We^-SWT honoured Prophets Daud^-AS and Sulaiman^-AS with Prophetic knowledges. Here the term knowledge refers to Prophethood together with other sciences, and arts, for instance, the knowledge of making armours was especially given to Prophet Daud^-AS. Moreover, power and rule were also the peculiarities of both these Prophets and they were grateful to Allah^-SWT for these exceptions over so many noble people, as every Prophet^-AS was not given rule or a kingdom. When Prophet Sulaiman^-AS succeeded his^-AS father Daud^-AS he^-AS revealed to his^-AS people that Allah^-SWT had blessed them with the faculty to understand the language of birds, and with other honours. This indeed was His^-SWT special favour.

Inheritance Of The Prophets^-As

Prophet Sulaiman^-AS inherited his^-AS father^-AS's Prophetic knowledges. Here it is not appropriate to suggest that this legacy refers only to material wealth. According to learned Commentators, Prophet Daud^-AS had 19 sons who inherited his^-AS wealth, while Prophethood went to Sulaiman^-AS. So it was he^-AS, who ascended the throne, as authority ought to be delegated on the basis of merit and not inheritance. This is clarified by a saying of the Holy Prophet^-SW; ^“We, the Prophets^-AS do not receive any inheritance nor do we have any heirs.” This means that legacy of the Prophets^-AS is not in the form of temporal wealth or material things, rather, as the Holy Prophet^-SW adds: ‘The heirs to the Prophets are the scholars, as our legacy is not in money but in knowledge’. The knowledge inherited by Prophet Sulaiman^-AS was supplemented by authority over the Jinn, the birds and the animals including wild beasts and he^-AS was also blessed with the understanding of the languages of all. There also exists a report that the Holy Prophet^-SW was an heir to Prophet Sulaiman^-AS, though seventeen centuries separate the two.

So Prophet Sulaiman^-AS gathered his^-AS armies to visit some part of his^-AS kingdom. His^-AS entourage also included Jinn, animals and birds, all lined up with their own kind. They were on the move when they came across a valley full of ants. On seeing the approaching army, one of the ants warned the rest to rush back to their dwellings lest they are trampled over by the mighty army of Prophet Sulaiman^-AS without even being noticed

Animals Too Have Understanding

This proves that the animals too are gifted with understanding, though not enough to make them sentient to follow Shari^’ah. But they do have a degree of comprehension and natural instincts, such as knowledge of building a habitat, searching for food, raising children and looking after their families. All these responsibilities are diligently discharged by them. This discipline is witnessed everywhere, be it the beehive, a herd of elephants, a pack of lions or a flock of crows.

Prophet Sulaiman^-AS heard the ant and understood what it said. It was a miracle that he^-AS could hear from a distance, as well as decipher it. He^-AS felt very happy that Allah^-SWT had blessed him^-AS with such knowledge and had gifted even the ants amongst his^-AS subjects with a sense of responsibility that their leader was concerned for their safety. He^-AS raised his^-AS hands in prayer, in gratitude for Allah^-SWT's blessings upon him^-AS and his^-AS father, to crave for capacity to do good that met His^-SWT Approval and for the inclusion of his^-AS name in the roll of His^-SWT righteous bondsmen.

Acceptance Of A Noble Act

The prayer of the Prophets^-AS is also a method of instruction for mankind. It has been highlighted here that a noble act and its acceptability are two separate issues. For instance, any action taken in accordance with Shari’ah is noble, but its acceptance will depend on the intention and sincerity behind it, as well as the consent of Allah^-SWT , So virtue ought to be attended by humility.

On his^-AS way when Prophet Sulaiman^-AS checked the birds, he^-AS found the hoophoe missing. He^-AS asked its whereabouts and announced that it would be severely punished for being absent without permission which may be death by slaughtering unless it presented a plausible excuse for its absence.

Civil Servants Duty Towards The Public And Administrative Affairs

According to Hadhrat ibn ‘Abbas^-RAU it is instinctive of the hoophoe to detect underground water channels. So when the army had arrived at an arid zone, its services were required to identify the site to be dug by the Jinn for water. At this critical juncture the hoophoe was missing, while many lives were at stake due to thirst. The absence was, therefore, taken seriously as a crime punishable by death. It alludes to the fact that in the management of State affairs, it is imperative that the officials stay acquainted with the conditions of the public and discharge their administrative duties diligently. Another phenomena observed here is that whereas a hoophoe can see beneath the surface, it cannot see the snare laid on the ground and gets trapped. Praise be to Allah^-SWT . All Powers lie with Him^-SWT , while the creation is by all means dependant.

The hoophoe turned up soon and said that it had brought some important information for Prophet Sulaiman^-AS. It had spotted a flourishing country during its flight and had gone to visit it. It was there that it had witnessed strange circumstances of which the Prophet^-AS hitherto had no news.

Knowledge Of The Unseen; A Divine Peculiarity

The knowledge of the unseen is Allah^-SWT's domain while the Messengers^-AS are informed over it. Therefore, if Allah^-SWT withholds information over a particular matter, it cannot be known. In this case Allah^-SWT used the hoophoe as a courier to convey the news to Prophet Sulaiman^-AS. It had witnessed a city called Saba in Yemen, ruled by a woman, who had all the resources required for running an empire and sat on a magnificent throne.

A Woman's Rule

There is no ambiguity in Islam over the issue of a woman's rule. There is a consensus that a woman is not eligible. She cannot even lead the Salat let alone that she be raised to the lofty office of leading a Muslim nation.

It is not appropriate to draw an inference from Queen Bilqis's rule, as she was a ruler over fire worshippers. As for the myth that Prophet Sulaiman^-AS married her and allowed her to stay in power is not endorsed by any credible report. Even if it had been so_, the supreme authority after marriage would have rested with Prophet Sulaiman^-AS while she would be his^-AS subordinate. The simple fact is that we have to obey the Holy Prophet^-SW not the preceding Shari'ah, and he^-SW never appointed a woman as the Imam or ruler, nor has allowed us to do so.

The Story Of Bilqis

According to the Commentators, her grandfather was a great ruler. His son had married a genie. Bilqis was born as a result of this marriage; so she was always accompanied by Jinn. Whether intermarriage between human and Jinn is possible and permissible is a controversial issue. A vivid account of how and when it was practised is given in the book named Akam al Marjan fi Ahkam Jan. As for the method of reproduction, it is the same as in human beings. Sexual assaults by male Jinn over human females, as well as sexual relationships between Jinn females and human males is a common phenomenon and many such incidents are in my personal knowledge. However, there is definite reluctance in the matter of Nikah with Jinn, as the scholars rightfully dread that if this is accepted, every woman conceiving illegitimately could claim that she had married a Jinn, and there would be no way to verify her claim. Nevertheless a group believes in its permissibility.

The hoophoe also informed Prophet Sulaiman^-AS that the queen and her nation worshipped the sun. They were Zoroastrians who worshipped all kinds of light, be it sun, fire or any other light. They had been allured by the Satan, in such a way that they truly believed their religion to be the right path, and had gone astray. They ought to have prostrated before Allah^-SWT , Who manifests the hidden in the heavens and the earth and is also well Aware of the overt and the covert states of people. There is no one else worthy of worship except Him^-SWT and He^-SWT is the Provider and the Sustainer of the great 'Arsh as well. In other words, the hoophoe expressed the desire that the nation be invited to guidance. Prophet Sulaiman^-AS having heard its story, said that he^-AS would verify right away whether it was a truth or mere concoction to save its life. He^-AS gave the hoophoe a letter for the queen and her nation and ordered it to present the letter and disappear in observance of royal etiquettes. We shall then wait for the response.

Invitation To Infidels Through A Letter

Invitation in writing is not only correct but a Sunnah. The Holy Prophet^-SW wrote letters to the infidel kings. However, due etiquettes must be observed as the hoophoe is being instructed here. The same is endorsed by the conduct of the couriers sent by the Holy Prophet^-SW the hoophoe delivered the letter to the queen in her private chamber, where she was alone. She read it and took it to her court informing the chieftains that she had received a letter delivered in her room by some unknown courier, which is very well worded, comprehensive and worth appreciating. It is from Sulaiman^-AS, who writes "In the Name of Allah^-SWT, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Do not ever display any might against me, and come to me submissive."

The Etiquettes Of Letter Writing

The letter had a seal, symbolic to its magnificence. The same is practised by rulers all over the globe. The Holy Prophet^-SW also put his^-SW seal on his^-SW letters. The name of the writer must appear first so that the addressee may know the sender at the very outset. The letterheads in use today serve this purpose. It must begin with Allah^-SWT's Name and must be succinct, with a comprehensive text without prolonging it unnecessarily. It is also proven here that even if the addressee is a non believer, the letter must begin with Allah^-SWT's Name, and an expression of His^-SWT Magnificence.