Saba (Sheba)

14. “Then when We decreed death for him (Solomon) naught showed them his death except a creature of the earth devouring his staff; and when he fell down, the jinn came to know that, had they known the Unseen, they would not have tarried in abasing torment.”

The time of death is in Allah’s Power:

(“We decreed”).

Death meets even those who have prophethood and kingdom with together.

The words in this verse are about Solomon. It speaks about the wonderful and marvellous death of this great prophet of Allah. It makes this fact clear that how that mighty prophet and that powerful ruler with that glory that he had easily gave his soul to the Creator of the Soul. Even before that his body could get rest in the bed; the grips of death seized him.

Allah says:

“Then when We decreed death for him (Solomon) naught showed them his death except a creature of the earth devouring his staff…”

It is understood from both the above verse and numerous narrations that when Solomon’s death came he was standing, leaning on his staff. It was just then when suddenly death seized him and his soul went out from his body.

For a length of time he was in the same state of standing until when termite, which the Qur’an has rendered into ‘a creature of the earth’, ate his staff and, losing his equilibrium, he fell down on the ground. It was then that the jinn understood that if they had been aware of the Unseen they would not have remained in abasing chastisement.

The verse continues saying:

“…and when he fell down, the jinn came to know that, had they known the Unseen, they would not have tarried in abasing torment.”

The Arabic term /tabayyanat/ here is derived from /tabyin/ which usually means: ‘to be manifest’ (an intransitive verb), and sometimes it also means ‘To become aware of something’ (a transitive verb), and here the second meaning is appropriate.

It means: until that time the group of jinn were not aware of the death of Solomon and they understood that if they had known the secrets of Unseen, they would not have remained in trouble and the pain of heavy labours during that time.

Some commentators have taken the sentence with the first meaning and have said that the concept of the verse is such that after that Solomon fell the status of the jinn became manifest for human being and they understood that the jinn were not aware of the secrets of the Unseen, and it was not right that some men had such a belief about them.

The application of ‘abasing torment’ may be an indication to the hard heavy labours that sometimes Solomon, as a forfeit and punishment put on the shoulder of a group of jinn, else the prophet of Allah would never put anyone under pressure and punishment specially under an ‘abasing torment’.

By the way, Amir-ul-Mu’mineen Ali (as) says:

“…If there were anyone who could secure a ladder to everlasting life or a way to avoid death, it was Solomon, the son of David (as) who was given control over the domain of the jinn and men along with prophethood and great position (before Allah)…”21

Animals Work For Allah

1- A piece of the body of a cow makes a slain person alive and he introduces his killer:

“Verily Allah commands you that you should sacrifice a cow…”22

2- A spider protects the Prophet (S) in the cave:

“If you do not help him, yet Allah has helped him already…”23

3- A raven becomes the teacher of man:

“Then Allah sent a raven digging up the ground…”24

4- A hoopoe is ordered to take the Solomon’s letter to Bilqiys:

“Go you with this letter…”25

5- Birds in flocks are told to destroy the possessors of elephants:

“And send down (to prey) upon them birds in flocks.”26

6- A serpent can be a means to show the legitimacy of Moses:

“…it was a clear serpent.”27

7- A big fish is commanded to punish Yunus:

“Then the big fish did swallow him…”28

8- Termite is the means of divulgement of Solomon’s death.

“…devouring his staff…”29

9- The dog of the Companions of the Cave is ordered to guard.

“…and their dog stretching out his paws on the threshold…”30

10. Four birds cause the certainty of Abraham.

“…Take four of the birds…”31

11. A donkey causes the certainty of Ezra to Resurrection.

“…and look at your ass…32

12- In Hajj, camel, cow and sheep become the symbols of Allah

“And (as for) the fat camels, We have made them for you of the symbols of Allah…”33

13. Animals are a means of theology.

“Do they not look at the camels…”34

14- Animals become the means of man’s examination.

“…Allah will surely try you with something of the games which your hands and your spears can reach…”35

15- An animal can be the miracle of Allah.

“…This she-camel of Allah is a sign…”36

16- Animals can be the means of the Wrath of Allah.

“…The locusts and the vermin and the frogs…”37

There are several suras in the Qur’an entitled by the names of animals, such as: Al-Baqarah, Al-’An‘am, An-Nahl, An-Naml, ’Ankabut, and Fil.