Why did Solomon (Sulayman) want a kingdom for the Earth?

- According to the tafsir of the chapter of Sad (38:35), why did Solomon (pbuh) want a kingdom for the world?
- I cannot understand why a prophet wants a kingdom for the world in the first place.
“He (Sulayman) said, O my Lord! Forgive me, and grant me a kingdom which, (it may be), suits not another after me: for Thou art the Grantor of Bounties (without measure).” (38:35)
- He wanted a kingdom that no one had in his own time and later. It is jealousy.
- Did Sulayman inherit any kingdom from his father Dawud (David)?

Dear Brother / Sister,

First of all, we should state that it would not be appropriate to evaluate the world of thought of great people with our thoughts. All their wishes and desires are to comply with Allah’s consent and to lead a life in accordance with it. They pray in accordance with those wishes and desires.

That is, the Prophet Sulayman did not say this prayer for the sake of the world, but for the sake of Allah because the world and everything in it are the work of and art of Allah; they are the manifestations of His beautiful names.

Besides, the reason why the Prophet Sulayman (pbuh) wants to dominate the whole earth is that he wants it to be a means for the people living there to believe in Allah.

In that case, asking for Allah’s works on behalf of Him and wishing for the people living there to believe are regarded as worship. That is the wisdom behind the prophets’ being sent.

The Prophet Sulayman’s prayer aims to

- Fulfil the rights of Allah,
- To manage His property fairly, to place His creatures according to their positions and ranks and to apply their limits,
- To maintain the financial obligations ordered by Allah,
- To honor the principles of religion,
- To reveal his worship clearly,
- To maintain devotion in obedience to Him,
- To regulate Allah’s valid decree and law on His servants,
- And as He explained to his angels, to fulfill His promises that none of His creatures knew.

As a matter of fact, Allah Almighty states the following: “I know what ye know not.” (al-Baqara, 2/30). Otherwise, it is out of question that this wish of the Prophet Sulayman was for the sake of the world itself because he and all the other prophets are the most ascetic ones among Allah’s creations. He wanted the worldly property only for Allah.

It is important to view the issue from these angles first.

It is also possible to view the issue from other angles:

a) This prayer made by Solomon is a prayer acceptable enough to be included in the Quran by Allah.

b) One reason for this prayer is that it is a miracle showing the existence of Allah, His infinite knowledge, and His universal wisdom and power, not the world’s reign because though thousands of years passed, no alternative has been found to his material reign, such as being the king of birds, jinn and demons, and to cover a distance of two months in one day with the wind.

c) It is a general lesson showing that what is sincerely asked will not be spared by Allah.

d) The existence of today’s radio, television, wireless telegraphy, cameras to protect all parts of the country and similar communication tools and equipment, which are an imitation of the important elements of his reign, owes to his reign.

We leave the rest to your intelligence.

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