Al-Qur'an Surah Sad Verse 17

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Bear patiently with what they say, and remember Our servant Dawūd, the man of might. Surely he was ever-turning to Allah.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Be patient ˹O Prophet˺ with what they say. And remember Our servant, David, the man of strength. Indeed, he ˹constantly˺ turned ˹to Allah˺.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Bear with patience whatever they say, and remember Our slave David, the man of strength who constantly turned [to Allah].

A. J. Arberry

Bear patiently what they say, and remember Our servant David, the man of might; he was a penitent.

Abdul Haleem

Bear their words patiently [Prophet]. Remember Our servant David, a man of strength who always turned to Us:

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Bear thou with that which they say, and remember Our bondman, Da-ud, endured with strength; verily he was oft-returning onto Us.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Have patience at what they say, and remember our servant David, the man of strength; for he ever turned (to Allah).

Abul Ala Maududi

(O Prophet), bear with patience what they say, and call to mind Our servant David, who was endowed with great strength and who constantly turned (to Allah).

Ahmed Ali

Bear with patience what they say, and remember Our votary David, man of strength. He surely turned to Us in penitence.

Ahmed Raza Khan

Have patience upon what they say, and remember Our bondman Dawud, the one blessed with favours; he is indeed most inclined (towards His Lord).

Ali Quli Qarai

Be patient over what they say, and remember Our servant, David, [the man] of strength. Indeed he was a penitent [soul].

Ali Ünal

Bear patiently all that they say, and remember Our servant David, powerful (in his glorification of God, in knowledge, in kingdom, and in fighting). Surely he was one ever turning to God in penitence.

Amatul Rahman Omar

Bear with patience what they say. And remember (the event of the life of) Our servant David, the possessor of might. Verily, he was ever turning (to God).

English Literal

Be patient on what they say, and mention/remember Our worshipper/slave David, (owner) of the power/strength/force, that he truly is repentant/returning.

Faridul Haque

Have patience upon what they say, and remember Our bondman Dawud, the one blessed with favours; he is indeed most inclined (towards His Lord).

Hamid S. Aziz

Bear patiently what they say, and remember Our servant David, the possessor of power; surely he was frequent in turning (to Allah).

Hilali & Khan

Be patient (O Muhammad SAW) of what they say, and remember Our slave Dawud (David), endued with power. Verily, he was ever oft-returning in all matters and in repentance (toward Allah).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And they say: Our Lord, hasten on for us our portion before the day of Reckoning.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Bear patiently what they say, and remember Our servant Dawood, the possessor of power; surely he was frequent in returning (to Allah).

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Bear with what they say, and remember Our bondman David, lord of might, Lo! he was ever turning in repentance (toward Allah).

Muhammad Sarwar

(Muhammad), bear patiently what they say and recall Our servant, David, who had strong hands and who was most repentant.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Bear patiently with what they say, and remember Our worshiper David, a man of might. He was ever turning in repentance.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Be patient of what they say and remember Our slave Dawud, endued with Al-Ayd. Verily, he was ever oft-returning in all matters and in repentance.

Wahiduddin Khan

Bear with their words patiently. Remember Our servant David, a man of strength who always turned to Us:

Talal Itani

Be patient in the face of what they say, and mention Our servant David, the resourceful. He was obedient.

Tafsir jalalayn

God, exalted be He, says; Bear patiently what they say and remember Our servant David, the one of fortitude, that is to say, [the one] of fortitude in worship; he used to fast every other day and keep vigil for half the night, sleep for a third and then keep vigil for the [last] sixth. Indeed he was a penitent [soul], always returning to what pleases God.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

اصْبِرْ عَلَى مَا يَقُولُونَ

Be patient of what they say...

They said this by way of mockery and disbelief, so Allah commanded His Messenger to be patient in the face of their insults, and He gave him the glad tidings that his patience would be rewarded with victory and success.

Allah tells us that His servant and Messenger Dawud, peace be upon him, was endued with power

Allah says;

...
وَاذْكُرْ عَبْدَنَا دَاوُودَ ذَا الاْاَيْدِ إِنَّهُ أَوَّابٌ

... And remember Our slave Dawud, endued with Al-Ayd. Verily, he was ever oft-returning in all matters and in repentance.

Al-Ayd means strength in knowledge and action.

Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, As-Suddi and Ibn Zayd said,

"Al-Ayd means strength."

Mujahid said,

"Al-Ayd means strength in obedience to Allah."

Qatadah said,

"Dawud, peace be upon him, was given strength in worship and the proper understanding of Islam."

He told us that he, peace be upon him, used to spend a third of the night in prayer, and he fasted for half a lifetime. This was reported in the Two Sahihs, where it is recorded that the Messenger of Allah said;

أَحَبُّ الصَّلَةِ إِلَى اللهِ تَعَالَى صَلَةُ دَاوُدَ وَأَحَبُّ الصِّيَامِ إِلَى اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ كَانَ يَنَامُ نِصْفَ اللَّيْلِ وَيَقُومُ ثُلُثَهُ وَيَنَامُ سُدُسَهُ وَكَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا وَلَا يَفِرُّ إِذَا لَاقَى وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ أَوَّابًا

The most beloved of prayer to Allah is the prayer of Dawud, and the most beloved of fasting to Allah is the fasting of Dawud. He used to sleep for half of the night, stand in prayer for a third of the night, then sleep for a sixth of the night, and he used to fast alternate days. He never fled from the battlefield, and he always turned to Allah.

which means that he turned to Allah with regard to all of his affairs.