Inquiring about the saying of Allah the Exalted: “Indeed, this is my brother. He has ninety-nine ewes, and I have one ewe...”
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The questioner : Inquiring about the saying of Allah the Exalted: I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan. [Sad 38:23] What is the verse?
The Shaykh : Yes. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets and the Imam of the Pious, and upon his family and his Companions, and those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment. As for what follows, on the occasion of the question regarding the interpretation of this noble verse, I would like to address a word to my Muslim brothers. I say that Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, has clarified the wisdom behind sending down the Qur'an to Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), where He said:[Sad 38:29] Thus, Allah the Exalted clarified the wisdom behind sending down the Qur'an in two things: the first is to reflect upon the verses, which means understanding them so that a person reaches their meaning.
The second is to be reminded by what is in it, which means taking a lesson and acting upon what it indicates, by believing the reports and implementing the rulings. This is what the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were upon; they did not pass ten verses until they learned them and the knowledge and action contained therein. They learned from the Book of Allah, the Qur'an, both knowledge and action. This applies to the entire Ummah until the Day of Resurrection. I urge my Muslim brothers to understand the Book of Allah, reflect upon it, ask about its meaning, and read the books of scholars whose interpretations are trusted, if one is able to reach the meaning through such reading, so that one may taste the flavor of the Qur'an and know the greatness of the Qur'an. As for reading the Qur'an without understanding its meaning, there is no doubt that it contains much good and great reward, for whoever reads the Qur'an has ten good deeds for every letter. However, the completion of that and the great, significant benefit is by achieving what Allah sent it down for, which is reflection and taking a lesson.
Then let it be known that this noble Qur'an, if a person carries it, is as the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan an-Nasa'i 2437Sahih (Darussalam) If you fulfill its obligation by believing the reports and acting upon the rulings, and accepting that with openness and tranquility, it will be an argument for you. If the matter is otherwise, it will be an argument against you to the extent that you neglected or transgressed.
It is known that if a person were required to implement what is in a book issued by one of the authorities, he would read this book, understand its meaning, and inquire about its meaning until he is able to apply it and act upon it. How much more so with the great Book sent down from Allah, Mighty and Majestic, by which Allah has obligated His servants to act? How can a person not know its meaning, not understand it, not inquire about it, and not care? This is truly negligence, great negligence.
As for what concerns the question about the verse he mentioned in His saying:[Sad 38:23] This is in the context of a story that happened to the Prophet of Allah, Dawud. Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, mentioned this story in His saying: [Sad 38:21-22] to the end. Allah mentioned this story, beginning it with a question indicating anticipation: [Sad 38:21] Meaning they entered over the wall, not through the door, because the door was closed. The mihrab is a place of worship, not what we know today as the prayer niche, but it is a place of worship, whether it was a round or square room.
The important point is that when they climbed over the wall and entered upon him, he was frightened of them, because that was contrary to custom, and what departs from custom, human nature dictates that one be frightened of it, especially in such a situation. So they said to him:[Sad 38:22] Meaning we are two litigants. [Sad 38:22] Then they mentioned the story: [Sad 38:23] The ewe is one of the sheep. [Sad 38:23] Meaning he overpowered me in his speech due to his strength, eloquence, and clarity. So Dawud said to him: [Sad 38:24] Thus, Dawud (peace and blessings be upon him) ruled in his favor without listening to his opponent. The method of ruling is that a judge should not rule until he looks at what the opponent has. Allah the Exalted said: [Sad 38:24] Meaning he became certain that We had tested him with this litigation. This is because he (peace and blessings be upon him) was occupied with specific worship and did not judge between people, so he closed the door against them. A judge should have his door open to those who come to him as litigants so that he can judge between them. Also, he ruled for the litigant without hearing the argument of his opponent. Also, he hastened with that, meaning with the ruling before asking the opponent, in order to return to his worship. He (peace and blessings be upon him) knew that Allah had tested him with this, so he fell prostrating in prayer and turned back repentant to Allah, Mighty and Majestic. Allah the Exalted said: And what is narrated in this story that Dawud (peace and blessings be upon him) saw a man's wife and was pleased with her, so he schemed to reach her by ordering him to go out on a military expedition to be killed, so that he would take his wife, is a lie that does not befit the least of people in terms of reason and trustworthiness, how much less the Prophet of Allah, Dawud (peace and blessings be upon him). This story is what the Jews inserted among some people so that they interpreted the words of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, with it. It is not permissible for anyone to apply the verse to that, nor to narrate this to people, unless he intends to clarify that it is weak and false. This is not a problem, but it is obligatory, because it has become well-known among many people that this story is what I mentioned, that Dawud was pleased with a man's wife and schemed for it by sending him on a military expedition to be killed so that he would take his wife after him. This is a lie that is not permissible to mention except for one who intends to clarify that it is a lie. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
Indeed this, my brother, has ninety-nine ewes, and I have one ewe
إِنَّ هذا أَخي لَهُ تِسعٌ وَتِسعونَ نَعجَةً وَلِيَ نَعجَةٌ واحِدَةٌThe Shaykh : Yes. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets and the Imam of the Pious, and upon his family and his Companions, and those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment. As for what follows, on the occasion of the question regarding the interpretation of this noble verse, I would like to address a word to my Muslim brothers. I say that Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, has clarified the wisdom behind sending down the Qur'an to Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), where He said:
[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded.
كِتابٌ أَنزَلناهُ إِلَيكَ مُبارَكٌ لِيَدَّبَّروا ءاياتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُولُو الأَلبابِThe second is to be reminded by what is in it, which means taking a lesson and acting upon what it indicates, by believing the reports and implementing the rulings. This is what the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were upon; they did not pass ten verses until they learned them and the knowledge and action contained therein. They learned from the Book of Allah, the Qur'an, both knowledge and action. This applies to the entire Ummah until the Day of Resurrection. I urge my Muslim brothers to understand the Book of Allah, reflect upon it, ask about its meaning, and read the books of scholars whose interpretations are trusted, if one is able to reach the meaning through such reading, so that one may taste the flavor of the Qur'an and know the greatness of the Qur'an. As for reading the Qur'an without understanding its meaning, there is no doubt that it contains much good and great reward, for whoever reads the Qur'an has ten good deeds for every letter. However, the completion of that and the great, significant benefit is by achieving what Allah sent it down for, which is reflection and taking a lesson.
Then let it be known that this noble Qur'an, if a person carries it, is as the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
either for you or against you
حجة لك أو عليكIt is known that if a person were required to implement what is in a book issued by one of the authorities, he would read this book, understand its meaning, and inquire about its meaning until he is able to apply it and act upon it. How much more so with the great Book sent down from Allah, Mighty and Majestic, by which Allah has obligated His servants to act? How can a person not know its meaning, not understand it, not inquire about it, and not care? This is truly negligence, great negligence.
As for what concerns the question about the verse he mentioned in His saying:
Indeed this, my brother, has ninety-nine ewes, and I have one ewe
إِنَّ هذا أَخي لَهُ تِسعٌ وَتِسعونَ نَعجَةً وَلِيَ نَعجَةٌ واحِدَةٌ(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?
وَهَل أَتاكَ نَبَأُ الخَصمِ إِذ تَسَوَّرُوا المِحرابَ * إِذ دَخَلوا عَلى داوودَ فَفَزِعَ مِنهُمAnd has there come to you the news of the adversaries, when they climbed over the wall of [his] prayer chamber -
وَهَل أَتاكَ نَبَأُ الخَصمِ إِذ تَسَوَّرُوا المِحرابَThe important point is that when they climbed over the wall and entered upon him, he was frightened of them, because that was contrary to custom, and what departs from custom, human nature dictates that one be frightened of it, especially in such a situation. So they said to him:
Fear not. [We are] two adversaries
لا تَخَف خَصمانِone of whom has wronged the other, so judge between us with truth and do not exceed [it] and guide us to the sound path.
بَغى بَعضُنا عَلى بَعضٍ فَاحكُم بَينَنا بِالحَقِّ وَلا تُشطِط وَاهدِنا إِلى سَواءِ الصِّراطِIndeed this, my brother, has ninety-nine ewes, and I have one ewe
إِنَّ هذا أَخي لَهُ تِسعٌ وَتِسعونَ نَعجَةً وَلِيَ نَعجَةٌ واحِدَةٌand I have one ewe; so he said, 'Entrust her to me,' and he overpowered me in speech."
وَلِيَ نَعجَةٌ واحِدَةٌ فَقالَ أَكفِلنيها وَعَزَّني فِي الخِطابِHe has certainly wronged you in demanding your ewe [in addition] to his ewes
لَقَد ظَلَمَكَ بِسُؤالِ نَعجَتِكَ إِلى نِعاجِهِAnd 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].
وَإِنَّ كَثيرًا مِنَ الخُلَطاءِ لَيَبغي بَعضُهُم عَلى بَعضٍ إِلَّا الَّذينَ ءامَنوا وَعَمِلُوا الصّالِحاتِ وَقَليلٌ ما هُم وَظَنَّ داوودُ أَنَّما فَتَنّاهُ فَاستَغفَرَ رَبَّهُ وَخَرَّ راكِعًا وَأَنابَSo We forgave him that.
فَغَفَرنا لَهُ ذلِكَThe questioner : May Allah bless you.