34. Surah Saba-(Sheba) Mecca 58 [54 verses]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ مِنَّا فَضْلًا...

34:10 [Ali]. We bestowed Grace aforetime on David from Ourselves:

C3799. Cf. 21:79-80, and notes 2733-34.

David had the gift of song and sacred music, and this is shown in his Psalms.

All nature-hills and birds-sing and echo back the Praises of Allah.

... يَا جِبَالُ أَوِّبِي مَعَهُ وَالطَّيْرَ...

"O ye Mountains! sing ye back the Praises of Allah with him!

and ye birds (also)!

... وَأَلَنَّا لَهُ الْحَدِيدَ ﴿١٠﴾

and We made the iron soft for Him --

C3800. Iron or steel is hard stuff: but in the hands of a craftsman it becomes soft and pliable, and with it can be made instruments for the defence of righteousness.

These, in the literal sense, are coats of mail, and defensive armour, and the manufacture of them is traditionally attributed to David. (R).

أَنِ اعْمَلْ سَابِغَاتٍ وَقَدِّرْ فِي السَّرْدِ...

34: 11. (Commanding),

"Make thou coats of mail, balancing well the rings of chain armor,

C3801. Coats of chain armour have to be made with cunning art, if the chains are to fit into each other and the whole garment is to be worn in comfort in fierce warfare.

... وَاعْمَلُوا صَالِحًا...

and work ye righteousness;

C3802. Note the transition from the singular, "make them coats of mail", to the plural "and work ye righteousness".

The first is addressed to David, who was the artificer of defensive armour; and the second is addressed to him and his whole people. He made the armour, but it was to be worn not only by him but all the warriors. But he and all his people were to be careful to see that they did not deviate from the paths of righteousness.

Fighting is a dangerous weapon and may well degenerate (as it so often does) into mere violence. They were to see that this should not happen, and they were told that Allah was watching over them all with the personal solicitude implied in the singular pronoun "I".

... إِنِّي بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ ﴿١١﴾

for be sure I see (clearly) all that ye do."

Asad’s Version:

34:10 [Asad]

AND [thus], indeed, did We grace David with Our favour: 10 "O you mountains! Sing with him the praise of God! And [likewise] you birds!"" And We softened all sharpness in him, 12

(34:11) [and inspired him thus:] "Do good deeds lavishly, without stint, and give deep thought to their steady flow." 13 And [thus should you all, O believers,] do righteous deeds: for, verily, I see all that you do!

38. Surah Sad [88 verses]

Mecca Period 38

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

اصْبِرْ عَلَى مَا يَقُولُونَ وَاذْكُرْ عَبْدَنَا دَاوُودَ ذَا الْأَيْدِ...

38: 17. Have patience at what they say, and remember Our Servant David, the man of strength:

C4167. David was a man of exceptional strength, for even as a raw youth, he slew the Philistine giant Goliath. See 2:249-252, and notes 286-287.

Before that fight, he was mocked by his enemies and chidden even by his own elder brother. But he relied upon Allah, and won through, and afterwards became king.

... إِنَّهُ أَوَّابٌ ﴿١٧﴾

for he ever turned (to Allah).

إِنَّا سَخَّرْنَا الْجِبَالَ...

38: 18. It was We that made the hills declare,

C4168. See n. 2733 to 21:79.

All nature sings in unison and celebrates the praises of Allah.

David was given the gift of music and psalmody, and therefore the hills and birds are expressed as singing Allah's praises in unison with him.

The special hours when the hills and groves echo the songs of birds are in the evening and at dawn, when also the birds gather together, for those are respectively their roosting hours and the hours of their concerted flight for the day.

... مَعَهُ يُسَبِّحْنَ بِالْعَشِيِّ وَالْإِشْرَاقِ ﴿١٨﴾

in unison with him, Our Praises, at eventide and at break of day.

وَالطَّيْرَ مَحْشُورَةً...

38: 19. And the birds gathered (in assemblies):

... كُلٌّ لَّهُ أَوَّابٌ ﴿١٩﴾

all with him did turn (to Allah).

C4169. Note the mutual echo between this verse and verse 17 above.

The Arabic awwab is common to both, and it furnishes the rhyme or rhythm of the greater part of the Surah, thus echoing the main theme: 'Turn to Allah in Prayer and Praise, for that is more than any worldly power or wisdom.'

وَشَدَدْنَا مُلْكَهُ وَآتَيْنَاهُ الْحِكْمَةَ وَفَصْلَ الْخِطَابِ ﴿٢٠﴾

38: 20. We strengthened his kingdom, and gave him wisdom and sound judgment in speech and decision.

C4170. Cf. n. 2732 to 21:79 for David's sound judgment in decisions; he could also express himself aptly, as his Psalms bear witness.

Asad’s Version:

38:17 [But] bear thou with patience whatever they may say, and remember Our servant David, him who was endowed with [so much] inner strength! He, verily, would always turn unto Us:

(38:18) [and for this,] behold, We caused 20 the mountains to join him in extolling Our limitless glory at eventide and at sunrise,

(38:19) and [likewise] the birds in their assemblies: 21 [together] they all would turn again and again unto Him [who had created them].

(38:20) And We strengthened his dominidn, and bestowed upon him wisdom and sagacity in judgment.