he said, “Council, which of you will bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?” ⟦al-Naml 27:38⟧ (38)
A strong demon from among the jinn replied, “I will bring it to you before you rise from your seat; I am surely strong and trustworthy enough for it.” ⟦al-Naml 27:39⟧ (39)
But the one who possessed knowledge of the Scripture said, “I will bring it to you before your glance returns to you.” When Solomon saw the throne set firmly before him, he said, “This is by the grace of my Lord, to test me whether I give thanks or show ingratitude. Whoever gives thanks does so for his own soul, and whoever is ungrateful—my Lord is Self-Sufficient, Generous.” ⟦al-Naml 27:40⟧ (40)
After Solomon died, the devils collected various formulas of idolatry, wrote them down, and placed them beneath his throne, claiming, “It was by these that Solomon used to control the jinn.” Thus the matter became a trial for those who accepted it, and people split into two camps.
One group recognized that this was sheer polytheism and sorcery, impermissible, and so they maligned Solomon—just as many Jews and Christians have done.
The other group said, “Solomon was a prophet, and if he subdued the jinn by these means, that proves such practices are permissible.” They therefore began to compose and circulate statements filled with idolatry, incantations, and oaths sworn by them—exactly the things that please the devils. In return, the devils aided them in some of their worldly aims: sometimes by reporting unseen matters laced with many lies, sometimes by influencing people—killing or afflicting them with illness through sorcery—or by stealing property and the like. In all this the devils helped humans achieve what they desired so long as the humans complied with the devils’ wish for disbelief, sin, and rebellion.