That is, do not make the rivets so thin that they slip out, nor so thick that they break the links. It is also said that sard refers to the rivet in a link; thus, a riveted coat of mail is one whose links have been fastened with rivets. “Measure well the links” means: make them moderate and proportionate to the need. “And do righteous deeds”: this refers to David and his household. “Indeed, I see all that you do.”

“And for Solomon, We subjected the wind: its morning course was a month’s journey, and its evening course was a month’s journey. And We caused a spring of molten copper to flow for him. And among the jinn were those who worked before him by the permission of his Lord. Whoever among them turned aside from Our command, We would make him taste the punishment of the Blaze. (12) They made for him whatever he wished: lofty chambers, statues, basins as large as reservoirs, and fixed cauldrons. ‘Work, O family of David, in gratitude.’ Yet few of My servants are truly grateful. (13)”

“And for Solomon, the wind”: that is, We subjected the wind to Solomon. Abu Bakr, transmitting from Asim, recited “the wind” in the nominative—that is, the subjection of the wind was his. “Its morning course was a month’s journey, and its evening course was a month’s journey”: the morning journey of that wind subjected to him covered the distance of a month, and its evening journey likewise covered the distance of a month. Thus, in a single day it carried him the distance of two months’ travel.

Al-Hasan said: He would set out in the morning from Damascus and take his midday rest in Istakhr, between which was a month’s journey; then he would set out in the afternoon from Istakhr and spend the night in Kabul, between which was a month’s journey for a swift rider. It is also said that he would take his morning meal in Rayy and his evening meal in Samarqand. (1)

“And We caused a spring of molten copper to flow for him”: that is, We melted for him a spring of copper; qitr means copper.

The scholars of Qur’anic exegesis said: A spring of copper was made to flow for him, like flowing water, for three days and nights. It was in the land of Yemen, and people today benefit only from what Allah brought forth for Solomon. (2)

“And among the jinn were those who worked before him by the permission of his Lord”: that is, by the command of his Lord. Ibn Abbas said: Allah subjected the jinn to Solomon and commanded them to obey him in whatever he instructed them to do. “And whoever turns aside”: that is, deviates; “among them”: among the jinn; “from Our command”: which was Our command for them to obey Solomon; “We would make him taste the punishment of the Blaze”: in the Hereafter. Some said: in this world, for Allah, exalted is He, appointed over them an angel holding a whip of fire; whoever among them deviated from Solomon’s command, he struck him with a blow that burned him.

“They made for him whatever he wished of lofty chambers”: that is, mosques and elevated structures. Among what they built for him was the Holy House, which David had begun and raised to the height of a man. Then Allah revealed to him: “I have not decreed that this should be completed at your hand, but rather, a son...”