making it soft like dough, and smelting copper, and finding minerals and extracting them is the origin and source, and basis and foundation of all man’s material industries. Thus, this verse indicates: “A great bounty bestowed on a great Messenger and vicegerent of the earth in the form of a great miracle was the softening of iron. Making it as soft as dough and fine as a thread and smelting copper are the basis of most of the general industries.” Since wisdom was given to the tongue of one who was both Messenger and vicegerent, that is, to one who was both a spiritual and material leader, and craft and industry were given to his hand. It is on the one hand explicitly urging men towards the wisdom on his tongue, and on the other is implicitly encouraging them towards the craft in his hand. Through the allusive tongue of this verse, in meaning Almighty God is saying:
“O Sons of Adam! I gave such wisdom to the tongue and heart of one of My servants who complied with my commands and obligations that he rendered judgement on everything with the finest distinction and made manifest the truth. And I gave him such art that he could mould iron into any shape in his hand as though it were wax. It was a significant means of power for his vicegerency and rule. Since it was possible, it was given. It is both important, and you are in much need of it in your social life. If you too obey my commands in creation, that wisdom and craft will be given you too. In the course of time you will reach it and draw close to it.” Thus, it is through the softening of iron and smelting of copper that man achieves his greatest progress in industry, and his greatest power and strength. In the verse, the word qitr is used to describe copper. These verses direct mankind’s sight towards this truth, and they sternly warned the people of former times who did not appreciate their importance, as well as the lazy in modern times...
And, for example, the verse,
Said one who had knowledge of the Book: “I will bring it to you in the twinkling of an eye!” Then when [Solomon] saw it placed firmly before him,1
which points to the following wondrous event: in order to attract Bilkis’ throne to him, one of Solomon’s (Peace be upon him) ministers who was versed in the science of attraction said: “I’ll have the throne here before you before you can blink your eyes.” The verse suggests then that it is possible to bring either things themselves or their images to one instantaneously from far away, and it is a fact that Almighty God bestowed this ability on Solomon (PBH) in the form of a miracle, to establish his innocence and justice. For being honoured with rulership as well as his Messengership, Solomon could in this way himself be informed of events in all the regions of his extensive dominions, and see the condition of his subjects and hear of their ills. That
Qur’an, 27:40.