THE AGE OF PROPHET SULAYMAN (A.S.)

Allah has given everyone the means to make use of the blessings produced by science and technology and has commanded them to be grateful:

So eat from what Allah has provided for you, lawful and good, and be thankful for the blessing of Allah if it is Him you worship. (Surat an-Nahl: 114)

And He has made everything in the heavens and everything on the Earth subservient to you. It is all from Him. There are certainly Signs in that for people who reflect. (Surat at-Jathiyya: 13)

The best example of someone who used Allah’s blessings to gain His approval is Prophet Sulayman (as). The fundamental reason why science and technology reached the very highest levels in the time of Prophet Sulayman (as) is that his aim was to exalt the glory of Allah.

Sulayman (as) is one of the prophets to whom Allah gave power and dominion in the life of this world:

. . . And before him We had guided Nuh. And among his descendants were Dawud and Sulayman, and Ayyub, Yusuf, Musa and Harun. That is how We recompense the good-doers. (Surat an-An‘am: 84)

According to scientists who have examined the historical sources, at the time of Prophet Sulayman (as), around 1000 BCE, science and technology were at a very advanced level. The Holy Qur’an makes clear the knowledge given to Prophet Sulayman (as), and the superior nature and abundance of this blessing:

We gave knowledge to Dawud and Sulayman who said, “Praise be to Allah Who has favored us over many of His servants who are believers.” Sulayman was Dawud’s heir . . . . (Surat an-Naml: 15-16)

We gave Sulayman understanding of it. We gave each of them judgment and knowledge. . . . (Surat al-Anbiya: 79)

He [Sulayman] 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.” (Surah Sad: 35)

Prophet Sulayman (as) made use of science and technology in many ways. Among these is the way that he spoke to an ant and to birds: 

Then, when they reached the Valley of the Ants, an ant said, “Ants! Enter your dwellings so that Sulayman and his troops do not crush you unwittingly.” He smiled, laughing at its words, and said, “My Lord, keep me thankful for the blessing You have bestowed on me and on my parents, and keep me acting rightly, pleasing You, and admit me, by Your mercy, among Your servants who are righteous.” (Surat an-Naml: 18-19)

Sulayman was Dawud’s heir. He said, “O humanity! We have been taught the speech of birds and we have been given everything. This is indeed clear favor.” (Surat an-Naml: 16)

Contemporary scientists are trying to understand the language of dolphins by studying the squeaks and whistles they emit. They have not yet succeeded in doing so. However, thanks to Allah’s blessings, Prophet Sulayman (as) and Prophet Dawud (as) were able to communicate with birds and other animals.

Even the way the wind was placed under the command of Prophet Sulayman. Thanks to this, he was able to travel great distances very quickly. In our time, we are able to travel very long distances in a short space of time by using supersonic jet planes. However, the jet engine was invented some 3,000 years after the reign of Prophet Sulayman, in the mid-1900s. 

And We gave Sulayman power over the wind—a month’s journey in the morning and a month in the afternoon . . . .(Surah Saba’: 12)

As we know, copper is the most commonly used metal in all electronic equipment, and especially in computer systems. Copper, the building block of modern science and technology, was also used in considerable quantities in the time of Prophet Sulayman (as). The verse of the Qur’an referring to his use of copper reads:

. . . And We made a fount of molten copper flow out for him . . . . (Surah Saba’: 12)

Prophet Sulayman (as) regarded this knowledge and these blessings given to him by Allah as a means of acknowledging calling Him even further and drawing closer to Him as a sincere servant. In addition, he used all the power and wealth that Allah bestowed upon him to represent and communicate Allah’s religion in the best possible manner, as a means by which everyone could become aware of His matchless and glorious dominion and thus, as a way of spreading religious moral values. In the face of this intelligence, knowledge and creative power of Prophet Sulayman (as), people willingly heeded the call to believe in Allah.

For his devotion to Allah, Prophet Sulayman (as) received the finest possible reward and acquired enormous power. Prophet Sulayman (as) appreciated Allah as was proper, for which reason Allah further increased the blessings bestowed on him and his people:

. . . he said, “Truly do I love the love of good, with a view to the glory of my Lord until the sun disappeared behind its veil”. . . (Surah Sad: 31-32)

We tested Sulayman and placed a lifeless body on his throne. Then he repented. He 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.” (Surah Sad: 34-35)

“ . . . This is part of my Lord’s favor to test me to see if I will give thanks or show ingratitude. Whoever gives thanks only does so to his own gain. Whoever is ungrateful, my Lord is Rich Beyond Need, Generous.”(Surat an-Naml: 40)