This portion of Al-Kitab has an important message for all people. The writer does not name himself, but calls himself “Ibn Dawud, king in Jerusalem” (1:1). This, along with other evidence in the text, resulted in the traditional belief that the author is the prophet-king Sulayman (pbuh). To get a grasp on the teaching of this scripture, the reader must give due place to the phrase “under the sun” which occurs 29 times, while “under heaven” occurs only 3 times. The writer declares that life is empty and without meaning (“all is vanity”), but in so saying, he is limiting himself to life “under the sun.” The point is that life is without meaning, if you live without consideration of Allah and his will for your life. The key is found in the final chapter, “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth” and “Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man” (12:1,13).
