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_001.jpg) The story of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba is the
final part in a series of articles about the Ancient Kingdom of Israel. Many
people may have been intrigued by the fact that the characters and stories are
similar to those contained in Biblical texts and history. However, the Islamic
perspective differs in some fundamental ways.
Solomon was both a prophet and a king. His mission as a
Prophet of God was to spread the message that God is One, without partner or
similitude. He also upheld the laws of God,. As king, he led the Children of
Israel into a golden age of wealth and prosperity.
Solomon’s kingdom and army were beyond compare. His army
consisted of battalions of men, troops of jinn (creations from fire) and even
squadrons of birds. Solomon was able to communicate with birds, control the
jinn, and command the respect and loyalty of men. He marched with the immense
army, believed to number in the hundreds of thousands, across his empire.
The Mosque in Jerusalem
Muslims believe that Masjid al Aqsa (the Holy Mosque in
Jerusalem) was rebuilt or expanded by King Solomon. According to Islamic
history, Prophet Jacob, built Masjid al Aqsa approximately 40 years after his
grandfather Prophet Abraham built the House of God in Mecca. Islam totally
rejects the notion that King Solomon built a temple on the Masjid al Aqsa site,
and herein lays one of the basic differences between Jewish and Islamic
belief. It is what causes some of the dilemmas that exist in the Holy Land
today. Although a Prophet in all three monotheistic religions, small differences
about the nature and history of Solomon have, over time, created great divides.
Towards Sheba
After consolidating his kingdom, with Jerusalem as the capital,
Solomon and his army marched towards the area known as Sheba. Rain in this
area (the Empty Quarter of the Saudi Arabian desert and Yemen) was seasonal;
therefore, the people had constructed dams and irrigation networks. The barren
land was transformed into vast gardens and fertile plains. After learning of
this lush greenery, Solomon wanted to see the transformation himself.
The battalions marched forward and came to a valley
populated by ants. One of the tiny ants saw the huge army approaching and
cried out. “O ants! Enter your dwellings, lest Solomon and his army crush
you, while they perceive not.” (Quran 27:18). Solomon understood
the language of the ants and he smiled, pleased that the ant knew that he would
not allow the nation of ants to be crushed intentionally. Solomon was grateful
to God and thanked him for saving the ant’s lives. He was not a tyrannical King
who ruled with an iron fist over his dominion; Solomon treated all of God’s
creatures with respect.
After his encounter with the ant, Solomon was inspecting
his army and noticed that one particular bird was missing from the ranks. He
inquired as to the hoopoe’s whereabouts and was determined to punish the bird
for its absence. The hoopoe was a bird able to detect underground waterways
and King Solomon was particularly interested in how and why the Sheba plains
were lush and fertile. With in a short time the hoopoe returned and addressed King
Solomon saying,
“I have grasped (the knowledge of a thing) which you have not
grasped and I have come to you from Sheba with true news. I found a woman
ruling over them, she has been given all things that could be possessed by any
ruler of the earth, and she has a great throne. I found her and her people
worshipping the sun instead of God, and Satan has made their deeds fair seeming
to them, and has barred them from God’s Way, so they have no guidance.” (Quran
27: 22-24)
The Hoopoe worshipped and obeyed God with true
submission. The bird explained to King Solomon that although Queen Bilqis’
throne was truly magnificent and a wonder of the age the Owner of the Supreme Throne
was God, the Almighty. Solomon addressed the hoopoe saying,
“We shall see whether you speak the truth or you are one of
the liars. Go with this letter of mine, and deliver it to them, then draw back
from them, and see what answer they return.”
The hoopoe dropped the letter into the Queen’s lap and
withdrew, hiding, listening to the exchange between the Queen and her advisors.
“She said, “O chiefs! Verily! Here is a delivered to me a
noble letter. Verily! It is from Solomon and verily! It (reads), ‘I begin with
the Name of God, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful; be you not arrogant
towards me, but come to me as Muslims (true believers who submit to God with
full submission).”
She said, “O chiefs! Advise me in this case of mine. I
decide no case till you are present with me.”
They said, “We have great strength, and great ability for war,
but it is for you to command; so think over what you will command.”“ (Quran 27:27-33)
Queen Bilqis displayed wisdom, for although she had the
ability to engage in a war, she chose instead to send gifts to King Solomon. Solomon
returned the gifts explaining that God had already given him everything that he
needed. He dealt with Bilqis respectfully but pointed that if she did not
cease worshipping the sun he would have no choice but to uproot her kingdom and
drive her people from their land. Again, Bilqis displayed wisdom and good
judgement.
Solomon and the Queen of Sheba
Rather then taking offense at Solomon’s words and
actions, Bilqis decided to visit him and see first hand the wonders her envoys had
described to her. Whilst she was travelling, King Solomon ordered one of his
jinn to bring him Bilqis’ magnificent throne. It was delivered to him within
the flicker of an eye; such was the speed and ability of the jinn. When Bilqis
arrived, King Solomon asked her if she recognised the throne before her. With
her customary wisdom and diplomacy, she said, “it appeared to be just like my
very own”.
After experiencing the wonders of Solomon’s empire
Bilqis realised that she was in the presence of a wise and formidable leader,
but to her benefit she also realised his status a Prophet of God. Bilqis immediately
renounced sun worship and vowed to accept the teaching of God and encourage her
people to do the same. The scholars of Islam point out that Bilqis’ innate
wisdom led her to the truth.
Solomon’s life was full of wonder and his death was no
different. He died sitting on his throne, looking out over his kingdom. The
jinn continued to work unabated thinking that their master was watching over
them. A tiny ant nibbled at Solomon’s staff until it fell from his hand and
his body toppled over, revealing that he had passed away.
“Then when we decreed death for him (Solomon), nothing
informed them (jinn) of his death except a little worm of the earth, which kept
slowly gnawing away at his stick, so when he fell down.” (Quran 34:12-14).
Jewish and Christian history decries King Solomon as a
man known for his excesses. For Muslims, he is a wise and noble man. Islam
rejects completely that Prophet Solomon disobeyed the laws of God or that he worshipped
idols. He was the son of a prophet who spent his entire life striving to
please God. He consolidated his father David’s empire, and led the children of
Israel into a golden age. He possessed many talents and his life is one of
wonder and miracles but wisely, he understood that the true and lasting reward
was in the hereafter.
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