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PROPHET SOLOMON'S (PBUH) SUPERIOR KNOWLEDGE AND BLESSING
He [Solomon] said: "My Lord, forgive me and give me a kingdom the
like of which will never be granted to anyone after me. Truly, You
are the Ever-Giving." (Qur'an, 38:35) |
His prayer was accepted by God and He bestowed upon him great blessings,
superior wisdom, more possessions than anyone else could attain, and a
glorious kingdom in which he exercised an incomparable reign. Other verses
give more information about his God-given wealth, power, and knowledge.
The Ability to Judge
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We gave Solomon understanding of it
[judgment]. We gave each of them judgment and knowledge... (Qur'an,
21:79)
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When we examine the prophets' lives, we see clearly that God gave them
superior wisdom to use in their conversations, decisions, and carrying
out their decisions. Prophet Solomon (pbuh), a recipient of this divinely
inspired judgment and knowledge, "judged with truth"
(Qur'an, 38:26), like his father Prophet David (pbuh), and solved
all disputes most justly.
 And
David and Solomon when they gave judgment about the field, when
the people's sheep strayed into it at night. We were Witness to
their judgment. (Qur'an, 21:78)
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A system of justice, if it is to operate
properly, must be directed by people with faith and who can judge justly.
Prophet Solomon's (pbuh) time was one in which this understanding of justice
was lived fully, for God says: "Every nation has a Messenger, and
when their Messenger comes everything is decided between them justly.
They are not wronged" (Qur'an, 10:47).
Two people who presided over hearings and gave just decisions were Prophet
David (pbuh) and Prophet Solomon (pbuh).
Prophet Solomon's (pbuh) words, upon learning that a hoopoe bird had
disappeared without his permission, draws our attention to this matter:
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He inspected the birds and said: "How is it that I do not
see the hoopoe? Or is it absent without leave? I will certainly
punish it most severely or slaughter it if it does not bring me
clear authority." (Qur'an, 27:20-21)
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This is just one example of his justice: He gave the hoopoe an opportunity
to defend itself, listened to it carefully, and inflicted no sudden penalty.
Instead, he waited for it to produce clear proof.
WeDo you not see that everyone in
the heavens and Earth glorifies God, as do the birds with their
outspread wings? Each one knows its prayer and glorification. God
knows what they do. (Qur’an, 24:41)
gave Solomon understanding of it
(Judgement). We gave each of them judgment and knowledge. We subjected
the mountains to David, glorifying, and the birds as well. This
is something We are well able to do. (Qur’an, 21:79) |
Solomon (pbuh) and the Language of Birds
God taught Prophet Solomon (pbuh) to speak the language of birds, and
because of this, he formed an army squadron composed of birds. Thus, he
established a relationship with them that allowed him to command them
as he wished. Fully aware that this ability was the result of God's mercy,
he explained to his people that this knowledge came from God and was not
the result of his own effort. In this way, he clearly expressed his submission
to, and need for, God.
… O people,
we have been taught the speech of birds and have been given everything.
This is indeed a clear favor. (Qur'an, 27:16)
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We can draw some important conclusions from this account:
 Birds speak
to one another on a special wave length that people cannot hear. God allowed
Prophet Solomon (pbuh) to understand these conversations. This might have
been made possible by technological means.
Since
Prophet Solomon (pbuh) could understand these conversations, he may have
given them special tasks to fulfill. (God knows the truth.)
Prophet
Solomon (pbuh) achieved important results by using birds to both carry
messages and gather information. This knowledge facilitated communication
with other countries and reaching distant areas. (God knows the truth.)
This
verse may be drawing our attention to a superior technology similar to
that which will be used in the End Times. In fact, these birds may not
even refer to birds as we know them, but perhaps to unmanned aircrafts.
Besides
this, he may have attached transmitters to them to obtain information
about other countries and his enemies. In this way, he could have obtained
images and sound recordings and used the information to govern his kingdom.
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And He creates other things
you do not know. (Qur’an, 16:8)
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Communication is important to birds,
especially in habitats where vegetation impedes vision,
such as forests, grasslands, and wetlands. Birds communicate
by vocalizations (e.g., songs and calls) and various noises
(e.g., tapping and drumming). Each species has its own specific
song or songs. For example, some have over a dozen calls
and songs, while others mimic the songs of other birds and
humans.1
Birds do not have vocal cords. To produce
sounds, vibrations are sent across a bird's syrinx (voice
box). The more muscles a bird has attached to the syrinx,
the more sounds it can make. For instance, mockingbirds
have many muscles and can produce a variety of sounds.
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Prophet
Solomon (pbuh) had power over jinns and demons, for the Qur'an states:
"… And some of the jinns worked in front of him
by his Lord's permission…" (Qur'an, 34:12) and "… some of the demons dived
for him and did other things apart from that…" (Qur'an, 21:82).
When considered from this point of view, it may have been an army made
up of jinns that looked like birds.
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“We submitted to the
Lord of the heavens; surrendered to the causes of the incident.”
A script by Ottoman calligrapher Hafiz Osman (seventeenth century).
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UNMANNED AIRCRAFT TECHNOLOGY
Unmanned aircraft technology, which is
important to a country's defense plans, becomes more advanced and
more vital every day. The U.S. Air Force has two important programs
in operation: UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) and UCAV (Uninhabited
Combat Air Vehicle). Air Force officials call this technology new
age and say that it will offer far more advantages than piloted
aircraft. These aircraft, which will be controlled from the ground
and pre-programmed, will have some other advantages as well, such
as: 
-The ability to collect intelligence and engage in battle without
any loss of life.
-Lower construction costs.
-Their size and technology will make them less detectable by enemy
radar. For example, NASA is getting ready to produce aircraft in
its X-36 program that are 5-6 meters (15-20 feet) in length and
weighing about 600 kilograms (1,300 pounds). A pilot guides these
aircraft via a simulator located in the command center. In case
of an attack, the pilot will guide the aircraft according to images
sent by cameras on board.
-Their maneuverability is very high, because they are small and
carry no pilot.
-Their color and infrared cameras can record intelligence about
the most inaccessible places and send it in a moment to the command
center by satellite.
-According to research, a pilot spends 80 percent
of flight time in pilot training and 20 percent in active duty.
For unmanned aircraft, 100 percent of flight time goes into active
duty. This is a great advantage both in time and expense.
These are just a few of the advantages of unmanned aircraft. The
programs mentioned above have not all been put into effect yet,
but they certainly will have an important place in aircraft technology
in the near future. 2
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Ultrasonic and transonic
sounds are sound waves outside the normal range of human
hearing. Birds, insects, and some mammals (e.g., rodents,
bats, dogs, cats, and raccoons) can hear these high frequencies
and use them to communicate.3 But,
as we see in the Qur'an, God may have given Prophet Solomon
(pbuh) the knowledge and technology to hear and understand
these sounds.
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The Language Used by Birds
Birds have their own language. Expert
users of sound, they communicate by using frequencies which
we cannot hear. Through these sounds, birds recognize their
young, parents, and mates; gather in flocks; and warn one
another of danger. They can change their communication frequencies
and relay information very quickly.
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INTELLIGENCE GATHERING DEVICES
Today, micro-cameras make it very
easy to obtain intelligence-related images. Formerly used only
by intelligence organizations, they are now available to the general
public.
These cameras can be hidden in many
places (e.g., a necktie, a shirt sleeve, a table lamp, a watch,
a pen, eyeglasses, a jacket, an electric socket, a book, a lighter,
a pencil sharpener, a hat, a portable radio, a toy, a pager, a telephone,
smoke detector, or a potted plant), placed on animals, and take
pictures without the other person's knowledge. Appearing in ever-smaller
sizes, they now range between two millimeters and a few centimeters
in size. Some of their many features are as follows: their picture
quality is the same as those produced by normal cameras, they are
battery powered, and can take both black-and-white and color photos.
Some take photos continually; some go into operation at the slightest
movement within their range of view and turn themselves off when
the movement stops. Their batteries enable them to take photos for
hours. Some infra-red cameras can take photos within a range of
150 meters (450 feet) and in total darkness.4
Secret listening devices, known as bugs, are
placed in a particular area to prevent communication or transmit
intelligence from that area to another. The person listening to
these devices may be a few hundred meters away, but can hear everything
perfectly. Their production, sale, and deployment is a multi-million
dollar industry in the United States.5 Moreover,
they are being used increasingly to investigate serious crimes and
to bug telephones and places where crimes occur.
There are many kinds of bugs, among them those of the ultrasonic
variety, which convert sounds into audio signals that human beings
cannot hear. These signals are later converted back to audio.
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Another
probability is that these birds may have been controlled by jinns who
Prophet Solomon (pbuh) could use to make the birds do what he wanted them
to do.
The
Qur'an is valid for all people until the end of the world. Therefore,
similar things that happened during Prophet Solomon's (pbuh) reign may
also be experienced in the End Times. For example, God may put these jinns
under humanity's control once again. Again, the advanced technology indicated
in this account may be a signal of what technology will bring to humanity
in the End Times. (God knows the truth)
Prophet Solomon (pbuh) Understands the Female Ant
Then,
when they reached the Valley of the Ants, an [female] ant said:
"Ants! Enter your dwellings so that Solomon and his troops do not
crush you unwittingly." (Qur'an, 27:18) |
This verse may be interpreted as follows:
The
female ant knew that Prophet Solomon (pbuh) and his army were entering
the valley. This is an extremely conscious recognition. The fact that
these ants could speak to one another and were aware of what was happening
around them may indicate that these creatures may have been jinns. (God
knows the truth.)
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Everything in the heavens and every
creature on Earth prostrates to god, as do the angels. They are
not puffed up with pride. They fear (and respect) their Lord above
them and do everything they are ordered to do. (Qur’an, 16:49-50) |
The
ant mentioned here is not an ordinary ant, for the Valley of the Ants
suggests a special place and special ants. This strengthens the possibility
that they were jinns.
He
[Solomon] smiled, laughing at its words, and said: "My Lord, keep
me thankful for the blessing You have bestowed on me and my parents.
Keep me acting rightly, pleasing You, and admit me, by Your mercy,
among Your servants who are righteous." (Qur'an, 27:19) |
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In
the 1950s, American scholars brought their knowledge and experience
together and established the 4,000 square meter (1,500 square
miles) Silicon Valley under the leadership of Stanford University
in California. Eight thousand companies from around the world
working on information technology and in various high-tech
fields are located in this area. Nearly 300,000 scientists,
engineers, and researchers, all of them experts in their fields,
are developing high-tech products, and most technological
advances are developed there. 6 |
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Prophet
Solomon's (pbuh) ability to hear the ants talking among themselves may
indicate a development that will occur in computer technology in the End
Times.
The
modern term Silicon Valley refers to the center of the world of technology.
Thus, it is very significant that this verse mentions the Valley of the
Ants. God may be drawing out attention to the advanced technology that
will appear in the End Times.
The Latest Development in
Micro-Technology: An Army of Robotic Ants
As
for those who strive in Our Way, We will quide them to Our
Paths. Truly God is with the good-doers . (Qur’an, 29:69)
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The best-known project that uses ants as a model
is the Army-Ant Robot project, which is being carried out independently
in several countries. The study conducted by the Virginia Polytechnic
Institute and Virginia State University seeks to develop small,
inexpensive, and simple robots and then form a robotic army out
of physically identical robots. Project officials explain that these
robots derive their usefulness from their group actions, performing
physical tasks and making cooperative decisions as a coordinated
team. All mechanical and electrical design aspects are decided with
the group-dynamical behavior in mind. Because of their behavioral
resemblance to their insect counterparts, they have been named army-ant
robots.
The army-ant robot system was originally
designed as a material-carrying system. According to this scenario,
several small robots would jointly lift and carry objects. It was
later decided that they could be used for other tasks, such as nuclear
and hazardous waste cleanup with robotic swarms, mining (including
material removal and search-and-rescue), mine sweeping (both land
and water), surveillance and sentry, planetary surface exploration,
and excavation.7
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Israel A. Wagner, an expert on ant robot-technology,
describes such projects in these terms:
Ant-robots are simple physical and virtual creatures designed to
cooperate in order to achieve a common goal. They are assumed to
have very limited resources of energy, sensing and computing, and
to communicate via traces left in the workspace or on the ground,
like many insects naturally do… The distribution of work among
multiple agents can be made by either a central controller who sends
orders to the agents, or by an a priori agreement on a certain partitioning
that, if obeyed by the agents, eventually leads to a completion
of the given mission.
A third way, used throughout the current
work, is to design the behavior of individuals such that cooperation
will naturally emerge in the course of their work, without making
a priori decisions on the structure of the cooperation. The specific
application that we address is covering, which is also known as
exploring or searching. This variety of names hints to the many
applications this problem might have: from cleaning the floor of
a house to mapping an unknown planet or demining a mine field.8
Based on the above information, the ant's social lifestyle forms
the basis of many projects, and the robotic technologies being implemented
as a result are benefiting human beings. That is why the Qur'an
mentions the ants and their valley when informing us about Prophet
Solomon (pbuh). In this verse, God may be alluding to technological
developments in Prophet Solomon's (pbuh) time. For example, the
mention of ants may point toward a robotic army. With the help of
the jinns and demons at his command, Prophet Solomon (pbuh) may
have used a very advanced technology to establish a robotic army.
The verses may also be indicating future developments in robot technology
and how they will play an important role in human life by performing
many arduous tasks, and thereby making people's lives more comfortable.
(God knows the truth.)
Except
those who believe and do right actions, and (who) remember
God repeat-edly and defend themselves after they have been
wronged… (Qur’an, 26:227)
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Prophet Solomon (pbuh) Commands the Winds
And to Solomon We gave the fiercely blowing wind, speeding at his
command toward the land that We had blessed. And We had full knowledge
of everything. (Qur'an, 21:81) |
God
allowed Prophet Solomon (pbuh) to control the wind and use it as a tool.
This may be a reference to the use of wind energy in the End Times.
The
phrase fiercely blowing wind under Prophet Solomon's (pbuh) command may
be drawing our attention to the advanced aircraft technology that will
be developed in the End Times.
He sent His Messenger with the Guidance and the Religion of
Truth to exalt it over every other religion, and God suffices
as a witness. (Qur’an, 48:28) |
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| Today, many countries
including the United
States and Denmark use wind turbines to provide
electricity. These turbines, by which scientists have estimated
that as much as 10 percent of the
world’s electricity could be provided by the
middle of the twenty-first century, offer a
cheap and productive alternative to
fuel-driven generators.
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Aircraft wings are designed to create
a difference in pressure that enables them to fly. Flight happens
as a result of the lift created by the air moving around the wings.
When the aircraft reaches a lifting power equal to its weight, the
wheels leave the ground and the plane takes off. This lifting force
is formed in this way:
Air normally moves in waves in a gentle current. But the flow of
air changes as the wing moves against it. The air is divided and
passes over and below the wing. The top surface of the wing has
a bulged shape. According to some laws of physics, the air passing
over the wing speeds up and has a lower pressure than the air under
the wing. In other words, the air underneath lifts the aircraft
while the air above exerts less of a downward push. This difference
in pressure allows the aircraft to be pushed up from below and be
lifted into the air. Under these circumstances, the aircraft overcomes
the force of gravity and the carrying force that enables it to remain
aloft is created.
The force formed by an aircraft
moving through the air is called total aerodynamic force. This force
can be resolved into components. The force generated by the gravitational
attraction of the Earth on the airplane is the weight. To overcome
the weight force, airplanes generate an opposing force called lift.
Lift is generated by the motion of the airplane through the air.
As the airplane moves through the air, there is another aerodynamic
force present. The air resists the motion of the aircraft and the
resistance force is called drag. Drag is directed along and opposed
to the flight direction. To overcome drag, airplanes use a propulsion
system to generate a force called thrust. Thrust is the force which
moves an aircraft through the air. The motion of the airplane through
the air depends on the relative strength and direction of these
forces. If the forces are balanced, the aircraft cruises at constant
velocity. If the forces are unbalanced, the aircraft accelerates
in the direction of the largest force. 9
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And We gave Solomon power over the wind-a month's journey in the
morning and a month in the afternoon... (Qur'an, 34:12) |
The
words … power over the wind-a month's journey in the morning and a month
in the afternoon..., may indicate the fact that Prophet Solomon (pbuh)
moved very quickly from place to place.
In
his own time, Prophet Solomon (pbuh) may have used a technology similar
to modern aircraft technology and developed wind-powered vehicles. By
this means, he could cover huge distances in a short time. (God knows
the truth.)
Indications of the Use of Electricity
… And We made a fount of molten copper
flow out for him… (Qur'an, 34:12) |
One
of the great blessings given to Prophet Solomon (pbuh) was molten copper.
This verse can be interpreted in several ways:
Using
the demons and jinns at his command, Prophet Solomon (pbuh) might have
made decorations, huge dishes, vats, and statues for general use (Qur'an,
34:13).
Molten
copper may indicate a high level of technological development in Prophet
Solomon's (pbuh) time: the use of electricity. As we know, copper is one
of the best conductors of electricity and heat, and plays a significant
role in producing electricity.
The
great amounts of electricity produced in Prophet Solomon's (pbuh) time
could have been used in construction, communications, and many other areas.
The words flow out may point to its widespread use. (God knows the truth.)
Many
Qur'anic commentators have interpreted ayna al-qitri as referring to petroleum.
Today, petroleum is the most basic raw material of technology. In his
time, Prophet Solomon (pbuh) may have used it in technological operations.
(God knows the truth.)
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We appointed leaders from
among them, guiding by Our command when they were steadfast and
when they had certainty about our signs. (Qur’an 32:24) |
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Interpreting the words ayna
al-qitri (Qur'an 34:12) as molten copper may allude to today's electricity
generating industry. Copper, one of the best conductors of electricity
and heat, is also one of the basic materials used in high technology. |
Jinns and Demons Obey Prophet Solomon (pbuh)
… And some of the jinns worked in front of him by his Lord's permission.
And if a single one of them deviates at all from Our command, We
let him taste the punishment of the Searing Blaze. (Qur'an, 34:12) |
Another God-given blessing was the number of jinns and demons that served
Prophet Solomon (pbuh). Prophet Solomon (pbuh) ordered these beings to
fulfill various functions in his army, artistic creations, and construction
projects:
So We subjected the wind to him to blow
at his command, softly, wherever he directed. And the demons,
every builder and diver. (Qur'an, 38:36-37)
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God bestowed His grace upon Prophet Solomon (pbuh) by enabling him to
control the demons, because Satan had great knowledge about Earth and
what happened in the world, whether secret or public. Having such a creature
in his power may have made it much easier for Prophet Solomon (pbuh) to
arrange his foreign relations and administer his kingdom.
And some of the demons dived for him [Solomon] and did other things
apart from that. And We were watching over them. (Qur'an, 21:82) |
Prophet Solomon
(pbuh) could have used these diving demons in many ways: to perform duties
related to intelligence and the army, as well as to scientific undertakings
(e.g., processing marine riches to benefit humanity).
This
verse informs us of the importance of processing both underground and
marine riches. But in order to extract and process these marine riches
and make them useful for people, highly advanced technology is needed.
Perhaps these demons had this technical knowledge and capability.
Thanks
to the modern technological devices, vehicles, and submarines that God
will put into the service of humanity in the End Times, extracting the
oceans' wealth will be much easier. It is possible that the meaning of
this verse points in this direction.
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We gave knowledge to David
and Solomon, (both of whom) said: “Praise be to God Who has
favored us over many of His servants who are believers.” (Qur’an,
27:15)
Today, underwater seams are an important
area for oil exploration. Platforms enable oil companies to drill
wells that are hundreds of meters deep |
This
verse may also be an assessment of the pearls, corals, and other special
blessings to be found in the oceans. (God knows the truth).
At
the end of the above verse, God reveals: "… We were watching over them…"
In other words, these diving demons were under the control of God, the
Lord of heavens and Earth. God gave Prophet Solomon (pbuh) a power from
His own mercy that made the demons unable to rebel against him.
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The Last will be better for you
than the First. Yoru Lord will soon give to you, and you will be
satisfied. Did he nt find you orphaned and shelter you? Did He not
find you wandering and quide you? Did He not find you impoverished
and enrich you? (Qur’an, 93:4-8)
He made the ocean subservient to you so that you can eat fresh meat
from it and bring out from it ornaments to wear. And you see the
ships cleaving through it so that you can seek His bounty, and so
that, hopefully, you will show thanks. (Qur’an, 16:14)
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 They
made for him anything he wished: high arches and statues, huge dishes
like cisterns, great built-in cooking vats… (Qur'an, 34:13) |
This verse relates that demons created magnificent works of art according
to Prophet Solomon's (pbuh) directions and very strong aesthetic sense.
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And as for the blessing of your Lord, speak out!
(Qur’an, 93:11) |
Every Blessing Is a Grace from God
Prophet Solomon (pbuh) used all of his God-given power and possessions
to represent and spread His religion in the best possible way, display
the incomparable splendor of God's kingdom, and disseminate religious
morality. When they saw his intelligence, knowledge, and artistic power,
people more easily accepted his invitation to believe in God. Prophet
Solomon (pbuh) received a fine reward for his service to God and a great
kingdom. For thousands of years, Prophet Solomon's (pbuh) might and power
have amazed people and been the subject of novels, paintings, and films.
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We taught him the art of making garments [of mail]
for you to protect you against each other's violence, but do you
show
any thanks? (Qur'an, 21:80)
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 This
section has presented Prophet Solomon's (pbuh) God-given superior knowledge
and blessings. However, one special point needs to be emphasized: The
One Who gave all of these blessings and knowledge, and Who created all
of them is God, the Lord of the Worlds. Everything that Prophet Solomon
(pbuh) did was by God's will and approval. For example, God decrees: "We
gave Solomon understanding of it" (Qur'an, 21:79), by which we
can understand that no one can understand any event, notice any wisdom,
or make any decision without God's consent. God, the All-Knowing, All-Wise,
makes the decision; the person carrying it out is only a vehicle.
After announcing that the mountains and the birds bowed
their heads with Prophet David (pbuh), Prophet Solomon's (pbuh) father,
the verse says: "This is something We are well able to do." God taught
Prophet David (pbuh) how to make armor, made the wind bow before Him,
and made molten copper flow at Prophet Solomon's (pbuh) command. In Qur'an
21:81, God decrees: "And We have full knowledge of everything." Unless
God wills, it is impossible for any person to have knowledge. People may
have read and studied for years and come to be regarded as knowledgeable,
but they must never forget that only God gives them their knowledge as
part of their destiny. The words of the angels in Qur'an 2:32 clearly
express this reality: "Glory be to You! We have no knowledge except what
You have taught us. You are the All-Knowing, the All-Wise."
“Make full-length coats of mail, measuring the links with
care and act rightly, all of you, for I see what you do.”
(Qur’an, 34:11)
God strengthened Prophet Solomon's
(pbuh) army with jinns and birds and gave him might and power. Any
surrounding nation coming against his powerful army had no option
but to submit. As Qur'an 21:80 says, God taught Prophet Solomon
(pbuh) how to make armor to protect his soldiers during military
engagements. Armor, helmets, and weapons based upon this knowledge
made his army even more invincible.
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