سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْۣبِيَآءِ
Surah Al-Anbiyaa (21) — Ayah 81
وَلِسُلَيْمَـٰنَ ٱلرِّيحَ عَاصِفَةً تَجْرِى بِأَمْرِهِۦٓ إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ ٱلَّتِى بَـٰرَكْنَا فِيهَا ۚ وَكُنَّا بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَـٰلِمِينَ ﴿81﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And to Sulaimân (Solomon) (We subjected) the wind strongly raging, running by his command towards the land which We had blessed. And of everything We are the All-Knower.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلِسُلَيْمَـٰنَ
walisulaymāna
And to Sulaiman
ٱلرِّيحَ
l-rīḥa
the wind
عَاصِفَةًۭ
ʿāṣifatan
forcefully
تَجْرِى
tajrī
blowing
بِأَمْرِهِۦٓ
bi-amrihi
by his command
إِلَى
ilā
to
ٱلْأَرْضِ
l-arḍi
the land
ٱلَّتِى
allatī
which
بَـٰرَكْنَا
bāraknā
We blessed
فِيهَا ۚ
fīhā
[in it]
وَكُنَّا
wakunnā
And We are
بِكُلِّ
bikulli
of every
شَىْءٍ
shayin
thing
عَـٰلِمِينَ
ʿālimīna
Knowers
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 81) ➊ { وَ لِسُلَيْمٰنَ الرِّيْحَ عَاصِفَةً :} Allah Almighty commanded the water, so it drowned the entire nation of Noah (peace be upon him) except for him and his companions. He commanded the fire, so it became coolness and peace for Abraham (peace be upon him). The mountains and birds were subjugated to David (peace be upon him) for glorification, as He said: «{ وَ سَخَّرْنَا مَعَ دَاوٗدَ الْجِبَالَ يُسَبِّحْنَ وَ الطَّيْرَ }» [ الأنبیاء : ۷۹ ] However, neither the water nor the fire was made subservient to Noah or Abraham (peace be upon them), nor were the mountains or birds bound to obey David (peace be upon him). But the special distinction of Solomon (peace be upon him) is that the wind was made subservient to his command, as He said: «{ تَجْرِيْ بِاَمْرِهٖۤ }» that it moved by his command.
➋ The meaning of {’’ عَاصِفَةً ‘‘} is {’’شَدِيْدَةُ الْهُبُوْبِ‘‘} a very strong, swift-blowing wind. In Surah Sad, He said: «{ فَسَخَّرْنَا لَهُ الرِّيْحَ تَجْرِيْ بِاَمْرِهٖ رُخَآءً حَيْثُ اَصَابَ }» [ صٓ : ۳۶ ] “So We subjected to him the wind, which flowed gently by his command wherever he intended.” And in Surah Saba, He said: «{ وَ لِسُلَيْمٰنَ الرِّيْحَ غُدُوُّهَا شَهْرٌ وَّ رَوَاحُهَا شَهْرٌ }» [ سبا : ۱۲ ] “And (We subjected) the wind to Solomon; its morning course was a month’s journey, and its evening course was a month’s journey.” Here arises the question: in one place it is described as violent and swift, in another as very gentle? The answer is that this wind possessed both qualities: so swift that in the morning hours it would cover a month’s journey in a few hours, and likewise in the evening; and so gentle and smooth that neither Solomon (peace be upon him) nor his companions would feel any discomfort or jolt.
➌ { تَجْرِيْ بِاَمْرِهٖۤ اِلَى الْاَرْضِ الَّتِيْ بٰرَكْنَا فِيْهَا:} In the Qur’an, the blessed land refers to Sham (Greater Syria). See Surah Bani Isra’il. In this verse, the mention is of Solomon’s (peace be upon him) return to his capital, Sham, from any of his journeys, because sometimes a person travels very far and the return becomes difficult for him. Thus, Allah Almighty said that the wind moved by Solomon’s (peace be upon him) command towards the blessed land. As for Solomon (peace be upon him) traveling to other places, its mention is in Surah Sad (36) that the wind would move by his command wherever he intended, as mentioned in the previous benefit.
➍ What is meant by the wind being subjugated for Solomon (peace be upon him)? Some commentators have taken it to mean that the wind would blow favorably for his naval fleets, because in those times the movement of ships depended on favorable winds. These people refer to the Bible. Some of the Tabi‘in said that Solomon (peace be upon him) and his armies would sit on a very large wooden platform, and at his command, the wind would lift them and carry them to their destination. Some have mentioned a carpet of one square mile in this context. Obviously, none of these people were present at the time, nor have they stated any source for their information. As for the Bible, its status has already been detailed in the introduction. Allah Almighty mentioned in Surah Sad that Solomon (peace be upon him) prayed: «{ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ وَهَبْ لِيْ مُلْكًا لَّا يَنْۢبَغِيْ لِاَحَدٍ مِّنْۢ بَعْدِيْ }» [ صٓ : ۳۵ ] “My Lord, forgive me and grant me a kingdom such as will not belong to anyone after me.” In acceptance of this prayer, Allah Almighty made the wind subservient to him, so that it would move wherever he intended by his command. Nowadays, humans cover journeys of months in hours by means of airplanes; if only the speed of sea travel were meant, then this would not be the kind of kingdom that would not befit anyone after Solomon (peace be upon him), because airplanes cross not only seas but also land, and they are present in almost every country. Therefore, it must be accepted that for him, the subjugation of the wind was not dependent on airplanes or such devices, but it was something far superior, by which he would travel by wind over seas and land, covering journeys of months in hours, wherever he wished. If its details could be understood by humans or were needed, Allah Almighty would have explained them. What Allah Almighty has stated is sufficient for us.
➎ { وَ كُنَّا بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عٰلِمِيْنَ:} This is the answer to the question: how is it possible that a violent, swift wind could, with utmost gentleness, carry Solomon (peace be upon him) and cover journeys of months in a few hours? He said, We have always had knowledge of everything, and for Us, this is nothing extraordinary.
➋ The meaning of {’’ عَاصِفَةً ‘‘} is {’’شَدِيْدَةُ الْهُبُوْبِ‘‘} a very strong, swift-blowing wind. In Surah Sad, He said: «{ فَسَخَّرْنَا لَهُ الرِّيْحَ تَجْرِيْ بِاَمْرِهٖ رُخَآءً حَيْثُ اَصَابَ }» [ صٓ : ۳۶ ] “So We subjected to him the wind, which flowed gently by his command wherever he intended.” And in Surah Saba, He said: «{ وَ لِسُلَيْمٰنَ الرِّيْحَ غُدُوُّهَا شَهْرٌ وَّ رَوَاحُهَا شَهْرٌ }» [ سبا : ۱۲ ] “And (We subjected) the wind to Solomon; its morning course was a month’s journey, and its evening course was a month’s journey.” Here arises the question: in one place it is described as violent and swift, in another as very gentle? The answer is that this wind possessed both qualities: so swift that in the morning hours it would cover a month’s journey in a few hours, and likewise in the evening; and so gentle and smooth that neither Solomon (peace be upon him) nor his companions would feel any discomfort or jolt.
➌ { تَجْرِيْ بِاَمْرِهٖۤ اِلَى الْاَرْضِ الَّتِيْ بٰرَكْنَا فِيْهَا:} In the Qur’an, the blessed land refers to Sham (Greater Syria). See Surah Bani Isra’il. In this verse, the mention is of Solomon’s (peace be upon him) return to his capital, Sham, from any of his journeys, because sometimes a person travels very far and the return becomes difficult for him. Thus, Allah Almighty said that the wind moved by Solomon’s (peace be upon him) command towards the blessed land. As for Solomon (peace be upon him) traveling to other places, its mention is in Surah Sad (36) that the wind would move by his command wherever he intended, as mentioned in the previous benefit.
➍ What is meant by the wind being subjugated for Solomon (peace be upon him)? Some commentators have taken it to mean that the wind would blow favorably for his naval fleets, because in those times the movement of ships depended on favorable winds. These people refer to the Bible. Some of the Tabi‘in said that Solomon (peace be upon him) and his armies would sit on a very large wooden platform, and at his command, the wind would lift them and carry them to their destination. Some have mentioned a carpet of one square mile in this context. Obviously, none of these people were present at the time, nor have they stated any source for their information. As for the Bible, its status has already been detailed in the introduction. Allah Almighty mentioned in Surah Sad that Solomon (peace be upon him) prayed: «{ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ وَهَبْ لِيْ مُلْكًا لَّا يَنْۢبَغِيْ لِاَحَدٍ مِّنْۢ بَعْدِيْ }» [ صٓ : ۳۵ ] “My Lord, forgive me and grant me a kingdom such as will not belong to anyone after me.” In acceptance of this prayer, Allah Almighty made the wind subservient to him, so that it would move wherever he intended by his command. Nowadays, humans cover journeys of months in hours by means of airplanes; if only the speed of sea travel were meant, then this would not be the kind of kingdom that would not befit anyone after Solomon (peace be upon him), because airplanes cross not only seas but also land, and they are present in almost every country. Therefore, it must be accepted that for him, the subjugation of the wind was not dependent on airplanes or such devices, but it was something far superior, by which he would travel by wind over seas and land, covering journeys of months in hours, wherever he wished. If its details could be understood by humans or were needed, Allah Almighty would have explained them. What Allah Almighty has stated is sufficient for us.
➎ { وَ كُنَّا بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عٰلِمِيْنَ:} This is the answer to the question: how is it possible that a violent, swift wind could, with utmost gentleness, carry Solomon (peace be upon him) and cover journeys of months in a few hours? He said, We have always had knowledge of everything, and for Us, this is nothing extraordinary.
