows the truth.)

This verse may be drawing our attention to a superior technology similar to that which will be used in the End Times. In fact, these birds may not even refer to birds as we know them, but perhaps to unmanned aircrafts.

Besides this, he may have attached transmitters to them to obtain information about other countries and his enemies. In this way, he could have obtained images and sound recordings and used the information to govern his kingdom.

Prophet Solomon (pbuh) had power over jinns and demons, for the Qur'an states: "… And some of the jinns worked in front of him by his Lord's permission…" (Qur'an, 34:12) and "… some of the demons dived for him and did other things apart from that…" (Qur'an, 21:82). When considered from this point of view, it may have been an army made up of jinns that looked like birds.

Another probability is that these birds may have been controlled by jinns who Prophet Solomon (pbuh) could use to make the birds do what he wanted them to do.

The Qur'an is valid for all people until the end of the world. Therefore, similar things that happened during Prophet Solomon's (pbuh) reign may also be experienced in the End Times. For example, God may put these jinns under humanity's control once again. Again, the advanced technology indicated in this account may be a signal of what technology will bring to humanity in the End Times. (God knows the truth)

Communication is important to birds, especially in habitats where vegetation impedes vision, such as forests, grasslands, and wetlands. Birds communicate by vocalizations (e.g., songs and calls) and various noises (e.g., tapping and drumming). Each species has its own specific song or songs. For example, some have over a dozen calls and songs, while others mimic the songs of other birds and humans.1 Birds do not have vocal cords. To produce sounds, vibrations are sent across a bird's syrinx (voice box). The more muscles a bird has attached to the syrinx, the more sounds it can make. For instance, mockingbirds have many muscles and can produce a variety of sounds.

Ultrasonic and transonic sounds are sound waves outside the normal range of human hearing. Birds, insects, and some mammals (e.g., rodents, bats, dogs, cats, and raccoons) can hear these high frequencies and use them to communicate.3 But, as we see in the Qur'an, God may have given Prophet Solomon (pbuh) the knowledge and technology to hear and understand these sounds.

The Language Used by Birds Birds have their own language. Expert users of sound, they communicate by using frequencies which we cannot hear. Through these sounds, birds recognize their young, parents, and mates; gather in flocks; and warn one another of danger. They can change their communication frequencies and relay information very quickly.

Prophet Solomon (pbuh) Understands the Female Ant

Then, when they reached the Valley of the Ants, an [female] ant said: "Ants! Enter your dwellings so that Solomon and his troops do not crush you unwittingly." (Qur'an, 27:18)

This verse may be interpreted as follows:

The female ant knew that Prophet Solomon (pbuh) and his army were entering the valley. This is an extremely conscious recognition. The fact that these ants could speak to one another and were aware of what was happening around them may indicate that these creatures may have been jinns. (God knows the truth.)

The ant mentioned here is not an ordinary ant, for the Valley of the Ants suggests a special place and special ants. This strengthens the possibility that they were jinns.

He [Solomon] smiled, laughing at its words, and said: "My Lord, keep me thankful for the blessing You have bestowed on me and my parents. Keep me acting rightly, pleasing You, and admit me, by Your mercy, among Your servants who are righteous." (Qur'an, 27:19)

Prophet Solomon's (pbuh) ability to hear the ants talking among themselves may indicate a development that will occur in computer technology in the End Times.

The modern term Silicon Valley refers to the center of the world of technology. Thus, it is very significant that this verse mentions the Valley of the Ants. God may be drawing out attention to the advanced technology that will appear in the End Times.

Everything in the heavens and every creature on Earth prostrates to god, as do the angels. They are not puffed up with pride. They fear (and respect) their Lord above them and do everything they are ordered to do. (Qur’an, 16:49-50)

In the 1950s, American scholars brought their knowledge and experience together and established the 4,000 square meter (1,500 square miles) Silicon Valley under the leadership of Stanford University in California. Eight thousand companies from around the world working on information technology and in various high-tech fields are located in this area. Nearly 300,000 scientists, engineers, and researchers, all of them experts in their fields, are developing high-tech products, and most technological advances are developed there.6

The Latest Development in Micro-Technology: An Army of Robotic Ants As for those who strive in Our Way, We will quide them to Our Paths. Truly God is with the good-doers . (Qur’an, 29:69) The best-known project that uses ants as a model is the Army-Ant Robot project, which is being carried out independently in several countries. The study conducted by the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and Virginia State University seeks to develop small, inexpensive, and simple robots and then form a robotic army out of physically identical robots. Project officials explain that these robots derive their usefulness from their group actions, performing physical tasks and making cooperative decisions as a coordinated team. All mechanical and electrical design aspects are decided with the group-dynamical behavior in mind. Because of their behavioral resemblance to their insect counterparts, they have been named army-ant robots. The army-ant robot system was originally designed as a material-carrying system. According to this scenario, several small robots would jointly lift and carry objects. It was later decided that they could be used for other tasks, such as nuclear and hazardous waste cleanup with robotic swarms, mining (including material removal and search-and-rescue), mine sweeping (both land and water), surveillance and sentry, planetary surface exploration, and excavation.7 Israel A. Wagner, an expert on ant robot-technology, describes such projects in these terms: Ant-robots are simple physical and virtual creatures designed to cooperate in order to achieve a common goal. They are assumed to have very limited resources of energy, sensing and computing, and to communicate via traces left in the workspace or on the ground, like many insects naturally do… The distribution of work among multiple agents can be made by either a central controller who sends orders to the agents, or by an a priori agreement on a certain partitioning that, if obeyed by the agents, eventually leads to a completion of the given mission. A third way, used throughout the current work, is to design the behavior of individuals such that cooperation will naturally emerge in the course of their work, without making a priori decisions on the structure of the cooperation. The specific application that we address is covering, which is also known as exploring or searching. This variety of names hints to the many applications this problem might have: from cleaning the floor of a house to mapping an unknown planet or demining a mine field.8 Based on the above information, the ant's social lifestyle forms the basis of many projects, and the robotic technologies being implemented as a result are benefiting human beings. That is why the Qur'an mentions the ants and their valley when informing us about Prophet Solomon (pbuh). In this verse, God may be alluding to technological developments in Prophet Solomon's (pbuh) time. For example, the mention of ants may point toward a robotic army. With the help of the jinns and demons at his command, Prophet Solomon (pbuh) may have used a very advanced technology to establish a robotic army. The verses may also be indicating future developments in robot technology and how they will play an important role in human life by performing many arduous tasks, and thereby making people's lives more comfortable. (God knows the truth.) Except those who believe and do right actions, and (who) remember God repeat-edly and defend themselves after they have been wronged… (Qur’an, 26:227)

Prophet Solomon (pbuh) Commands the Winds

And to Solomon We gave the fiercely blowing wind, speeding at his command toward the land that We had blessed. And We had full knowledge of everything. (Qur'an, 21:81)

God allowed Prophet Solomon (pbuh) to control the wind and use it as a tool. This may be a reference to the use of wind energy in the End Times.

The phrase fiercely blowing wind under Prophet Solomon's (pbuh) command may be drawing our attention to the advanced aircraft technology that will be developed in the End Times.

Today, many countries including the United States and Denmark use wind turbines to provide electricity. These turbines, by which scientists have estimated that as much as 10 percent of the world’s electricity could be provided by the middle of the twenty-first century, offer a cheap and productive alternative to fuel-driven generators.

Aircraft wings are designed to create a difference in pressure that enables them to fly. Flight happens as a result of the lift created by the air moving around the wings. When the aircraft reaches a lifting power equal to its weight, the wheels leave the ground and the plane takes off. This lifting force is formed in this way: Air normally moves in waves in a gentle current. But the flow of air changes as the wing moves against it. The air is divided and passes over and below the wing. The top surface of the wing has a bulged shape. According to some laws of physics, the air passing over the wing speeds up and has a lower pressure than the air under the wing. In other words, the air underneath lifts the aircraft while the air above exerts less of a downward push. This difference in pressure allows the aircraft to be pushed up from below and be lifted into the air. Under these circumstances, the aircraft overcomes the force of gravity and the carrying force that enables it to remain aloft is created. The force formed by an aircraft moving through the air is called total aerodynamic force. This force can be resolved into components. The force generated by the gravitational attraction of the Earth on the airplane is the weight. To overcome the weight force, airplanes generate an opposing force called lift. Lift is generated by the motion of the airplane through the air. As the airplane moves through the air, there is another aerodynamic force present. The air resists the motion of the aircraft and the resistance force is called drag. Drag is directed along and opposed to the flight direction. To overcome drag, airplanes use a propulsion system to generate a force called thrust. Thrust is the force which moves an aircraft through the air. The motion of the airplane through the air depends on the relative strength and direction of these forces. If the forces are balanced, the aircraft cruises at constant velocity. If the forces are unbalanced, the aircraft accelerates in the direction of the largest force. 9

And We gave Solomon power over the wind-a month's journey in the morning and a month in the afternoon... (Qur'an, 34:12)

The words … power over the wind-a month's journey in the morning and a month in the afternoon..., may indicate the fact that Prophet Solomon (pbuh) moved very quickly from place to place.

In his own time, Prophet Solomon (pbuh) may have used a technology similar to modern aircraft technology and developed wind-powered vehicles. By this means, he could cover huge distances in a short time. (God knows the truth.)

Indications of the Use of Electricity

… And We made a fount of molten copper flow out for him… (Qur'an, 34:12)

One of the great blessings given to Prophet Solomon (pbuh) was molten copper. This verse can be interpreted in several ways:

Using the demons and jinns at his command, Prophet Solomon (pbuh) might have made decorations, huge dishes, vats, and statues for general use (Qur'an, 34:13).

Molten copper may indicate a high level of technological development in Prophet Solomon's (pbuh) time: the use of electricity. As we know, copper is one of the best conductors of electricity and heat, and plays a significant role in producing electricity.

The great amounts of electricity produced in Prophet Solomon's (pbuh) time could have been used in construction, communications, and many other areas. The words flow out may point to its widespread use. (God knows the truth.)

Many Qur'anic commentators have interpreted ayna al-qitri as referring to petroleum. Today, petroleum is the most basic raw material of technology. In his time, Prophet Solomon (pbuh) may have used it in technological operations. (God knows the truth.)

Jinns and Demons Obey Prophet Solomon (pbuh)

… And some of the jinns worked in front of him by his Lord's permission. And if a single one of them deviates at all from Our command, We let him taste the punishment of the Searing Blaze. (Qur'an, 34:12)

Another God-given blessing was the number of jinns and demons that served Prophet Solomon (pbuh). Prophet Solomon (pbuh) ordered these beings to fulfill various functions in his army, artistic creations, and construction projects:

So We subjected the wind to him to blow at his command, softly, wherever he directed. And the demons, every builder and diver. (Qur'an, 38:36-37)

God bestowed His grace upon Prophet Solomon (pbuh) by enabling him to control the demons, because Satan had great knowledge about Earth and what happened in the world, whether secret or public. Having such a creature in his power may have made it much easier for Prophet Solomon (pbuh) to arrange his foreign relations and administer his kingdom.

And some of the demons dived for him [Solomon] and did other things apart from that. And We were watching over them. (Qur'an, 21:82)

Prophet Solomon (pbuh) could have used these diving demons in many ways: to perform duties related to intelligence and the army, as well as to scientific undertakings (e.g., processing marine riches to benefit humanity).

This verse informs us of the importance of processing both underground and marine riches. But in order to extract and process these marine riches and make them useful for people, highly advanced technology is needed. Perhaps these demons had this technical knowledge and capability.

Thanks to the modern technological devices, vehicles, and submarines that God will put into the service of humanity in the End Times, extracting the oceans' wealth will be much easier. It is possible that the meaning of this verse points in this direction.

This verse may also be an assessment of the pearls, corals, and other special blessings to be found in the oceans. (God knows the truth).

At the end of the above verse, God reveals: "… We were watching over them…" In other words, these diving demons were under the control of God, the Lord of heavens and Earth. God gave Prophet Solomon (pbuh) a power from His own mercy that made the demons unable to rebel against him.

They made for him anything he wished: high arches and statues, huge dishes like cisterns, great built-in cooking vats… (Qur'an, 34:13)

This verse relates that demons created magnificent works of art according to Prophet Solomon's (pbuh) directions and very strong aesthetic sense.

Every Blessing Is a Grace from God

Prophet Solomon (pbuh) used all of his God-given power and possessions to represent and spread His religion in the best possible way, display the incomparable splendor of God's kingdom, and disseminate religious morality. When they saw his intelligence, knowledge, and artistic power, people more easily accepted his invitation to believe in God. Prophet Solomon (pbuh) received a fine reward for his service to God and a great kingdom. For thousands of years, Prophet Solomon's (pbuh) might and power have amazed people and been the subject of novels, paintings, and films.

This section has presented Prophet Solomon's (pbuh) God-given superior knowledge and blessings. However, one special point needs to be emphasized: The One Who gave all of these blessings and knowledge, and Who created all of them is God, the Lord of the Worlds. Everything that Prophet Solomon (pbuh) did was by God's will and approval. For example, God decrees: "We gave Solomon understanding of it" (Qur'an, 21:79), by which we can understand that no one can understand any event, notice any wisdom, or make any decision without God's consent. God, the All-Knowing, All-Wise, makes the decision; the person carrying it out is only a vehicle.

After announcing that the mountains and the birds bowed their heads with Prophet David (pbuh), Prophet Solomon's (pbuh) father, the verse says: "This is something We are well able to do." God taught Prophet David (pbuh) how to make armor, made the wind bow before Him, and made molten copper flow at Prophet Solomon's (pbuh) command. In Qur'an 21:81, God decrees: "And We have full knowledge of everything." Unless God wills, it is impossible for any person to have knowledge. People may have read and studied for years and come to be regarded as knowledgeable, but they must never forget that only God gives them their knowledge as part of their destiny. The words of the angels in Qur'an 2:32 clearly express this reality: "Glory be to You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. You are the All-Knowing, the All-Wise."

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1. Illinois Natural History Survey, "Bird Banter."Online at: www.inhs.uiuc.edu/chf/pub/virtualbird/teacher/lespl6.html
2. "Les avions sans pilote passent a l'attaque…," Science et vie (Feb. 1998), vol. 965, 119.
3. "How Ultrasonic, Transonic and Sonic Sounds Repel Insects, Rodents and Mammals." Online at: www.promolife.com/products/pest.htm#How
4. "Advance Intelligence." Online at: www.advanced-intelligence.com/faq.html#!VID008FAQ8
5. "Types of Wiretaps, Bugs and Methods." Online at: www.tscm.com/typebug.html
6. "Silicon Valley: A Special Place for High-Tech Innovation." Online at: www.stanford.edu/group/scip/avsgt/SV898.pdf
7. John S. Bay, "Design of the ‘Army Ant' Cooperative Lifting Robot." IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine (March 1995), vol. 2, no. 1 (Special Issue on Mobile Robots), 36-43.
8. Israel A. Wagner, "Ant Robotics: Search, Exploration and Covering in Multi-A(ge)nt Systems." Online at: www.cs.technion.ac.il/~wagner/pub/thesis_abs_eng.html
9. NASA Glenn Research Center, "Four Forces on an Airplane." Online at: www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12 /airplane/forces.html

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