119 – Al-Mufaddal ibn Ghassan narrated to us; Wahb ibn Jarir narrated to us; his father narrated to us. He said, “I heard ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿUbayd ibn ʿUmayr say:

Solomon, son of David, once sent for a rebellious demon from among the jinn who was in the sea. The demon was brought before him, and when it reached the doorway of Solomon’s palace it picked up a stick, measured it against its own arm, and then flung it over the wall. Solomon asked, ‘What was that?’ They informed him of what the demon had done. Solomon said, ‘Do you know what he meant by that?’ They answered, ‘No.’ He replied, ‘He was saying: Do whatever you wish, for in the end you will occupy no more of the earth than the length of that stick.’”