In Islam, King Solomon is a wise monarch and prophet who ruled over humans, beasts, and djinn.
A race of fantastical invisible beings, the djinn served Solomon and were the focus of legend and folklore
A thread on the magic and djinn of Solomon
A race of fantastical invisible beings, the djinn served Solomon and were the focus of legend and folklore
A thread on the magic and djinn of Solomon
The djinn of Solomon were said to be fierce, they fought for him, served him, built great palaces, and gave him knowledge of secret things.
Harmiz was said to be a beautiful djinn who taught Solomon charm and the ways of women.
Harmiz was said to be a beautiful djinn who taught Solomon charm and the ways of women.
Zahal meanwhile gave him knowledge of agriculture and the land.
Others were more ferocious. Mahms was a djinn of shadows who choked his victims and so had to be bound alongside the canine Rabbdos and the wicked Urnas.
These rebellious djinn were put to work as builders
Others were more ferocious. Mahms was a djinn of shadows who choked his victims and so had to be bound alongside the canine Rabbdos and the wicked Urnas.
These rebellious djinn were put to work as builders
Another djinn, Qarinah is said to cause sudden infant death so Solomon bound her by concealing her hair which was said to grant her powers of seduction.
Solomon also had power over the winds and so when he desired to travel he would gather his court and summon the wind to carry him to his destination.
The travel of one month would happen in a single morning.
The travel of one month would happen in a single morning.
It was on such a journey he heard of the Queen of Sheba, who was reputed to be half djinn. She was the daughter of a mighty king and the djinn princess Baltaqa.
Solomon summoned the Queen of Sheba to his palace, but she would not be easily swayed so put to him a series of tests.
In one she asked that he thread a hair through a green gem.
Solomon turned to his djinn for help. An Ifrit named Kawzan told him to use an ant.
In one she asked that he thread a hair through a green gem.
Solomon turned to his djinn for help. An Ifrit named Kawzan told him to use an ant.
Later Kawzan would be the first to offer to bring the Queen of Sheba on her throne to him.
But another djinn Zaba feared that the Queen of Sheba for on account of her ancestry she knew too much of the realms of the djinn, al ghayb, and tried to warn Solomon off.
Instead the king had Zaba build a palace of green glass with a mirror pool to test the Queen
Instead the king had Zaba build a palace of green glass with a mirror pool to test the Queen
Upon their marriage, Solomon assigned the djinn Zawabah to build the monuments of Yemen for her. They built Sirwah, Marah, Baynum and many other fortresses
The djinn were said to have built many palaces throughout the land and are connected with Meknes as well
The djinn were said to have built many palaces throughout the land and are connected with Meknes as well
In other story it is Zawabah that shakes the sands in a mighty whirlwind and thus reveals Palmyra to King Solomon
Solomon was granted dominion over the djinn through a ring said to have been given to him by the angel Jibrail while others say it was Mikail that gave it to him
The ring was used to bind the djinn to his will. Should they rebel he locked them in a vessel made of brass or iron or lead.
The vessel and the ring both feature heavily in various magical practices found in the Middle East
The vessel and the ring both feature heavily in various magical practices found in the Middle East
Jinn-binders and sorcerers have attempted to replicate both objects in the hopes of gaining power over the djinn.
Another object of fascination is Solomon’s staff said to be made of the Korab tree
Another object of fascination is Solomon’s staff said to be made of the Korab tree
The staff is reputed to have great properties. Solomon would lean on it while in council.
One legend says that when Solomon died, the staff kept him propped up and so the djinn were unaware and so kept working until a termite finally ate through the staff
One legend says that when Solomon died, the staff kept him propped up and so the djinn were unaware and so kept working until a termite finally ate through the staff
In some legends it’s said they kept working for a whole year.
Others say the story reminds us that there is limits to the knowledge of the djinn
Others say the story reminds us that there is limits to the knowledge of the djinn
Some have tried to recreate the staff, but the charms and formula on it are lost. They say the name of the angel Mitatrush must be written on it
If one can create the ring, staff, and vessel then you’d be granted powers over djinn, beast, and the winds
If one can create the ring, staff, and vessel then you’d be granted powers over djinn, beast, and the winds
Many talismans to ward and bind djinn invoke the name of King Solomon along with the name of angels who are said to control various djinn
One famous talisman to protect from sudden infant death syndrome, sleep paralysis, and night terrors invokes King Solomon and the angel Afarof to ward off the wicked Qarinah
King Solomon, while seen as a prophet, becomes a prototypical magical figure for Muslim mages.
While such practices fall well outside orthodoxy they are rooted in folklore, legends, and esoteric interpretations and quite popular in some places
While such practices fall well outside orthodoxy they are rooted in folklore, legends, and esoteric interpretations and quite popular in some places
I will expand further on magic and talismans in future threads as well as a thread on exorcisms which also have some connections with King Solomon
