Surah Saba' ([The People of] Saba) 34 : 14

Overview (Verse 14)

Let us move now to the last scene in the story which shows Solomon’s death while the Jinn continue to work hard as he had bid them, unaware of the fact of his death, until a worm had gnawed at his staff sufficiently for him to fall down: “When We decreed his death, nothing showed them that he was dead except an earthworm that gnawed away at his staff And when he fell to the ground, the jinn saw clearly that, had they understood the reality which was beyond [their] perception, they would not have remained in humiliating servitude.” (Verse 14)

It is reported that in the position he was in at the moment of his death, he was leaning over his stick and that he remained in that position while the jinn continued performing the task he assigned them. Then a worm that eats wood came upon his stick. This type of worm gnaws persistently at wood ruining roofs, doors and buildings foundations. In parts of Upper Egypt, some villages do not use a single piece of wood in their homes for fear of woodworm. When the woodworm had gnawed at Solomon’s staff, it could no longer support him, and he fell down. Only then did the jinn realize that he was dead: “the jinn saw clearly that, had they understood the reality which was beyond [their] perception, they would not have remained in humiliating servitude.” (Verse 14)

Such, then, are the jinn whom some people worship. We see them here subservient to one of God’s servants. They are totally unable to fathom something which is hidden from them, yet is very close: how then can they gratify people’s appeals to learn the secrets of what is beyond the reach of perception!