Background
Long ago, in a land filled with wisdom and wonders, lived a prophet and king named Sulayman (Solomon, peace be upon him). Allah had gifted him with many extraordinary blessings — among them, the ability to understand and speak the languages of animals, and command over the winds, jinn, birds, and beasts.
One day, Prophet Sulayman set out with his grand army. It was no ordinary force; soldiers of humans, jinn, and birds marched in harmony, each in their rank, each fulfilling their role in divine order. The army traveled across valleys and plains under Sulayman’s command, a symbol of Allah’s favor upon His prophet.
As they approached the Valley of the Ants, something miraculous happened.
The Voice of the Ant
In the valley, a tiny ant, seeing the vast army approaching, cried out to her companions:
“O ants, enter your dwellings, lest Sulayman and his hosts crush you while they perceive not!”
— Surah An-Naml (27:18)
Though small in size, her voice did not go unheard. By the will of Allah, Prophet Sulayman heard her words, understood her concern, and smiled — not with arrogance, but with deep humility and gratitude.
Sulayman’s Reaction
Instead of brushing off the moment, Prophet Sulayman turned to his Lord with a sincere heart. He smiled in amazement at the ant’s words and then made a beautiful du’a (supplication):
“My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to do righteousness of which You approve. And admit me by Your mercy into [the ranks of] Your righteous servants.”
— Surah An-Naml (27:19)
In that moment, Sulayman showed us what true leadership looks like — power guided by mercy, knowledge guided by humility, and strength guided by thankfulness to Allah.
Lessons from the Ant
This short encounter — a whisper of an ant — is preserved in the Qur’an to teach us many things:
- Allah is aware of even the smallest of creatures, and so should we be.
- Leadership comes with responsibility — even the smallest life deserves consideration.
- Gratitude is key to preserving blessings.
- Humility, even in the face of great power, is a sign of a righteous servant.