Al-Qur'an Surah An-Naml Verse 16

Mufti Taqi Usmani

And Sulaimān inherited (the traits of) Dāwūd and said, “O people we have been taught the speech of birds, and all sorts of things are given to us. Indeed, this is the evident grace (of Allah).”

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

And David was succeeded by Solomon, who said, “O people! We have been taught the language of birds, and been given everything ˹we need˺. This is indeed a great privilege.”

Ruwwad Translation Center

Solomon succeeded David, and said, “O people, we have been taught the speech of birds, and we have been given from all things. This is indeed a clear favor.”

A. J. Arberry

And Solomon was David's heir, and he said, 'Men, we have been taught the speech of the birds, and we have been given of everything; surely this is indeed the manifest bounty.'

Abdul Haleem

Solomon succeeded David. He said, ‘People, we have been taught the speech of birds, and we have been given a share of everything: this is a clearly a great favour.’

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And Sulaiman inherited from Daud. And he said: O mankind! verily have been taught the diction of we birds, and we have been vcuchsafed of every thing; and verily this is grace manifest.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And Solomon was David's heir. He said; "O ye people! We have been taught the speech of birds, and on us has been bestowed (a little) of all things; this is indeed Grace manifest (from Allah.)"

Abul Ala Maududi

And Solomon succeeded David and said: "O people, we have been taught the speech of birds and we have been endowed with all kinds of things. Surely this is a conspicuous favour (from Allah)."

Ahmed Ali

Solomon was heir to David, and he said: "O people, we have been taught the language of Tair, and have been given of everything. This is a clear favour indeed."

Ahmed Raza Khan

And Sulaiman became Dawud’s heir; and he said, “O people, we have indeed been taught the language of birds, and have been given from all things; this surely is a manifest favour.”

Ali Quli Qarai

Solomon inherited from David, and he said, ‘O people! We have been taught the speech of the birds, and we have been given out of everything. Indeed this is a manifest advantage.’

Ali Ünal

Solomon succeeded David. He would say (citing in gratitude God’s favors to him): "O people! We have been taught the language of birds and we have been granted (some portion) of everything (which God provides for His servants). Surely this is a conspicuous favor.

Amatul Rahman Omar

And Solomon succeeded David and he said, `O you people! we have been taught the language of the birds (and also the technique of horsemanship), and bestowed with everything (essential for us). This indeed is a distinct favour (of God and His grace).´

English Literal

And Soliman inherited David, and he said: "You, you the people we had been taught the birds` speech (language)/logic, and we were given from every thing, that truly that it is (E) the grace/favour/blessing , the clear/evident ."

Faridul Haque

And Sulaiman became Dawud’s heir; and he said, “O people, we have indeed been taught the language of birds, and have been given from all things; this surely is a manifest favour.”

Hamid S. Aziz

And We gave David and Solomon knowledge; and they both said, "Praise belongs to Allah, Who hath favoured us over many of His believing servants."

Hilali & Khan

And Sulaiman (Solomon) inherited (the knowledge of) Dawud (David). He said: "O mankind! We have been taught the language of birds, and on us have been bestowed all things. This, verily, is an evident grace (from Allah)."

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And they denied them unjustly and proudly, while their souls were convinced of them. See then, what was the end of the mischief-makers!

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And Sulaiman was Dawood's heir, and he said: O men! we have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given all things; most surely this is manifest grace.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And Solomon was David's heir. And he said: O mankind! Lo! we have been taught the language of birds, and have been given (abundance) of all things. This surely is evident favour.

Muhammad Sarwar

Solomon became the heir to David. He said, "People, we have been taught the language of the birds and have been granted a share of everything. This indeed is a manifest favor (from God)".

Qaribullah & Darwish

Solomon inherited David. He said: 'Know, my people, we have been taught the speech of birds and given everything. Surely, this is a clear bounty'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And Sulayman inherited from Dawud. He said: "O mankind! We have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given from everything. This, verily, is an evident grace."

Wahiduddin Khan

Solomon succeeded David. He said, "Know, my people, that we have been taught the speech of birds and endowed with all good things. Surely this is God's manifest grace."

Talal Itani

And Solomon succeeded David. He said, “O people, we were taught the language of birds, and we were given from everything. This is indeed a real blessing.”

Tafsir jalalayn

And Solomon inherited from David, prophethood and knowledge exclusively from among all his other children; and he said, `O people, we have been taught the speech of the birds, that is, the ability to understand their sounds, and we have been given of all things, given to prophets and kings. Indeed this, gift, is the manifest, the evident, favour'.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

وَوَرِثَ سُلَيْمَانُ دَاوُودَ

And Suleiman inherited from Dawud.

means, in kingship and Prophethood.

What is meant here is not wealth, because if that were the case, Suleiman 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 الاَْنْبِيَاءِ لَا نُورَثُ مَا تَرَكْنَاهُ فَهُوَ صَدَقَة


We Prophets cannot be inherited from; whatever we leave behind is charity.

وَقَالَ

And (Suleiman) said;

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ عُلِّمْنَا مَنطِقَ الطَّيْرِ وَأُوتِينَا مِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ

O mankind! We have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given from everything.

Here Suleiman 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 Suleiman to understand what the birds said to one another as they flew through the air, and what the different kinds of animals said.

Suleiman said;
عُلِّمْنَا مَنطِقَ الطَّيْرِ وَأُوتِينَا مِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ
(We have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given from everything).

i.e., all things that a king needs.

إِنَّ هَذَا لَهُوَ الْفَضْلُ الْمُبِينُ



This, verily, is an evident grace.

means, `this is clearly the blessings of Allah upon us.'

وَحُشِرَ لِسُلَيْمَانَ جُنُودُهُ مِنَ الْجِنِّ وَالاِْنسِ وَالطَّيْرِ فَهُمْ يُوزَعُونَ