Tafsir al-Sadi - Abd al-Rahman al-Sadi’ - (676)

Tafsir al-SadiAbd al-Rahman al-Sadi’

(10–11) “We certainly bestowed favor upon David from Us: ‘O mountains, repeat Our praises with him—and you birds as well!’ We also made iron pliable for him, saying, ‘Fashion full coats of armor and make the links of due proportion. And do righteous deeds, for I see all that you do.’”

That is, We graciously favored Our servant and messenger David, peace be upon him, granting him beneficial knowledge, righteous deeds, and blessings both religious and worldly. Among His blessings upon him was that Allah Most High uniquely commanded inanimate objects, such as the mountains, and animals, namely the birds, to repeat glorification with him and respond to his praise of their Lord. One aspect of this blessing was that it was a privilege granted to no one before or after him. It also encouraged him and others to glorify Allah: when they saw these inanimate objects and animals answering one another in glorifying, exalting, magnifying, and praising their Lord, it stirred them to remember Allah Most High.

Another aspect was that—as many scholars have stated—they were moved with delight by David’s voice. Allah Most High had granted him such a beautiful voice that he surpassed all others. Whenever he repeated words glorifying Allah, affirming His oneness, and praising Him in that rich, moving, melodious voice, every human and jinn who heard him was filled with delight, as were even the birds and mountains, and they glorified their Lord with praise.

Another was that he would perhaps receive the reward for their glorification, since he was its cause and they glorified Allah in response to him.

Another favor Allah bestowed upon him was that He made iron pliable for him so that he could fashion full coats of armor. Allah Most High taught him how to make them by forming the iron into links of due proportion and then interlocking them.

Allah Most High says: “We taught him the craft of making armor for you, to protect you in battle. Will you then be grateful?”

After mentioning the favors He had bestowed upon David and his family, Allah commanded him to give thanks and commanded them to perform righteous deeds. They were to remain mindful of Allah Most High in their deeds by performing them properly and safeguarding them from anything that might corrupt them. He sees their deeds and is fully aware of them; nothing they do is hidden from Him.

﴿١٠ - ١١﴾ ﴿وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا دَاوُدَ مِنَّا فَضْلا يَا جِبَالُ أَوِّبِي مَعَهُ وَالطَّيْرَ وَأَلَنَّا لَهُ الْحَدِيدَ * أَنِ اعْمَلْ سَابِغَاتٍ وَقَدِّرْ فِي السَّرْدِ وَاعْمَلُوا صَالِحًا إِنِّي بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ﴾ . أي: ولقد مننا على عبدنا ورسولنا، داود ﵊، وآتيناه فضلا من العلم النافع، والعمل الصالح، والنعم الدينية والدنيوية، ومن نعمه عليه، ما خصه به من أمره تعالى الجمادات، كالجبال والحيوانات، من الطيور، أن تُؤَوِّب معه، وتُرَجِّع التسبيح بحمد ربها، مجاوبة له، وفي هذا من النعمة عليه، أن كان ذلك من خصائصه التي لم تكن لأحد قبله ولا بعده، وأن ذلك يكون منهضا له ولغيره على التسبيح إذا رأوا هذه الجمادات والحيوانات، تتجاوب بتسبيح ربها، وتمجيده، وتكبيره، وتحميده، كان ذلك مما يهيج على ذكر الله تعالى. ومنها: أن ذلك - كما قال كثير من العلماء، أنه طرب لصوت داود، فإن الله تعالى، قد أعطاه من حسن الصوت، ما فاق به غيره، وكان إذا رجَّع التسبيح والتهليل والتحميد بذلك الصوت الرخيم الشجيِّ المطرب، طرب كل من سمعه، من الإنس، والجن، حتى الطيور والجبال، وسبحت بحمد ربها. ومنها: أنه لعله ليحصل له أجر تسبيحها، لأنه سبب ذلك، وتسبح تبعا له. ومن فضله عليه، أن ألان له الحديد، ليعمل الدروع السابغات، وعلمه تعالى كيفية صنعته، بأن يقدره في السرد، أي: يقدره حلقا، ويصنعه كذلك، ثم يدخل بعضها ببعض. قال تعالى: ﴿وَعَلَّمْنَاهُ صَنْعَةَ لَبُوسٍ لَكُمْ لِتُحْصِنَكُمْ مِنْ بَأْسِكُمْ فَهَلْ أَنْتُمْ شَاكِرُونَ﴾ ولما ذكر ما امتن به عليه وعلى آله، أمره بشكره، وأن يعملوا صالحا، ويراقبوا الله تعالى فيه، بإصلاحه وحفظه من المفسدات، فإنه بصير بأعمالهم، مطلع عليهم، لا يخفى عليه منها شيء.