Tafsir of An-Naml 27:15

{Knowledge}: A portion of knowledge, or lofty and abundant knowledge.

If you ask: Is this not a place for the fa (consecutive particle) rather than the waw (conjunction), as in your saying: "I gave him, so he thanked," and "I withheld from him, so he was patient"?

I say: Yes, but connecting it with the waw signals that what they said is only a part of what the granting of knowledge produced in them, and a portion of its requirements. Thus, that [the requirements] is implied, and then the act of praising [God] is connected to it. It is as if He said: "We gave them both knowledge, so they acted upon it, taught it, and recognized the right of the blessing within it and its virtue, {and they said: 'Praise be to Allah, who has favored us...'}."

The "many" over whom they were favored are those who were not given knowledge, or those who were not given the like of their knowledge. In this is evidence that they were favored over many, and that many were favored over them.

The verse contains proof of the nobility of knowledge, the loftiness of its station, and the precedence of those who carry it and its people. It shows that the blessing of knowledge is among the greatest of blessings and the most generous of portions, and that whoever is given it has been given favor over many of the servants of Allah, as He said: {...and those who have been given knowledge [by degrees] (Al-Mujadilah: 11)}. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not name them {the inheritors of the prophets} except for their proximity to them in honor and status, for they are the upholders of that for which the prophets were sent.

It also contains that this virtuous blessing imposes requirements upon them, among which is that they must praise Allah for the favor they were given over others. It also serves as a reminder of humility, and that the scholar should believe that even if he has been favored over many, there are others like them who have been favored over him. How excellent is the saying of Umar: "All people are more learned than Umar."

{And Solomon inherited David, and said: "O people, we have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given from all things. Indeed, this is the clear favor."}