The prophets of Allah do not
make Muslims forcibly Just think whether it is possible at all. How can a man
become a Muslim unless he rally accepts Allah and his prophets. And nobody’s
heart can be changed or corrected. It is a man’s own business to choose his
course. The prophets of Allah, however, do not allow a few people to rule over
others, prevent them from Allah’s subservience and not allow them to adopt the
Right Path. Allah’s prophets wage war against such people and keep them subdued
with all their might.
Allah had given Hazrat Suleman (A.S.) tremendous might with which he would
destroy the power of the disbelievers No Kafir ruler around his Government ever
dared to raise its head. Once he inspected all his army which included genii and
bird besides the people. He found that the wood pecker was absent from there. He
became angry and said, “Where is wood pecker why is he absent without permission
? Produce him before me when he comes he will be punished severely for his
absence. He will be slaughtered if he does not give a rational reason for his
absence,”
In the meantime, the wood-pecker was back. When presented before Hazrat Suleman
(A.S.) and asked by him where he had been the wood-pecker said, “Hazrat Suleman
(A.S.) I have brought a news which was hitherto not ever in you knowledge. While
flying, I reached a country which is called the country of “Saba” (Sheeba). It
is ruled by a woman and she is the queen of that country. She has every thing
including wealth, and a very grand throne, which is very big and costly. In
spite of possessing all this, she and her people have forgotten God and worship
the sun. Those people are victim of various evils. The satan has so distracted
them they have presumed these evils as virtues and are regaling in their
infidelity. The Satan has prevented them from the obedience of Allah. They do
all things that displease Allah and are happy with that. There is none among
them to show them the path of Allah’s obedience and tell them that the sun does
not deserve worship. No one is there to tell them that only He should be
worshipped who sends rain from the skies, grows trees from beneath the earth
which we cannot see before, He is All knowing, He is aware of everything,
including what we hide. The fact is that the people of that country have gotten
that only Allah deserves warship and everything I the world is His creation and
that He is the Lord of this entire universe.”
Hazrat Suleman (A.S.) replied: “Now I want to verify whether what you say is
true or wrong. Take this message and deliver it to the queen. Let’s then see
what she replies.” In fact, he was very worried after learning that the people
and the queen of a neighbouring country were engaged in worshipping the sun and
the entire nation was distracted. Therefore, Hazrat Suleman (A.S.) decided to
first convey the message of Deen to the queen of that country. He thought if she
was convinced and adopted Islamic way by giving up kufr and shirk, associating
others with Allah) her people would also follow her. They will also abandon
worshipping the sun and worship only Allah.
Keeping all this in view, he wrote the letter to the queen of Saba, which read.
This latter is from Suleman (A.S.). In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the
merciful; The real Deen Is the obedience of Allah. Man has not been created to
worship such things as the sun and The moon. He should worship such only Allah
and this is our message also. Don’t venture to fight against me in response to
this message but the course of peace and security for you is to embrace Islam,
accept Allah as your Lord and obey Him as He alone deserves Worship. He created
man. If you agree with me, come over here as a Muslim.
The wood-pecker delivered the letter to the Queen of Saba; She was moved after
reading it. She called her ministers and Sardars read out the letter to them and
asked for their advice in this regard. “As I do not do anything without
consulting you. In this case also I want your opinion,” she said. The Sardars
became annoyed and said, “we should not be subdued or fear. We have a big force
and we are not going to retreat, We wait for only your command; we will also
sacrifice our lives and have it cut with Suleman (A.S.) and his force. As soon
as you order us, we will be ready for fighting.”
The queen was a cool-mind and wise lady. After hearing the reaction of the
Sardars, he said, “It is true that when a king launches an attack on a country,
all the people of that country are crushed and killed of no reason. The crops
and orchards are destroyed. The respected people are abased and even the best of
them are not spared. Therefore, the talk of war as a first step does no appear
to be correct.
“In my opinion, I should first send some costly gifts to Suleman (A.S.) and
judge him whether he is a greedy wordly king or truly a prophet of Allah. The
courtiers of gifts will also witness with their own eyes how that person is and
how much force he has. It will improper to talk of war unless everything is
known about him. Any step will be taken only after all the circumstances are
known.”
The queen’s argument was quite rational. The sardarwree silent and it was
decided that some people take a few gifts to Hazrat Suleman (A.S.). Various
costly gifts, including gold and silver, were packed. Besides, horses and
servants also formed the gifts. When these people reached Hazrat Suleman (A.S.)
along with the gifts, he said: I do not at all need all these things what Allah
has given me is far has given me a lot of things. Keep your gifts with you and
be happy. I do not need these. My message was different and only that should be
given consideration to. It is totally wrong for a man to worship any other than
Allah. I am Allah’s prophet and have been sent to show His servants the Right
Path. I have no other purpose. You people return to your queen and tell her that
I do not need her wealth. I cannot tolerate that you too remain unaware of
Allah’s worship and lead other people also on the wrong path. It is my duty to
liberate man from man’s slavery and show them the Right Path. Tell your queen if
she is not prepared obey Allah, we will bring our forces. They will not be able
to face it. We will abase the disobedient to Allah and evacuate them from their
habitations. Our mission is the show the Right Path to the people and not
accumulate wealth,”
When the queen’s men returned, they told her every thing about Hazrat Suleman
(A.S.). The queen was convinced that he was not a wordly king but may be, he was
a prophet of Allah. So, she decided to herself meet Hazrat Suleman (A.S.).
Meanwhile, Allah sent him a revelation and informed him about it. Hazrat Suleman
(A.S.) therefore, decided to perform a unique feat which should convince the
queen that he was truly the prophet of Allah. Such a feat is called a “mojaza”,
a mircle.
Knowing that the queen’s throne was very costly and grand, Hazrat Suleman (A.S.)
wished its presence there before the arrival of the queen. He gathered all his
courtiers and said, “I want that the throne of the queen of Saba should be here
before her arrival, tell me who of you can do that.” A genii from amongst them
replied, “I can do this and the throne will be before you leave the court. I
have the power to do this and I am honest also. Not a single part of the throne
will be missing.” A sahabi (companion) of Hazrat Suleman (A.S.), who was an
honest servant of Allah and a special ma of him, meanwhile, intervened and said,
“Hazrat (A.S.), this is just a matter of a moment, the throne will be here.”
Just as sahabi completed his sentence the throne was present and Hazrat Suleman
(A.S.) was very happy to see that. He declared: “It is by the Grace of my Lord
that the throne of the queen of Saba is in my court in a moment. No man can do
this. All these feats and miracles are the gifts of Allah. Who is testing me by
bestowing such benefits on me? Allah actually wants to ascertain whether I am
thankful to Him or Not. I will be the greatest unthankful if I assume that all
these feats are result of my strength. The real strength and power is that of
Allah and this is because of His Grace alone. Everything is done by His will.
One who thanks Allah is in advantage: He does not benefit Allah but his further
benefited by Allah. But one who does not thank Him list in a disadvantage and
does not accrue any body’s thanks, nor does He need anyone’s help or praise. He
is Beneficent, the merciful.”