One day, Prophet Sulayman (as), with the staff in his land, was viewing the kingdom around him, when he saw a young man approaching him. He was surprised and asked him, "Who are you and who gave you permission to enter the palace?"

The visitor replied, "I have come in with the permission of Allah (swt), the owner of the universe. I am the angel of death and Allah has sent me to take your life away."

Prophet Sulayman (as) said, "Then allow me to go home to prepare for death and rest on my bed". The Angel said: "No".

While Prophet Sulayman (as) stood leaning on his staff, his soul left him. His body remained standing for such a long time that the people and the Jinn's believed him to have become a spirit or a magician. They carried on with the work entrusted to them by Prophet Sulayman (as), until Allah (swt) caused the ants to eat away the staff he was leaning on and his body fell to the ground. Prophet Sulayman (as) ruled for forty years and died at the age of fifty-three.

Source-stories of the prophets