The story of Prophet Sulaiman, the ant and the hoopoe, for kids

The story of Prophet Sulaiman, alayhis salaam (Solomon in English), is a favourite with young children because it is full of animals: a careful little ant, a hoopoe bird with big news, and a queen in a faraway land. It comes from Surah An-Naml, “The Ant”. Here it is retold from the Qur’an for you to read aloud, then the lessons, questions to ask afterwards and where each part is.

Who was Prophet Sulaiman?

Sulaiman, alayhis salaam, was a Prophet and a king, the son of Prophet Dawud (38:30). Allah gave him knowledge, a great kingdom, and gifts no one else had: he understood the speech of birds (27:16), and the wind and the jinn worked for him by Allah’s command (21:81; 34:12). Through it all he stayed thankful to Allah.

The story of Prophet Sulaiman, to read aloud

The numbers in brackets are the surah and ayah, for you rather than for reading aloud. When you say his name, add “alayhis salaam”: peace be upon him.

The little ant

Prophet Sulaiman, alayhis salaam, had a great army of people, jinn and birds, all marching in rows (27:17).

One day they came to a valley full of ants. One little ant called out: “O ants! Go into your homes, so that Sulaiman and his soldiers do not crush you without knowing it!” (27:18)

Sulaiman heard what the ant said, and he smiled. He was not proud of his great army. Instead he thanked Allah: “My Lord, help me to be thankful for Your blessings on me and on my parents, and to do good that pleases You” (27:19).

The missing hoopoe

Sulaiman looked over his birds. “Why do I not see the hoopoe?” he asked. “Is it missing?” The hoopoe would need a very good reason for being away (27:20-21).

Before long, the hoopoe came back. “I have found out something you did not know,” it said. “I have come from Saba with news that is true. I found a woman ruling over the people there, and she has been given so much, and she has a great throne. But she and her people bow down to the sun instead of Allah” (27:22-24).

The little bird knew that only Allah deserves sujood: Allah, who knows what is hidden in the heavens and the earth, the Lord of the great Throne (27:25-26).

The letter

“We will see if you are telling the truth,” said Sulaiman (27:27). He wrote a letter and gave it to the hoopoe. “Take this letter of mine and drop it down to them” (27:28).

The queen read the letter to her chiefs. “It is from Sulaiman,” she said, “and it says: In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Kind. Do not be proud with me, but come to me, submitting to Allah” (27:29-31).

The queen thought carefully about what to do. She sent Sulaiman a rich gift (27:35). But Sulaiman said: “What Allah has given me is better than what He has given you” (27:36). He did not want gifts. He wanted them to worship Allah.

The queen’s visit

So the queen set out to visit Sulaiman. Before she arrived, by Allah’s permission, her own great throne was brought to Sulaiman in the blink of an eye (27:38-40). When Sulaiman saw it, he did not boast. He said: “This is from the favour of my Lord, to test me: will I be thankful or not?” (27:40)

The queen came into Sulaiman’s palace, with its floor of smooth glass that looked like water (27:44). She saw the signs of Allah’s power, and she understood the truth. She said: “My Lord, I have wronged myself. And I submit, with Sulaiman, to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds” (27:44).

What does the story of Sulaiman teach children?

• Be thankful. Sulaiman had a kingdom, an army and a throne brought in the blink of an eye, and each time he thanked Allah instead of boasting.
• Care for small creatures. The ant looked after the other ants, and a great king stopped and listened to her.
• Check news before you believe it. When the hoopoe brought news, Sulaiman said, “We will see if you are telling the truth.”
• Begin with Bismillah. Sulaiman’s letter began “In the name of Allah”, and so can our letters, our meals and our work.
• Invite people to good, kindly. Sulaiman did not want the queen’s riches; he wanted her to know Allah.

What can I ask my child after the story?

1. What did the little ant say to the other ants?
2. What did Sulaiman do when he heard her?
3. What news did the hoopoe bring?
4. What were the first words of Sulaiman’s letter?
5. Why did Sulaiman say no to the queen’s gift?

What age is the story of Sulaiman for?

From about three or four, the ant and the hoopoe are perfect short stories on their own. From five, add the letter and the queen. From about eight, read An-Naml 27:15-44 together in a translation you trust, and learn Sulaiman’s dua of thanks (27:19).

Where is the story of Sulaiman in the Qur’an?

• An-Naml 27:15-17: Sulaiman’s gifts and his army
• An-Naml 27:18-19: The ant
• An-Naml 27:20-26: The missing hoopoe and its news
• An-Naml 27:27-37: The letter, the gift and the reply
• An-Naml 27:38-44: The throne, the palace and the queen’s submission

Which ilmbee book tells the story of Sulaiman?

Prophet Sulaiman and the Hoopoe Bird (Book 66) tells the story of the hoopoe and the queen for children aged 4 to 11. It is narrated, like every book in Series 01: with Read to me, each word lights up as it is read; with Watch, the pages turn by themselves. The first three books of the series are free to read now. For more short duas from the Qur’an, see First duas for kids.

The books in this guide

From ilmbee Series 01, 100 illustrated books read in order. The first 3 are free to read.

• Book 66Prophet Sulaiman and the Hoopoe BirdProphets & Quran Stories

Frequently asked questions

What did the hoopoe tell Prophet Sulaiman?

That it had come from Saba (Sheba) with certain news: a queen ruled there, she had a great throne, and she and her people bowed down to the sun instead of Allah (27:22-24).

What is the story of Sulaiman and the ant?

As Sulaiman’s army came to a valley of ants, an ant told the others to go into their homes so they would not be crushed; Sulaiman heard her, smiled, and thanked Allah (27:18-19).

What was the name of the Queen of Sheba?

The Qur’an does not name her. The name Bilqis comes from later historical reports, not from the Qur’an.

Could Prophet Sulaiman talk to animals?

Allah taught him the speech of birds (27:16), and he understood what the ant said (27:19). It was a special gift from Allah to him.

Which surah tells the story of Sulaiman and the hoopoe?

Surah An-Naml, “The Ant”, Surah 27, in verses 15 to 44.

Who was Prophet Sulaiman’s father?

Prophet Dawud, alayhis salaam. Allah gave Sulaiman to Dawud, and Sulaiman inherited his knowledge and kingdom (38:30; 27:16).

Sources

Qur'an references are given as surah:ayah, with the meaning in plain English. Hadith are from the collections named.

• Qur’an 27:15-17 (An-Naml): knowledge given to Dawud and Sulaiman; Sulaiman inherited Dawud; “we have been taught the speech of birds”; his army of jinn, people and birds.
• Qur’an 27:18-19 (An-Naml): the ant warns the ants; Sulaiman smiles and says, “My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favour on me and on my parents, and to do good that pleases You”.
• Qur’an 27:20-28 (An-Naml): the missing hoopoe; it brings certain news from Saba; a woman ruling them with a great throne; they bow to the sun instead of Allah; Allah, Lord of the great Throne; “we will see whether you speak the truth”; take this letter.
• Qur’an 27:29-31 (An-Naml): the letter: “It is from Sulaiman, and it is: In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Kind. Do not be haughty with me, but come to me in submission.”
• Qur’an 27:32-37 (An-Naml): the queen consults her chiefs and sends a gift; “what Allah has given me is better than what He has given you”.
• Qur’an 27:38-44 (An-Naml): her throne brought before the blink of an eye; “this is from the favour of my Lord, to test me whether I am grateful”; the palace of glass; “I submit with Sulaiman to Allah, Lord of the worlds”.
• Qur’an 38:30 (Sad): We gave Dawud, Sulaiman.
• Qur’an 21:78-81 (Al-Anbiya): Dawud and Sulaiman; the wind made to serve Sulaiman.
• Qur’an 34:12 (Saba): the wind for Sulaiman, and jinn who worked for him by his Lord’s permission.