Solomon's Magic: Islam's Attribution of Sorcery to a Prophet
King Solomon is revered in Islam as a powerful prophet-king (Sulayman) who controlled jinn (spirits), understood the language of birds and animals, and commanded the wind. Yet the Quranic account creates a significant problem: it comes dangerously close to attributing sorcery—strictly forbidden in Islam—to a prophet. This article examines the Biblical Solomon, the Quranic version, how Islamic tradition tries to navigate this contradiction, and what it reveals about the Quran's sources.
The Biblical Solomon: Wisdom, Not Magic
The Bible presents Solomon as the wisest man who ever lived (1 Kings 3:12). His wisdom was intellectual, judicial, and spiritual—not magical:
God-given wisdom: Early in his reign, Solomon asked God for wisdom to govern Israel. God granted his request: "I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be" (1 Kings 3:12).
Judicial wisdom: His famous judgment between two women claiming the same baby demonstrated his discernment (1 Kings 3:16-28).
Intellectual wisdom: "God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore... He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. From all nations people came to listen to Solomon's wisdom" (1 Kings 4:29-34).
Building the Temple: His greatest achievement was building the temple for the Lord in Jerusalem, fulfilling David's desire (1 Kings 6-8).
His downfall: Solomon's sin was turning to idolatry through his foreign wives who led him to worship their gods (1 Kings 11:1-13).
Nowhere does the Bible attribute magical powers to Solomon. His wisdom was natural (though supernaturally enhanced), not occult.
The Quranic Solomon: Control Over Jinn and Nature
The Quran presents a very different Solomon with supernatural powers:
Control over jinn:
"And to Solomon [We subjected] the wind, blowing forcefully, proceeding by his command toward the land which We had blessed. And We are ever, of all things, Knowing. And of the devils were those who dived for him and did work other than that. And We were of them a guardian." (Surah 21:81-82)
"And there were assembled before Solomon his soldiers of the jinn and men and birds, and they were [marching] in rows." (Surah 27:17)
"And among the jinn were those who worked for him by the permission of his Lord. And whoever deviated among them from Our command – We will make him taste of the punishment of the Blaze. They made for him what he willed of elevated chambers, statues, bowls like reservoirs, and stationary kettles." (Surah 34:12-13)
Understanding animal language:
"And Solomon inherited David. He said, 'O mankind, we have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given from all things. Indeed, this is evident bounty.'" (Surah 27:16)
The Quran describes an ant warning other ants about Solomon's approaching army, and Solomon understanding and smiling at its words (27:18-19).
Control over wind:
"And to Solomon [We subjected] the wind – its morning [journey was that of] a month – and its afternoon [journey was that of] a month, and We made flow for him a spring of [liquid] copper." (Surah 34:12)
Interaction with the Queen of Sheba:
The Quran elaborates on the Queen of Sheba story, adding that Solomon sent a hoopoe bird as messenger (27:20-28), and that a jinn or "one who had knowledge from the Scripture" transported the queen's throne from Yemen to Jerusalem instantly (27:38-40). Solomon then disguised the throne to test whether she'd recognize it (27:41-42).
The Sorcery Problem
Here's where the Quran creates a theological problem. Islam strictly forbids sorcery (sihr):
"And they followed [instead] what the devils had recited during the reign of Solomon. It was not Solomon who disbelieved, but the devils disbelieved, teaching people magic and that which was revealed to the two angels at Babylon, Harut and Marut. But the two angels do not teach anyone unless they say, 'We are a trial, so do not disbelieve [by practicing magic].' And [yet] they learn from them that by which they cause separation between a man and his wife. But they do not harm anyone through it except by permission of Allah. And the people learn what harms them and does not benefit them." (Surah 2:102)
This verse makes several claims:
- Devils taught people magic during Solomon's reign
- Solomon himself did not disbelieve (meaning he didn't practice magic)
- Two angels, Harut and Marut, taught people magic as a test
- Magic can cause separation between spouses
- Learning magic is harmful
The verse explicitly defends Solomon against accusations of sorcery. Yet the very powers the Quran attributes to Solomon elsewhere—commanding jinn, controlling wind, understanding animal speech, transporting objects instantly—look indistinguishable from sorcery.
Islamic Attempts to Resolve the Contradiction
Islamic scholars have struggled to explain how Solomon's powers differ from forbidden sorcery:
Explanation 1: Miracles vs. Magic
The standard distinction is that Solomon's powers were mu'jizat (miracles given by Allah) rather than sihr (magic learned from devils). Miracles come from Allah's permission; magic involves demons or manipulation of hidden forces.
Problem: This distinction becomes circular. How do we know Solomon's powers were miracles not magic? Because he was a prophet. How do we know prophets don't use magic? Because Allah wouldn't allow it. But the verse in 2:102 suggests people in Solomon's time did confuse his powers with magic—hence the need to defend him.
Explanation 2: Solomon Had Allah's Explicit Permission
Scholars point to verses stating Solomon's control over jinn was "by permission of his Lord" (34:12). Since Allah explicitly granted this power, it wasn't sorcery.
Problem: This still doesn't explain what mechanism made Solomon's jinn-control different from a sorcerer's. Both are commanding spirits. The only difference is divine approval, but that's a theological claim, not a functional distinction.
Explanation 3: Solomon Used Natural Means Enhanced by Allah
Some modern Muslim apologists try to rationalize Solomon's powers as natural abilities enhanced by divine blessing—perhaps he understood animal behavior well enough it seemed like communication, or had engineering knowledge that seemed magical.
Problem: This contradicts the plain text of the Quran, which explicitly states Solomon commanded jinn, was taught bird language, controlled wind, and had a throne transported instantly. These aren't natural abilities enhanced—they're supernatural powers.
The Source: Jewish Folklore and Magical Literature
The likely origin of the Quranic Solomon traditions is Jewish post-Biblical literature that attributed magical powers to Solomon:
Testament of Solomon (1st-3rd century AD): A pseudepigraphal text describing how Solomon used a magical ring given by the archangel Michael to command demons to build the temple. Demons were bound to serve him, carve stones, and perform other tasks.
Jewish magical tradition: By the early centuries AD, Solomon had become a legendary figure in Jewish magical literature, credited with power over demons, knowledge of secret names of God, magical seals, and the ability to bind spirits.
Talmudic embellishments: Rabbinic literature includes legends about Solomon's ring, his throne, his flying carpet, and his interactions with spirits.
These traditions weren't Biblical—they were later embellishments. But by Muhammad's time (7th century AD), they had become widely circulated in oral folklore throughout the Middle East.
The Quranic Solomon looks far more like the legendary magician-king of Jewish folklore than the wise-but-not-magical king of the Biblical text. This suggests Muhammad encountered these oral traditions and incorporated them as revelation, not realizing they were post-Biblical embellishments.
The Queen of Sheba Story: Biblical vs. Quranic
Comparing the accounts of the Queen of Sheba's visit highlights the differences:
Biblical account (1 Kings 10:1-13):
- Queen hears of Solomon's wisdom and comes to test him with hard questions
- She brings spices, gold, and precious stones
- Solomon answers all her questions
- She praises Solomon's wisdom and prosperity
- They exchange gifts
- She returns home
The story emphasizes wisdom, wealth, and international recognition—not magic.
Quranic account (Surah 27:15-44):
- Solomon sends a hoopoe bird as messenger to the Queen
- The hoopoe reports she worships the sun instead of Allah
- Solomon sends her a letter demanding submission to Allah
- She consults advisers and decides to visit rather than fight
- A jinn or one with knowledge from Scripture transports her throne instantly from Yemen to Jerusalem
- Solomon disguises her throne to test if she recognizes it
- She's shown a glass floor she mistakes for water
- She submits to Allah
The Quranic version adds magical elements (talking bird messenger, instant throne transportation, glass floor illusion) and shifts focus from wisdom to religious conversion.
These additions appear in Jewish midrashic literature (Targum Sheni to Esther, a 7th-8th century text, though based on earlier oral traditions) and seem to have entered Islamic tradition from the same folklore sources.
What Happened to Solomon's Idolatry?
The Bible explicitly states Solomon's sin:
"King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh's daughter... As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done. On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods." (1 Kings 11:1-8)
This is clear, specific, and historically attested. Yet the Quran never mentions it. Instead, it shifts blame:
"And they followed [instead] what the devils had recited during the reign of Solomon. It was not Solomon who disbelieved, but the devils disbelieved, teaching people magic..." (Surah 2:102)
The verse explicitly exonerates Solomon from disbelief, attributing the sorcery problem to devils, not Solomon. This contradicts the Biblical historical record preserved in manuscripts centuries before Islam.
The Pattern Continues: Sanitizing Prophets
As with other prophets, the Quran sanitizes Solomon's story:
- Removes his idolatry: The Bible's account of Solomon's apostasy is deleted entirely
- Blames demons: Any association with sorcery is shifted to devils, not Solomon
- Adds magical powers: Solomon gains supernatural abilities from folklore
- Emphasizes religious mission: His interaction with Queen of Sheba becomes about converting her to monotheism
This pattern fits the Quran's consistent approach: protect prophetic reputation even if it requires rewriting history.
Why Biblical Honesty Matters
The Bible's honest account of Solomon serves important purposes:
1. Warning about spiritual drift: Even the wisest man who ever lived fell into idolatry through gradual compromise. This warns against spiritual complacency.
2. Consequences of disobedience: God's judgment on Solomon (splitting the kingdom) shows that even great service doesn't excuse later disobedience.
3. Human wisdom insufficient: Solomon's wisdom couldn't prevent his moral failure, pointing to the need for transformation, not just knowledge.
4. Foreshadowing Christ: Solomon's failure to be the perfect king points forward to Jesus, the true Son of David and Prince of Peace whose kingdom has no end.
5. Realistic anthropology: Even the best humans are capable of serious sin. This destroys pride and fosters humility.
By sanitizing Solomon and adding magical elements, the Quran loses these lessons and creates confusion about the boundary between miraculous gifts and forbidden sorcery.
Biblical Contrast: True Wisdom
The New Testament references Solomon to make theological points:
Jesus is greater than Solomon: "The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here" (Matthew 12:42).
Solomon's glory temporary: "See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these" (Matthew 6:28-29). Jesus uses Solomon's legendary wealth to illustrate God's greater provision.
True wisdom from above: "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere" (James 3:17). Biblical wisdom is moral and spiritual, not magical.
Christianity doesn't present Solomon as a magician-king or deny his failures. It uses his story to point beyond human wisdom to Christ.
Questions to Consider
- If Solomon's control over jinn came from Allah, how is it functionally different from the sorcery Islam forbids? Isn't commanding spirits exactly what sorcerers claim to do?
- Why does the Quran need to explicitly defend Solomon against accusations of sorcery (2:102) if his powers were clearly miraculous and not magical?
- Doesn't the Quranic Solomon look more like the legendary magician-king of Jewish folklore than the Biblical wise king?
- If the Biblical account of Solomon's idolatry is supported by manuscripts centuries before Islam, on what basis does the Quran deny it?
- Why would God reveal detailed accounts of Solomon's magical powers to Muhammad but omit them from the earlier Biblical revelation?
- Isn't the pattern clear: the Quran sanitizes prophets' sins while adding folklore embellishments, exactly what we'd expect from oral tradition rather than divine revelation?
- Which is more trustworthy: the Bible's sober historical account of Solomon's wisdom and failure, or the Quran's magical embellishments and historical revisionism?
- What theological lessons are lost when Solomon's story is changed from moral wisdom and warning about idolatry to supernatural power and magical control over spirits?
The Quranic account of Solomon reveals the Quran's dependence on post-Biblical Jewish folklore rather than the original Biblical text. By removing Solomon's historical idolatry while adding magical powers from legend, the Quran creates a confused picture that struggles to distinguish prophetic gifts from forbidden sorcery—and loses the profound theological lessons of the Biblical account.