455 Page Notes

38 Surah Sad (continued)

Page 455 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 455 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 455 of the Quran features Surah Sad, verses 27 through 42. This page serves as a major thematic bridge, moving smoothly from the end of Prophet Dawud's narrative into the grand, miraculous kingdom of his son, Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon), and concludes by introducing the profound patience of Prophet Ayyub (Job).

The Hadith and Sunnah offer crucial, explicit explanations for the extraordinary events detailed on this page, clarifying theological points and providing deep historical context.

1. Giving Up Something for Allah (Verses 31–33)

Verses 31 to 33 describe Sulaiman reviewing his magnificent, finely bred parade horses (Al-Siyad al-Jiyad). He becomes so thoroughly absorbed in admiring them that he realizes they distracted him from his afternoon remembrance of Allah until the sun set behind the horizon. Distressed by this lapse, he commands: "Bring them back to me!" and begins passing his hand over their legs and necks.

The Sunnah Principle of Sacrificial Replacement

While some early Judeo-Christian traditions (Isra'iliyyat) claimed he slaughtered the horses out of anger, authentic prophetic traditions and classical commentators like Ibn Kathir clarify that he actually let them go or designated them for the sake of Allah because they had distracted him. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ immortalized the universal spiritual rule behind Sulaiman's action in a foundational Hadith:

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Verily, you will never leave anything for the sake of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, except that Allah will replace it for you with something that is vastly better for you than it." (Musnad Ahmad, 23074; authenticated by Al-Albani).

2. The Trial and the Body on the Throne (Verse 34)

Verse 34 contains a famous, highly discussed trial: "And We certainly tried Sulaiman and placed on his throne a body (jasadan); then he returned [in repentance]."

Surah Sad Verse 34. Source: My Islam

The Prophetic Oath Without Saying "Insha'Allah"

The authentic Sunnah provides the direct, literal explanation for what this "body on the throne" actually was. It references an occasion where Sulaiman relied purely on his personal resolve to produce heirs who would fight for the sake of Allah, forgetting to utter the phrase of divine reliance (Insha'Allah).

Narrated Abu Hurairah: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Sulaiman bin Dawud said: 'Tonight I will surely round upon one hundred women (my wives), each of whom will give birth to a boy who will fight in the cause of Allah.' An angel said to him: 'Say: If Allah wills (Insha'Allah).' But he did not say it, as he forgot.

He went around to them, but none of them gave birth to a child except for a single woman, who gave birth to half a human body (a deformed child)."

The Prophet ﷺ then added: "By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, if he had said 'Insha'Allah', he would not have failed, and his oath would have been fulfilled, and those boys would have grown up to fight in Allah's cause." (Sahih al-Bukhari, 5242; Sahih Muslim, 1654).

Classical scholars point out that this underdeveloped child was brought to him and placed on his seat or throne (kursiyyihee), making him instantly realize his spiritual slip. He immediately turned back to Allah in absolute repentance (Anaab).

3. The Unparalleled Kingdom and Command of the Jinn (Verses 35–39)

Immediately after his repentance, Sulaiman asks for a uniquely exclusive gift in verse 35: "My Lord, forgive me and grant me a kingdom such as will not belong to anyone after me. Verily, You are the Bestower." Allah immediately answers this by subjecting the wind and the unruly Shayatin (rebellious Jinn) to do heavy physical labor for him.

The Prophet Muhammad’s Encounter with a Rebellious Jinn

The Sunnah demonstrates that this historical prayer remained completely intact and respected across cosmic history. On one occasion, a dynamic clash occurred between the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and a rogue demon, but the Prophet ﷺ deliberately chose to release it out of respect for Sulaiman's ancient prayer on page 455:

Narrated Abu Hurairah: The Prophet ﷺ said, "A fierce demon from the Jinn leaped at me last night to disrupt my prayer. But 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 Sulaiman: 'My Lord, forgive me and grant me a kingdom such as will not belong to anyone after me.' So, Allah chased the demon away, disgraced." (Sahih al-Bukhari, 461; Sahih Muslim, 541).

4. The Beginning of Ayyub’s Unyielding Patience (Verses 41–42)

The page shifts gracefully at verse 41 to the heavy trial of Prophet Ayyub (Job): "And remember Our servant Ayyub, when he called out to his Lord, 'Satan has touched me with distress and suffering!'" In verse 42, Allah commands him: "Strike [the ground] with your foot; this is a cooling spring for washing and a drink."

The Sudden Downpour of Golden Locusts

The Sunnah supplies a vivid historical snapshot showing how instantly and beautifully Allah restored Ayyub's life, wealth, and health once his lengthy period of patience concluded.

Narrated Abu Hurairah: The Prophet ﷺ said: "While Ayyub was taking a bath completely naked, a shower of golden locusts fell upon him. He began gathering them eagerly into his garment. His Lord called out to him, 'O Ayyub! Did I not make you rich enough to not need what you see?' Ayyub replied, 'Yes, O Lord! But I can never have enough of Your blessings!'" (Sahih al-Bukhari, 279).

References

• Al-Bukhari, M. I. (c. 846). Sahih al-Bukhari (Book of the Stories of the Prophets).

• Ibn Kathir, I. O. (d. 1373). Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim (Vol. 7, Exegesis of Surah Sad verses 27–42).

• Muslim, I. H. (c. 875). Sahih Muslim (Book of Oaths).

• Al-Ahmad, M. (reprinted). Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal (Collections on Prophetic Narrative Context).