Quran chapter: Chapter 38: S. (Saad)

Have you received news of the feuding men who sneaked into his sanctuary?

وَهَل أَتىٰكَ نَبَؤُا۟ الخَصمِ إِذ تَسَوَّرُوا المِحرابَ

wa hal ataaka naba’ul khasm; iz tasawwarul mihraab

When they entered his room, he was startled. They said, “Have no fear. We are feuding with one another, and we are seeking your fair judgment. Do not wrong us, and guide us in the right path.

إِذ دَخَلوا عَلىٰ داوۥدَ فَفَزِعَ مِنهُم قالوا لا تَخَف خَصمانِ بَغىٰ بَعضُنا عَلىٰ بَعضٍ فَاحكُم بَينَنا بِالحَقِّ وَلا تُشطِط وَاهدِنا إِلىٰ سَواءِ الصِّرٰطِ

iz dakhaloo ‘alaa Daawooda fafazi’a minhum qaaloo laa takhaf khasmaani baghaa ba’dunaa ‘alaa ba’din fahkum bainanaaa bilhaqqi wa laa tushtit wahdinaaa ilaa Sawaaa’is Siraat

“This brother of mine owns ninety nine* sheep, while I own one sheep. He wants to mix my sheep with his, and continues to pressure me.”

إِنَّ هٰذا أَخى لَهُ تِسعٌ وَتِسعونَ نَعجَةً وَلِىَ نَعجَةٌ وٰحِدَةٌ فَقالَ أَكفِلنيها وَعَزَّنى فِى الخِطابِ

inna haazaaa akhee lahoo tis’unw wa tis’oona na’jatanw wa liya na’jatunw waahidah; faqaala akfilneeha wa ‘azzanee filkhitaab

*38:23 This is the only place where the number 99 occurs. Thirty different numbers are mentioned in the Quran, and their total comes to 162146, 19×8534. See Appendix 1.

(David’s Exemplary Piety)

He said, “He is being unfair to you by asking to combine your sheep with his. Most people who combine their properties treat each other unfairly, except those who believe and work righteousness, and these are so few.” Afterwards, David wondered if he made the right judgment. He thought that we were testing him. He then implored his Lord for forgiveness, bowed down, and repented.*

قالَ لَقَد ظَلَمَكَ بِسُؤالِ نَعجَتِكَ إِلىٰ نِعاجِهِ وَإِنَّ كَثيرًا مِنَ الخُلَطاءِ لَيَبغى بَعضُهُم عَلىٰ بَعضٍ إِلَّا الَّذينَ ءامَنوا وَعَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ وَقَليلٌ ما هُم وَظَنَّ داوۥدُ أَنَّما فَتَنّٰهُ فَاستَغفَرَ رَبَّهُ وَخَرَّ راكِعًا وَأَنابَ

qaala laqad zalamaka bisu ‘aali na’jatika ilaa ni’aajih; wa inna kaseeran minal khulataaa’i la-yabghee ba’duhum ‘alaa ba’din illal lazeena aamanoo wa ‘amilus saalihaati wa qaleelun maa hum; wa zanna Daawoodu annamaa fatannaahu fastaghfara Rabbahoo wa kharra raaki’anw wa anaab

*38:24 In this clear example, 99 on one side vs 1 on the other side, David’s extreme care to render the correct judgment caused him to ask forgiveness. Are we this careful?

We forgave him in this matter. We have granted him a position of honor with us, and a beautiful abode.

فَغَفَرنا لَهُ ذٰلِكَ وَإِنَّ لَهُ عِندَنا لَزُلفىٰ وَحُسنَ مَـٔابٍ

faghafarnaa lahoo zaalik; wa inna lahoo ‘indanaa lazulfaa wa husna ma aab

O David, we have made you a ruler on earth. Therefore, you shall judge among the people equitably, and do not follow your personal opinion, lest it diverts you from the way of God. Surely, those who stray off the way of God incur severe retribution for forgetting the Day of Reckoning.

يٰداوۥدُ إِنّا جَعَلنٰكَ خَليفَةً فِى الأَرضِ فَاحكُم بَينَ النّاسِ بِالحَقِّ وَلا تَتَّبِعِ الهَوىٰ فَيُضِلَّكَ عَن سَبيلِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ الَّذينَ يَضِلّونَ عَن سَبيلِ اللَّهِ لَهُم عَذابٌ شَديدٌ بِما نَسوا يَومَ الحِسابِ

yaa Daawoodu innaa ja’alnaaka khaleefatan fil ardi fahkum bainan naasi bilhaqqi wa laa tattabi’il hawaa fayudillaka ‘an sabeelil laah; innal lazeena yadilloona ‘an sabeelil laah; lahum ‘azaabun shadeedum bimaa nasoo Yawmal Hisaab

We did not create the heaven and the earth, and everything between them, in vain. Such is the thinking of those who disbelieve. Therefore, woe to those who disbelieve; they will suffer in Hell.

وَما خَلَقنَا السَّماءَ وَالأَرضَ وَما بَينَهُما بٰطِلًا ذٰلِكَ ظَنُّ الَّذينَ كَفَروا فَوَيلٌ لِلَّذينَ كَفَروا مِنَ النّارِ

wa maa khalaqnas samaaa’a wal arda wa maa bainahumaa baatilaa; zaalika zannul lazeena kafaroo; fa waylul lil lazeena kafaroo minan Naar

Shall we treat those who believe and lead a righteous life as we treat those who commit evil on earth? Shall we treat the righteous as we treat the wicked?

أَم نَجعَلُ الَّذينَ ءامَنوا وَعَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ كَالمُفسِدينَ فِى الأَرضِ أَم نَجعَلُ المُتَّقينَ كَالفُجّارِ

am naj’alul lazeena aamanoo wa ‘amilus saalihaati kalmufisdeena fil ardi am naj’alul muttaqeena kalfujjaar

This is a scripture that we sent down to you, that is sacred – perhaps they reflect on its verses. Those who possess intelligence will take heed.

كِتٰبٌ أَنزَلنٰهُ إِلَيكَ مُبٰرَكٌ لِيَدَّبَّروا ءايٰتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُولُوا الأَلبٰبِ

kitaabun anzalnaahu ilaika mubaarakul liyaddabbarooo Aayaatihee wa liyatazakkara ulul albaab

(Solomon’s Exemplary Devotion)

To David we granted Solomon; a good and obedient servant.

وَوَهَبنا لِداوۥدَ سُلَيمٰنَ نِعمَ العَبدُ إِنَّهُ أَوّابٌ

wa wahabnaa li Daawooda Sulaimaan; ni’mal ‘abd; innahoo awwaab