ﲱ ﲲ ﲳ ﲴ ﲵ ﲶ ﲷ ﲸ ﲹ ﲺ ﲻ ﲼ ﲽ ﲾ ﲿ ﳀ ﳁ ﳂ ﳃ ﳄ ﳅ
They made for him what he willed of elevated chambers, statues, bowls like reservoirs, and stationary kettles. [We said], "Work, O family of David, in gratitude." And few of My servants are grateful.
Tafsir
Verse range: 34:13
يعملون له ما يشاء من محاريب وتماثيل
They worked for him as he desired on Maharib, Tamathil, Maharib refers to beautiful structures, the best and innermost part of a dwelling. Ibn Zayd said, "This means dwellings.'' With regard to "Tamathil,'' Atiyah Al-Awfi, Ad-Dahhak and As-Suddi said that; Tamathil means pictures.
وجفان كالجواب وقدور راسيات
large basins like Jawab and Qudur Rasiyat. Jawab, the plural form of Jabiyah, refers to cisterns or tanks in which water is held, and Qudur Rasiyat are cauldrons that stay in one place and are not moved around because of their great size. This was the view of Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak and others.
اعملوا آل داوود شكرا
Work you, O family of Dawud, with thanks! means, `We said to them: Work with thanks for the blessings that We have bestowed upon you in this world and the Hereafter.' This indicates that thanks may be expressed by actions as much as by words and intentions. Abu Abdur-Rahman Al-Hubuli said, "Prayer is thanks, fasting is thanks, every good deed that you do for the sake of Allah is thanks, and the best of thanks is praise.'' This was recorded by Ibn Jarir. In the Two Sahihs, it is reported that the Messenger of Allah said:
إن أحب الصﻼة إلى الله تعالى صﻼة داود كان ينام نصف الليل ويقوم ثلثه وينام سدسه
وأحب الصيام إلى الله تعالى صيام داود كان يصوم يوما ويفطر يوما وﻻأ يفر إذا ﻻأقى
The most beloved of prayer to Allah is the prayer of Dawud. He used to sleep for half the night, stand in prayer for a third of it and sleep for a sixth of it. The most beloved of fasting to Allah is the fasting of Dawud. He used to fast for a day then not fast for a day, and he never fled the battlefield. Ibn Abi Hatim narrated that Fudayl said concerning the Ayah:
اعملوا آل داوود شكرا
(Work you, O family of Dawud, with thanks!) Dawud said, "O Lord! How can I thank you when thanks itself is a blessing from You!'' He said: "Now you have truly given thanks to Me, for you have realized that it is a blessing from Me.''
وقليل من عبادي الشكور
But few of My servants are grateful. This is a reflection of reality
