39 Preface هٰذا عَطاؤُنا فَامنُن أَو أَمسِك بِغَيرِ حِسابٍYusuf Ali“Such are Our Bounties: whether thou bestow them1 (on others) or withhold them, no account will be asked.”God bestowed such abundant powers and bounties on Solomon that they could not be counted or measured: and he was free to give away anything he liked or keep anything he liked. In this was great temptation for an ordinary man. Solomon as a prophet withstood it and asked to be forgiven for power and such a kingdom as others might not be able to use lawfully. His earthly kingdom went to pieces after his death. But his name and fame endure. And what is more, he obtained a place among the Nearest Ones to God. See next verse.