Sulayman (Solomon)

Sulayman (Solomon) is the son of Dawud, prophet and king. God granted him an unparalleled kingdom: he understood the language of animals, commanded the winds and the jinn. His immense power never distanced him from gratitude towards God.

God gave Sulayman unique knowledge and power. He commanded an army of men, jinn, and birds, and the wind was at his service, covering long distances in little time. The jinn built for him and dived into the seas.

One day, passing through a valley, he heard an ant warning her kind to enter their homes so as not to be crushed. Sulayman smiled at her words and thanked God for having taught him to understand beings.

Through his hoopoe, his scout, he learned of the existence of the Queen of Sheba and her people, who worshipped the sun instead of God. He sent her a letter calling her to submit to God; the queen came to him and eventually embraced the faith.

Despite his glory, Sulayman remained a grateful servant. His very death was a sign: leaning on his staff, none knew he had died until the staff, gnawed away, gave way — showing the jinn that they did not know the unseen.

Sulayman teaches that true greatness lies not in power but in gratitude: receiving an entire kingdom without ceasing to thank God and remain submitted to Him. And his death reminds us that none, not even the jinn, knows the unseen — God alone.

رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ

Ces mots firent sourire Salomon qui dit : « Fais, Seigneur, que je Te rende grâce des bienfaits dont Tu m’as comblé, ainsi que mes père et mère, et que j’accomplisse les œuvres qui Te sont agréables. Et veuille m’admettre, par un effet de Ta miséricorde, parmi Tes vertueux serviteurs ! »

27:19