Prophet Sulaiman  عليه السلام   the King Prophet

In order to guide mankind, Allah honored four famous Prophets by revealing the four Holy Books as follows:

1) Taurat to Prophet Musa (Moses):

2) Zaboor (Psalms) to Prophet Dawood (David);

3) The Injeel (Gospel) to the Prophet Isaiah (Jesus);

4) The Qur'an to the Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).

Allah's commands are contained in these books. The first three books were from earlier times. The Holy Qur'an is the last book of God and is to guide all mankind until the Day of Judgment.

The prophet Dawood eventually became King of his people. He had 19 sons. Each of them hoped to inherit his father's throne. Allah revealed to Prophet Dawood a few questions and their answers and instructed him to ask questions for each of his sons. Whoever answered those questions correctly, will inherit the throne of his father, the Prophet Dawood.

One day the Prophet Dawood summoned all his sons before the scholars and tribal leaders of his kingdom. He then asked the following questions:

1) What is the closest thing to a person?

2) What is the farthest thing?

3) What two things are attached to each other?

4) What is the most amazing thing?

5. What two things stand out in the face of adversity?

6) What two things are always different?

7) What are two opposing things?

8) What action is the best result?

9) What is the worst thing that can happen to a person?

The sons of Prophet Dawood felt helpless and could not answer any of these questions. Then the youngest of the sons, the Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon) stood up and gave the following answers:

1. Things close to a man's future (Life and Death - as one may die any moment);

2. The farthest is the past (never to return);

3. Two things attached to each other are the human body and the soul;

4. The most frightening of the (dead) soulless body;

5 The two remaining creatures are heaven and earth;

6. Two different things are day and night;

7. Two opposing things are life and death;

8. Action - its good end - patience and perseverance in the time of anger;

9. Action - the worst result is rushing in a moment of anger.

The Prophet Dawood, apparently, was very impressed with these appropriate answers and appointed Prophet Sulaiman as his successor.

It would therefore be seen that it was the higher knowledge and understanding that enabled the Prophet Sulaiman to succeed his father and become the Great King of the Prophet.