In the name of God, the Lord of Grace, the Ever Merciful
To Solomon (We made subservient) the wind: its morning course (covered the distance of) a month's journey, and its evening course a month's journey. We caused a fountain of molten brass to flow for him, and some of the jinn worked under his control by permission of his Lord. Whoever of them deviated from Our command We shall make him taste suffering through a blazing flame. They made for him whatever he pleased: shrines and statues, basins as large as watering troughs, and firmly anchored cauldrons. We said: 'Work thankfully, family of David, for few of My servants are truly thankful.' (Sheba; Saba': 34: 12-13)
We mentioned last week the special favor God granted to Solomon when he made the wind subservient to him, moving at his command and bringing good effects to people. More favors were granted to him by God, which the surah details: "We caused a fountain of molten brass to flow for him." The general context of these verses again suggests that this was also a miracle, like the softening of iron for David. This might have taken place in the form of a volcanic fountain pouring forth brass that had been molten underground. Likewise, God might have instructed Solomon on how to get brass to become fluid and mold it into different shapes. Regardless of how all this took place, it was nonetheless an act of God's abundant grace.
"Some of the jinn worked under his control by permission of his Lord." God also gave him jinn to work under His command. Linguistically speaking, the word jinn refers to anything that people cannot see. There is also a type of creature God gave the name jinn to and about whom we know nothing except what God states. He mentions here that He placed a group of them under Solomon's command. Whoever disobeys will be punished by God. "Whoever of them deviated from Our command We shall make him taste suffering through a blazing flame." That this comment occurs here, before completing the aspects of their subservience to Solomon, highlights the fact that the jinn are also subject to God, even though some idolaters worshipped them. Like mankind, the jinn are liable to God's punishment should they deviate from His orders.
They were placed under Solomon's command: "They made for him whatever he pleased: shrines and statues, basins as large as watering troughs, and firmly anchored cauldrons." All these articles are examples of what the jinn used to make, by God's leave, whenever Solomon bid them. Again all these are miraculous things, and we cannot imagine them to be anything but. This is the only interpretation we can give to this statement.
The verse concludes with an address to David's household: "We said: 'Work thankfully, family of David.'" All this was given to you by God's grace, through David and Solomon. You must not take false pride in it, but instead give proper thanks. Good action is an important form of thanksgiving.
However, "few of My servants are truly thankful." This comment also serves as a directive. It tells us on the one hand that the grace and favors God bestows on His servants are so great that few of them are able to express due thanks for them, and on the other that people often neglect their thanksgiving duty. In fact, however much people try to express their gratitude, they cannot give due thanks for what God bestows on them. What is their status, then, if they slacken and overlook this duty?
Yet the question is: how can a human being, with limited ability, be sufficiently grateful for God's unlimited favors? God tells us in the Qur'an: "Should you try to count God's blessings, you will never be able to compute them." (14: 34) These blessings are constantly around man no matter where he looks. They are both within him and within his surroundings. Indeed, he himself is one major blessing in this world. For example, at one time we were a group of people chatting about a wide variety of subjects when our little cat came over and started walking around us as if looking for something. It was clear that the cat needed something in particular, but it could not tell us what it was, and we could not understand his purpose. Then it occurred to us that he might be looking for water, and we were right. When we put the water before him we realized that he was very thirsty but could not express himself. We realized then just how much God has favored us with the gift of communication. We expressed our gratitude to God for this blessing, but what thanks, heartfelt as they may be, can be enough for such a blessing!
On a prolonged occasion we were deprived of sunshine. At times, however, a ray of sunlight as small as a little coin would creep in, and we would take turns to stand in it, moving ourselves so as to let it fall on our faces, hands, chests, backs, abdomens and legs. I cannot forget the time when all this was over and we were allowed out: one of us was beaming with delight as he said: 'Oh God! How lovely to see the sun again! It still rises everyday! All praise to God for this blessing!"
How much of this light, which is necessary for life, do we waste everyday as we enjoy the sun and its warmth? Indeed we always bathe in this blessing granted to us freely by God. We neither pay for it, nor do we exert any effort to come by it.
When we reflect on God's blessings in this way, we can spend all our lives and energy covering but a little. Therefore, we only make this brief reference, following the Qur'anic method of giving a hint or a pointer. It is up to everyone to reflect on it and try to express gratitude to God as they can. Indeed to be thankful to God is itself a blessing enjoyed by those who are sincere in their devotion.