Overview (Verses 17 - 19)

A Majestic Procession for Solomon
 
“Before Solomon were marshalled his troops of jinn, humans and birds; and they were all lined in orderly ranks.” (Verse 17) This is a big procession in which are marshalled all troops, jinn, human and bird. Naturally, men are well known to us, but the jinn are creatures about whom we know nothing more than what God has said in the Qur’ān. They were created from flames, and can see us while we cannot see them: “Surely, he and his tribe watch you from where you cannot perceive them.” (7: 27) [The reference in this verse is to Iblīs, or Satan, who belongs to the jinn.] They are able to prompt people and tempt them to take evil and sinful actions. We do not know how this takes place. We also know that a group of them believed in God’s Messenger (peace be upon him). He did not meet or see them, but God informed him of what happened: “Say: ‘It has been revealed to me that a group of the jinn listened [to the Qur’ān]’, and said: ‘We have listened to a wonderful discourse that guides to what is right, and so we have come to believe in it. We shall never associate any partners with our Lord.’” (72: 1-2) We also know that God made some of them serve Solomon, making for him whatever he wished of sanctuaries, statues, and large cauldrons for cooking. They also dived into the sea for him, and did his bidding. Some were in his procession side by side with humans and birds.
 
We say that God placed under Solomon’s command only a section of the jinn, birds, and humans. Thus it is clear that not all people on earth were his subjects, because his kingdom stretched over an area that includes today’s Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq, up to the Euphrates. Similarly, not all the jinn or birds were under his command; rather it was a section of each type.
 
In support of this view about the jinn we cite the fact that Iblīs, or Satan, and his offspring belong to the jinn as the Qur’ān states:
 
When We said to the angels: ‘Prostrate yourselves before Adam,’ they all prostrated themselves. Not so Iblīs, who belonged to the jinn and he disobeyed his Lord’s command.” (18: 50) God also says about Iblīs: “who whispers in the hearts of mankind, from among jinn and mankind. (114: 5-6)
 
Thus Iblīs and his offspring who all belonged to the jinn continued to whisper in people’s hearts tempting them to sin during Solomon’s reign. Had they been placed under his command, they would not have been able to do so since he was a prophet advocating what is right. Hence, it is clear that only a section of them were loyal to Solomon.
 
In support of our view concerning the birds, we say that Solomon learnt of the hoopoe’s absence when he inspected the birds. Had all birds, including all hoopoes, been placed under him, they would have been marshalled in his procession, and he would never have been able to discover the absence of one hoopoe among millions of hoopoes, and many millions of birds. He would not have wondered: “Why is it that I do not see the hoopoe?” (Verse 20) Indeed, this question suggests that it was a particular hoopoe which he identified. It might be that it was the only hoopoe under Solomon’s command, or that it was the one in a group of hoopoes whose duty was to take part in that particular procession. What supports this view is that we soon realize that the hoopoe in question was gifted with an understanding that transcends what hoopoes and all birds normally possess. Such gifts must have been granted to those placed under Solomon’s command, and not to hoopoes and birds in general. Indeed, the hoopoe in the story appears to have a gift of understanding matched only by intelligent and God- fearing humans.
 
So, this great procession was ready before Solomon, “and they were all lined in orderly ranks,” so that there would be no chance of disorder. They are described as ‘troops’ in the verse to indicate the orderly nature of the procession.
 
At length, when they came to a valley of ants, one ant said: ‘Go into your dwellings, ants, lest Solomon and his troops inadvertently crush you.’ He smiled joyously at her words, and said: My Lord! Direct my whole being so that I will always be grateful for Your grace which You have bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may do righteous deeds which will please You; and include me, by Your grace, among Your righteous servants.’ (Verses 18-19)
 
So the procession moved forward in an orderly manner, until they reached a valley where ants were in plenty. In fact the sūrah describes the place as a valley of ants. At this point, an ant supervisor made an announcement to all other ants in the vicinity. It should be remembered that, like bees, ants live in complex social colonies in which different ants have different functions and duties that are organized according to an elaborate system that we might find too difficult to emulate, despite our superior intelligence. So, the supervisor ant announced in the manner of communication used by ants that they should hasten back to their dwellings, so that Solomon and his troops would not crush them unawares.
 
Solomon understood what she said and was pleased. His pleasure was two-fold: he smiled at her words like an adult smiles to a child who tries to evade him, fearing that the adult wants to punish him when he has no such intention. Plus he was gratified that God has given him this gift which opened up for him worlds that are normally closed to mankind. He was also joyful at the fact that ants should have such understanding, with the ability to give orders and carry them out.
 
When Solomon gathered what the ant said, he smiled joyously at her words.’ Yet he soon realized what had just happened. He realized that it was all a great gift God had granted him, lifting the barriers that separate different types of creation. He therefore turned to God in acknowledgement of His favours: “My Lord! Direct my whole being so that I will always be grateful for Your grace which You have bestowed on me and on my parents.” (Verse 19) It is a direct address to his Lord, one that expresses the feeling that He is so close to him. He wants his whole being: organs, feelings and thoughts; heart, mind and tongue; words, actions and directions; talents, abilities and energies to be brought together to offer thanks for all the favours bestowed on him and his parents. Solomon’s prayer indicates how profound his appreciation of God’s grace was. He felt that God’s blessings overwhelmed his whole being as also his parents’. Hence, he wanted to give due thanks with his whole being: “My Lord! Direct my whole being so that I will always be grateful for Your grace which You have bestowed on me and on my parents.” (Verse 19)
 
“And that I may do righteous deeds which will please You.” (Verse 19) To do good deeds is also a blessing from God to which He directs those who are genuinely grateful for His gifts. Solomon, a truly grateful servant of God who prays for His help so that he would wholeheartedly express his gratitude, also prays to Him to guide him to do what will earn His pleasure.
 
“And include me, by Your grace, among Your righteous servants.” (Verse 19) Solomon knows that to be included among God’s righteous servants is an aspect of God’s mercy. When it is bestowed on a servant of God, it guides him to do righteous deeds, and thus he is included in this best group of God’s servants. We note that Solomon, a prophet at whose disposal God placed large sections of jinn, birds and people, does not take anything for granted. He fears lest his deeds or thanksgiving might not be up to the standard expected of him. This is a case of refined sensitivity that enhances Solomon’s aspiration to gain God’s pleasure and receive His mercy. It is expressed at the moment God’s grace is brought into view, as when the ant’s warning to other ants focuses attention on God’s grace that made Solomon understand her speech.
 
We see here two miracles, not one. The first is Solomon listening to the ant and understanding her warning to her community. The second is the ant’s awareness that the approaching people were Solomon and his troops. We know that the first pertains to what God taught Solomon, a man and a prophet. Comparatively speaking, this is more probable than the second miracle which is clear in the ant’s words. An ant may recognize that the approaching procession consists of gigantic creatures who could easily crush tiny ones like ants if they step on them. Prompted by the survival instinct God has given them, ants may flee such a danger. But for an ant to recognize Solomon and his troops is miraculous indeed.