27. An-Naml (The Ants)

Mecca Period 48

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ وَسُلَيْمَانَ عِلْمًا...

27: 15. We gave (in the past) knowledge to David and Solomon:

C3252. Cf. 21:78-82.

"Knowledge" means such knowledge as leads up to the higher things in life, the Wisdom that was shown in their decisions and judgments, and the understanding that enabled them to fulfil their mission in life.

They were both just men and prophets of Allah. The Bible, as we have it, is inconsistent: on the one hand it calls David "a man after God's own heart" (I Samuel, 13:14, and Acts 13:22); and the Christians acclaim Christ as a son of David; but on the other hand, horrible crimes are ascribed to him, which, if he had committed them, would make him a monster of cruelty and injustice.

About Solomon, too, while he is described as a glorious king, there are stories of his lapses into sin and idolatry. The Muslim teaching considers them both to be men of piety and wisdom, and high in spiritual knowledge.

... وَقَالَا الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي فَضَّلَنَا عَلَى كَثِيرٍ مِّنْ عِبَادِهِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿١٥﴾

and they both said:

"Praise be to Allah, Who has favored us above many of His servants who believe!"

C3253. They ascribed, as was proper, their knowledge, wisdom, and power to the only true Source of all good, Allah.

وَوَرِثَ سُلَيْمَانُ دَاوُودَ...

27: 16. And Solomon was David's heir.

C3254. The point is that Solomon not only inherited his father's kingdom but his spiritual insight and the prophetic office, which do not necessarily go from father to son.

... وَقَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ عُلِّمْنَا مَنطِقَ الطَّيْرِ ...

He said: "O ye people!

we have been taught the speech of Birds,

C3255. Speech of Birds. The spoken word in human speech is different from the means of communication which birds and animals have between each other. But no man can doubt that they have means of communication with each other, if he only observes the orderly flight of migratory birds or the regulated behaviour of ants, bees, and other creatures who live in communities.

The wisdom of Solomon consisted in understanding these things-in the animal world and in the lower fringes of human intelligence.

... وَأُوتِينَا مِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ...

and on us has been bestowed (a little) of all things:

C3256. "A little of all thing":

Solomon was a king of power and authority; outside his kingdom he had influence among many neighbouring peoples; he had knowledge of birds, and beasts and plants; he was just and wise, and understood men; and above all, he had spiritual insight, which brought him near to Allah.

Thus he had something of all kinds of desirable gifts. And with true gratitude he referred them to Allah, the Giver of all gifts.

... إِنَّ هَذَا لَهُوَ الْفَضْلُ الْمُبِينُ ﴿١٦﴾

this is indeed Grace manifest (from Allah)."

وَحُشِرَ لِسُلَيْمَانَ جُنُودُهُ مِنَ الْجِنِّ وَالْإِنسِ وَالطَّيْرِ ...

27: 17. And before Solomon were marshalled his hosts -- of Jinns and men and birds,

... فَهُمْ يُوزَعُونَ ﴿١٧﴾

and they were all kept in order and ranks.

C3257. Besides the literal meaning, there are two symbolical meanings.

1. All his subjects of varying grades of intelligence, taste, and civilization, were kept in due order and cooperation, by his discipline, justice, and good government.

2. The gifts of various kinds, which he possessed (see last note), he used in proper order and coordination, as if they were a well disciplined army, thus getting the best possible results from them.

حَتَّى إِذَا أَتَوْا عَلَى وَادِي النَّمْلِ...

27: 18. At length, when they came to a (lowly) valley of ants,

... قَالَتْ نَمْلَةٌ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّمْلُ ادْخُلُوا مَسَاكِنَكُمْ لَا...

one of the ants said: "O ye ants, get into your habitations,

... يَحْطِمَنَّكُمْ سُلَيْمَانُ وَجُنُودُهُ وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ ﴿١٨﴾

lest Solomon and his hosts crush you (under foot) without knowing it."

C3258. This verse and the next, read together, suggest the symbolical meaning as predominant.

The ant, to outward appearance, is a very small and humble creature. In the great pomp and circumstances of the world, she (generic feminine in Arabic) may be neglected or even trampled on by a people who mean her no harm. Yet, by her wisdom, she carries on her own life within her own sphere ("habitations") unmolested, and makes a useful contribution to the economy of the world. So there is room for the humblest people in the spiritual world.

فَتَبَسَّمَ ضَاحِكًا مِّن قَوْلِهَا وَقَالَ...

27: 19. So he smiled, amused at her speech; and he said:

C3259. The counterpart to the position of the humble ant is the position of a great king like Solomon.

He prays that his power and wisdom and all other gifts may be used for righteousness and for the benefit of all around him. The ant being in his thoughts, we may suppose that he means particularly in his prayer that he may not even unwittingly tread on humble beings in his preoccupations with the great things of the world.

... وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ ...

and that I may work the righteousness that will please Thee:

C3260. The righteousness which pleases the world is often very different from the righteousness which pleases Allah.

Solomon prays that he may always take Allah's Will as his standard, rather than the standards of men.

... وَأَدْخِلْنِي بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِي عِبَادِكَ الصَّالِحِينَ ﴿١٩﴾

and admit me, by Thy Grace, to the ranks of Thy righteous Servants."

C3261. In the Kingdom of Allah, righteousness is the badge of citizenship.

And although there are great and noble grades (see n. 586 to 4:69), the base of that citizenship is the universal brotherhood of righteousness. The greatest in that Kingdom are glad and proud to pray for that essential badge.

Asad’s Version:

27:15 AND, INDEED, We granted [true] knowledge 15 unto David and Solomon [as well]; and both were wont to say: "All praise is due to God, who has [thusj favoured us above many of His believing servants!"

27:16 And [in this insight] Solomon was [truly] David's heir; and he would say: "O you people! We have been taught the speech of birds, and have been given [in abundance] of all [good] things: this, behold, is indeed a manifest favour [from God]!"

(27:17) And [one day] there were assembled before Solomon his hosts of invisible ~ and of men, and of birds; and then they were led forth in orderly ranks,

(27: 18) till, when they came upon a valley [full] of ants, an ant exclaimed: "O you ants! Get into your dwellings, lest Solomon and his hosts crush you without [even] being aware [of you]!"

27:19 Thereupon [Solomon] smiled joyously at her words, and said: "O my Sustainer! Inspire me so that I may forever be grateful for those blessings of Thine with which Thou hast graced me and my parents," and that I may do what is right [in a manner] that will please Thee; and include me, by Thy grace, among Thy righteous servants!"