granting him great power over the earth. Like the Qur'an does of David, Solomon's positive attributes are emphasized, even though he too “yielded to certain temptations on the road to faith” (Tottoli, 35). However, Solomon was granted even greater powers by God than his father was. A particularly miraculous one was his over the wind, so that he could travel over his immense territory quickly. Solomon could speak to animals and was commander over a rank of jinn, or invisible spirits. The Torah even claims that God made Solomon so wise that kings from all over the land traveled to hear him speak. (2 Chronicles 9:14). 55-64: The Day of Judgment One does not have to be a prophet to have a fruitful afterlife. Through verse 49, the Qur'an repeats that the reward for devout followers “will be nearness to Us, and a good place to return to” (Q38.49). The reader is called by descriptions of heaven through verse 54, in which rich words like “bliss” and “abundant” are used. Such enticing information becomes particularly important when contrasted with a long description of Hell, lasting from verses 55–64, which includes a bone-chilling description of what hell tastes like: “a scalding, dark, foul fluid” (Q38.58). The Qur'an describes this Day of Judgment with increasingly vivid descriptions as Islam develops. This one is particularly scaring, arresting multiple senses and capturing the reader in a dark, seemingly inescapable cloud of perpetual agony. Other Biblical characters This Sura also references Noah, Job, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Ishmael, and Elijah. Of these only the story of Job is elaborated on, providing a third major example of overcoming “adversity” (Q 38:44) to become a noteworthy messenger of the past. 63 Day of Reckoning In verse 63, God repeats to Muhammad that he must warn the masses against this Day of Reckoning, that God will forgive those who seek forgiveness but only if they heed the Prophet's warnings. 66-88 The holiness and validity of the Qur’an The Sura ends with three short verses maintaining the holiness and validity of the Qur’an, just as it begins with a verse saying “By the Qur’an with its reminding” (Q38.1). 71-85: Story of Iblis and Hell Humility is key to acceptance in heaven. God recounts the story of Iblis’ rejection from heaven and God’s generous compromise with him, giving him “respite till the Appointed Day”, when God will then “fill Hell with