What is the meaning of the statement of Allah the Exalted: "Indeed, this is my brother. He has ninety-nine ewes, and I have one ewe. He said, 'Give her to me,' and he overpowered me in speech. He said, 'Indeed, he has wronged you by demanding your ewe be added to his ewes. And many partners wrong one another, except those who believe and do righteous deeds, and few are they. And David thought that We had tried him, so he sought forgiveness from his Lord and prostrated in humility and turned back in repentance"?
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The questioner : In his first question, he says: I hope you will explain these verses from Surat Sad. What is the meaning of the statement of Allah the Exalted: [Sad 38:23-24]? Yes.
The Shaykh : These verses are about a dispute that occurred in the presence of Dawud (peace be upon him), who is one of the noble prophets, one of the prophets of the Children of Israel. Allah began it by saying:[Sad 38:21-22] So, the statement of Allah the Exalted: is a question intended to arouse interest in this story so that a person may take a lesson from what is in it. These disputants climbed over the wall of the mihrab, and the mihrab is the place of his prayer (peace be upon him), meaning the place of Dawud's prayer. They climbed over it, meaning they jumped over the wall until they entered upon Dawud. When their entry was unusual, he was startled by them. They said: [Sad 38:22] meaning we are two disputants one of them wronged the other [Sad 38:22] do not be harsh with us Then they recounted the story, and one of them said: [Sad 38:23] And the ewe is a sheep from the flock of sheep. [Sad 38:23] meaning he overpowered me in speech due to the strength of his eloquence and style. This man wanted him to add his single ewe to his ninety-nine ewes. So Dawud (peace be upon him) said to him, without looking into the claim of his opponent: [Sad 38:24] Then Allah the Exalted said: [Sad 38:24-25] This story contained something that required seeking forgiveness and turning back to Allah (Mighty and Majestic), because it was a test for Dawud, whom Allah the Exalted made a prophet and a judge among the people, where he confined himself in his mihrab to private worship without remaining to judge between people. For this reason, these disputants came and did not find Dawud (peace be upon him), and his place of prayer was locked, so they climbed over it. Then he (peace be upon him) said: [Sad 38:24] So he judged that he had wronged him. The apparent meaning of the story is that he did not ask the defendant whether the claim of his opponent was correct or not. And for these two reasons, he (peace be upon him) thought that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) had tested him with this story. [Sad 38:24] Allah the Exalted said: [Sad 38:25].
Many of the exegetes have mentioned in this story things that are not befitting a prophet of the prophets of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), Israelite narratives that imply criticism of the prophets.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So a person must be cautious of them and not narrate them to anyone except by clarifying their invalidity. They mentioned that Dawud (peace be upon him) had ninety-nine wives and that he was infatuated with the love of the wife of one of his soldiers, and that he wanted this woman to be among his wives. So he asked this soldier to go to war so that perhaps he would be killed and leave his wife behind, and then Dawud (peace be upon him) would take her. And this story is a lie without doubt and is not befitting the lowest person who has intellect, let alone one who has faith.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Let alone one who is a prophet of the prophets of Allah. But this is from the false news of the Children of Israel that is not permissible for us Muslims to rely upon or narrate except in the way of clarifying its invalidity.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
(23) Indeed this, my brother, has ninety-nine ewes, and I have one ewe; so he said, 'Entrust her to me,' and he overpowered me in speech." (24) [David] said, "He has certainly wronged you in demanding your ewe [in addition] to his ewes. And indeed, many associates oppress one another, except for those who believe and do righteous deeds - and few are they." And David became certain that We had tried him, and he asked forgiveness of his Lord and fell down bowing [in prostration] and turned in repentance [to Allah].
إن هذا أخي له تسع وتسعون نعجة ولي نعجة واحدة فقال أكفلنيها وعزني في الخطاب * قال لقد ظلمك بسؤال نعجتك إلى نعاجه وإن كثيراً من الخلطاء ليبغي بعضهم على بعض إلا الذين ءامنوا وعلموا الصالحات وقليل ما هم وظن داوود أنما فتناه فاستغفر ربه وخر راكعا وأنابThe Shaykh : These verses are about a dispute that occurred in the presence of Dawud (peace be upon him), who is one of the noble prophets, one of the prophets of the Children of Israel. Allah began it by saying:
(21) And has there come to you the news of the adversaries, when they climbed over the wall of [his] prayer chamber - (22) When they entered upon David and he was alarmed by them?
وهل أتاك نبأ الخصم إذ تسوّروا المحراب * إذ دخلوا على داوود ففزع منهمHas there come to you the news of the disputants?
هل أتاك نبأ الخصمFear not. [We are] two adversaries
لا تخف خصمانOne of us wronged the other.
بغى بعضنا على بعضso judge between us with truth and do not exceed [it]
فاحكم بيننا بالحق ولا تشططAnd guide us to the straight path.
واهدنا إلى سواء الصراطIndeed this, my brother, has ninety-nine ewes
إن هذا أخي له تسع وتسعون نعجةand I have one ewe; so he said, 'Entrust her to me,' and he overpowered me in speech."
ولي نعجة واحدة فقال أكفلنيها وعزني في الخطابHe has certainly wronged you in demanding your ewe [in addition] to his ewes
لقد ظلمك بسؤال نعجتك إلى نعاجهAnd indeed, many associates oppress one another, except for those who believe and do righteous deeds - and few are they." And David became certain that We had tried him, and he asked forgiveness of his Lord and fell down bowing [in prostration] and turned in repentance [to Allah]. (25) So We forgave him that
وإن كثيراً من الخلطاء ليبغى بعضهم على بعض إلا الذين ءامنوا وعملوا الصالحات وقليل ما هم وظن داوود أنما فتناه فاستغفر ربه وخر راكعا وأناب فغفرنا له ذلكHe has certainly wronged you in demanding your ewe [in addition] to his ewes
لقد ظلمك بسؤال نعجتك إلى نعاجهand he asked forgiveness of his Lord and fell down bowing [in prostration] and turned in repentance [to Allah].
فاستغفر ربه وخر راكعا وأنابSo We forgave him that; and indeed, for him is nearness to Us and a good place of return.
فغفرنا له ذلك وإن له عندنا لزلفى وحسن مآبMany of the exegetes have mentioned in this story things that are not befitting a prophet of the prophets of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), Israelite narratives that imply criticism of the prophets.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So a person must be cautious of them and not narrate them to anyone except by clarifying their invalidity. They mentioned that Dawud (peace be upon him) had ninety-nine wives and that he was infatuated with the love of the wife of one of his soldiers, and that he wanted this woman to be among his wives. So he asked this soldier to go to war so that perhaps he would be killed and leave his wife behind, and then Dawud (peace be upon him) would take her. And this story is a lie without doubt and is not befitting the lowest person who has intellect, let alone one who has faith.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Let alone one who is a prophet of the prophets of Allah. But this is from the false news of the Children of Israel that is not permissible for us Muslims to rely upon or narrate except in the way of clarifying its invalidity.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.