Tafsir of Al-Anbiya' 21:78

• Meaning: "And remember them." The word idh (when) is a substitute for them.
• Nafsh (grazing): Spreading out at night. The pronoun is plural because it refers to both of them and the two parties litigating before them.
• Variant Reading: "li-hukmihima" (for their judgment). The pronoun in fa-fahhamnaha (We gave the understanding of it to Solomon) refers to the judgment or the legal opinion.
• Variant Reading: "fa-afhamnaha" (We caused him to understand it).
• The Incident: David judged that the sheep belonged to the owner of the field. Solomon, peace be upon him, who was eleven years old, said: "Other than this is more gentle for both parties." He was determined to judge, so he said: "I see that the sheep should be given to the people of the field; they benefit from their milk, offspring, and wool. The owner of the sheep should work on the field until it returns to the state it was in the day it was damaged, then they exchange them back." David said: "The judgment is what you have judged," and he executed the ruling accordingly.
• Question: Did they judge by revelation or by ijtihad (independent reasoning)?
• Answer: Both judged by revelation, except that David’s judgment was abrogated by Solomon’s. It is also said that both exercised ijtihad, and Solomon’s ijtihad was closer to what was correct.
• Question: What is the basis for each of the two judgments?
• Answer: David’s judgment was based on the principle that when damage is caused by livestock, they are surrendered to the injured party as compensation for the injury—similar to Abu Hanifa’s view regarding a slave who commits a crime: the master either surrenders him or pays the ransom. Al-Shafi’i held that he sells him for that or pays the ransom. Perhaps the value of the sheep was equal to the loss in the field.
• Solomon’s judgment: He made the benefit of the sheep equivalent to the lost benefit of the field, without the owner losing ownership of the sheep. He obligated the sheep owner to work on the field until the damage was repaired. This is similar to what the Shafi’is say regarding one who usurps a slave who then runs away: he guarantees the value, and the victim benefits from that value in place of the lost labor of the slave; when the slave is found, they exchange them back.
• Question: If this incident occurred in our Sharia, what would be the ruling?
• Answer: Abu Hanifa and his companions do not see liability for damage caused by night or day unless there is a driver or leader with the animal. Al-Shafi’i mandates liability for damage at night.
• Significance: The phrase fa-fahhamnaha Sulayman is evidence that the more correct view was with Solomon. The phrase wa-kullan atayna hukman wa-ilman is evidence that both were correct.

"They glorified [Us]"

• This is a state (hal) meaning "glorifying," or it is a new sentence. It is as if someone asked: "How did He subject them?" and the reply was: "They glorify."
• "And the birds": Either conjoined to "the mountains" or an object accompanying them (ma'a).
• Question: Why were the mountains mentioned before the birds?
• Answer: Because their subjection and glorification are more wondrous, more indicative of power, and more miraculous, as they are inanimate objects, whereas birds are animals (though non-speaking). It is narrated that David would pass by the mountains while glorifying, and they would respond to him. It is also said they would travel with him wherever he went.
• Question: How do mountains speak and glorify?
• Answer: By God creating speech within them, just as He created it in the tree when He spoke to Moses. Another answer: Those who saw them moving by God’s command would glorify, and since they were the cause of this glorification, they were described by it.
• "And We were doers": Meaning, capable of doing this even if it seems wondrous to you. It is also said: "We used to do such things for the prophets."

"Al-Labus" (Armor):

• Meaning: al-libas (clothing). It is said: "Wear for every situation its garment." It refers to chainmail. Qatada said: "It was plates." David was the first to weave and link them, combining lightness with protection.
• "To protect you": Read with nun, ya, or ta. The nun refers to God; the ta refers to the craft or the armor (if interpreted as dir'); the ya refers to David or the armor.