وَلِسُلَيْمَـٰنَ ٱلرِّيحَ عَاصِفَةً تَجْرِى بِأَمْرِهِۦٓ إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ ٱلَّتِى بَـٰرَكْنَا فِيهَا ۚ وَكُنَّا بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَـٰلِمِينَ 81
Translations
And to Solomon [We subjected] the wind, blowing forcefully, proceeding by his command toward the land which We had blessed. And We are ever, of all things, Knowing.
Transliteration
Wa li-Sulaymāna ar-rīḥa 'āṣifatan tajrī bi-amrihī ilā al-arḍi al-latī bāraknā fīhā wa-kunnā bi-kulli shay'in 'ālimīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes one of the miraculous provisions granted to Prophet Sulayman (Solomon), wherein the violent wind obeyed his command and traveled at his direction toward the blessed land (Syria/Ash-Sham). Classical tafsir scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this wind served as a means of transportation and fulfillment of his needs, demonstrating Allah's subjugation of natural forces to the righteous, while the phrase 'we were of all things knowing' affirms Allah's complete knowledge and wisdom in granting such miracles.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Anbiya (a Meccan surah) within a section enumerating the miracles and blessings granted to various prophets. The context highlights Allah's power over creation and serves to remind the polytheists of Mecca of divine sovereignty, establishing that miracles granted to prophets are signs of Allah's knowledge and control.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly narrates this specific miracle, the broader theme relates to Sulayman's supplication in Surah An-Naml (27:16) where he asks: 'This is from the favor of my Lord to test me whether I will be grateful or ungrateful.' Additionally, various authentic hadiths discuss Sulayman's unique position among prophets and his extensive knowledge and power.
Themes
Key Lesson
The subjugation of the wind to Sulayman's command exemplifies how sincere obedience to Allah and reliance upon Him can result in extraordinary blessings and power over worldly matters; modern believers should recognize that true success comes not from material accumulation but from righteous character and submission to Allah's will.
Related Ayahs
قَالَ فَأْتِ بِهِۦٓ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ
[Pharaoh] said, "Then bring it, if you should be of the truthful."
قَالَ عِيسَى ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ ٱللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَآ أَنزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مَآئِدَةً مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ تَكُونُ لَنَا عِيدًا لِّأَوَّلِنَا وَءَاخِرِنَا وَءَايَةً مِّنكَ ۖ وَٱرْزُقْنَا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّٰزِقِينَ
Said Jesus, the son of Mary, "O Allāh, our Lord, send down to us a table [spread with food] from the heaven to be for us a festival for the first of us and the last of us and a sign from You. And provide for us, and You are the best of providers."
وَلِسُلَيْمَـٰنَ ٱلرِّيحَ غُدُوُّهَا شَهْرٌ وَرَوَاحُهَا شَهْرٌ ۖ وَأَسَلْنَا لَهُۥ عَيْنَ ٱلْقِطْرِ ۖ وَمِنَ ٱلْجِنِّ مَن يَعْمَلُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِۦ ۖ وَمَن يَزِغْ مِنْهُمْ عَنْ أَمْرِنَا نُذِقْهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ
And to Solomon [We subjected] the wind - its morning [journey was that of] a month - and its afternoon [journey was that of] a month, and We made flow for him a spring of [liquid] copper. And among the jinn were those who worked for him by the permission of his Lord. And whoever deviated among them from Our command - We will make him taste of the punishment of the Blaze.
فَأَشَارَتْ إِلَيْهِ ۖ قَالُوا۟ كَيْفَ نُكَلِّمُ مَن كَانَ فِى ٱلْمَهْدِ صَبِيًّا
So she pointed to him. They said, "How can we speak to one who is in the cradle a child?"