After Dawud عليه السلام’s death, Sulaymaan عليه السلام inherited his father’s Kingdom. He resumed the construction of Masjid al-Aqṣa (also known as Solomon’s Temple) which had been started during his father’s era. Sulaymaan عليه السلام ruled for a further 40 years, from 978 BC to 938 BC, thus making a total of 80 years rule between the two Prophets, Dawud عليه السلام and Sulaymaan عليه السلام.

The following verses relate to Allah’s favour upon Sulaymaan عليه السلام by commanding the wind to be under Sulaymaan عليه السلام’s “control” in the land that Allah says He has blessed. The blessed land in this verse of the Holy Qur’ān refers to Palestine. It was an honour for the land of Palestine that Sulaymaan عليه السلام travelled through it with the aid of the wind, a miracle with which Allah had exclusively favoured Sulaymaan عليه السلام. Palestine, a blessed land, was further exalted as it also became the place of Allah’s special favours upon one of His Prophets.

وَلِسُلَيْمَـٰنَ ٱلرِّيحَ عَاصِفَةً تَجْرِى بِأَمْرِهِۦٓ إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ ٱلَّتِى بَـٰرَكْنَا فِيهَا ۚ وَكُنَّا بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَـٰلِمِينَ

And We subdued the strongly raging wind to Solomon which blew at his bidding towards the land We blessed. We know everything. [Surah al-Anbiyā’ 21: 81]

فَسَخَّرْنَا لَهُ ٱلرِّيحَ تَجْرِى بِأَمْرِهِۦ رُخَآءً حَيْثُ أَصَابَ

We subjected the wind to him, so that it blew gently at his bidding, wherever he directed it. [Surah Ṣād 38: 36]

وَلِسُلَيْمَـٰنَ ٱلرِّيحَ غُدُوُّهَا شَهْرٌ وَرَوَاحُهَا شَهْرٌ ۖ وَأَسَلْنَا لَهُۥ عَيْنَ ٱلْقِطْرِ ۖ وَمِنَ ٱلْجِنِّ مَن يَعْمَلُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِۦ ۖ وَمَن يَزِغْ مِنْهُمْ عَنْ أَمْرِنَا نُذِقْهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

And We subdued the wind to Solomon: its morning course was a month’s journey and its evening course was a month’s journey. We gave him a spring flowing with molten brass, and We subdued for him jinn who, by his Lord’s permission, worked before him. Such of them as swerved from Our commandment, We let them taste the chastisement of the Blazing Fire. [Surah Saba’ 34: 12]

Allah even subjected the Jinn to Sulaymaan عليه السلام’s order, and he used the Jinn profitably and employed their energy towards building dams, large cauldrons and whole cities. There is also an indication here that the Jinn were used in the re-construction of Masjid al-Aqṣa.

All the above verses of the Holy Qur’an make a direct or an indirect reference to the land of Palestine, via events or people associated with the land of Palestine.

Upon Sulaymaan عليه السلام’s death, according to Biblical traditions, his son Rehoboam was crowned. However, within a very short period, a revolt began and hatred between the different Jewish tribes reared up and the kingdom was split in 922 BC. To the north, Israel was formed which later became known as Samaria. To the south, Judea was formed with Jerusalem as its capital. A great rivalry ensued between these two neighbours and by 722 BC the Assyrians (from modern-day Syria) conquered and destroyed Israel.

Judea, where the children of Dawud عليه السلام lived, remained united and intact for a while. However, even here religious corruption crept in slowly, idolatry and superstition became the norm and even the Masjid al-Aqṣa was not spared.

“Altars and high places were erected on every hill and under every green tree. In Judea there were as many gods as there were towns. Images of gods in silver, wood and stone were erected in the houses. The Temple itself was once.