Prophet Sulayman (Solomon) was given abnormal empire by
Almighty Allah (s.w.t.) which included the kingdom of animals and birds apart
from human beings and the Jinn. Once a bird Hoopoe (Hudhud) brought the news
that while flying, it witnessed a group of people ruled by a woman; Queen Sheba
(Bilquees) and that they worshipped the sun instead of the Almighty Allah
(s.w.t.). Prophet Sulayman wrote a
letter saying, “It is from Solomon, and verily it is: ‘In the name of Allah.
The Beneficent, the Merciful.” “Exalt
not yourself against me and come to
me in submission.” The Queen Sheba sent some valuable gifts to Prophet Sulayman,
but he said that what Allah had given him was better than those gifts and warned
her of an imminent attack. The Prophet Sulayman inquired of his courtiers as to
who could bring the throne of the Queen Sheba before she arrives in submission.
One of the audacious Jinn promised to bring it before he rose up from his
place. However, one who had a part of the knowledge of the Book promised to
bring it before his eyes twinkled. And he did bring it as stated in Ayah 40 of Surah al-Namal, “One with whom
was some knowledge (of a part) of the (Divine) Book said, “I will bring it to
you before your eye twinkles.” Then when he saw it settled before him, he said:
‘This is of the Grace of my Lord that He may try me whether I am grateful, or I
am ungrateful; and whoever is grateful, verily, he is grateful for his own
soul, and whoever is ungrateful, then my Lord is self-sufficient, Bounteous.”
According to the exegesis of the Glorious Qur’an and the
Traditions of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.), He was the vice-gerent and nephew
(sister’s son) of Prophet Sulayman; Hazrat
Asif bin Barkhia who had only the complete knowledge and command of only one Exalted Name of Allah (s.w.t.) “Ism-e-Azam” while
the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) and his Progeny
(a.s.) were granted 72 “Ism-e-Azam” by Allah (s.w.t.). The knowledge of an “Ism-e-Azam”
means to own and acquire the characteristics of that name “Ism”; the same Great
Name before which everything becomes humble and gives man extraordinary power
and practice it from his heart and soul and attain the highest status of knowledge,
excellent manners, belief and piety. When
the word Progeny is used it initially refers to the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.). About Imam Ali (a.s.) the Noble Prophet
(s.a.w.a.s.) had said, “I am the City of Knowledge and Ali is the Gateway.” According to “Usul al-Kafi and Tafsir Nurussaqalayn, Abu Sa’eed Khudri
inquired from the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) as to who was the person who had
the knowledge of the Book, he (s.a.w.a.s.) replied, “That is my brother Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.)”
Even the pace of development of science has been
astronomical but still human beings have a long way to go to understand and
believe as to how Asif bin Barqia
converted the throne of Queen Sheba into the light rays, brought it to the Prophet Sulayman and reconverted it
into material throne! People would not believe it if few hundred years ago
we would tell anyone that a person in the Far East could speak and see the
photo of another person in the West, none would have believed it.
Surah ar-Ra’d Ayah 43
which says, “And those who disbelieve say: ‘You are not a Messenger’. Say: Allah
is sufficient as a witness between me and you and he with whom is the knowledge
of the Book.” At numerous occasions Imam Ali (a.s.) had given open-ended
invitations to people to ask anything. No one had ever invited people to ask
anything!
Surah ali-Imran Ayah
7, “He it is Who sent down to you the Book, in it are the decisive verses,
which are the basis of the Book, while others are the allegorical. But for
those in whose hearts there is perversity, they follow the part of which is
allegorical seeking (to cause) dissension by seeking it (their own)
interpretation, while none knows it’s (hidden) interpretation except Allah and
those firmly rooted in knowledge. They say: ’We believe in it, the whole (of
it) is from our Lord;’ and none mind saves the possessors of intellect.”
Sources: The Glorious Qur’an (Urdu translation) of
Tafsir-e-Namuna by Ayatollah Nasir Makarem Shirazi
An
Enlightening Commentary into the Light of Holy Qur’an
Tafsir
al-Mizan compiled by Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Tabatabai (r.a.)
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