Today’s reflection stayed with the story of Sayyiduna Sulayman in Surah Ṣād [38:30-40]. Allah tells us that Sulayman was immensely blessed, yet He begins by describing him with words that reveal the true essence of his character: “what an excellent servant ˹he was˺! Indeed, he ˹constantly˺ turned ˹to Allah˺.” [38:30]

Subhān’Allah. Among all the ways Allah could have described Sulayman, a king, a prophet, a man granted immense authority, He chose instead to describe him as someone who was constantly returning to Him. That alone felt like a quiet lesson. The excellence of a servant is not measured by how much they possess, but by how often they turn back to Allah. 

Then Allah tells us about a moment in Sulayman’s life when he became absorbed in the very blessings Allah had given him. As he watched a parade of beautiful horses, he became so captivated by them that he momentarily forgot his remembrance of Allah. And Allah tells us that He tested Sulayman.

Even the prophets experienced moments where Allah tested their hearts through the very blessings they had been given. Sometimes the things that draw us closest to Allah are the same things that can momentarily distract us from Him. But what moved me the most was what happened next.

Sulayman immediately turned back to Allah in repentance. He recognized his moment of distraction. He sought forgiveness. And then, right after asking Allah for forgiveness, he made a request that at first glance almost feels astonishing. He asked Allah to grant him a kingdom that would never be matched by anyone after him. And in that request, he called upon Allah as Al-Wahhāb, The Giver of Gifts, The Generous Giver, The Supreme Bestower. He is the One who gives gifts freely, abundantly, without measure. Subhān’Allah.

Sulayman did not allow his momentary slip to make him feel too ashamed to ask Allah for more. He did not let his mistake cause him to despair of Allah’s generosity. Instead, he acknowledged his shortcoming, sought forgiveness, and then asked Allah from His immense bounty. There was something deeply freeing in that realization. Because so often we do the opposite.

When we become aware of our own shortcomings, our own sins, our own moments of failure, we begin to feel unworthy of asking Allah for anything. We carry a quiet shame that makes us hesitate in our du‘a. As if our mistakes somehow disqualify us from seeking Allah’s generosity. But Allah teaches us something different through the story of Sulayman. We are never unworthy of asking Allah.

Yes, we must recognize our mistakes. We must take accountability. We must turn back to Him in repentance. But His door does not close after that. In fact, repentance itself opens the door even wider. Because the One we are asking is Al-Wahhāb, the Giver of Gifts whose generosity knows no limit. We sometimes place human limitations on Allah. In our human relationships, if we wrong someone, the last thing we would think to do is ask them for a favor. We would only think about apologizing, hoping they might forgive us. But Allah is far more exalted than our human comparisons. We can ask Him even though we are flawed.

And what makes the story even more beautiful is Allah’s response to Sulayman. After his du‘a, Allah lists the many favors He bestowed upon him. Authority over the winds. Control over the jinn. Blessings beyond imagination. And then Allah concludes with words that feel overwhelming in their generosity:

“This is Our gift, so give or withhold ˹as you wish˺, never to be called to account.” [38:39]

“And he will indeed have ˹a status of˺ closeness to Us and an honourable destination! [38:40]

Subhān’Allah. Not only did Allah grant Sulayman what he asked for, He gave him even more. Authority. Honor. Closeness to Him. And the promise of a beautiful final return. And it made me reflect on something deeply personal. Sometimes the very moments when we fall short, the sins we struggle with, the ways we misuse the blessings Allah has given us can become the doorway back to Him. 

Perhaps those moments are meant to break our sense of self-sufficiency. To remind us of our weakness. To bring us back to Allah with humility and sincerity. Perhaps that moment of turning back becomes the key that opens the door to a closeness we might not have reached otherwise.

Ya Rabb, Ya Wahhāb, Do not let my transgressions against You and against myself become a barrier between me and calling upon You. Make me among those who constantly return to You in repentance, just as You described Your servant, Sulayman.

Ya Wahhāb, allow me to stand before You despite all of my flaws, my sins, and my meager deeds, and to ask of You with certainty that You are the One who gives without limit. Grant me from Your bounty, forgive my shortcomings, and draw me closer to You through every moment that brings me back to Your door. You are the Most Generous of those who give and the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.

With Love,

Ibtisam