فَسَخَّرنا لَهُ الرّيحَ تَجري بِأَمرِهِ رُخاءً حَيثُ أَصابَ

So We disposed the wind for him, blowing softly by his command wherever he intended.

EXEGESIS

Rukhāʾ (softly) literally means softness and gentleness.^{‎[1]Lisan, 14/314.} It has been said to mean beneficial (ṭayyibah) and fast (sarīʿah), or gentle (layyinah), or obedient (muṭīʿah).^{‎[2]Tibyan, 8/564; Tabari, 23/103.}

Aṣāb (he intended), meaning the winds would go wherever Prophet Solomon (a) wished.^{‎[3]Tibyan, 8/564; Tabari, 23/103-104.}

EXPOSITION

As we discussed in the previous verse, Prophet Solomon (a) had prayed for a kingdom that would be a miracle and a sign for all times to come. In this and the following few verses, God describes the miraculous nature of that kingdom, pointing out two significant qualities of it. The word So indicates that this is an answer to the supplication made by Prophet Solomon (a).

The first of these miraculous qualities is described as We disposed the wind for him, meaning it was placed at his command. This wind would blow wherever Prophet Solomon (a) commanded it to blow, making long journeys in a short time, its morning course was a month’s journey and its evening course was a month’s journey (34:12). This was a great advantage for his ships and navies, both in trade and in war. This guaranteed economic and military supremacy for the Israelites.

REVIEW OF TAFSĪR LITERATURE

Many exegetes mention different accounts and stories of how Prophet Solomon (a) would travel with the wind, spending his morning in one city, his noon in another country, and his eve in another distant land. Or that he would take his whole army with him, tents and all, or his advisors, while sitting on their thrones.^{‎[4]Qummi, 2/238; Qurtubi, 15/205; Suyuti, 5/314.} A more tangible meaning would be what we mentioned, that the winds would be used to facilitate the ships he had when they sailed the seas.

Some exegetes have raised the question asked by certain people who thought there might be a contradiction between this verse and the verse, for Solomon [We disposed] the tempestuous wind (21:81). They have answered this by saying that there is no contradiction, since Prophet Solomon (a) was given command over the wind in general, which could sometimes blow gently and other times furiously.^{‎[5]Tabrisi, 8/744.} Others have answered this by saying that even tempestuous winds would blow gently at Solomon’s (a) command,^{‎[6]Razi, 26/395.} or seem as if they were gentle.^{‎[7]Nemuneh, 19/186.} Another suggestion has been that the wind was gentle when blowing and tempestuous when carrying something off.^{‎[8]Alusi, 12/194.} It is also possible that the tempestuous wind was used to inhibit or harm his enemies.

INSIGHTS FROM OTHER TRADITIONS

1. The king had a fleet of trading ships at sea along with the ships of Hiram. Once every three years it returned, carrying gold, silver and ivory, and apes and baboons.^{‎[9]1 Kings 10:22.}

[1] Lisan, 14/314.
[2] Tibyan, 8/564; Tabari, 23/103.
[3] Tibyan, 8/564; Tabari, 23/103-104.
[4] Qummi, 2/238; Qurtubi, 15/205; Suyuti, 5/314.
[5] Tabrisi, 8/744.
[6] Razi, 26/395.
[7] Nemuneh, 19/186.
[8] Alusi, 12/194.
[9] 1 Kings 10:22.