Farqad al-Sabakhi reported: Solomon passed by a nightingale perched in a tree, bobbing its head and tilting its tail. He said to his companions, “Do you know what this nightingale is saying?” They replied, “Allah and His Prophet know best.” He said, “It is saying: ‘I have eaten half a date; so let the world perish.’”
It is related that a group of Jews said to Ibn Abbas, “We shall ask you about seven matters. If you inform us, we shall believe and affirm your truthfulness.” He said, “Ask in order to gain understanding, and do not ask obstinately.” They said, “Tell us what the lark says in its whistling, the rooster in its crowing, the frog in its croaking, the donkey in its braying, the horse in its neighing, and what the starling and the francolin say.”
He said, “Yes. The lark says: ‘O Allah, curse those who hate Muhammad and the family of Muhammad.’ The rooster says: ‘Remember Allah, O heedless ones.’ The frog says: ‘Glory be to the One worshipped in the depths of the seas.’ The donkey says: ‘O Allah, curse the tax collector.’ The horse says, when the two ranks meet: ‘Most Glorified, Most Holy, Lord of the angels and the Spirit.’ The starling says: ‘O Allah, I ask You for provision from day to day, O Provider.’ And the francolin says: ‘The Most Merciful is established over the Throne.’” He said: Thus the Jews embraced Islam and became sound in their Islam.
It is related from Ja‘far ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq, from his father, from his grandfather, from al-Husayn ibn Ali, who said: “When the vulture cries out, it says: ‘O son of Adam, live as you wish; your end is death.’ When the eagle cries out, it says: ‘There is comfort in keeping away from people.’ When the lark cries out, it says: ‘My God, curse those who hate the family of Muhammad.’ When the swallow cries out, it recites, ‘Praise be to Allah, Lord of all worlds,’ and it lengthens the words ‘those who have gone astray,’ just as a reciter lengthens them.”
His saying, exalted is He: “And we have been given of all things”: this is bestowed upon prophets and kings. Ibn Abbas said: “Of the affairs of this world and the Hereafter.” Muqatil said: It means prophethood, dominion, and command over the jinn, the devils, and the winds. “This is indeed the clear favour”: that is, the manifest increase over what He gave to others besides us.
It is related that Solomon, peace be upon him, was given the eastern and western regions of the earth. He ruled for seven hundred years and six months, ruling over all the inhabitants of the world among the jinn, humans, beasts, birds, and predatory animals (1). In addition to this, he was given the language of every thing, and in his time remarkable crafts were produced (2).
“And Solomon’s forces of jinn, humans, and birds were assembled for him, and they were marshalled in ranks (17).”
His saying, glorified is He: “And Solomon’s forces of jinn, humans, and birds were assembled for him,” as he journeyed; “and they were marshalled in ranks”: that is, they were restrained. Qatada said: Over every rank of his troops were officers who held back its foremost for its rearmost (3), lest they advance ahead of the others on the march. The officer who restrains is the one who holds back, namely, the commander. Muqatil said: “They were marshalled in ranks” means that they were driven onward.