378 Page Notes

27 Surah An-Naml (continued)

Page 378 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 378 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 378 encompasses Surah An-Naml (27:14–22). It opens with the conclusion of Prophet Musa's story (verse 14) regarding the stubbornness of Pharaoh's court, before diving into the core narrative of Prophet Dawud (David) and Prophet Sulayman (Solomon). This page details their gratitude for divine knowledge, Sulayman inheriting Dawud, his mastery over the language of birds (Mantiq al-Tayr), the gathering of his multi-species army (jinn, humans, and birds), the famous dialogue with the Queen of the Ants, and the sudden absence of the Hoopoe bird (Al-Hudhud).

The Sunnah heavily complements this text, clarifying everything from prophetic inheritance to the legal status of the animals mentioned.

1. Hadiths Related to Prophetic Knowledge and Inheritance (Verses 15–16)

“And We had certainly given Dawud and Sulayman knowledge, and they said, 'Praise be to Allah, who has favored us over many of His believing servants.' And Sulayman inherited Dawud...” (27:15–16)

The True Nature of Prophetic Inheritance

When verse 16 states that "Sulayman inherited Dawud," material property or gold is not the subject. The Sunnah explicitly clarifies that Prophets do not leave behind material wealth for their families; their inheritance is purely spiritual—consisting of prophethood, wisdom, and divine knowledge.

Hadith: The Prophet ($\rho$) said: “We (the Prophets) do not leave an inheritance. Whatever we leave behind is charity (Sadaqah).”

• Source Citation: Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 3093), Sahih Muslim (Hadith 1758).

Knowledge as the Ultimate Legacy

Reflecting the opening of verse 15 where Allah highlights the "knowledge" granted to them, the Sunnah connects this directly to the scholars of the Muslim community, framing them as the spiritual successors to this prophetic line.

Hadith: The Messenger of Allah ($\rho$) said: “The scholars are the heirs of the Prophets. The Prophets did not leave behind dinars or dirhams, rather they left behind knowledge. So whoever takes it has taken an abundant share.”

• Source Citation: Sunan Abi Dawud (Hadith 3641), Sunan al-Tirmidhi (Hadith 2682). Classed as Sahih.

2. Hadiths Related to Understanding Animal Speech (Verse 16)

“And he said, 'O people, we have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given from all things...'” (27:16)

Miraculous Comprehension of Animals

While verse 16 establishes Sulayman’s specialized miracle of understanding birds (Mantiq al-Tayr), the Sunnah reveals that the Prophet Muhammad ($\rho$) was also occasionally granted a similar ability to comprehend the emotional distress and communication of animals, highlighting a shared prophetic trait.

Hadith: Abdullah bin Ja'far narrated that the Prophet ($\rho$) entered an orchard belonging to a man from the Ansar and saw a camel. When the camel saw the Prophet ($\rho$), it began to groan and its eyes filled with tears. The Prophet ($\rho$) approached it, wiped its tears, and it calmed down. He then asked, "Who is the owner of this camel?" A young man came forward. The Prophet ($\rho$) told him: “Do you not fear Allah regarding this beast whom Allah has put in your possession? Indeed, it has complained to me that you starve it and overwork it.”

• Source Citation: Sunan Abi Dawud (Hadith 2549), Musnad Ahmad (Hadith 1746). Classed as Sahih.

3. Hadiths Related to the Army of Jinn, Men, and Birds (Verse 17)

“And gathered for Sulayman were his soldiers of the jinn and men and birds, and they were [marched] in rows.” (27:17)

The Exclusive Subjugation of the Jinn

Verse 17 explicitly states that Jinn acted as conscripted soldiers in Sulayman's standing army. The Sunnah underscores that this absolute command over the Jinn was a unique, exclusive miracle granted only to Sulayman, a boundary the Prophet Muhammad ($\rho$) strictly respected.

Hadith: Abu Hurairah (r.a.) narrated that the Prophet ($\rho$) said: “An 'Ifrit (powerful demon) from among the jinn spat on me last night trying to interrupt my prayer. Allah enabled me to overpower him. I wanted to tie him to one of the pillars of the mosque so that all of you could look at him in the morning, but then I remembered the supplication of my brother Sulayman: 'My Lord, forgive me and grant me a kingdom such as will not belong to anyone after me' [Surah Sad 38:35]. So, I let the jinn go, humiliated.”

• Source Citation: Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 4808), Sahih Muslim (Hadith 541).

4. Hadiths Related to the Valley of the Ants (Verses 18–19)

“Until, when they came upon the valley of the ants, an ant said, 'O ants, enter your dwellings that you not be crushed by Sulayman and his soldiers while they perceive not.' So [Sulayman] smiled, laughing at her speech...” (27:18–19)

Prohibition of Killing Ants

Because the ant in verse 18 demonstrated high communal intelligence, care, and is honored directly in the Qur'an, the Sunnah establishes a strict legal prohibition protecting ants from casual or malicious destruction.

Hadith: Ibn Abbas (r.a.) narrated: “The Prophet ($\rho$) prohibited the killing of four distinct creatures: the ant, the bee, the hoopoe (Hudhud), and the shrike (a predatory bird).”

• Source Citation: Sunan Abi Dawud (Hadith 5267), Sunan Ibn Majah (Hadith 3224). Classed as Sahih.

The Ant that Rebuked a Prophet

The Sunnah provides a historical backstory showing how strictly Allah protects these tiny creatures. The Prophet ($\rho$) related a story of a past prophet who was heavily reprimanded by Allah for destroying an entire colony after being bitten by a single ant.

Hadith: Abu Hurairah (r.a.) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ($\rho$) said: “An ant bit one of the Prophets of old, so he ordered that the entire colony of ants be burned. Thereupon Allah revealed to him: 'Because an ant bit you, you have destroyed a whole community among the communities that glorifies Me? Why did you not kill just one ant?'”

• Source Citation: Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 3319), Sahih Muslim (Hadith 2241).

5. Hadiths Related to the Hoopoe Bird (Verses 20–22)

“And he took attendance of the birds and said, 'Why do I not see the hoopoe - or is he among the absent?...'” (27:20–22)

Legal Protection of the Hoopoe (Al-Hudhud)

Just like the ant, the Hoopoe bird introduced on this page is legally protected in the Sunnah. Because this specific bird acted as a critical scout for monotheism—bringing back intelligence regarding the sun-worshipping Kingdom of Sheba—it earned an exempt status in Islamic jurisprudence.

• Jurisprudential Link: As cited above in Sunan Abi Dawud (Hadith 5267), the Hoopoe is explicitly listed among the four animals Muslims are forbidden from killing. Classical Hadith commentators (such as Al-Baghawi) note that this unique status is a direct honor stemming from its intelligent service to Prophet Sulayman recorded on this exact page of the Qur'an.

References

• Al-Bukhari, M. (1997). Sahih al-Bukhari (Vols. 1-9). Darussalam Publishers.

• Al-Sijistani, A. D. (2008). Sunan Abi Dawud. Darussalam Publishers.

• Al-Tirmidhi, M. (2007). Sunan al-Tirmidhi. Darussalam Publishers.

• Ibn Hanbal, A. (2012). Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal. Mu'assasat al-Risalah.

• Muslim, I. (2007). Sahih Muslim. Darussalam Publishers.