Introduction: The Reign of Solomon – The Kingdom of Knowledge and Wisdom by God’s command
Once upon a time, in a unique historical era, the sun shone on a civilization that was unprecedented, a civilization that exceeded the limits of the ordinary and surpassed the horizons of imagination. This civilization was not the product of myths or legends, as some might imagine, but the kingdom of God’s Prophet King Solomon, peace be upon him, who inherited the kingdom from his father, Prophet David, peace be upon him, and built his state on the firm foundations of the “knowledge” that God gave them, as attested by the Holy Qur’an: “We have given David and Solomon knowledge, and they said, ‘Praise be to God, who has favored us above many of His believing servants. Solomon’s reign was a living embodiment of man’s ability, when armed with the certainty of the Spirit and crowned with knowledge, to harness the enormous potential that God has deposited in the universe, and with direct divine support, to build a unique model of good governance and conscious succession on earth. His kingdom was a shining proof that true power is not only in material power, but in mastery of the tools of knowledge and the ability to utilize them in the service of truth, justice and human prosperity.
A scene from Ant Valley: A meeting of civilizations and the voice of timeless wisdom
In a vast valley known as the “Valley of the Ants,” the land of the kingdom of Sheba, whose fame spread far and wide, the procession of God’s prophet, King Solomon, peace be upon him, arrived at the head of his vast army, an army that was not a mere numerical gathering, but an integrated system of strength, efficiency and discipline, following the highest levels of planning and organization. Solomon, with his wisdom and prophecy, was not alone at the front of this majestic civilizational and military march, but was accompanied in his procession by a pivotal figure, who was once the crowned Queen of Sheba, the ruler of her people, but now, after a deep faith journey, after the truth was revealed to her and the light of certainty shone in her heart, she voluntarily submitted to the authority of God. After her voluntary submission to the authority of argument and proof, she became a “ant” – an expression that refers to her new role as a former leader of her people, who was guided to the truth and is now part of this great faith-based civilizational project, and may have been a guide for Solomon and his army in the paths of her former kingdom.
When the people of the valley, the “ants” – the men of the Kingdom of Sheba and its army, known for their meticulous organization, their pride in their strength and their fortified dwellings – saw their former queen marching with Solomon, they had mixed feelings. They were filled with nationalistic fervor, or perhaps suspicion and doubt crept into their hearts. They came out of their dwellings, or were about to come out, prepared for confrontation, and prepared to confront Solomon. In a moment of anger or misunderstanding, they may have thought that their queen had betrayed them and joined the enemy, or, in another equally bitter scenario, they may have thought that Solomon had captured her, forced her to accompany him, and brought her with him to humiliate them and show his conquest and control over them. Either way, the result was the same: Signs of resistance and readiness to confront Solomon and his mighty army.
At that critical moment, the Ant – the visionary former queen – realized the gravity of the situation. She saw with her own eyes the reaction of her people and their intention to confront, but with her new wisdom and firm belief, she knew with certainty that such a confrontation would be their certain doom. How could a force, no matter how great, withstand Solomon’s army, a mighty force that derives its momentum not only from numbers and equipment, but from knowledge and divine support? From her new position, as a witness to and advocate of the truth, and out of sincere compassion for her people, and a firm desire to prevent bloodshed and strife, she raised her voice, cutting off any thought of resistance, and directed her urgent and direct appeal to them, a call that is immortalized in the Qur’an: “O you ants, enter your dwellings, and Solomon and his soldiers will not destroy you while they do not know it. It was a decisive call, carrying with it a command to immediately retreat and return to their dwellings, and a tacit admission that they cannot face this organized force, this civilization based on science and divine support, which may inadvertently destroy them because of its momentum, magnitude, and strength of organization.
Solomon, who was accompanied by the ant and perhaps walking beside him, hears these wise words addressed to her people, this sincere invitation to break up the potential clash and spare everyone from the ravages of a losing confrontation. A deep and meaningful smile appears on his honorable face, a smile not of mockery or ridicule, but of the wise man who sees how the truth he has brought, the knowledge he has received, and the wisdom he has advocated for, have produced this noble attitude. It is a smile of admiration and appreciation for the role of this former leader, who realized the truth and voluntarily joined the ranks of faith, and how, with a word of wisdom, she was able to resolve a crisis that was about to occur, and prevent a sedition that was about to erupt. It is a confirmation that joining this faith-based civilizational project based on the truth is the very essence of wisdom and guidance. This unique scene, with all its connotations and lessons, is what prompted Sulayman to immediately turn to his Lord with praise and thanksgiving, expressing his deep gratitude for God’s blessings on him and his parents, and asking his Lord to inspire him to always do the good deeds that please Him, and to include him in His mercy among His righteous servants: “He smiled, laughing at her words, and said, ‘Lord, give me the strength to thank Your grace that You have bestowed on me and my parents, and to do good deeds that are pleasing to You, and to include me in Your mercy among Your righteous servants.
Solomon’s Army: A system of power and advanced science
Let us now review the nature of Solomon’s army as depicted in the Qur’an: “And Solomon mustered for Solomon his hosts of men and women and birds, and they were distributed. This army was not a mere human conglomerate, but an integrated system of forces. “Humans” are the natural human strength of armies. As for “ In the context of Solomon’s scientific civilization, they are not unseen mythical beings, but an elite group of geniuses, scientists, engineers, technicians, and those with superior mental and creative abilities Those whose work seemed extraordinary because of its sophistication and precision were attributed to “jinn” because of the word’s connotation of invisibility and unfamiliar power. These are the ones whom God harnessed to Solomon with their scientific and technical abilities: ‘And of the jinn are those who work between his hands by the permission of his Lord’. Then the “birds”, who are not a flock of birds, but represent highly specialized elite forces, Solomon’s strategic weapon, the super-fast and efficient units, proficient in “bird logic”. This science, “Bird Logic”, was not an understanding of bird chirping, but an integrated methodology for command, control and communications, combining the speed of information transfer and execution of orders at lightning speed – “the news flew” – with dominance over advanced aviation technologies at the time, and perhaps harnessing the forces of nature such as the wind, which God made its flow by Solomon’s command a month in going and a month in returning. It is the power emanating from science, technology and knowledge, harnessed by God’s command to serve the truth and establish justice.
The ingenuity of the Qur’anic narrative and the beginning of the real story: The Mystery of the Hoopoe’s Absence “
The Qur’anic narrative does not begin the story in a traditional chronological sequence, but rather starts from the scene of the “Valley of the Ants” in advance, arousing the reader’s curiosity to know how the events reached this point. The Quranic context then takes us back in time to reveal the roots of the story. What brought God’s Prophet Solomon and his great army to the heart of the kingdom of Sheba?
The real story begins inside Solomon’s kingdom, where order and efficiency are the order of the day. As part of his periodic review of his forces, specifically the “bird” units specialized in reconnaissance and information gathering, Solomon notices the absence of an important element: “The Hoopoe. Here, we must go beyond the superficial conceptualization of the hoopoe as a bird. The word “hoopoe” in language refers to a gentle, regular, repetitive movement, characterized by stealth. Thus, the hoopoe in Solomon’s army, as you emphasized, was nothing more than a A title for a professional spy or human intelligence emissary of the highest caliber, highly trained and competent . His sensitive job required him to move constantly, lightly and discreetly, to gather the most accurate information and convey the most dangerous messages.
The absence of this critical intelligence element without prior authorization triggered Sulayman’s determination, as it affected the security of the state. Therefore, his threat was clear and categorical, unless the Hoopoe gave a valid reason for his absence: “I will punish him severely, or I will slaughter him, or he will bring me a clear authority.”
The return of the Hoopoe: An intelligence report that changes the course of events
Solomon did not wait long. The Hoopoe returned quickly, not with a guilty and frightened face, but with the face of a soldier who had accomplished a task beyond expectations. He did not offer a lame excuse, but a “demonstrated authority” in the form of a remarkable intelligence achievement. He stood before Solomon with confidence and presented his amazing report: “I have learned what you have not learned, and I have brought you from Saba’a with certain news.” He revealed that there was a powerful kingdom in the south, the Kingdom of Sheba, and that their system of government was unique, as they were ruled by a woman who had all the elements of power and wealth: “I have found a woman who owns them, and she has everything.” More importantly, he described the center of their sovereignty and power: “She has a great throne.” But the Hoopoe did not stop at the limits of the physical description, but revealed the fundamental flaw in their faith: “I found her and her people worshipping the sun without God.” He analyzed the cause of this delusion: “Satan adorned them with their deeds and led them away from the way, so they are not guided.” It was a comprehensive and accurate intelligence report, covering all aspects, worthy of a professional emissary in the kingdom of knowledge and wisdom.
From intelligence to diplomacy: The message of truth and the attitude of the Queen of Sheba
After confirming the Hoopoe’s sincerity, Sulayman did not resort to force directly, but chose the path of invitation and argument. He assigned himself a diplomatic mission to carry his message to Sheba: “Go with this book of mine and throw it to them, then turn away from them and see what they return.” The content of the message was clear and decisive. The content of the message was clear and decisive: “It is from Solomon, and it is in the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate, the Merciful, that you should not rise above me and come to me as Muslims.”
The book reached the Queen of Sheba, who immediately recognized its gravity and importance, describing it as a “generous” book. As wise leaders are wont to do, she consulted with the “elders” of her people: “O people, consult me on my matter, for I have not made up my mind until you testify.” The men of her state showed their readiness for military confrontation, relying on their strength: “We are strong and powerful”, but they delegated the final decision to her. The queen, with her deep understanding of the politics of kings and the disastrous results of wars (“Kings, when they enter a village, corrupt it and make its inhabitants humble”), decided to test Solomon’s intentions first instead of a direct confrontation. She sent a delegation with a precious gift, not as a bribe, but as a diplomatic probe to see if Solomon was a king’s claimant or a prophet: “If I send a gift to them, I will see what the messengers return.”
Suleiman’s decisive response and ultimatum
When the delegation of Sheba arrived with the gift, Solomon rejected it with disdain for the materialism of what God had given him, explaining that his mission was higher than that: “Do you give me money, for what Allah has given me is better than what Allah has given you, but you rejoice in your gift.” He understood that it was an attempt to divert him from his goal. He understood that it was an attempt to divert him from his goal. Then came his final, unequivocal warning to the envoy of Sheba: “Go back to them, and we will bring them an army that is beyond their strength, and we will bring them out of it humbly and humbly.” It was a declaration that the time for dialog was over. It was a declaration that the time for dialog was over, and that Sheba had to choose between responding to the call of truth or facing a force they could not repel.
Throne Challenge: A dazzling display of the power of science and technology
In a pre-emptive move aimed at providing irrefutable proof of his kingdom’s civilizational and scientific superiority, and before Sheba’s delegation arrived with a declaration of submission, Solomon wanted to send a strong visual message to the Queen of Sheba. The goal was not just to move her physical throne, but the challenge was, as I have explained. Rebuilding a replica of her throne, or even designing a model that surpasses it in accuracy, perfection, and grandeur, and in record time, proving his overwhelming scientific and engineering superiority . He turned to the elite of his council, which included the “jinn” (geniuses, scientists and engineers) and people of advanced knowledge, and asked them: “O you of you, which of you will bring me her throne before they come to me as Muslims?” The question was about the ability for superior engineering creativity and immediate accomplishment.
A “goblin of the jinn” – that is, one of those skilled experts with superhuman abilities – stepped forward and offered to accomplish the task, saying: “I will bring it to you before you rise from your seat.” What is meant by “your standing” here is not the place where he sits, but the standing of his huge military camp that would take months to dismantle and disassemble. The Goblin shows the construction of this complex model in such a short period of time.
But the most impressive demonstration, representing the pinnacle of Sulaymani technology, came from “the one who has knowledge of the Book” – a divine scientist who possesses superior technological knowledge derived from a deep understanding of the laws of the universe. This scientist confidently said: “I will bring it to you before you turn back.” The word “your limb” here does not mean the blink of an eye, but rather refers to his human messenger, the ever-moving hoopoe. The meaning is that this scientist pledges to accomplish the complex engineering task with superhuman speed, before the Hoopoe can complete his last mission and return from it, i.e. in a record time that may not exceed a few days or weeks. It is a miraculous scientific, engineering and technical ability to shorten time miraculously. Indeed, this amazing achievement was realized, and Solomon saw the exact physical model of Sheba’s throne completed and settled in front of him: “When he saw it settled before him, he said, ‘This is the favor of my Lord…'”
The arrival of the queen: Facing civilizational excellence and a dazzling scientific edifice
The Queen of Sheba arrived in Solomon’s kingdom. Before the meeting, Solomon ordered modifications to the model of her throne that had been built: “He said, ‘Let us make her throne bigger so that we may see whether she will be guided or whether she will be one of those who are not guided. The disguise here was not merely a change of features, but was intended to Making it better, more luxurious, and more elaborate than her original throne, while maintaining the essence of its design, will be the true test of her ability to realize this development and Sulaymani superiority . When she was presented with this improved and upgraded version, she was asked a question that was more of a challenge of quality than a question of resemblance: “Is this your throne?” (i.e., is your original throne of such high style and quality? “Is this your throne?” (i.e., is your original throne of such high style and quality?) The queen realized with her intellect that it was very similar to her own throne, but with her insight as an experienced queen, she saw that it was superior in many ways. The situation was a culture shock. She chose a clever answer that reflected her confusion and implicit recognition of superiority, while trying to preserve her pride: “She said, “It looks like him. She saw the resemblance, but she also realized that it was better and more perfect, and she felt that her king and her civilization looked inferior.
The Qur’an then reveals why her faith was delayed despite the clear evidence: “We were given knowledge before her, and we were Muslims.” As for her, she “turned away from what she was worshipping besides God, for she was from unbelieving people.” This “rejection” was not out of ignorance, but was the result of her royal pride and her unwillingness to openly admit that her civilizational and religious system was inferior to Solomon’s.
Then came the final proof that sealed the deal. (Note the direct transition in the Qur’anic narrative without a conjunction, indicating the importance of the scene or the speed of the transition:) “It was said to her, “Enter the palace. The edifice here is not just a palatial palace, but a A building of an advanced scientific nature, perhaps a huge astronomical observatory, a scientific research complex, or a state-of-the-art optical laboratory . “When she saw it” – and merely seeing it from the outside or at its entrance was enough to produce the desired effect – “she thought it was a lujah”, i.e. she thought that what she saw in front of her was a large body of water. The lujah here is from the root “luj”, which means to bounce something back, may not be real water, but more likely Massive glass or crystal surfaces, carefully polished and smoothed, that reflect light or images in a way that suggests water, or perhaps giant flat or concave mirrors They form part of an elaborate visual system within the edifice. The verse describes the floor of this edifice as “an edifice made of marble.” “Glazed” is something that is carefully polished. “Flasks”, in this technological context, may not refer to simple glass vessels, but more likely, it refers to Specialty glass or crystal components: Massive lenses, optical tubes, or glass plates with exceptional clarity and the ability to refract or reflect in specific ways reinforcing the hypothesis that this “edifice” was indeed an astronomical observatory or a giant optical laboratory.
The scene was so majestic that, due to the purity of the reflective surface, she “bared her legs” in preparation to wade into what she thought was water. This act is an expression of utter amazement and complete surrender before the irresistible power of science and proof. When Solomon alerted her to the truth of the matter: “He said, “It is an edifice made of pots”, the last citadels of pride and resistance in her soul collapsed. She had a complete picture of the greatness of this civilization based on science and faith. In a moment of transcendence, she declared her absolute surrender to God, confessing her shortcomings: “She said, ‘Lord, I have wronged myself, and I have surrendered with Solomon to God, the Lord of the Worlds. It was not an Islam of coercion, but an Islam of conviction by rational and civilized proof.
Epilogue: The Kingdom of Solomon – the timeless lesson of the caliphate and the future of mankind
This is how this unique epic concludes, not as a fairy tale, but as a profound historical lesson and a complete model of true succession on earth. Solomon’s kingdom, as it unfolded, was not built on legends, but on solid pillars:
- Certainty and revelation: Starting from God’s guidance and law.
- Science and knowledge: Harnessing all available sciences and developing technologies (especially “bird logic,” which includes the science of speed, efficiency, advanced aviation technology, and harnessing energies) to serve the truth and build civilization.
- Organized force: Building a strong and diverse army (including “jinn” experts and scientists, “human” soldiers, and “fowl” elite forces) and an effective intelligence system, which is used wisely and justly.
- Wisdom and diplomacy: Using argument and proof, and advocating with wisdom, before resorting to force.
- Justice and humility: The administration of universal justice, a sense of responsibility, and always giving credit to God.
Solomon’s kingdom, with this understanding, was not a mere show of power, but a noble global humanitarian goal: The unification of humanity under one world order, based on justice and fairness, and achieving happiness and prosperity for all. What is even more miraculous is that this unity was not achieved through warfare, but through wisdom, proof, science and deterrent power derived from divine knowledge. Solomon showed the world a superior model of civilization, science, technology, and faith that made any attempt at military confrontation seem futile. Thus, the best option for other kingdoms is to voluntarily join this system. It is the power of divine knowledge that unites hearts and persuades minds.
The story of the Queen of Sheba and her voluntary submission is the clearest example of this; she was not defeated militarily, but was convinced, surrendered, and became a Muslim after seeing the clear evidence of the superiority of Solomon’s kingdom in all fields. She realized that joining this civilizational project was the best thing for her and her people. Solomon’s kingdom, with this deep understanding, remains the timeless lesson for humanity on how to build a future of peace and justice, not with weapons alone, but with the power of science and knowledge derived from divine guidance.
