سُلَيْمَان
Boy Hebrew origin Sulaymān
ProphetIn the QuranName of the prophet-king Sulayman (Solomon); from the Hebrew Shelomo, linked to “peace”
The word as it is recited in the Quran: Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary, An-Naml 27:16.
The son of Dawud, a prophet and a king, Sulayman is named seventeen times in the Quran. Allah gave him understanding in judgement (21:79), the speech of birds (27:16) and the wind subject to his command (21:81), and praises him: “What an excellent servant! He constantly turned to Allah” (38:30). The Prophet ﷺ recalled the prayer of “my brother Sulayman” for a kingdom like no other (al-Bukhari 3423).
Sulayman is the Arabic form of the Hebrew Shelomo (Solomon), which is linked to shalom, “peace”: the same Semitic root as the Arabic salam (s-l-m). In Arabic the name took the shape of a diminutive, that of Salman. It is borne throughout the Muslim world: Sulaiman or Suleiman in English, Souleymane in West Africa, Slimane in the Maghreb, Süleyman in Turkey, where it also recalls Suleiman the Magnificent.
Yes: Sulayman is named in the Quran 17 times, in 7 surahs.
وَوَرِثَ سُلَيْمَٰنُ دَاوُۥدَ وَقَالَ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ عُلِّمْنَا مَنطِقَ ٱلطَّيْرِ وَأُوتِينَا مِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ ٱلْفَضْلُ ٱلْمُبِينُ ١٦
And Solomon inherited David. He said, "O people, we have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given from all things. Indeed, this is evident bounty."
فَفَهَّمْنَٰهَا سُلَيْمَٰنَ وَكُلًّا ءَاتَيْنَا حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا وَسَخَّرْنَا مَعَ دَاوُۥدَ ٱلْجِبَالَ يُسَبِّحْنَ وَٱلطَّيْرَ وَكُنَّا فَٰعِلِينَ ٧٩
And We gave understanding of it [i.e., the case] to Solomon, and to each [of them] We gave judgement and knowledge. And We subjected the mountains to exalt [Us], along with David and [also] the birds. And We were doing [that].
وَلِسُلَيْمَٰنَ ٱلرِّيحَ عَاصِفَةً تَجْرِى بِأَمْرِهِۦٓ إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ ٱلَّتِى بَٰرَكْنَا فِيهَا وَكُنَّا بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَٰلِمِينَ ٨١
And to Solomon [We subjected] the wind, blowing forcefully, proceeding by his command toward the land which We had blessed. And We are ever, of all things, Knowing.
وَوَهَبْنَا لِدَاوُۥدَ سُلَيْمَٰنَ نِعْمَ ٱلْعَبْدُ إِنَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٌ ٣٠
And to David We gave Solomon. An excellent servant, indeed he was one repeatedly turning back [to Allāh].
إِنَّ عِفْرِيتًا مِنَ الْجِنِّ تَفَلَّتَ الْبَارِحَةَ لِيَقْطَعَ عَلَىَّ صَلاَتِي، فَأَمْكَنَنِي اللَّهُ مِنْهُ، فَأَخَذْتُهُ، فَأَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَرْبُطَهُ عَلَى سَارِيَةٍ مِنْ سَوَارِي الْمَسْجِدِ حَتَّى تَنْظُرُوا…
No text or scholarly opinion concerns the name Sulayman in particular: the general rules of Islam apply.
Read the rules for choosing a name
This page is an aid to reflection, not a fatwa. For a personal case, ask a person of knowledge.
