Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Anbya Verse 79

Mufti Taqi Usmani

So, We enabled Sulaimān to understand it. And to each one of them We gave wisdom and knowledge. And with Dawūd We subjugated the mountains that pronounced tasbīH (Allah’s purity), and the birds as well. And We were the One who did (it).

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

We guided ˹young˺ Solomon to a fairer settlement,[[ A man’s flock of sheep strayed into another man’s vineyard, eating and destroying all his produce. When the two men came to David for judgment, he ruled that the shepherd must give his animals to the vineyard owner in compensation for the damage. On their way out, the two men met young Solomon and the shepherd complained to him. Solomon discussed the case with his father, and suggested that the sheep should be kept with the man who lost his produce so he may benefit from their milk and wool, while the shepherd worked on the farm to restore it to its original state. Eventually the famer would take back his farm in perfect condition, and the sheep would be returned to the shepherd. David was impressed by his son’s insight and approved his fair judgment immediately. ]] and granted each of them wisdom and knowledge. We subjected the mountains as well as the birds to hymn ˹Our praises˺ along with David. It is We Who did ˹it all˺.

Ruwwad Translation Center

We made Solomon understand it, although We gave each of them sound judgment and knowledge. We subjected the mountains and birds to glorify Allah along with David. It was We Who did all this.

A. J. Arberry

and We made Solomon to understand it, and unto each gave We judgment and knowledge. And with David We subjected the mountains to give glory, and the birds, and We were doers.

Abdul Haleem

and made Solomon understand the case [better], though We gave sound judgement and knowledge to both of them. We made the mountains and the birds celebrate Our praises with David- We did all these things-

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

So We gave the understanding thereof unto Sulaiman; and unto each We vouchsafed judgment and knowledge. And We so subjected the mountains that they shall hallow us along with Daud, and also the birds; and We were the doers.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

To Solomon We inspired the (right) understanding of the matter; to each (of them) We gave Judgment and Knowledge; it was Our power that made the hills and the birds celebrate Our praises, with David; it was We Who did (all these things).

Abul Ala Maududi

We guided Solomon to the right verdict, and We had granted each of them judgement and knowledge. We made the mountains and the birds celebrate the praise of Allah with David. It was We Who did all this.

Ahmed Ali

We made Solomon understand the case, and bestowed on each wisdom and knowledge, We subdued the al-jibal (mountains) with David to sing Our praises, and at-tair (birds). It is We who did it.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And We explained the case to Sulaiman; and to both We gave the kingdom and knowledge; and subjected the hills to proclaim the Purity along with Dawud, and (also subjected) the birds; and these were Our works.

Ali Quli Qarai

We gave its understanding to Solomon, and to each We gave judgement and knowledge. We disposed the mountains and the birds to glorify [Us] with David, and We have been the doer [of these things].

Ali Ünal

We made Solomon understand the case more clearly. We granted each of them sound, wise judgment and knowledge (pertaining to the mission and in accordance with the time and conditions of each). And We subdued the mountains, as well as birds, to glorify Us along with David. It is We Who do all these things.

Amatul Rahman Omar

So We gave Solomon the true appreciation of it (- the matter); to each one of them We gave wisdom and knowledge. And We had subjected the mountains and the birds which celebrated (Our) glory along with David. That is what We always do.

English Literal

So We made Soliman understand/realize it , and each/all We gave/brought judgment/rule and knowledge, and We manipulated/subjugated with David the mountains , they praise/glorify, and the birds, and We were making/doing.227

Faridul Haque

And We explained the case to Sulaiman; and to both We gave the kingdom and knowledge; and subjected the hills to proclaim the Purity along with Dawud, and (also subjected) the birds; and these were Our works.

Hamid S. Aziz

And David and Solomon, when they gave judgment concerning the field, when some people´s sheep had strayed therein at night; and We were witness to their judgment;

Hilali & Khan

And We made Sulaiman (Solomon) to understand (the case), and to each of them We gave Hukman (right judgement of the affairs and Prophethood) and knowledge. And We subjected the mountains and the birds to glorify Our Praises along with Dawud (David), And it was We Who were the doers (of all these things).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And David and Solomon, when they gave judgment concerning the field, when the people’s sheep strayed therein by night, and We were bearers of witness to their judgment.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

So We made Sulaiman to understand it; and to each one We gave wisdom and knowledge; and We made the mountains, and the birds to celebrate Our praise with Dawood; and We were the doers.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And We made Solomon to understand (the case); and unto each of them We gave judgment and knowledge. And we subdued the hills and the birds to hymn (His) praise along with David. We were the doers (thereof).

Muhammad Sarwar

We made Solomon understand the law about the case and gave both David and Solomon knowledge and wisdom. We made the mountains and birds glorify the Lord along with David. We had also done to him such favors before.

Qaribullah & Darwish

We made Solomon to understand it, and to both We gave judgment and knowledge. And with David We subjected the mountains and birds to exalt (Allah). All this We have done.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And We made Sulayman to understand (the case); and to each of them We gave wisdom (Hukm) and knowledge. And We subjected the mountains and the birds to glorify Our praises along with Dawud. And it was We Who were the doer (of all these things).

Wahiduddin Khan

We gave Solomon the right understanding of the matter, and We bestowed wisdom and knowledge on both of them. We caused the mountains and the birds to celebrate Our praises along with David. We had the power to do this --

Talal Itani

And so We made Solomon understand it, and to each We gave wisdom and knowledge. And We subjected the mountains along with David to sing Our praises, and the birds as well—surely We did.

Tafsir jalalayn

And We gave understanding of this, that is, the judgement, to Solomon. [It is said that] both of their decisions were [the result of] independent judgement [exercised by both], and that David consulted Solomon; but it is also said [that their decisions were] by way of inspiration [from God] -- the second [decision] abrogated the first. And to each, of the twain, We gave judgement, prophethood, and knowledge, in matters of religion. And We disposed the mountains to glorify [God] with David, and the birds also, were disposed to glorify [God] with him, for he [David] had commanded such [glorification on their part], so that whenever there was a lapse [on his part], he would [be reminded to] apply himself to the task [of glorifying God] promptly. And We were [certainly] doers, of this disposing of them to glorify [God] along with him, even if it should amaze you, that they should [be able to] respond to the lord David.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

فَفَهَّمْنَاهَا سُلَيْمَانَ وَكُلًّ اتَيْنَا حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا

And We made Suleiman to understand (the case); and to each of them We gave wisdom and knowledge.

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that;

when Iyas bin Mu`awiyah was appointed as a judge, Al-Hasan came to him and found Iyas weeping. (Al-Hasan) said, "Why are you weeping?"

(Iyas) said, "O Abu Sa`id, What I heard about judges among them a judge is he, who studies a case and his judgment is wrong, so he will go to Hell; another judge is he who is biased because of his own whims and desires, so he will go to Hell; and the other judge he who studies a case and gives the right judgement, so he will go to Paradise."

Al-Hasan Al-Basari said;"But what Allah tells us about Dawud and Suleiman (peace be upon them both) and the Prophets and whatever judgments they made proves that what these people said is wrong.

Allah says;

وَدَاوُودَ وَسُلَيْمَانَ إِذْ يَحْكُمَانِ فِي الْحَرْثِ إِذْ نَفَشَتْ فِيهِ غَنَمُ الْقَوْمِ وَكُنَّا لِحُكْمِهِمْ شَاهِدِينَ

And (remember) Dawud and Suleiman, when they gave judgement in the case of the field in which the sheep of certain people had pastured at night; and We were witness to their judgement.

Allah praised Suleiman but He did not condemn Dawud."

Then he -- Al-Hasan -- said, "Allah enjoins three things upon the judges;

not to sell thereby for some miserable price;

not to follow their own whims and desires; and

not to fear anyone concerning their judgments."

Then he recited;

يدَاوُودُ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَـكَ خَلِيفَةً فِى الاٌّرْضِ فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ الْهَوَى فَيُضِلَّكَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ

O Dawud! Verily, We have placed you as a successor on the earth; so judge you between men in truth and follow not your desire -- for it will mislead you from the path of Allah. (38;26)

فَلَ تَخْشَوُاْ النَّاسَ وَاخْشَوْنِ

Therefore fear not men but fear Me. (5;44)

وَلَا تَشْتَرُواْ بِـَايَـتِى ثَمَناً قَلِيلً

and sell not My Ayat for a miserable price. (5;44)

I say;with regard to the Prophets (peace be upon them all), all of them were infallible and supported by Allah. With regard to others, it is recorded in Sahih Al-Bukhari from `Amir bin Al-`As that the Messenger of Allah said;

إِذَا اجْتَهَدَ الْحَاكِمُ فَأَصَابَ فَلَهُ أَجْرَانِ

وَإِذَا اجْتَهَدَ فَأَخْطَأَ فَلَهُ أَجْر

If the judge does his best, studies the case and reaches the right conclusion, he will have two rewards.

If he does his best, studies the case and reaches the wrong conclusion, he will have one reward.

This Hadith refutes the idea of Iyas, who thought that if he did his best, studied the case and reached the wrong conclusion, he would go to Hell.

And Allah knows best.

Similar to story in the Qur'an is the report recorded by Imam Ahmad in his Musnad from Abu Hurayrah, who said that the Messenger of Allah said;

بَيْنَمَا امْرَأَتَانِ مَعَهُمَا ابْنَانِ لَهُمَا إِذْ جَاءَ الذِّيْبُ فَأَخَذَ أَحَدَ الاْبْنَيْنِ فَتَحَاكَمَتَا إِلَىىَداوُدَ فَقَضَى بِهِ لِلْكُبْرَى فَخَرَجَتَا فَدَعَاهُمَا سُلَيْمَانُ فَقَالَ هَاتُوا السِّكِّينَ أَشُقُّهُ بَيْنَكُمَا فَقَالَتِ الصُّغْرَى يَرْحَمُكَ اللهُ هُوَ ابْنُهَا لَا تَشُقَّهُ فَقَضَى بِهِ لِلصُّغْرَى

There were two women who each had a son. The wolf came and took one of the children, and they referred their dispute to Dawud. He ruled that the (remaining) child belonged to the older woman. They left, then Suleiman called them and said, "Give me a sword and I will divide him between the two of you."

The younger woman said, "May Allah have mercy on you! He is her child, do not cut him up!"

So he ruled that the child belonged to the younger woman.

This was also recorded by Al-Bukhari and Muslim in their Sahihs.

An-Nasa'i also devoted a chapter to this in the Book of Judgments.

وَسَخَّرْنَا مَعَ دَاوُودَ الْجِبَالَ يُسَبِّحْنَ وَالطَّيْرَ

And We subjected the mountains and the birds to glorify Our praises along with Dawud.

This refers to the beauty of his voice when he recited his Book, Az-Zabur. When he recited it in a beautiful manner, the birds would stop and hover in the air, and would repeat after him, and the mountains would respond and echo his words.

وَكُنَّا فَاعِلِينَ



And it was We Who were the doer (of all these things).

The Prophet passed by Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari while he was reciting Qur'an at night, and he had a very beautiful voice, he stopped and listened to his recitation, and said;

لَقَدْ أُوتِيَ هَذَا مِزْمَارًا مِنْ مَزَامِيرِ الِ دَاوُد

This man has been given one of the wind instruments (nice voices) of the family of Dawud.

He said;"O Messenger of Allah, if I had known that you were listening, I would have done my best for you."