✿ The Service of the Jinn for Prophet Sulayman (علیہ السلام) ✿
Compiled by: Dr. Rida Abdullah Pasha حفظه الله
❀ The Question ❀
Did the jinn serve Prophet Sulayman (علیہ السلام)?
✿ The Answer ✿
◈ Qur’anic Evidence
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَلِسُلَيْمَانَ الرِّيحَ غُدُوُّهَا شَهْرٌ وَرَوَاحُهَا شَهْرٌ ۖ وَأَسَلْنَا لَهُ عَيْنَ الْقِطْرِ ۖ وَمِنَ الْجِنِّ مَن يَعْمَلُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِ ۖ وَمَن يَزِغْ مِنْهُمْ عَنْ أَمْرِنَا نُذِقْهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ السَّعِيرِ﴾
“And to Sulayman We subjected the wind — its morning journey was a month, and its evening journey was a month. And We made a stream of molten copper flow for him. And from among the jinn there were those who worked in front of him by the permission of his Lord. And if any of them deviated from Our command, We made him taste the punishment of the blazing Fire.”
[Surah Saba: 12]
And Allah says:
﴿فَلَمَّا قَضَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ الْمَوْتَ مَا دَلَّهُمْ عَلَىٰ مَوْتِهِ إِلَّا دَابَّةُ الْأَرْضِ تَأْكُلُ مِنسَأَتَهُ ۖ فَلَمَّا خَرَّ تَبَيَّنَتِ الْجِنُّ أَن لَّوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ الْغَيْبَ مَا لَبِثُوا فِي الْعَذَابِ الْمُهِينِ﴾
“So when We decreed death for him, nothing indicated to them his death except a creature of the earth eating away at his staff. Then when he fell, it became clear to the jinn that if they had known the unseen, they would not have remained in humiliating torment.”
[Surah Saba: 14]
◈ Explanation
- Allah ﷻ mentioned His favor upon Dawud (علیہ السلام), and right after that, He mentioned the blessings granted to his son Sulayman (علیہ السلام).
- The wind was made subservient to him, carrying his throne with extraordinary speed — a journey of one month’s distance could be covered in a morning, and another in the evening.
- Imam Hasan al-Basri (رحمه الله) explained: Sulayman (علیہ السلام) would set out from Damascus on his throne, reach a city called Istakhr in the morning to eat, and by evening, he would reach Kabul. The distance between these places would take a fast rider one month to travel.
◈ His Death and the Jinn
When Sulayman (علیہ السلام) died, Allah kept his death hidden from the jinn who were subjected to difficult labor for him.
- According to Ibn ‘Abbas, Mujahid, Hasan, and Qatadah (رحمهم الله), Sulayman (علیہ السلام) remained standing, leaning on his staff, for about a year after his death.
- The jinn continued working hard, thinking he was alive, because they feared punishment if they disobeyed him.
- Finally, when termites gnawed away at his staff, it broke, and Sulayman (علیہ السلام) fell to the ground.
- At that moment, it became clear to everyone that the jinn did not know the unseen (ghayb) — as they used to claim and mislead people into believing so.
Reference: Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Surah Saba, Ayah 14
Conclusion
- The jinn did serve Prophet Sulayman (علیہ السلام) by the permission of Allah.
- They were compelled to work under him, and any disobedience led to divine punishment.
- His death exposed their false claim of knowing the unseen.
- Thus, Allah vindicated that knowledge of the unseen belongs only to Him.
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَاب
