Surah Naml ayat 16 Tafsir Quran 27:16

﴿وَوَرِثَ سُلَيْمَانُ دَاوُودَ ۖ وَقَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ عُلِّمْنَا مَنطِقَ الطَّيْرِ وَأُوتِينَا مِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ ۖ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ الْفَضْلُ الْمُبِينُ﴾
[ النمل: 16]

27:16 And Solomon inherited David. He said, "O people, we have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given from all things. Indeed, this is evident bounty."

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’.

And then did Sulayman inherit Dawuds kingdom, spiritual insight and the prophetic office -attributes do not usually go from father to son- and there did he address his people, thus: O you people he said, we have been gracefully taught the language of the birds and we have been granted -by Allah- something of everything, and this is indeed His efficacious grace effecting the end for which it is given

Dawud and Sulayman ( peace be upon them ), the organization of Sulayman's Troops and His passage through the Valley of the Ants Here Allah tells us about the great blessings and favors which He bestowed upon two of His servants and Prophets, Dawud ( David ) and his son Sulayman ( Solomon ), peace be upon them both, and how they enjoyed happiness in this world and the Hereafter, power and authority in this world, and the position of being Prophets and Messengers.
Allah says: وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ وَسُلَيْمَـنَ عِلْماً وَقَالاَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِى فَضَّلَنَا عَلَى كَثِيرٍ مِّنْ عِبَادِهِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( And indeed We gave knowledge to Dawud and Sulayman, and they both said: "All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has preferred us above many of His believing servants!" ) وَوَرِثَ سُلَيْمَـنُ دَاوُودَ ( And Sulayman inherited from Dawud. ) means, in kingship and prophethood.
What is meant here is not wealth, because if that were the case, Sulayman 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 ﷺ said:
«نَحْنُ مَعَاشِرَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ لَا نُورَثُ، مَا تَرَكْنَاهُ فَهُوَ صَدَقَة»
( We Prophets cannot be inherited from; whatever we leave behind is charity. ) And Sulayman said: يأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ عُلِّمْنَا مَنطِقَ الطَّيْرِ وَأُوتِينَا مِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍ ( O mankind! We have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given from everything. ) Here Sulayman 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 Sulayman to understand what the birds said to one another as they flew through the air, and what the different kinds of animals said.
Sulayman said: عُلِّمْنَا مَنطِقَ الطَّيْرِ وَأُوتِينَا مِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍ ( We have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given from everything. ) i.e., all things that a king needs. إِنَّ هَـذَا لَهُوَ الْفَضْلُ الْمُبِينُ ( This, verily, is an evident grace. ) means, `this is clearly the blessings of Allah upon us.' وَحُشِرَ لِسْلَيْمَـنَ جُنُودُهُ مِنَ الْجِنِّ وَالإِنْس وَالطَّيْرِ فَهُمْ يُوزَعُونَ ( And there were gathered before Sulayman his hosts of Jinn and men, and birds, and they all were set in battle order. ) means, all of Sulayman's troops of Jinn, men and birds were gathered together, and he rode with them in a display of might and glory, with people marching behind him, followed by the Jinn, and the birds flying above his head.
When it was hot, they would shade him with their wings. فَهُمْ يُوزَعُونَ ( and they all were set in battle order. ) The first and the last of them were brought together, so that none of them would step out of place.
Mujahid said: "Officials were appointed to keep each group in order, and to keep the first and the last together so that no one would step out of line -- just as kings do nowadays." حَتَّى إِذَآ أَتَوْا عَلَى وَادِى النَّمْلِ ( Till, when they came to the valley of the ants, ) meaning, when Sulayman, the soldiers and the army with him crossed the valley of the ants, قَالَتْ نَمْلَةٌ يأَيُّهَا النَّمْلُ ادْخُلُواْ مَسَـكِنَكُمْ لاَ يَحْطِمَنَّكُمْ سُلَيْمَـنُ وَجُنُودُهُ وَهُمْ لاَ يَشْعُرُونَ ( one of the ants said: "O ants! Enter your dwellings, lest Sulayman and his armies should crush you, while they perceive not." ) Sulayman, peace be upon him, understood what the ant said, فَتَبَسَّمَ ضَـحِكاً مِّن قَوْلِهَا وَقَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِى أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِى أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَىَّ وَعَلَى وَالِدَىَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَـلِحاً تَرْضَـهُ ( So he smiled, amused at her speech and said: "My Lord! Grant me the power and ability that I may be grateful for Your favors which You have bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may do righteous good deeds that will please You, ) meaning: `inspire me to give thanks for the blessings that You have bestowed upon me by teaching me to understand what the birds and animals say, and the blessings that You have bestowed upon my parents by making them Muslims who believe in You.' وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَـلِحاً تَرْضَـهُ ( and that I may do righteous good deeds that will please You, ) means, `deeds that You love which will earn Your pleasure.' وَأَدْخِلْنِى بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِى عِبَادِكَ الصَّـلِحِينَ ( and admit me by Your mercy among Your righteous servants. ) means, `when You cause me to die, then join me with the righteous among Your servants, and the Higher Companion among Your close friends.'

(27:16) And Solomon succeeded David, *20 and he said, "O people, we have been taught the speech of the birds, *21 and we have been granted all sorts of things. *22 This is indeed a great favour (of Allah)."

And Solomon inherited David. He said, "O meaning

*20) Succession here dces not mean inheritance of wealth and properties, but the succession to the Prophet David in the Prophethood and vicegerency.
For the wealth and possessions, if at aII transferred, could not be transferred to the Prophet Solomon only, because Prophet David had other children also.
Therefore, this verse cannot be cited to refute the Hadith reported from the Holy Prophet, saying, " The inheritance left by us, the Prophets, is not divided as such.
whatever we leave behind is charity. " ( Bukhari ) And: " There is no heir to a Prophet.
Whatever he leaves behind, is divided among the needy and the indigent of the Muslims. " ( Musnad Ahmad.
Traditions from Abu Bakr, Ahadith No.
60 and 78 ).
The Prophet Solomon was the youngest son of the Prophet David.
His Hebrew name Solomon is a synonym of Salim ( right-minded, affable ).
He succeeded the Prophet David in 965 B.C.
and ruled his kingdom for forty years, till 926B.C.
For other details of his life and works, see E.
N.'s 74-75 of AIAnbiyaa in The Meaning of the Qur'an, Vol.
VII).
Our commentators have greatly exaggerated' the vastness of his kingdom, and have held that he ruled over a large part of the world.
The fact, however.
is that his kingdom comprised only the present Palestine and Transjordan and a part of Syria.
( See Map: Kingdom of the Prophets David and Solomon, The Meaning of the Qur'an, Vol.
II, Bani Israel E.
N.
7 ).

*21) There is no mention in the Bible that the Prophet Solomon had been taught speech of the birds and animals, though the Israelite traditions contain a reference to it.
( Jewish Encyclopedia, Vol.
Xl.p.
598 )
*22) That is, " Allah has bestowed on us all sorts of things. " This, however, should not be understood literally; it only means the abundance of the wealth and the means of life granted by Allah.
This was not said proudly by Prophet Solomon but only to express his gratitude to Allah for His grace and bounty and favours.

 

Dawud and Sulayman ( peace be upon them ), the organization of Sulayman's Troops and His passage through the Valley of the Ants Here Allah tells us about the great blessings and favors which He bestowed upon two of His servants and Prophets, Dawud ( David ) and his son Sulayman ( Solomon ), peace be upon them both, and how they enjoyed happiness in this world and the Hereafter, power and authority in this world, and the position of being Prophets and Messengers.
Allah says: وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ وَسُلَيْمَـنَ عِلْماً وَقَالاَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِى فَضَّلَنَا عَلَى كَثِيرٍ مِّنْ عِبَادِهِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( And indeed We gave knowledge to Dawud and Sulayman, and they both said: "All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has preferred us above many of His believing servants!" ) وَوَرِثَ سُلَيْمَـنُ دَاوُودَ ( And Sulayman inherited from Dawud. ) means, in kingship and prophethood.
What is meant here is not wealth, because if that were the case, Sulayman 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 ﷺ said: «نَحْنُ مَعَاشِرَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ لَا نُورَثُ، مَا تَرَكْنَاهُ فَهُوَ صَدَقَة» ( We Prophets cannot be inherited from; whatever we leave behind is charity. ) And Sulayman said: يأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ عُلِّمْنَا مَنطِقَ الطَّيْرِ وَأُوتِينَا مِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍ ( O mankind! We have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given from everything. ) Here Sulayman 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 Sulayman to understand what the birds said to one another as they flew through the air, and what the different kinds of animals said.
Sulayman said: عُلِّمْنَا مَنطِقَ الطَّيْرِ وَأُوتِينَا مِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍ ( We have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given from everything. ) i.e., all things that a king needs. إِنَّ هَـذَا لَهُوَ الْفَضْلُ الْمُبِينُ ( This, verily, is an evident grace. ) means, `this is clearly the blessings of Allah upon us.' وَحُشِرَ لِسْلَيْمَـنَ جُنُودُهُ مِنَ الْجِنِّ وَالإِنْس وَالطَّيْرِ فَهُمْ يُوزَعُونَ ( And there were gathered before Sulayman his hosts of Jinn and men, and birds, and they all were set in battle order. ) means, all of Sulayman's troops of Jinn, men and birds were gathered together, and he rode with them in a display of might and glory, with people marching behind him, followed by the Jinn, and the birds flying above his head.
When it was hot, they would shade him with their wings. فَهُمْ يُوزَعُونَ ( and they all were set in battle order. ) The first and the last of them were brought together, so that none of them would step out of place.
Mujahid said: "Officials were appointed to keep each group in order, and to keep the first and the last together so that no one would step out of line -- just as kings do nowadays." حَتَّى إِذَآ أَتَوْا عَلَى وَادِى النَّمْلِ ( Till, when they came to the valley of the ants, ) meaning, when Sulayman, the soldiers and the army with him crossed the valley of the ants, قَالَتْ نَمْلَةٌ يأَيُّهَا النَّمْلُ ادْخُلُواْ مَسَـكِنَكُمْ لاَ يَحْطِمَنَّكُمْ سُلَيْمَـنُ وَجُنُودُهُ وَهُمْ لاَ يَشْعُرُونَ ( one of the ants said: "O ants! Enter your dwellings, lest Sulayman and his armies should crush you, while they perceive not." ) Sulayman, peace be upon him, understood what the ant said, فَتَبَسَّمَ ضَـحِكاً مِّن قَوْلِهَا وَقَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِى أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِى أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَىَّ وَعَلَى وَالِدَىَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَـلِحاً تَرْضَـهُ ( So he smiled, amused at her speech and said: "My Lord! Grant me the power and ability that I may be grateful for Your favors which You have bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may do righteous good deeds that will please You, ) meaning: `inspire me to give thanks for the blessings that You have bestowed upon me by teaching me to understand what the birds and animals say, and the blessings that You have bestowed upon my parents by making them Muslims who believe in You.' وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَـلِحاً تَرْضَـهُ ( and that I may do righteous good deeds that will please You, ) means, `deeds that You love which will earn Your pleasure.' وَأَدْخِلْنِى بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِى عِبَادِكَ الصَّـلِحِينَ ( and admit me by Your mercy among Your righteous servants. ) means, `when You cause me to die, then join me with the righteous among Your servants, and the Higher Companion among Your close friends.'

And Solomon was David’s heir) as king instead of all the other sons of David who were 19 in number. ( And he said ) Solomon said: ( O mankind! Lo! we have been taught ) we were given the understanding of ( the language of birds, and have been given (abundance ) of all things) and we were given the knowledge of everything in my kingdom. ( This surely is evident favour ) this is surely a great blessing from Allah.

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)."

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