Dawud and Sulayman (Alayhuma Salam) (Surah An-Naml 27: 16)

Dawud and Sulayman (Alayhuma Salam), the organization of Sulayman's Troops and His passage through the Valley of the Ants.


And Sulayman (Alayhi Salam) said:

O mankind! We have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given from everything. Here Sulayman (Alayhi Salam) was speaking of the blessings that Allah bestowed upon him, by giving him complete authority and power, whereby mankind, the Jinn and the birds were subjugated to him. He also knew the language of the birds and animals, which is something that had never been given to any other human being -- as far as we know from what Allah and His Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) told us. Allah enabled Sulayman to understand what the birds said to one another as they flew through the air, and what the different kinds of animals said. Sulayman (Alayhi Salam) said:

We have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given from everything   i.e., all things that a king needs.

This, verily, is an evident grace  means, `this is clearly the blessings of Allah upon us.'

Source: Tafsir ibn Kathir (Abridged)