A model of Solomon\u2019s temple, located in modern Jerusalem (Wikimedia CC public domain photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
From Ma\u2018mar ibn Rashid, The Expeditions: An Early Biography of Muhammad<\/em>, translated by Sean W. Anthony (New York and London: New York University Press, 2015), 106-108, I quote an interesting folkloric account, recorded in the eighth century AD, of the building of Solomon\u2019s Temple in Jerusalem. \u00a0That famous sanctuary was considered so remarkable that its construction absolutely had<\/em> to be the product of magic:<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Solomon declared to the demons [that is, to the jinn<\/em>], \u201cVerily, God has commanded me to build a mosque in Jerusalem, but I must not hear there the sound of a saw or the clang of a hammer.\u201d \u00a0The demons replied, \u201cTruly in the sea lives a demon; perhaps he is able to accomplish this and will inform you how.\u201d \u00a0That demon was accustomed to returning every seven days to a well to drink from it, so the demons embarked on a journey to this well. \u00a0The demons dredged the well and filled it with wine. \u00a0When the demon came to the well, he said, \u201cTruly, yours is a fine aroma, but you make a fool of the crafty, and only add to the fool\u2019s folly.\u201d The demon then departed and did not drink, but when his thirst became acute he returned, repeating three times what he had said before. \u00a0Finally he took a sip, and then continued to drink until he became drunk. \u00a0The demons then seized him and brought him to Solomon. \u00a0Solomon showed the demon his signet ring. \u00a0When he showed him the ring \u2014 for Solomon\u2019s power to rule resided in his ring \u2014 Solomon declared to him, \u201cIndeed, I have been commanded to build a temple, on the condition that I must not hear there the sound of a saw or the clang of a hammer.\u201d \u00a0The demon requested a glass container, and it was crafted. \u00a0The glass container was placed over the egg of the hoopoe [bird]. \u00a0The hoopoe then came to nestle atop its egg but could not. \u00a0When the hoopoe left, the demon said, \u201cWatch now and see what the hoopoe brings, and then take it!\u201d \u00a0The hoopoe returned carrying a diamond and, placing it atop the glass container, split open the glass. \u00a0The demons took the diamond and began carving stones until they had constructed the Jerusalem Temple. \u00a0[The bracketed insertions are mine. \u00a0-dcp]<\/span><\/p>\nTo be continued.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00a0 \u00a0 From Ma\u2018mar ibn Rashid, The Expeditions: An Early Biography of Muhammad, translated by Sean W. Anthony (New York and London: New York University Press, 2015), 106-108, I quote an interesting folkloric account, recorded in the eighth century AD, of the building of Solomon\u2019s Temple in Jerusalem. \u00a0That famous sanctuary was considered so remarkable […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1019,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[6624,66,446,6627,6630,6636,1769,6633,6621,641],"class_list":["post-80244","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-hoopoe","tag-islam","tag-jerusalem","tag-jinn","tag-magic","tag-mamar-ibn-rashid","tag-muslim","tag-ring","tag-solomon","tag-temple"],"yoast_head":"\n
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