— such as the wind being placed at his command;
— the subjugation of the devils;
— that his troops were drawn from humankind, the jinn, and the birds;
— that the birds rendered him extraordinary service: he would dispatch them to distant regions, and they would convey his messages and return with news from those lands. Allah endowed them with understanding and awareness of human affairs, as He relates in this account;
— and likewise the man who possessed knowledge of the Scripture, who undertook to bring him the throne of the Queen of Sheba before the twinkling of an eye.

These are signs granted exclusively to the prophets. For this reason, no matter how far people advance in the natural sciences or excel in technological inventions, they will never reach what was given to Solomon.

• Another lesson: Kings and leaders ought to inquire into the condition of their governors, commanders, and eminent men; they must not be content with simple questioning, but should test them, their grasp of matters, and the soundness of their judgment—just as Solomon did with the Queen of Sheba. He examined her in order to gauge the perfection and maturity of her intellect, and did not rely on questioning alone. This brings rulers immense benefit, benefits they urgently need, for the perfection of rule lies in having consummate men at the helm of its affairs.