Tafsir of Al-Anbiya' 21:78

"And David and Solomon, when..."

(And David and Solomon) are either conjoined to "Noah," governed by the same verb—that is, "Remember"—according to what Ibn Atiyya claims; or they are the object of an implied verb conjoined to that same governing word, with an implied genitive construction, meaning: "The story of David and Solomon."

David is David the son of Ishai, son of Obed, son of Boaz, son of Salmon, son of Nahshon, son of Amminadab, son of Ram, son of Hezron, son of Perez, son of Judah, son of Jacob—peace be upon him. It is narrated from Ka’b that he was red-faced, had straight hair, a fair complexion, a long beard with some curl, and a beautiful voice. Prophethood and kingship were combined for him. Al-Nawawi reports from the historians that he lived for one hundred years, forty of which were the duration of his reign. He had twelve sons, and Solomon—peace be upon him—was one of them. Solomon, peace be upon him, would consult on many of his affairs despite his young age, due to the abundance of his intellect and knowledge. Ka’b mentioned that he was fair, large-bodied, handsome, radiant, reverent, and humble. He ruled, as the historians say, when he was thirteen years old, and he died at the age of fifty-three.

His saying, Exalted is He: (When they judged) is an adverbial time for that implied verb; it is also permissible to view it as an appositional substitution (badal) in the manner previously discussed. The meaning is: "When they judged regarding the tillage." The present tense (imperfect) is used to narrate the past event to bring its image to mind. "Tillage" (al-harth) here means crops. A group reported from Ibn Mas’ud—may Allah be pleased with him—that it means a vineyard. It is said that it is used for both, though it is more common for crops. Al-Khafaji said: Perhaps it refers to a vineyard metaphorically, based on a comparison to crops. The meaning is: "When they judged regarding the matter of the tillage."

(When there strayed into it) is an adverbial time for the judgment. "Nash" (straying/grazing at night) is the pasturing of livestock at night without a shepherd, just as hamal is pasturing them during the day. Its root meaning is spreading and dispersing. That is, when the sheep of the people dispersed and spread into it at night without a shepherd, grazing upon it and ruining it.

(And We were to their judgment witnesses) Meaning: We were present through Our knowledge. Regarding the plural pronoun, it is said it refers to David and Solomon; this is supported by the recitation of Ibn Abbas—may Allah be pleased with them both—as "for their judgment" (li-hukmihima) using the dual pronoun. Those who argue that the minimum plural is two have used this as evidence. It is also suggested that the plural is used for magnification, as in the verse: "My Lord, return me" (Rabbi irji'uni).

It is also said that it refers to the judges and the litigants. This has been challenged on the basis that the attribution of a judgment to the agent implies its performance, and to the recipient implies its occurrence; since they are, in meaning, both objects of the judgment, how can they be grouped together? It is answered that "judgment" here is in the sense of the "case" (qadiyya); there is no focus here on its grammatical action, for that would only be considered if it were a pure verbal noun (masdar). It is clearer than that, as stated in al-Kashf, that the specialized term covers both the performance and the occurrence, which is the meaning of the genitive construction; there remains no consideration of the grammatical action thereafter, neither in wording nor in meaning. "And We were witnesses to the judgment that took place among them."

This clause is an insertion confirming the judgment. It may also be said that it serves to praise it, as if to say: "We were overseeing their judgment, not allowing any flaw in it to pass." This follows the manner of His saying, Exalted is He: "For indeed, you are in Our eyes," in conveying care and preservation.