The Death of One of the Wisest Men on Earth: Fact or Fiction?
In the Quran, the story of Prophet Solomon’s (Sulaiman) death presents an unusual and troubling account. According to Quran 34:14, Solomon’s death went unnoticed by the jinn who served him for an extended period. They continued their duties under the false assumption that their great leader was still alive. It was not until a small worm ate through Solomon’s staff, causing him to fall, that the jinn realized he had passed away. For days, Solomon’s death remained undetected until this minor event revealed the truth. “Then, when We decreed death for him, nothing indicated to them his death except a creature of the earth eating his staff. But when he fell, the jinn saw clearly that if they had known the unseen, they would not have remained in the humiliating punishment.”
As Christians, we are concerned about the implications of such narratives and their origins. This story suggests a significant lapse in awareness and seems to diminish the grandeur of Solomon’s life and death. We invite our Muslim friends to reflect on this narrative with a critical perspective. Imagine if a beloved family member, someone with significant responsibilities and presence, passed away and went unnoticed for days, only to be discovered when a small worm revealed the truth. Such a scenario feels deeply unsettling and implausible.
The account of Solomon, who had 1003 wives and thousands of servants, and whose death was only uncovered after days due to a worm’s intervention, raises serious questions about its credibility. It appears that these stories could be misleading and crafted to deceive. We encourage careful consideration of such narratives to ensure they align with a truthful and coherent understanding of divine revelations and reality.