The ant said, "Prophet Sulaiman, alaihissalam, was one of the great prophets of Allah and He had bestowed on him significant favours. These favours included: Prophethood, noble descent, son of a Prophet, large kingdom, exclusive sovereignty, authority over mankind, jinn, beast, birds and insects, authority over wind, knowledge of the language of birds. In fact, he was blessed with untold, unique favours.
Along with these blessings and large kingdom, he was a warrior in the way of Allah. To wage jihad for the sake of Allah was very dear to him. Everyone who studies the Qur'an with concentration, will see how passionately he loved to fight in the way of Allah. It was this love of jihad that kept his mind occupied on how to thank Allah and add to the number of warriors in His cause. He was constantly engaged in jihad.
He prepared an army of birds, a force of beasts and troops of human beings. Allah says,
He kept his horses ready and fit. Allah says,وَحُشِرَ لِسُلَيْمَانَ جُنُودُهُ مِنَ الْجِنِّ وَالإنْسِ وَالطَّيْرِ فَهُمْ يُوزَعُونَ"And gathered for Solomon were his soldiers of the jinn and men and birds, and they were [marching] in rows." - [QS.27:17]
Prophet Sulaiman was a mujahid who kept himself occupied in jihad. It was his love for jihad that prompted him one day to vow that he would have intimate relationship that very night with his seventy of his wives and bondwomen (according to other versions, ninety or a hundred of them). He asserted that each of them will conceive and deliver a male offspring who will grow up to fight in the way of Allah as a cavalier. In this way, a large number of warriors will be bom of one night.إِذْ عُرِضَ عَلَيْهِ بِالْعَشِيِّ الصَّافِنَاتُ الْجِيَادُ"[Mention] when there were exhibited before him in the afternoon the poised [standing] racehorses." - [QS.38:31]
Narrated from Abu Hurayrah, radhiyallahu 'anhu, the Prophet (ﷺ) said,
It is necessary to bear in mind certain things to be able to understand this Hadith. The first thing we must know is that the Shari'ah of Prophet Musa, alaihissalam, did not limit the number of wives to four as the Shari'ah of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Besides, Prophet Sulaiman had bondwomen too for he was a warrior and warriors got them in addition to the spoils.قَالَ سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ لأَطُوفَنَّ اللَّيْلَةَ عَلَى سَبْعِينَ امْرَأَةً تَحْمِلُ كُلُّ امْرَأَةٍ فَارِسًا يُجَاهِدُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ، فَقَالَ لَهُ صَاحِبُهُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ. فَلَمْ يَقُلْ، وَلَمْ تَحْمِلْ شَيْئًا إِلاَّ وَاحِدًا سَاقِطًا إِحْدَى شِقَّيْهِ ". فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لَوْ قَالَهَا لَجَاهَدُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ". قَالَ شُعَيْبٌ وَابْنُ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ " تِسْعِينَ ". وَهْوَ أَصَحُّ."Sulaiman (the son of) David said, 'Tonight I will sleep with seventy ladies each of whom will conceive a child who will be a knight fighting for "Allah's Cause.' His companion said, 'If Allah will.' But Sulaiman did not say so; therefore none of those women got pregnant except one who gave birth to a half child." The Prophet (ﷺ) further said, "If Prophet Sulaiman had said it (i.e. 'If Allah will') he would have begotten children who would have fought in Allah's Cause." Shuaib and Ibn Abi Az-Zinad said, "Ninety (women) is more correct (than seventy). - [Sahih Al-Bukhari]
The second thing is that Prophet Sulaiman vowed confidently about something in the future. On the face of it, it is contrary to the station of a great Prophet to make such a claim especially if such a thing was not within his powers. But, we must remember that some of Allah's slaves are very close to Him and Allah fulfills their vows because of the close station they enjoy. It is stated in a Hadith that there are some slaves of Allah whose saying Allah does not reject and He fulfills their vows. Surely, Prophet Sulaiman was also among the closest slaves of Allah. Accordingly, his claim and assertion was on this basis alone. However, Allah had to teach a lesson so He did not fulfil his claim and vow.
It is a miracle of Prophet Sulaiman, even in terms of the time available to him. He could sleep with seventy (or ninety or a hundred) women and go through his normal rota of worship in one night. It is impossible for an ordinary man to imagine it even in terms of time available. This narrative also proves that Prophet Sulaiman had extraordinary manly power for an ordinary man cannot be expected to have sexual intercourse even three or four times. It is true that Allah grants His prophets, alaihissalam, strength equal to that of a male dweller of Paradise who will possess seventy times the strength of a strong man of earth.
When speaking of these things, where the very intimate relationship is concerned, one should merely allude to them or speak in a figurative manner and avoid direct, clear reference. Prophet Sulaiman did not say that he would have intercourse that night with better women, but he said that he would go to seventy women that night. He did not use the exact words and that is the recommended and the proper way. However, if a religious point has to be explained then it is allowed to use the exact words.
Also, it is mustahab to form the intention at the time of having intercourse with one's wife that Allah grant them pious children through it.
References :The Hadith also reveals to us that the angels too remind the Prophets of what they should do. Just as the devil makes one forget many things, the angels remind of many forgotten things. Prophet Sulaiman forgot to say "In sha' Allah" (if Allah Wills) and the angel reminded him to say that. It is a different thing that he forgot to say it in spite of that reminder.
A Believer should be prepared always to undertake jihad as Prophet Sulaiman was prepared. He was also wishing to have more warriors and planned to have more sons for that purpose. The preparations for jihad may be made in any manner.
Prophet Sulaiman forgot to let his policy and its fulfilment be subject to the Will of Allah, or the devil made him forget it. Although the angel reminded him, he forgot to say "In sha' Allah". The result was that although he had sexual intercourse with his wives and bondwomen, none of them conceived except one who too gave birth to an imperfect child. Allah displays His perfect power and ability both by creating normal human beings and, sometimes, abnormal or incomplete human beings. The birth of an abnormal child is a sign of Allah's power and ability, but it may also be the result of a wrong deed by the parents. The foregoing case of Prophet Sulayman is an example of that. Thus, if an abnormal child is bom to anyone, instead of complaining, they must rectify their misdeed.
Every policy and plan depends on the Will of Allah and the predetermined fate and it is necessary for man to adopt means and agencies and then leave the result to Allah's Will; he must say, "In sha' Allah". He must not depend merely on his means and strength or overlook the will of Allah. It happens sometimes that Allah causes His close slaves to act against the preferred way, and there is much wisdom in it one of which is that the Ummah is taught in this way.
Thus, Allah reminded him that nothing may be done without His Will. Of course, we cannot say at all that Prophet Sulaiman had turned away from Allah and relied on his own effort. He certainly had it on his mind that Allah determines what will happen and what not. Only, he had forgotten to say "In sha' Allah". The Prophet (ﷺ) said that if he had said In sha' Allah, his vow would have been fulfilled and he would not have been disappointed.
The Qur'an also teaches us to say "In sha' Allah" before forming an intention to do something in the future, making it subservient to the Will of Allah. Allah shows us the correct etiquette when determining to do something in the future; this should always be referred to the will of Allah, the Knower of the Unseen, Who knows what was and what is yet to be and what is not to be, and how it will be if it is to be. Hushaym reported from Al-A‘mash from Mujahid that concerning a man who swears an oath, Ibn ‘Abbas said “ He may say 'In sha' Allah' even if it is a year later.” The meaning of Ibn ‘Abbas’ view, that a person may say “In sha' Allah”, even if it is a year later, is that if he forgets to say it when he makes the oath or when he speaks, and he remembers it later, even a year later, the Sunnah is that he should say it, so that he will still be following the Sunnah of saying “In sha' Allah”, even if that is after breaking his oath. This was also the view of Ibn Jarir, but he stated that this does not make up for breaking the oath or mean that one is no longer obliged to offer expiation. According to Ibn Kathir, what Ibn Jarir said is correct, and it is more appropriate to understand the words of Ibn Abbas in this way. And Allah knows best.
It is very important, therefore, to say In sha' Allah and every Muslim must observe it. We must not take these words to be customary but must repeat them with their full implication in our minds. The heart too must turn towards the Real Doer alongwith the tongue, and He is Allah."
Then the ant said, "O my brothers and sisters, man generally keeps his eyes on the means and measures available to him. Often, it is on the strength of these that he makes tall claims but he is unaware of the fact that these agencies will build for him only castles in air if Divine Will does not agree with him. The prophets, alaihimassalam, know this. They regard all their deeds and excellences as Divine grants and hold all their actions and policies as dependant on Divine Will. In fact, religion also teaches us to hold our actions dependant on the Will of Allah and express this belief through the brief statement In sha' Allah (If Allah Wills). These are three words but they are exhaustive in meaning. Without the help of Allah, all our means and agencies are meaningless, like 'flying dust'!
If anyone vows about something concerning the future and says "In sha' Allah" too then he will not be a perjure as is evident from the saying of the Prophet (ﷺ). Whatever intention we form and determination we make to perform something in the future, we must qualify our intention and our statement with "In sha' Allah". This is because the intention and determination of man has no reality before the Perfect Power of Allah. And Allah knows best."
وَلا تَقُولَنَّ لِشَيْءٍ إِنِّي فَاعِلٌ ذَلِكَ غَدًا"And never say of anything, "Indeed, I will do that tomorrow," - [QS.18:23]
إِلا أَنْ يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ وَاذْكُرْ رَبَّكَ إِذَا نَسِيتَ وَقُلْ عَسَى أَنْ يَهْدِيَنِ رَبِّي لأقْرَبَ مِنْ هَذَا رَشَدًا"Except [when adding], 'If Allah wills.' And remember your Rabb when you forget [it] and say, "Perhaps my Rabb will guide me to what is nearer than this to right conduct'." - [QS.18:24]
- Maulana Muhammad Zakaria Iqbal, Stories from the Hadith, Darul Isha'at.
- Syaikh Safiurrahman Al-Mubarakpuri, Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Abridged) Volume VI, Darussalam.
