Surah An-Naml — Verse 15

Word Meanings:

• ʿIlman (عِلْمًا): Knowledge, wisdom, and understanding—specifically here, the knowledge of judging with justice, the language of birds and creatures, and the glorification of mountains with them.
• Faḍḍalanā (فَضَّلَنَا): He favored us, distinguished us, and elevated us above others.
• Kathīrin min ʿibādihi al-muʾminīn (كَثِيرٍ مِّنْ عِبَادِهِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ): Many of His believing servants—not all, as some believers were also given great knowledge, but these two were specially chosen for particular blessings.

Tafsir (Interpretation):

Indeed, Allah—in His infinite wisdom and generosity—bestowed upon Prophet Dawud (David) and his son Prophet Sulayman (Solomon), peace be upon them, a profound and unique knowledge. This was not merely worldly learning, but a divine gift that included the understanding of just judgment, the ability to comprehend the speech of birds and animals, and the privilege of hearing the mountains and birds glorify Allah along with them. They were granted prophethood, wisdom, and sovereignty, and the very elements of creation were made subservient to their command.

Yet, despite these immense blessings, their immediate response was not pride or arrogance, but profound gratitude. They both—father and son—turned to their Lord and said: "All praise and thanks belong to Allah alone, who has favored us above many of His believing servants." They recognized that every blessing they possessed was purely from Allah, and they acknowledged that even among the believers, many were not given what they had been given. This was a statement of humility, not superiority—they praised Allah for His grace while fully aware that this favor was a responsibility, not a privilege to boast about.

This verse beautifully highlights the noble status of knowledge in Islam. Allah honored these two prophets with knowledge, and it was this very knowledge that elevated them. It teaches us that true knowledge is not merely accumulation of facts, but a light that guides the heart to gratitude, humility, and action. The prophets did not say "we have achieved this by our own merit"—rather, they attributed everything to Allah's favor.

A Call to Reflection and Action:

Dear reader, ponder this: if the greatest prophets—those whom Allah chose and honored—responded to His blessings with such profound humility and gratitude, how much more should we? Every breath you take, every moment of understanding, every skill you possess is a gift from Allah. When you learn a new verse of the Qur'an, when you gain insight into His creation, when you are given the ability to help others—let your tongue be quick to say: "Al-ḥamdu lillāh." Let gratitude be the hallmark of your character, for Allah loves those who are thankful, and He promises to increase those who show gratitude. Knowledge is a treasure, but gratitude is the key that unlocks its true value—both in this life and in the Hereafter. Seek knowledge sincerely, act upon it, and let every blessing draw you closer to your Creator, just as it did for Dawud and Sulayman, peace be upon them.