19.1
ʿAbd al-Razzāq, on the authority of Maʿmar, on the authority of Qatādah concerning God’s decree, «We placed a human form on his throne, but later he turned in repentance»,206 saying:
A demon sat on his throne for forty nights until God restored to Solomon his rule.
Maʿmar said: But the demon did not exercise any authority over his wives.207
19.2
Maʿmar said: Qatādah said:
19.2.1
Solomon declared to the demons,208 “Verily, God has commanded me to build a mosque in Jerusalem, but I must not hear there the sound of a saw or the clang of a hammer.” The demons replied, “Truly in the sea lives a demon; perhaps he is able to accomplish this and will inform you how.” That demon was accustomed to returning every seven days to a well to drink from it, so the demons embarked on a journey to this well. The demons dredged the well and filled it with wine. When the demon came to the well, he said, “Truly, yours is a fine aroma, but you make a fool of the crafty, and only add to the fool’s folly.” The demon then departed and did not drink, but when his thirst became acute he returned, repeating three times what he had said before. Finally he took a sip, and then continued to drink until he became drunk. The demons then seized him and brought him to Solomon. Solomon showed the demon his signet ring. When he showed him the ring—for Solomon’s power to rule resided in his ring—Solomon declared to him, “Indeed, I have been commanded to build a temple, on the condition that I must not hear there the sound of a saw or the clang of a hammer.” The demon requested a glass container, and it was crafted. The glass container was placed over the egg of the hoopoe. The hoopoe then came to nestle atop its egg but could not. When the hoopoe left, the demon said, “Watch now and see what the hoopoe brings, and then take it!” The hoopoe returned carrying a diamond and, placing it atop the glass container, split open the glass. The demons took the diamond and began carving stones until they had constructed the Jerusalem Temple.
19.2.2
Now one day Solomon set off for the bathhouse, and he had withdrawn from one of his wives because of a certain sinful act she had committed.209 When he entered the bathhouse, that demon entered with him. When the demon entered the bathhouse, he stole Solomon’s ring and threw it into the sea. Then the demon cast a human form on his throne—his footstool—in the shape of Solomon, and Solomon’s power to rule abandoned him. Thus the demon sat on Solomon’s footstool forty nights, but Solomon’s aides did not realize this and said, “Solomon has succumbed to temptation and neglected his prayers!”—but it was the demon who neglected the prayers and other matters pertaining to religion. Now among the companions of Solomon was a man of perseverance and strength, much like ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb, and he said, “Indeed, I will ask Solomon about this on behalf of you all.”
Thus he came to him, saying, “O Prophet of God, what would you say to one of us who enjoys his wife on a cold night, then sleeps until the sun rises—but he neither does his ablutions nor prays. Do you find any fault with him?”
“No,” the demon answered, “he committed no fault.”210
The man return to his companions and declared, “Solomon has been led astray!”
While Solomon traversed the earth he took shelter with a woman, and she placed before him a whale—or he said: she brought him a whale—and split open its belly. Solomon saw his signet ring in the belly of the whale. He removed it from its belly and put it on again. From then on, all the creatures he encountered prostrated themselves in obedience to him, whether beast or fowl, or any other creature, and God restored Solomon’s power to rule. About this God has said:
«He turned to us and prayed: “Lord forgive me! Grant me such power to rule as none after me will possess.”»211
Qatādah said: Solomon was asking God not to dispossess him of his power to rule ever again.
19.3
Maʿmar said: al-Kalbī said:
At that time the demons and birds were made subservient to Solomon.