Among the blessings bestowed by Allah upon the Prophet Sulayman ﷺ, the Quran mentions an extraordinary power: the ability to understand and command the birds, gathered in a disciplined army at his side.
Among the prophets mentioned in the Quran, Sulayman (Solomon) holds a special place: Allah granted him a vast kingdom, profound wisdom, and above all the faculty of understanding the language of animals. This unique blessing is mentioned in Surah An-Naml, "The Ants," which takes its name precisely from an episode involving these small creatures.
An army like no other
The Quran describes how Sulayman gathered his armies, composed not only of jinn and men, but also of birds, all organized with order and discipline. This organization is referred to in Surah An-Naml, verse 17, which specifies that his troops were arranged in ranks.
Among the birds under his authority, the hoopoe (al-hudhud) holds a central place in the Quranic narrative. One day, Sulayman reviewed his birds and noticed the absence of the hoopoe. He then expressed his astonishment and resolve, as reported in Surah An-Naml:
﴿ وَتَفَقَّدَ الطَّيْرَ فَقَالَ مَا لِيَ لَا أَرَى الْهُدْهُدَ أَمْ كَانَ مِنَ الْغَائِبِينَ ﴾
"And he reviewed the birds and said: Why do I not see the hoopoe? Or is it among those absent?"
(Surah An-Naml, verse 20)
The return of the hoopoe and its message
The hoopoe eventually returned, bearing important news: it had discovered a kingdom ruled by a queen, whose people worshipped the sun instead of Allah. This kingdom was that of Saba. Sulayman, rather than punishing the bird for its absence, listened attentively to its report, which shows the real place accorded to the word of this creature in the Quranic narrative.
This episode illustrates how Allah had endowed Sulayman with a particular understanding of the animal world, allowing him to converse with the birds as he would have with human messengers. It is reported, according to scholars of the Quran, that this faculty was among the extraordinary signs granted to this prophet, alongside his mastery of the wind and the jinn.
The narrative does not stop at a simple power of command: it also shows a relationship founded on listening and mutual respect. Sulayman did not regard the birds as mere instruments at his service, but as creatures capable of observing, reporting, and contributing to his decisions. The hoopoe, in this episode, plays an active and essential role in the unfolding of events that will lead to the meeting between Sulayman and the queen of Saba.
A lesson in compassion
This story, known and cherished for generations, reminds us that the animal world is never presented in the Quran as insignificant. On the contrary, birds appear in it as creatures endowed with organization, memory, and sometimes even discernment, worthy of consideration from a prophet as powerful as Sulayman.
In reflecting on this narrative, we can learn how important it is to pay attention to the animals around us, to respect their place in the balance of the world, and never to regard them as negligible. As Sulayman lent a listening ear to the hoopoe, we are invited, to our humble measure, to observe with gentleness and compassion all the creatures that Allah has placed upon this earth.
