Page 62 - Prayer in the Qur'an

60 PRAYER IN THE QUR'AN

was as if they had never lived there. It was the people who de-
nied Shu'ayb who were the lost. (Surat al-A'raf: 91-92)

The Prophet Sulayman's (as) Prayers

One of the most telling attributes of the Prophet Sulayman (as)
was the great power he held. Allah granted him also many superior
talents. Exercising control over jinn, and even talking to animals
were among his superior abilities. His understanding of the lan-
guage of animals is related in the Qur'an as follows:

Sulayman was Dawud's heir. He said, "Mankind! We have
been taught the speech of birds and we have been given every-
thing. This is indeed clear favor." (Surat an-Naml: 16)
The Prophet Sulayman (as), who gave thanks to Allah for the su-
periority granted to him, turned to Allah in prayer:

... "My Lord, keep me thankful for the blessing You have be-
stowed on me and on my parents, and keep me acting rightly,
pleasing You, and admit me, by Your mercy, among Your ser-
vants who are true." (Surat an-Naml: 19)
Apart from the Prophet Sulayman's (as) special talents, he was
granted ample material wealth. In return for this, he gave thanks to
Allah and prayed thus:

He said, "My Lord, forgive me and give me a kingdom the like
of which will never be granted to anyone after me. Truly You
are the Ever-Giving." (Surah Sad: 35)
In previous pages, we stressed that believers must avoid limiting

their prayers to personal wishes or mundane desires. In fact, the
Prophet Sulayman's (as) asking for "a kingdom the like of which
will never be granted to anyone" is far from being a mundane