Surah Sad Tafseer

When there were displayed before him, in the afternoon, well trained horses of the highest breed.

means, these well trained horses were shown to Suleiman, peace be upon him, in his capacity as king and ruler.

Mujahid said,

"They were the kind of horses which stand on three legs and raise the fourth, and they were swift horses."

This was also the view of several others among the Salaf.

Abu Dawud recorded that A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said,

"The Messenger of Allah came back from the campaign of Tabuk or Khyber, and there was a curtain covering her room. The wind came and lifted the curtain, revealing some toys belonging to A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her.

The Prophet said:What is this, O `A'ishah?

She, may Allah be pleased with her, said, "My toys."

Among them he saw a horse with two wings made of cloth. He said:

مَا هَذَا الَّذِي أَرَى وَسَطَهُنَّ

What is this that I see in the midst of them?

She, may Allah be pleased with her, said, "A horse."

The Messenger of Allah said,

مَا هَذَا الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ

And what is this on it?

She, may Allah be pleased with her, said, "Wings."

The Messenger of Allah said,

فَرَسٌ لَهُ جَنَاحَانِ

A horse with two wings?

She, may Allah be pleased with her, said, "Did you not hear that Suleiman, peace be upon him, had a horse that had wings"

She, may Allah be pleased with her, said, "The Messenger of Allah smiled so broadly that I could see his molars."

And Allah tells further that,

فَقَالَ إِنِّي أَحْبَبْتُ حُبَّ الْخَيْرِ عَن ذِكْرِ رَبِّي حَتَّى تَوَارَتْ بِالْحِجَابِ