Here Allah tells us about the great blessings and favors which He bestowed
upon two of His servants and Prophets, Dawud (David) and his son Sulayman
(Solomon), peace be upon them both, and how they enjoyed happiness in this world
and the Hereafter, power and authority in this world, and the position of being
Prophets and Messengers. Allah says:
[وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا
دَاوُودَ وَسُلَيْمَـنَ عِلْماً وَقَالاَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِى فَضَّلَنَا
عَلَى كَثِيرٍ مِّنْ عِبَادِهِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ]
(And indeed We gave knowledge to Dawud and Sulayman, and they both said: "All
the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has preferred us above many of His
believing servants!'')
[وَوَرِثَ
سُلَيْمَـنُ دَاوُودَ]
(And Sulayman inherited from Dawud.) means, in kingship and prophethood. What
is meant here is not wealth, because if that were the case, Sulayman would not
have been singled out from among the sons of Dawud, as Dawud had one hundred
wives. Rather what is meant is the inheritance of kingship and prophethood, for
the wealth of the Prophets cannot be inherited, as the Messenger of Allah said:
«نَحْنُ مَعَاشِرَ
الْأَنْبِيَاءِ لَا نُورَثُ، مَا تَرَكْنَاهُ فَهُوَ صَدَقَة»
(We Prophets cannot be inherited from; whatever we leave behind is charity.)
And Sulayman said:
[يأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ
عُلِّمْنَا مَنطِقَ الطَّيْرِ وَأُوتِينَا مِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍ]
(O mankind! We have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given
from everything.) Here Sulayman was speaking of the blessings that Allah
bestowed upon him, by giving him complete authority and power, whereby mankind,
the Jinn and the birds were subjugated to him. He also knew the language of the
birds and animals, which is something that had never been given to any other
human being -- as far as we know from what Allah and His Messenger told us.
Allah enabled Sulayman to understand what the birds said to one another as they
flew through the air, and what the different kinds of animals said. Sulayman
said:
[عُلِّمْنَا مَنطِقَ
الطَّيْرِ وَأُوتِينَا مِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍ]
(We have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given from
everything.) i.e., all things that a king needs.
[إِنَّ هَـذَا لَهُوَ
الْفَضْلُ الْمُبِينُ]
(This, verily, is an evident grace.) means, `this is clearly the blessings of
Allah upon us.'
[وَحُشِرَ
لِسْلَيْمَـنَ جُنُودُهُ مِنَ الْجِنِّ وَالإِنْس وَالطَّيْرِ فَهُمْ يُوزَعُونَ
]
(And there were gathered before Sulayman his hosts of Jinn and men, and
birds, and they all were set in battle order.) means, all of Sulayman's troops
of Jinn, men and birds were gathered together, and he rode with them in a
display of might and glory, with people marching behind him, followed by the
Jinn, and the birds flying above his head. When it was hot, they would shade him
with their wings.
[فَهُمْ
يُوزَعُونَ]
(and they all were set in battle order.) The first and the last of them were
brought together, so that none of them would step out of place. Mujahid said:
"Officials were appointed to keep each group in order, and to keep the first and
the last together so that no one would step out of line -- just as kings do
nowadays.''
[حَتَّى إِذَآ
أَتَوْا عَلَى وَادِى النَّمْلِ]
(Till, when they came to the valley of the ants,) meaning, when Sulayman, the
soldiers and the army with him crossed the valley of the ants,
[قَالَتْ نَمْلَةٌ
يأَيُّهَا النَّمْلُ ادْخُلُواْ مَسَـكِنَكُمْ لاَ يَحْطِمَنَّكُمْ سُلَيْمَـنُ
وَجُنُودُهُ وَهُمْ لاَ يَشْعُرُونَ]
(one of the ants said: "O ants! Enter your dwellings, lest Sulayman and his
armies should crush you, while they perceive not.'') Sulayman, peace be upon
him, understood what the ant said,
[فَتَبَسَّمَ
ضَـحِكاً مِّن قَوْلِهَا وَقَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِى أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ
الَّتِى أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَىَّ وَعَلَى وَالِدَىَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَـلِحاً
تَرْضَـهُ]
(So he smiled, amused at her speech and said: "My Lord! Grant me the power
and ability that I may be grateful for Your favors which You have bestowed on me
and on my parents, and that I may do righteous good deeds that will please You,
) meaning: `inspire me to give thanks for the blessings that You have bestowed
upon me by teaching me to understand what the birds and animals say, and the
blessings that You have bestowed upon my parents by making them Muslims who
believe in You.'
[وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ
صَـلِحاً تَرْضَـهُ]
(and that I may do righteous good deeds that will please You,) means, `deeds
that You love which will earn Your pleasure.'
[وَأَدْخِلْنِى
بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِى عِبَادِكَ الصَّـلِحِينَ]
(and admit me by Your mercy among Your righteous servants.) means, `when You
cause me to die, then join me with the righteous among Your servants, and the
Higher Companion among Your close friends.'
[وَتَفَقَّدَ
الطَّيْرَ فَقَالَ مَالِيَ لاَ أَرَى الْهُدْهُدَ أَمْ كَانَ مِنَ الْغَآئِبِينَ -
لأُعَذِّبَنَّهُ عَذَاباً شَدِيداً أَوْ لاّذْبَحَنَّهُ أَوْ لَيَأْتِيَنِّى
بِسُلْطَـنٍ مُّبِينٍ ]
(20. He inspected the birds, and said: "What is the matter that I see not the
hoopoe Or is he among the absentees'') (21. "I will surely punish him with a
severe torment or slaughter him, unless he brings me a clear reason.'')
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