Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "A child was born to Sayyiduna Sulayman (peace be upon him). He said to the devils (i.e. the jinn): 'Where shall we hide him to save him from death?' They said: 'We will take him to the east.' Sayyiduna Sulayman (peace be upon him) said: 'Death will reach him.' They said: 'Then we will take him to the west.' Sayyiduna Sulayman (peace be upon him) said: 'Death will reach him.' They said: 'Then we will take him to the sea.' Sayyiduna Sulayman (peace be upon him) said: 'Death will reach him.' They said: 'We will place him between the heaven and the earth.' The Angel of Death came to Sayyiduna Sulayman (peace be upon him) and said: 'O son of Sayyiduna Dawud (peace be upon him)! I was commanded to take a soul. I searched for it in the east and did not find it; I searched for it in the west and did not find it; I searched for it in the seas and searched for it in the depths of the earth, but I did not find it. Then, as I was going back up, I found it (the soul), and I took it.' Then they brought his body and cast that body upon the throne of Sayyiduna Sulayman (peace be upon him). This is what is meant by the saying of Allah Almighty: 'And We certainly tried Sulayman and placed upon his throne a body; then he turned back.'"
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat; its chain contains Yahya bin Kathir, the companion of al-Basri, who is matruk (abandoned), and his son Kathir is also da'if (weak).
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب التفسير / 11307
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:ضعیف جداً
Hadith Takhrij«اخرجه ابو يعلى فى المسند (2665) ، أخرجه المعجم الأوسط للطبراني برقم: 5957»