Prophet Sulayman (PBUH) and The leader of ant

 LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF AN ANT

Prophet Sulayman (PBUH) once was sitting on the bank of a lake deeply engrossed in the beauties of nature around and appreciating the various forms of Allah's creation on earth.

Suddenly the Prophet's attention was drawn towards an ant creeping forward with a grain of wheat in its mouth. As it reached near the water, a tortoise came out, opened its mouth and the ant crept into it. The tortoise closing its mouth disappeared under the water. After a while, the tortoise again sprungout of the water and standing on the bank opened its mouth and the ant cameout. 

But this time it had no grain of wheat inits mouth. The Prophet became anxious to know what had been happening under water. On inquiring, the ant explained that at the bottom of the lake, there was a stone and under neath it there was another ant who was blind. Allah had created it there and because of blindness, it could not move out. I have been appointed by Allah to provide its daily sustenance with the assistance of the tortoise. Hence I do performthis duty everyday.

Prophet Sulayman (PBUH) in response to his special prayer to Allah was granted kingdom and was given power over the forces of nature, over the Jinns and devils and the birds and other living creatures. He was also endowed with knowledge of their language hence his ability to speak to theant.

Let us ponder over one thing. If a tiny creature like an ant living under a stone at the bottom of a sea is not denied its sustenance, why should man - the noblest of all creatures ever suspect loss of his sustenance from Almighty Allah.

Prophet Sulayman's(PBUH) subjects were of various types and they lived peacefully and co-operatively by his discipline, justice and good government. Jinns, men and the birds gathered in groups before him. 

On theirlong march out once they came to a lowly valley of ants. This valley contained huge deposits of in valuable metals like gold, silver and preciousstones. This precious place was guarded by Allah with extraordinarykinds and sizes of ants. On account of this, none could approach the placeon foot nor mounted.

When the chief of the ants saw the pomp and the glory of the huge army of Sulayman (PBUH) approaching towards it in the air, it sounded the caution to all of its kind in the valley to get into their holes lest they gettrampled down andcrushed.

Prophet Sulayman (PBUH) smiled at the precaution taken by the ants and ordered hiscompanions to wait until the ants went into their holes and to be careful not to cause any harm to the ants when passing through. He prayed to Allah to make him grateful for His favours and to do good deeds that please Him and to admit him among His righteous servants.

Addressing the chief of the ants,the Prophet is reported to have said:“How could my people hurt you and your like as they are floating in the air and don't you know that I am the apostle of Allah and would never act unfairly?”

The Chief of the ants replied:“Oh apostle of Allah! My cautioning my flock was not for fear of hurt but to prevent them getting astray and forgetting the glory of Allah after seeing the glory of your army or your pomp and glamour and be tempted by them.”

That even the humblest creatures of Allah like the ant is endowed with the necessary wisdom to live and protect its life is apparent from this. Besides one should not be over taken by the glory of the worldly pomp of the rulers and kings as to forget the glory of the creator Allah that is what the ant teaches us.

On the other hand the prayer of Prophet Sulayman(PBUH) indicates his humility before Almighty Allah who had bestowedupon him control over the forces of nature. That one should utilize God'sbounties for righteousness and for good to others is also the lesson wederive. Despite all his possessions and gloryas the king ruling over a vastempire and having control over various creatures, Prophet Sulayman (PBUH)used to fast the whole day, weave baskets and sell them. From the return of his own labour, he used to purchase loaves and eat them sitting along with the poor.

In one of his sermons in Nahjul Balagha, Imam Ali (A.S.) exhorts people toponder over the power of Allah's creation and citing example of the creation of an ant he says: “Had they pondered over the greatness of His power and the vastness of His bounty they would have returned to the right path and feared thepunishment of the Fire; but hearts are sick and eyes are impure. Do they not see the small things He has created, how He strengthened their system and opened for them hearing and sight and made for them bones and skins? 

Look at the ant with its small body and delicate form. It canhardly be seen in the corner of the eye, nor by the perception of the imagination - how it moves on the earth and leaps at its livelihood. It carriesthe grain to its hole and deposits it in its placeof stay. It collects duringthe summer for its winter, and during strength for the period of its weakness. Its livelihood is guaranteed, and it is fed according to fitness. 

Allah,

the Kind, does not forget it and (Allah the Giver) does not deprive it, even though it may be in dry stone or fixed rocks. If you have thought about its digestive tracts in its high and low parts, the carapace of its belly, and its eyes and its ears in its head you would be amazed at its creation and you would feel difficulty in describing it.

Exalted is He who made it stand on its legs and erected it on its pillars (of limbs). Noother originator took part with Him in its origination and no one having power assisted Him in its creation. If you tread on the paths of your imagination and reach its extremity it will not lead you any-where except that the Originator of the ant is the same as He who is the Originator of the date-palm, because everything has (the same) delicacy and detail, and every living being has little difference.”