Saba (Sheba)

12. “And for Solomon (We made subservient) the wind which travelled in the morning a month’s journey and a month’s journey in the evening. And We made a fountain of molten copper to flow out for him, and of the jinn, some worked before him by the permission of his Lord; and whoever of them turned away from Our command, We made him taste of the chastisement of the blazing Fire.”

The Divine prophets have mastership (wilayah) over the world of existence and the world of genesis.

Allah made iron subservient to David and the atmosphere to Hadrat Solomon.

Next to the discussion of the merits that Allah had given to David, in this verse the words relate to his offspring, Solomon. Concerning David, the Qur’an referred to two merits, while concerning his son, Solomon, it mentions of three great merits.

It says:

“And for Solomon (We made subservient) the wind which travelled in the morning a month’s journey and a month’s journey in the evening…”

It is interesting that for the father He made subservient a rough and extraordinary firm and stable substance, but for the child, his son, He made subservient a very tender being, while both of them are effective, useful and miraculous. He softens the stable substance for David, and for Solomon He causes the tender waves of the wind to become active and severe.

The smooth of the wind is never a barrier that it performs some important actions. It is the wind that moves some huge gigantic ships over the surface of the oceans; turns millstones, and balloons to float in the sky like aeroplane.

Yes, Allah made subservient this tender substance, with this amazing power for Solomon.

That how the wind moved Solomon’s things, (such as his throne or his carpet), is not clear to us. We only know there is nothing difficult and complicated for the Power of Allah.

When man, with his very little power, can send balloons, and today the great gigantic aeroplanes with hundreds passengers and many heavy means can be sent to the depth of the sky, how is it difficult for Allah to move Solomon’s things by the wind?

Which factor was it that protected Solomon (as) and his means from falling down or from the air pressure and other difficulties resulted from the movements in the heavens?

This is also among the problems the details of which are not clear for us, but we know that there have been many of these kinds of supernatural events in the history of the Divine prophets, though, unfortunately, some ignorant persons, or the aware enemies, have mixed them with some superstitions in order to change the main feature of these issues into a bad form.

So in this regard we suffice to the same amount that the Qur’an has mentioned.9

The Arabic word /quduww/ often means the time toward morning, opposite to the word /rawah/ which means the time toward evening, when animals return to their abode in order to rest.

But it is understood from relationships in the context that in this verse the Qur’anic word /qudaww/ is the first half of the day while /rawah/ means the second half of the day.

Then the concept of the verse is that from morning until noon a man could pave a way equal to one month travelling that the travellers of that time might pave; and in the second half of the day he could travel the same distance, too.

Then the Qur’an refers to the second Divine bounty given to Solomon.

It says:

“…And We made a fountain of molten copper to flow out for him…”

The term /’asalna/ is derived from /sayalan/ in the sense of ‘to flow’, and the word /qitr/ means ‘copper’. The objective meaning of it is that Allah made this metal molten for him and, like a spring, caused it to flow.

Some commentators have meant the word /qitr/ in the sense of brass, and, thus, for the father, David, iron was softened and for the son, Solomon, metals became molten, (but the first meaning is popular).

How was a spring of molten copper, or other metals, under the control of Solomon? Did Allah teach this prophet the way of melting these metals in a vast measure by the way of miracle and inspiration? This was also one of graces of Allah unto this great prophet.

And finally, the verse refers to the third bounty of Allah unto Solomon, i.e., making subservient a group of jinn, where it says:

“…and of the jinn, some worked before him by the permission of his Lord…” “…and whoever of them turned away from Our command, We made him taste of the chastisement of the blazing Fire.”

As it is also manifest from its name, jinn is a being which is not realized by the sense. It has intellect and power, and, as it is understood from the verses of the Qur’an, it is responsible to fulfil some divine duties.

There are many superstitious stories cited about jinn, but if we omit these superstitions, the principle of its existence and the proper qualities that have been said about jinn in the Qur’an, it is a matter which never contrasts the knowledge and intellect. More details about this subject will be delivered in the commentary on Surah Jinn, No. 72, Allah willing.

It is noteworthy that for running a vast government in a very vast country like the country of Solomon, many factors and agents are needed, but the most important of them all are three factors which have been mentioned in the above verse:

The first is a means of rapid movement by which the chief of the country can constantly go here and there and become aware of all parts of his country.

The second is the first original main material staffs which can be used for supplying necessary means of people’s life and different manufactures.

And, finally, some active human members are needed who can take enough benefit from those material stuffs and give them the necessary quantity to them so that the various needs of the country from this view can be removed.

We see that Allah granted these three merits to Solomon, and he, too, took benefit from them in a good way for people’s welfare, and furnishing the country and its security.

This subject does not allocate to the time of Solomon and his government, and being careful of it is necessary not only today but always and everywhere for correct running of a country.