In answer to the video entitled "Quran, Solomon and Ashmedai"
From his father the prophet-King David, Solomon had inherited a material kingdom. He did not inherit his father's righteousness. Spiritual eminence is not something that can be passed on to one's children by virtue of biological descendancy. One's spirituality is nurtured and increased through one's own efforts, reasonable observation of the signs which the Quran says surround us at all moments, including in our inner selves, as well as reflecting on the guidance sent to mankind through the prophets. Since Solomon had reached spiritual uprightness in this manner, in addition was equally chosen and elevated to the status of prophethood, just as his father David was, he might have assumed that the same would eventually be the case of his own child, regardless of his current condition. That hope, which is but natural for a parent, was however put to rest at the sight of a jasad on his throne. The Arabic means a body. This body can be animate or inanimate, that of a human, an angel, a jinn or even an animal. To pinpoint which one is meant, it suffices to read and ponder upon the rest of this highly eloquent passage.
Upon seeing that jasad/body on his throne, the prophet Solomon made 2 prayers. First asking for ghafr/God's covering. This is the covering of protection towards any potential shortcomings.
God is described with the word "ghafur", stemming from Gh-F-R meaning covering something. That covering can be for the purpose of hiding, or protecting, as well as both. The implication is that God provides a covering upon the person to hide the sins of the past in case there were any 5:65 all the while providing a protection from the potential sins of the future, by increasing the person's spirituality. It is up to the believer to maintain that covering of protection throughout his life, elsewhere referred to as the garment of God-consciousness 7:26. If he loses it, he is again exposed to moral and spiritual failure. His past sins will remain hidden/forgiven but the future ones will have to be rectified
14:10"He calls you to forgive for you OF your sins".
This, as a side note, strikes at the notion of guaranteed salvation and forgiveness from sins -past and future- which is propounded by certain belief systems and more particularly Christianity.
The believers and prophets have always asked God to provide them with ghafr, the covering that hides and/or protects. It comes with merit as often repeated in the HB Ps23:1,85:3 but its implications far surpass in value the level of merit needed to obtain it. God only requires in exchange sincerity and resolve in walking aright. The correct mindframe, as exemplified with the prophets who constantly sought the ghafr from Allah, is to feel that one's righteous actions are defective, that they could always be improved since nobody can claim perfection of action besides God 47:19. As reported in the NT
Mk10:18"“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone".
By seeking the ghafr from Allah, the believer shows his humility so that Allah might accept one's imperfect deeds done with sincerity and to please Him, and cover their inherent shortcomings.
No sin is willfuly ascribed to Solomon in the passage. A pious person often makes such a prayer when upset by the sight of evil, which was the case here, as will be shown later.
Second, Solomon prayed that his kingdom dissolves at his death, without it passing on to anyone after him
38:34-5"And certainly We tried Sulaiman, and We put on his throne a (mere) body, so he turned (to Allah). He said, "My Lord, protect me and grant me a kingdom such as will not belong to anyone after me. Indeed, You are the Bestower".
And this is the final clue inevitably pointing to the identity of that body which Solomon saw on his throne and which prompted him to make such a prayer; it could not be anyone or anything else than his own son, otherwise the prayer to end his kingdom after him would be irrelevant. He saw the evil potential of his son. This sight shocked him, as any pious person naturally would be, hence his prayer to be protected from sin. Then, knowing what wicked rulers are capable of if given power the like he had, he did not want his kingdom to fall in the hands of his sinful and undeserving heir.
The verse is clearly alluding to the individual sitting on the throne derogatorily, not worthy to be spoken of as a proper person and having his identity described. It is but a mere body, a piece of flesh, just as anyone devoid of spirituality, is. The Quran as well as scriptures of the past, repeatedly allude to those lacking God-consciousness as lifeless or dead, or as mere animals like the rest of worldly creatures. Because they lack the inner distinction, spirituality, that separates between humans and the rest of biological creation. None would have been admitted to sit on a king's throne other than a very close person such as one's child, more particularly the future heir, who would be designated ahead of time as was the custom. Solomon's son came to power at the death of his father and when he was 40 years old according to the HB in 1Kings14:21. Solomon had thus all the time to try and evaluate the potential of his future heir, eventually forming an opinion about him. But at some point, seeing him on the throne made him visualize the devastating effects a wicked ruler might cause, a spiritually dead person or a mere body as eloquently stated in the Quran, not worthy of being properly introduced. The HB equally states Solomon came to know of the future destruction of his kingdom. It says this was a divine decree, unrelated to his son's condition, who would nevertheless turn out to be spiritually corrupt 2Chronicles12, ie a mere body of flesh and bones, as stated in the Quran. The Bible further says this divine decree was aimed at punishing Solomon for his alleged participation in idolatry
1Kings11"I will surely tear the kingdom from you, and I shall give it to your servant...from the hands of your son I shall tear it".
The Quran, far from ascribing such enormous sins to the prophets, states that it was Solomon himself who requested for his kingdom to end after him, and this was because he became convinced of his son's unworthiness. Among the hardest trials of life is seeing one's own children and other family members hopelessly going astray. But Solomon, known for his wisdom understood the inevitable, and at that point dissociated himself from his wicked son who was bound to be the future ruler. How could anyone, let alone a prophet of Solomon's caliber, willing to go to such extent so as to safeguard his integrity and piety, be accused of idolatry? Even the prophet Nuh could not control his fatherly bond when confronted to his sinful son. He insisted on asking for God's mercy for his disbelieving son, although God had warned him not to be involved with the sinners no matter who they are once the punishment is unleashed
11:36-47"And Noah called to his Lord and said, "My Lord, indeed my son is of my family; and indeed, Your promise is true; and You are the most just of judges! He said, "O Noah, indeed he is not of your family; indeed, he is [one whose] work was other than righteous, so ask Me not for that about which you have no knowledge. Indeed, I advise you, lest you be among the ignorant. [Noah] said, "My Lord, I seek refuge in You from asking that of which I have no knowledge. And unless You forgive me and have mercy upon me, I will be among the losers".Nuh was rebuked by God for his plea. Solomon however, as already pointed, did not persist and understood, through his wisdom that he should separate himself from the disbelievers, be it his own progeny.
Stripped from its divine protection, the kingdom thus rapidly disintegrated following Solomon's death, as reflected in the HB. Again in the Quran, this is not a punishment for Solomon's sins as the lying pens of Israel would have the gullible believing, those unaware of these scribes' consistent habit to blame in their writings, their miseries on the supposed sins of their prophets. It all started with a prayer from Solomon to have his kingdom dissolved after his death. In addition to granting him his prayer, Solomon was honored with increases in his kingdom that could not be passed on in anyway, contrary to the material kingdom that could not be made to disappear overnight after his death, and that had to be temporarily inherited by his wicked son. Solomon received first and foremost spiritual increase through his being made near to God 38:36-40, and was granted intangible power, the dominion over certain natural elements and worldly creatures including the jinn, and certain animals of whom only he understood the saying 27:18.
No comments:
Post a Comment