38:24 Saad (The letter Saad)

فقال داود - لما سمع كلامه - ومن المعلوم من السياق السابق من كلامهما، أن هذا هو الواقع، فلهذا لم يحتج أن يتكلم الآخر، فلا وجه للاعتراض بقول القائل: { لم حكم داود، قبل أن يسمع كلام الخصم الآخر } ؟ { لَقَدْ ظَلَمَكَ بِسُؤَالِ نَعْجَتِكَ إِلَى نِعَاجِهِ } وهذه عادة الخلطاء والقرناء الكثير منهم، فقال: { وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِنَ الْخُلَطَاءِ لَيَبْغِي بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ } لأن الظلم من صفة النفوس. { إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ } فإن ما معهم من الإيمان والعمل الصالح، يمنعهم من الظلم. { وَقَلِيلٌ مَا هُمْ } كما قال تعالى { وَقَلِيلٌ مِنْ عِبَادِيَ الشَّكُورُ } { وَظَنَّ دَاوُدُ } حين حكم بينهما { أَنَّمَا فَتَنَّاهُ } أي: اختبرناه ودبرنا عليه هذه القضية ليتنبه { فَاسْتَغْفَرَ رَبَّهُ } لما صدر منه، { وَخَرَّ رَاكِعًا } أي: ساجدا { وَأَنَابَ } للّه تعالى بالتوبة النصوح والعبادة.

قد ذكر المفسرون ههنا قصة أكثرها مأخوذ من الإسرائيليات ولم يثبت فيها عن المعصوم حديث يجب اتباعه ولكن روى ابن أبي حاتم هنا حديثا لا يصح سنده لأنه من رواية يزيد الرقاشي عن أنس رضي الله عنه ويزيد وإن كان من الصالحين لكنه ضعيف الحديث عند الأئمة فالأولى أن يقتصر على مجرد تلاوة هذه القصة وأن يرد علمها إلى الله عز وجل فإن القرآن حق وما تضمن فهو حق أيضا وقوله تعالى "ففزع منهم" إنما كان ذلك لأنه كان في محرابه وهو أشرف مكان في داره وكان قد أمر أن لا يدخل عليه أحد ذلك اليوم فلم يشعر إلا بشخصين قد تسورا عليه المحراب أي احتاطا به يسألانه عن شأنهما وقوله عز وجل "وعزني في الخطاب" أي غلبني يقال عز يعز إذا قهر وغلب وقوله تعالى "وظن داود إنما فتناه" قال علي بن أبي طلحة عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما أي اختبرناه وقوله تعالى "وخر راكعا" أي ساجدا "وأناب" ويحتمل أنه ركع أولا ثم سجد بعد ذلك وقد ذكر أنه استمر ساجدا "أربعين صباحا" فغفرنا له ذلك أي ما كان منه مما يقال فيه إن حسنات الأبرار سيئات المقربين وقد اختلف الأئمة في سجدة ص هل هي من عزائم السجود ؟ على قولين الجديد من مذهب الشافعي رضي الله عنه أنها ليست من عزائم السجود بل هي سجدة شكر والدليل على ذلك ما رواه الإمام أحمد حيث قال حدثنا إسماعيل هو ابن علية عن أيوب عن عكرمة عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما أنه قال في السجدة في ص ليست من عزائم السجود وقد رأيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يسجد فيها ورواه البخاري وأبو داود والترمذي والنسائي في تفسيره من حديث أيوب به وقال الترمذي حسن صحيح وقال النسائي أيضا عند تفسير هذه الآية أخبرني إبراهيم بن الحسن هو المقسمي حدثنا حجاج بن محمد عن عمر بن ذر عن أبيه عن سعيد بن جبير عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال: إن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم سجد في ص وقال " سجدها داود عليه الصلاة والسلام توبة ونسجدها شكرا" تفرد بروايته النسائي ورجال إسناده كلهم ثقات وقد أخبرني شيخنا الحافظ أبو الحجاج المزي قراءة عليه وأنا أسمع أخبرنا أبو إسحاق المدرجي أخبرنا زاهر بن أبي طاهر الثقفي حدثنا زاهر بن أبي طاهر الشحامي أخبرنا أبو سعيد الكنجدروذي أخبرنا الحاكم أبو أحمد محمد بن محمد الحافظ أخبرنا أبو العباس السراج حدثنا هارون بن عبد الله حدثنا محمد بن يزيد ابن خنيس عن الحسن بن محمد بن عبيد الله بن أبي يزيد قال: قال لي ابن جريج يا حسن حدثني جدك عبيد الله بن أبي يزيد عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما فقال جاء رجل إلى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال يا رسول الله إنى رأيت فيما يرى النائم كأنى أصلي خلف شجرة فقرأت السجدة فسجدت فسجدت الشجرة بسجودي فسمعتها تقول وهي ساجدة: اللهم اكتب لي بها عندك أجرا وأجعلها لي عندك دخرا وضع بها عني وزرا وأقبلها مني كما فبلتها من عبدك داود قال ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما فرأيت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قام فقرأ السجدة ثم سجد فسمعته يقول وهو ساجد كما حكى الرجل من كلام الشجرة رواه الترمذي عن قتيبة وابن ماجة عن أبي بكر بن خلاد كلاهما عن محمد بن يزيد بن خنيس نحوه وقال الترمذي غريب لا نعرفه إلا من هذا الوجه وقال البخاري عند تفسيرها أيضا حدثنا محمد بن عبد الله حدثنا محمد بن عبيد الطنافسي عن العوام قال سألت مجاهدا عن سجدة ص فقال: سألت ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما من أين سجدت فقال أو ما تقرأ "ومن ذريته داود وسليمان" "أولئك الذين هدى الله فبهداهم اقتده" فكان داود عليه الصلاة والسلام ممن أمر نبيكم صلى الله عليه وسلم أن يقتدي به فسجدها داود عليه الصلاة والسلام فسجدها رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وقال الإمام أحمد حدثنا عفان حدثنا يزيد بن زريع حدثنا حميد حدثنا بكر هو ابن عبد الله المزني أنه أخبره أن أبا سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه رأى رؤيا أنه يكتب ص فلما بلغ إلى الآية التي يسجد بها رأى الدواة والقلم وكل شيء بحضرته انقلب ساجدا قال قفصها على النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فلم يزل يسجد بها بعد تفرد به أحمد وقال أبو داود حدثنا أحمد بن صالح حدثنا ابن وهب أخبرني عمرو بن الحارث عن سعيد بن أبي هلال عن عياض بن عبد الله بن سعد بن أبي سرح عن أبي سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه قال: قرأ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وهو على المنبر "ص" فلما بلغ السجدة نزل فسجد وسجد الناس معه فلما كان يوم آخر قرأها فلما بلغ السجدة تشزن الناس للسجود فقال صلى الله عليه وسلم "إنما هي توبة نبي ولكني رأيتكم تشزنتم "فنزل وسجد تفرد به أبو داود وإسناده على شرط الصحيح.

The Story of the Two Litigants

In discussing this passage, the scholars of Tafsir mention a story which is mostly based upon Isra'iliyat narrations. Nothing has been reported about this from the Infallible Prophet that we could accept as true. But Ibn Abi Hatim narrated a Hadith whose chain of narration cannot be regarded as Sahih because it is reported by Yazid Ar-Raqashi from Anas, may Allah be pleased with him. Although Yazid was one of the righteous, his Hadiths are regarded as weak by the Imams. So, it is better to speak briefly of this story and refer knowledge of it to Allah, may He be exalted. For the Qur'an is true and what it contains is also true.

فَفَزِعَ مِنْهُمْ

(he was terrified of them.) This was because he was in his Mihrab (private chamber). That was the noblest part of his house, where he commanded that no one should enter upon him that day. So, he did not realize that these two people had climbed the fence surrounding his Mihrab (private chamber) to ask him about their case.

وَعَزَّنِى فِى الْخِطَابِ

(and he overpowered me in speech.) means, `he defeated me.'

وَظَنَّ دَاوُودُ أَنَّمَا فَتَنَّـهُ

(And Dawud guessed that We have tried him) `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said that this means, "We tested him."

وَخَرَّ رَاكِعاً وَأَنَابَ

(and he fell down prostrate and turned (to Allah) in repentance.)

فَغَفَرْنَا لَهُ ذَلِكَ

(So, We forgave him that,)

The Sajdah in Surah Sad

The performance of Sajdah in Surah Sad is not one of the obligatory locations; it is a prostration of thanks (Sajdat Shukr). The evidence for it is the report recorded by Imam Ahmad from Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, who said; "The prostration in Surah Sad is not one of the obligatory prostrations; I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prostrating in this Surah." This was also recorded by Al-Bukhari, Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi, and An-Nasa'i in his Tafsir. At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih." In his Tafsir of this Ayah, An-Nasa'i also recorded that Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "The Prophet prostrated in Sad, and he said:

«سَجَدَهَا دَاوُدُ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ تَوْبَةً، وَنَسْجُدُهَا شُكْرًا»

(Dawud prostrated as an act of repentance and we prostrate as an act of thanks.)" This was recorded only by An-Nasa'i. The men of its chain of narration are all reliable. In his Tafsir of this Ayah, Al-Bukhari recorded that Al-`Awwam said that he asked Mujahid about the prostration in Surah Sad. He said, `I asked Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, `Why do you prostrate' He said, `Have you not read:

وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِهِ دَاوُودَ وَسُلَيْمَـنَ

(and among his Nuh's progeny Dawud, Sulayman) (6:84)

أُوْلَـئِكَ الَّذِينَ هَدَى اللَّهُ فَبِهُدَاهُمُ اقْتَدِهْ

(They are those whom Allah had guided. So follow their guidance) (6:90). Dawud, peace be upon him, was one of those whom your Prophet was commanded to follow. Dawud prostrated here so the Messenger of Allah ﷺ also prostrated here."' Abu Dawud recorded that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited Sad while he was on the Minbar. When he reached the prostration, he came down from the Minbar and prostrated, and the people prostrated with him. On another occasion when he recited it, he reached the prostration and the people prepared to prostrate. He said:

«إِنَّمَا هِيَ تَوْبَةُ نَبِيَ، وَلَكِنِّي رَأَيْتُكُمْ تَشَزَّنْتُم»

(This is repentance for a Prophet, but I see that you are preparing to prostrate.) Then he came down (from the Minbar) and prostrated." This was recorded only by Abu Dawud and its chain of narration meets the conditions of the Two Sahihs.

وَإِنَّ لَهُ عِندَنَا لَزُلْفَى وَحُسْنَ مَـَابٍ

(and verily, for him is a near access to Us, and a good place of (final) return.) means, on the Day of Resurrection, he will have good deeds by virtue of which he will be brought close to Allah, and he will have a good place of (final) return, which means the lofty levels of Paradise, because of his repentance and his perfect justice in his kingdom. As it says in the Sahih:

«الْمُقْسِطُونَ عَلَى مَنَابِرَ مِنْ نُورٍ عَنْ يَمِينِ الرَّحْمنِ، وَكِلْتَا يَدَيْهِ يَمِينٌ، الَّذِينَ يُقْسِطُونَ فِي أَهْلِيهِمْ وَمَا وَلُوا»

(Those who are fair and just with their families and those who are under their authority will be on Minbars of light on the right hand of Ar-Rahman, and both His Hands are right Hands.)"

He said ‘He has certainly wronged you by asking for your ewe that he may add it to his sheep. And indeed many associates infringe upon the rights of one another except such as believe and perform righteous deeds but few are they!’ mā emphasises the ‘fewness’. As the two angels were ascending to the heaven one said to the other ‘He has certainly passed judgement on himself!’ David was thus alerted to his deed. God exalted be He says And David thought in other words he became certain that We had indeed tried him that We had caused him to fall into a trial that is a test through his love for that woman. So he sought forgiveness of his Lord and fell down bowing in other words prostrate and repented.

A man of stature should observe patience to the best of his ability over errors made by those in need

This tells us that a person whom Allah has blessed with some high rank - and the needs of people are tied to him should do his best to remain patient over their irregular behavior and errors of expression, for this is the demand of his rank or office. Particularly so, a Hakim (official of the government), a Qadi (judge of the judiciary) and a Mufti (authentic consultant responsible for giving fatwa in the light of Islam's sources of jurisprudence) should pay full attention to this need. (Ruh-ul-Ma’ ani)

Verse 24 opens with the words: قَالَ لَقَدْ ظَلَمَكَ بِسُؤَالِ نَعْجَتِكَ إِلَىٰ نِعَاجِهِ (He said, 'He has certainly wronged you by demanding your ewe to be added to his ewe.' ). Two things are worth pondering here. First of all, Sayyidna Dawud (علیہ السلام) made this statement simply after having listened to the plaintiff. He did not hear the statement of the respondent. About it, some elders have said that this was the slip for which he sought forgiveness from Allah. But, other commentators have said that, in reality, full details of the litigation are not being described here. Taken up here is only what was necessary. Sayyidna Dawud (علیہ السلام) must have surely heard the stand of the defendant. But, it was not described here for the reason that this is the recognized method when judgments are delivered. Everyone can understand that the part relating to asking the defendant at this place is elided (understood).

In addition to that, it is also possible that, though the visitors had asked Sayyidna Dawud (علیہ السلام) for a court judgment, but that was no time for a court session, nor was it a judicial sitting, nor Sayyidna Dawud (علیہ السلام) had the necessary resources available at hand in order to implement his judgment, therefore, he did not give his judgment in the status of a qadi (judge), instead, what he gave was a fatwa (ruling) in his status as a mufti (juri-consult) - and it is not the job of a mufti to go about investigating into the nature of an event, rather, the thing depends on the question asked, and it is in accordance with it that he has to give his answer.

Soliciting contribution, or even gift, under pressure of any kind is usurpation

Something else worth pondering here is that Sayyidna Dawud (علیہ السلام) equated the act of a person demanding simply an ewe with injustice or oppression - although, casually asking someone for something is not a crime. The reason is that the form in which it was being asked did have the outward anatomy of a request. But, in the presence of the amount of verbal and practical pressure being put behind this asking, this thing had assumed the proportions of usurpation, something being taken forcibly, compulsively, illegally or by extortion.

From here we learn that, should a person ask for something from someone in a manner that the addressee, whether willing or unwilling, is left with no way out other than giving it, then, (soliciting aside) even demanding a gift in that manner is also included under ghasb or usurpation. Therefore, if the person asking is a man of office or power, or someone respectable and elegant-looking - and the addressee cannot afford to say no because of the pressure of this man's personality - then, even if the form of the situation is that of soliciting a gift, but in reality, it translates as nothing but ghasb or usurpation, and, the use of the thing acquired in this manner is never permissible for the person asking for it. This point needs the particular attention of those who solicit and receive contributions for مَدَارس madaris and makatib (religious schools), masajid (mosques) or societies and associations in the religious field. For them, only that donation is halal and good that has been given to them by the donor voluntarily and cheerfully. If those seeking such contributions use the pressure of their personality or eight or ten of them simultaneously descend on someone, render him helpless, and succeed in gouging that contribution out of him, then, this would be a flagrantly impermissible act on their part. The Hadith carries a very clear statement of the Holy Prophet ﷺ in this matter:

لَا یحِلّ مال امریءِ مسلم اِلَّا بطیب بفس منہ

The property of a Muslim is not halal unless it is with his sweet will.

Partnership in transactions needs great caution

In verse 24, it was said: وَإِنَّ كَثِيرً‌ا مِّنَ الْخُلَطَاءِ لَيَبْغِي بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ (And many partners oppress one another). By saying this, we have been alerted that it is not unusual when mutual rights are compromised between two persons having a partnership deal. There are occasions when one of them would take something as ordinary, and goes ahead and does it. But, in reality, it becomes the cause of sin. Therefore, great caution is needed in this matter.

Later, in the same verse, it was said: وَظَنَّ دَاوُودُ أَنَّمَا فَتَنَّاهُ (And Dawud realized that We had put him to a test,- 38:24). If the form of the litigation is taken to be a similitude of the slip of Sayyidna Dawud (علیہ السلام) ، then, the occurring of such a thought is fairly obvious. And if the form of the litigation has nothing to do with it, even then, the overall condition of the parties involved was enough to show that the two of them have been sent by way of a test. On the one hand, these disputants were in such hurry to get their litigation resolved that they were audacious enough to jump the wall and barge in. On the other hand, when the case was presented, the defendant sat silent and accepted, verbally or practically, the plea of the plaintiff without any ifs and buts.

If the defendant agreed with the event as described by the plaintiff, he hardly had the need to come to Sayyidna Dawud (علیہ السلام) seek a verdict in the dispute. Even a person of average intelligence could have gathered that, in this situation, Sayyidna Dawud (علیہ السلام) will invariably decide in favor of the plaintiff. This mysterious conduct of the two disputants was betraying that it was an event of some extraordinary nature. Sayyidna Dawud (علیہ السلام) had no difficulty in seeing through it, that they had come as sent from Allah and their objective was to test him. In some narrations, it also appears that, after having heard the verdict, they exchanged furtive smiles, and in no time disappeared into the skies. Allah knows best.

In the last sentence of verse 24, it was said: فَاسْتَغْفَرَ‌ رَ‌بَّهُ وَخَرَّ‌ رَ‌اكِعًا وَأَنَابَ (so he prayed to his Lord for forgiveness, and bowing down, he fell in prostration, and turned [ to Allah ].). It should be noted that the word used here is that of: رُکُوع (ruku`) which literally means 'to bow down' while, with most commentators, it denotes سَجدَہ (sajdah: prostration). According to the Hanafiyyah, by reciting this verse, sajdah becomes obligatory.

By doing ruku` the sajdah of tilawah (recitation) stands performed

And Imam Abu Hanifah (رح) has proved from this verse that, in case a verse requiring sajdah has been recited within the Salah, then, forming the intention of sajdah in the ruku' makes the obligation of sajdah stand performed. The reason is that here Allah Ta’ ala has used the word: رُکُوع (ruku) for: سَجدَہ (sajdah) which proves that ruku` too can become the replacement of sajdah. But, in this connection, a few necessary points should be borne in mind.

The sajdah of tilawah (recitation): Some rulings.

1. Sajdah when being performed through an obligatory ruku` in Salah can only be performed validly on condition that the verse of sajdah has been recited within the Salah. When reciting the Qur'an outside the Salah, the sajdah of tilawah cannot be performed validly through a ruku`. The reason is that ruku` is an act of ` ibadah only in Salah - outside Salah, it is not recognized as an act of worship. (Bada’ i).

2. A ruku` can stand for sajdah of tilawah only when ruku` has been done soon after having recited the verse of sajdah or having recited at the most two or three additional verses. And if, after the verse of sajdah, one has made a long recitation in the standing position, the ruku` would not stand for sajdah.

3. If one is thinking of performing the sajdah of tilawah in the position of ruku`, then, he should better make the intention of the sajdah of tilawah while bowing down for the ruku`, otherwise, the obligation of sajdah will not stand discharged by this ruku`. Yes, once the person starts going for sajdah, the sajdah will stand performed even without the intention.

4. The preferred practice, however, in any case is that the sajdah of tilawah is performed as a regular sajdah before ruku`, and then, one rises from the state of sajdah, recites one or two verses and then goes for ruku `, rather than it is performed in the obligatory ruku` of the Salah. (Bada'I ' ).