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 12
Translations
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.
Transliteration
Wa li-Sulaymāna ar-Rīḥa ghuduwwuhā shahrun wa-rawāḥuhā shahrun wa-aslalnā lahu ʿayna al-qitri wa-mina al-jinni man yaʿmalu bayna yadayhi bi-idhni rabbihi wa-man yazigh minhum ʿan amrinā nudhiqhu min ʿadhābi as-saʿīri
Tafsir (Explanation)
This verse describes the miracles granted to Prophet Sulayman (Solomon), including his dominion over the wind that traveled a month's journey in the morning and evening, a spring of molten copper (qaṭr) that flowed at his command, and jinn who worked under his authority by permission of Allah. The verse concludes with a warning that any jinn who disobeyed Allah's command through Sulayman would be punished with hellfire. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note these were extraordinary divine gifts demonstrating Sulayman's unparalleled kingdom, while Al-Qurṭubī emphasizes the conditional nature of the jinn's obedience—they served by divine permission, not through Sulayman's own power.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Saba (the 34th chapter), which is Meccan and discusses various prophets and divine signs. The context addresses the disbelief of the Quraysh and presents the reality of Allah's power through the stories of previous prophets like Dawud and Sulayman, whose miracles testified to their prophethood and Allah's sovereignty.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim that Sulayman asked Allah for a kingdom that would not be given to anyone after him. Additionally, Tirmidhi reports that the Prophet spoke of three men whom Allah granted special knowledge: Luqman, Khidr, and the father of Maryam—highlighting how Allah grants wisdom and special abilities to chosen servants.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that worldly power and dominion, however extraordinary, are temporary gifts from Allah that require gratitude and proper use according to His commands. It reminds us that true authority comes from Allah alone, and submission to His will—whether by humans, jinn, or natural forces—is the foundation of a righteous kingdom and protection from punishment.