An ant invited King Solomon and his army to a feast. King Solomon, who was a great king and an exalted prophet of God, army besides men included jinns, quadrupeds, beasts, and birds. He enjoyed all the authority and control over the season and winds. He picked up the ant and placing it on his palm, asked; “Tell me; whose kingdom is vast, yours or mine?” The ant replied, “Only God knows whose kingdom is great but I know it well that at his moment, the palm of King Solomon is my throne.”
King Solomon was the youngest son of David, he succeeded his father in 965 BC and ruled for about forty years. God had bestowed upon him the ability to understand the languages of animals. Once he was proceeding on a venture with a grand convoy of men, jinns, and animals. Despite the large strength of the army nobody could dare to be undisciplined in order or ranks. All were marching in their respective columns and troops in obedience to their great marshal; King Solomon. When they reached a valley, occupied and inhabited by ants. The ruler of ants, seeing the multitude of an army advancing towards their valley told his subjects, “Enter your holes, what do Solomon and his army know of our presence in the valley, least we are trodden down under the feet of his army, in ignorance on their part”.
This event has been stated by God in the following manner. “And We gave Knowledge to David and Solomon and they both said,” Praise be to God, Who has favored us above many of His servants who believe; “And Solomon was David’s heir. He said,” O, ye people; “We have been taught the speech of birds and on us has been bestowed all things: this is indeed Grace Manifested”. And before Solomon marshaled an army of jinns and men and birds and they were all kept in order and ranks. At length, when they came to a lowly valley of ants, one of the ants said, “0, ye ants, get into your habitations, lest Solomon and his army crush you under their feet without knowing it.” So, he Solomon, smiled amused at his speech and he said, “O, my Lord; so, order me for Thy favors, which Thou haste bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may work the righteousness that will please Thee and admit me, by Thy Grace, to the ranks of Thy Righteous Servants.” (S;27: V;15-19)
