David and Uriah, the husband of the woman whom David married: David had ninety-nine wives, while Uriah had one wife, and David added her to his wives.

“He said, ‘He has certainly wronged you by asking for your ewe to add her to his ewes. Indeed, many associates wrong one another, except those who believe and do righteous deeds—and few are they.’ And David realized that We had tested him, so he sought his Lord’s forgiveness, fell down in prostration, and turned in repentance.” (24)

David said, “He has certainly wronged you by asking for your ewe to add her to his ewes”—that is, by asking for your ewe so that he might join her to his own ewes.

If it is asked, “How could he say, ‘He has certainly wronged you,’ when he had not heard what the other party had to say?” It is answered: its meaning is, “If the matter is as you say, then he has wronged you.” It was also said that he said this after the other party had admitted what was being alleged.

“Indeed, many associates”—that is, partners—“wrong one another”: some wrong others. “Except those who believe and do righteous deeds,” for they do not wrong anyone. “And few are they”: that is, they are few; the particle ma merely adds emphasis. In other words, the righteous people who do not wrong others are few.

They said: When David had judged between them, one of them looked at his companion, laughed, and ascended to heaven. David then knew that Allah, exalted is He, had put him to the test. This is the meaning of His words:

“And David realized”: that is, he became certain and knew, “that We had tested him”: that is, that We had tried him.

Al-Suddi related through his chain of transmission that when one of them said, “This brother of mine...” to the end of the verse, David asked the other, “What do you say?” He replied, “I have ninety-nine ewes, while my brother has one ewe, and I wish to take it from him so that I may complete my ewes as one hundred.” David said, “While he is unwilling? Then we will not permit you; and if you attempt it, I will strike you here, here, and here”—meaning the tip of the nose, its root, and the forehead. He then said, “O David, you are more deserving of this: Uriah had only one wife, while you had ninety-nine wives. Yet you continued exposing him to death until he was killed, and then you married his wife.” David looked around but saw no one, and so he realized what he had fallen into. (1)

Those who hold that the prophets are above such imputations in this story said: David’s sin was only that he wished Uriah’s wife might become lawful for him. It then happened that Uriah went out on campaign, advanced in battle, and was killed. When news of his death reached David, he did not grieve for him as he grieved for the other soldiers who were killed; then he married his wife. Allah reproved him for that, because the sins of the prophets