Āṣaf b. Barakhyā - Encyclopaedia of Islam, THREE
[Article]
Tottoli, Roberto
Leiden
Brill
(508 words)
Āṣaf b. Barakhyā is the name given in Muslim traditions to the minister or scribe of the king and prophet Solomon (Sulaymān). According to some exegetical reports he is identified as the "mere body" (jasad an ) that was placed upon Solomon's throne, according to Q 38:34, or as the one mentioned in 27:40, "who possessed knowledge of the Book" (alladhī ʿindahu ʿilm un min al-kitāb) , meaning that Āṣaf knew the Mighty Name of God, or at least one of its letters. Later reports added further particulars.