Have you ever thought about what ants are saying when they see you walk close to them? Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon, peace be upon him) was able to listen and understand their language! Prophet Suliman was no ordinary king. He was a man of wisdom, justice, and unwavering faith in Allah. He is known for his extraordinary gifts, including the ability to understand animals and lead humans and jinn.
But his greatness wasn’t just about his miraculous powers. It was about how he used them, with humility, kindness, and responsibility.
"And We certainly gave to Dawood and Sulaiman knowledge, and they said, 'Praise is due to Allah, who has favored us over many of His believing servants.’” (Surah An-Naml 27:15).
The story of the talking ant, the hoopoe, and Queen Sheba; they're all stories most of us are familiar with, yet they are all part of the Prophet Suliman's story!
Let’s explore these incredible events, which give us the magnificent story of Prophet Sulaiman, and discover the timeless lessons it holds for all of us.
Prophet Suliman: The Wise and Just King
Imagine being a ruler not only over people but also over animals, birds, and even jinn. That was Prophet Sulaiman’s reality, a unique favor from Allah.
Solomon’s forces of jinn, humans, and birds were rallied for him, perfectly organized. (Surah An-Naml 27:16).
"And to Sulaiman, (we subjected) the wind—its morning journey was that of a month—and its afternoon journey was that of a month. And we made a flow for him, a spring of [liquid] copper. And among the jinn were those who worked for him by the permission of his Lord.” (Surah Saba 34:12).
When we think about what truly makes a great leader, some might say power, others will say wealth, while some will go for a strong character. What we may overlook, and perhaps the most important of it all, are wisdom and Justice! One of Prophet Sulaiman’s most remarkable qualities was his fairness. He used his wisdom to settle disputes fairly, no matter how small.
One of the most famous examples of his judgment is the case of two women disputing over a child, each one claiming that it's her baby! The dispute was after one woman’s child had tragically passed away, and she claimed the surviving child as her own. With deep insight, Sulaiman proposed a test that revealed the true mother’s love and resolved the matter with fairness.
He said, “Bring me a sword, and I will divide the child in two so that each of you can have an equal share.” (Sahih Bukhari 3427).
One of the women immediately cried out, “No! Please, let her have the child—do not kill him!” At that moment, Sulaiman realized who the true mother was. Her selfless love and willingness to sacrifice her claim for the child’s safety proved her identity. Prophet Sulaiman then handed the child to her, resolving the matter with wisdom and fairness.
This wisdom, in addition to his devotion to Allah, made everyone under his rule love and respect him.
Prophet Sulaiman didn’t see his position as king as a way of personal gain. He knew that Allah had blessed him with it, but also gave it to him as a responsibility to serve his people and establish justice.
"My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and to do righteousness of which You approve. And admit me by Your mercy into [the ranks of] Your righteous servants.” (Surah An-Naml 27:19).
The Prophet Who Could Talk to Animals
Allah SWT has blessed Prophet Suliman with one of the most remarkable gifts; he was able to understand and communicate with animals.
And David was succeeded by Solomon, who said, “O people! We have been taught the language of birds and been given everything ˹we need˺.. This is indeed a great privilege.” (Surah An-Naml 27:16).
Prophet Sulaiman’s connection with animals wasn’t just a gift—it was a unique tool that served him in many situations. Let's find out how.
The Story of the Talking Ant
Among the many stories in Prophet Suliman's life, the story of the talking is perhaps the perfect example of his ability to understand animals and how he uses such a gift for the greater good. While leading his vast army of humans, jinn, and birds, Sulaiman, through a valley, overheard an ant warning its fellow ants.
"O ants, enter your dwellings so that Sulaiman and his soldiers do not crush you while they are unaware." (Surah An-Naml 27:18).
Prophet Sulaiman smiled at the ant’s words; he was full of gratitude for the unique gift Allah had given him. He responded by praising Allah for allowing him to understand the ant’s concerns.
"So he smiled, amused at her speech, and said, 'My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to do righteousness that You approve.'" (Surah An-Naml 27:19).
He didn't use his power, and he didn't ignore the tiny creature beneath him. Instead, he smiled with humility and gratitude.
This part of Suliman’s story intrigues kids to learn more about this miraculous ability.
You can use fun games and quizzes to get them to learn about more Islamic figures. The gift of being able to understand and talk to animals also played a role in the story of the Prophet Suliman and the Queen of Sheba. Keep reading to find out!
The Story of the Queen of Sheba
One of the most important events in the life of Prophet Sulaiman is his story with the Queen of Sheba, known as Bilqis. This story is a great example to showcase Prophet Sulaiman’s wisdom and dedication to spreading the message of Allah.
The Hoopoe Bird and the Discovery of Queen Sheba
The story is mentioned in the Quran, and it starts when Prophet Sulaiman is checking his army one day and notices that the hoopoe bird (the hudhud) is missing. He was angry that he left without permission.
˹One day˺ he inspected the birds and wondered, “Why is it that I cannot see the hoopoe? Or could he be absent? I will surely subject him to a severe punishment, or ˹even˺ slaughter him, unless he brings me a compelling excuse.” (AN-Naml, 20-21)
When the bird returned, it told him of an extraordinary kingdom. This kingdom had a queen called Bilquis " The Queen of Sheba", who had great wealth and a magnificent throne. However, she and her people were worshiping the sun instead of Allah.
It was not long before the bird came and said, “I have found out something you do not know. I have just come to you from Sheba with sure news. Indeed, I found a woman ruling over them who has been given everything ˹she needs˺, and who has a magnificent throne. I found her and her people prostrating to the sun instead of Allah. For Satan has made their deeds appealing to them—hindering them from the ˹Right˺ Way and leaving them unguided— (An-Naml, 22–24)
Upon hearing this, King Sulaiman wrote a letter and sent it with the hoopoe, inviting the Queen to abandon idolatry and worship Allah alone.
Solomon said, “We will see whether you are telling the truth or lying. Go with this letter of mine and deliver it to them, then stand aside and see how they will respond.” (An-Naml, 27–28)
Upon receiving this letter, the Queen of Sheba thought that King Solomon wanted to take her kingdom. After consulting with her advisors, she decided to send him gifts, and she said that if he accepted those gifts, he would be a king who was seeking her kingdom, and she would fight him. However, if he didn't accept those gifts, then he was a prophet, and she would follow him.
Of course, he was not interested in her gifts, and he returned them with a message saying that if they didn't submit to Allah, he would send armies to destroy them.
When the chief envoy came to him, Solomon said, “Do you offer me wealth? What Allah has granted me is far greater than what He has granted you. No! It is you who rejoice in ˹receiving˺ gifts. Go back to them, for we will certainly mobilize against them forces which they can never resist, and we will drive them out from there in disgrace, fully humbled.” (An-Naml, 36-37)
The Queen of Sheba's visit
Thus, the queen decided to visit King Suliman and learn about his religion. When he knew of this, Prophet Suliman instructed his court to bring her throne to him before she arrived.
One of the jinn offered to bring this throne before he could have time to stand up. Another offered to bring it within the blink of an eye. And indeed, the throne was waiting for her when she arrived.
Solomon asked, “O chiefs! Which of you can bring me her throne before they come to me in ˹full˺ submission?” One mighty Jinn responded, “I can bring it to you before you rise from this council of yours. And I am quite strong and trustworthy for this ˹task˺.” But the one who knew the Scripture said, “I can bring it to you in the blink of an eye.” So when Solomon saw it placed before him, he exclaimed, “This is by the grace of my Lord to test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful. And whoever is grateful, it is only for their own good. But whoever is ungrateful, surely my Lord is Self-Sufficient, Most Generous.” ˹Then˺ Solomon said, “Disguise her throne for her so we may see whether she will recognize ˹it˺ or she will not be able to.” (An-Naml,38-41)
When she saw her throne, she was astonished. Moreover, when she entered the palace, the floor was made of crystal that she thought was real water. She lifted her dress so it would not get wet.
These moments made Queen Sheba realize that Suliman's power was from a greater power—they were from Allah. Thus, she embraced Islam and submitted to Allah. The Quran describes this moment:
So when she arrived, it was said ˹to her˺, “Is your throne like this?” She replied, “It looks to be the same. We have ˹already˺ received knowledge ˹of Solomon’s prophethood before this ˹miracle˺, and have submitted ˹to Allah˺.” But she had been hindered by what she used to worship instead of Allah, for she was indeed from a disbelieving people. Then she was told, “Enter the palace.” But when she saw the hall, she thought it was a body of water, so she bared her legs. Solomon said. “It is just a palace paved with crystal.” ˹At last˺ she declared, “My Lord! I have certainly wronged my soul. Now I ˹fully˺ submit myself along with Solomon to Allah, the Lord of all worlds.” (An-Naml (42:44)
This shows us that leadership is not about dominating others but guiding them with wisdom and humility. It also emphasizes the importance of calling others to Allah with respect and understanding.
What Can We Learn from the Story of Prophet Sulaiman?
Prophet Sulaiman’s life and the stories associated with it are full of lessons that inspire us. You can teach them as you go, or you can find more entertaining and interactive activities that will keep the story alive in their minds
Prophet Sulaiman and the Power of Humility
Think about this: a king with men, Jin, birds, and all animals are under his command! One might think that he would be an arrogant king who only cares about wealth. But that was never the case with Prophet Suliman.
Despite his immense power and wealth, Prophet Sulaiman (peace be upon him) remained an example of humility and gratitude. He recognized that every blessing he had, from his kingdom to his unique abilities, was a gift from Allah.
Leadership isn't about power
Prophet Suliman's story teaches us that true greatness lies in serving others and recognizing that all success is from Allah. He was a humble king who ruled his people with justice and compassion.
He could have thought the two women disputing over a child was a trivial matter, he could have looked at the ant in sarcasm and crushed it, and he could have marched his great army of men, jin, and birds and forced the Queen of Sheba to submit.
Instead, He listened to his people's concerns, resolved their disputes, and ensured that everyone was treated with justice, just like his father, Prophet Dawood. His interactions with both humans and animals highlight his empathy and awareness of the responsibilities of leadership.
Moreover, his story and inviting Bilqis to Islam show the importance of wisdom, patience, and respect in dawah (calling others to Allah).
Respect for Allah’s Creation
All animals that Allah has created have their own lives and roles in this world. Even the smallest creatures, like ants. As humans, we must be aware of this and treat them with care. From animals to ants, Sulaiman’s respect for all creatures reminds us to treat every living being with care and kindness.
In conclusion:
When we think of the Prophet's Suliman story, we think of how he was able to talk to animals, rule the jin, and how he had wind under his command. We think of how he didn't crush the ants; instead, he thanked Allah for the gift that got him to understand their language. We see his humility and gratitude in every line.
We see how he managed to invite the strong, wise Queen of Sheba to Islam, not using force but using wisdom and clarity in communication. His life is the perfect example of wisdom and humility in leadership.
We encourage you to explore more stories of the prophets on Islamic Galaxy, where you can find inspiration and teachings that will help you and your kids deepen your understanding of Islam and grow closer to Allah.
