Tafsir of An-Naml 27:16

He inherited from him prophethood and kingship, to the exclusion of his other children—and they were nineteen. David was more devoted in worship, while Solomon was more judicial and more grateful for the blessing of God.

"And he said, 'O people!'" He said this to publicize God’s blessing, to elevate its status, to acknowledge its place, and to invite people to believe by mentioning the miracle—which is the knowledge of the speech of birds—and other great matters he was granted.

"Speech" (al-manṭiq): It is every sound produced, whether single or composed, meaningful or meaningless. Ya‘qub ibn al-Sikkit titled his book Iṣlāḥ al-Manṭiq (The Correction of Speech), yet he only corrected individual words. The Arabs say, "The dove spoke." Every species of bird understands the sounds of its own kind. What Solomon knew of the speech of birds was the meanings and purposes they understand from one another.

It is narrated that he passed by a nightingale in a tree, moving its head and swaying its tail. He said to his companions, "Do you know what it is saying?" They replied, "God and His Prophet know best." He said, "It says: 'I have eaten half a date, so upon the world be dust.'"

A turtle dove cried out, and he informed them it said: "Would that these creatures had not been created." A peacock cried out, and he said: "As you judge, so shall you be judged." A hoopoe cried out, and he said: "Seek forgiveness from God, O sinners." A sandpiper cried out, and he said: "Every living thing dies, and everything new wears out." A swallow cried out, and he said: "Send forth good, and you shall find it." A vulture cried out, and he said: "Glory be to my Lord, the Most High, filling His heavens and His earth." A turtledove cried out, and he said: "Glory be to my Lord, the Most High." He said: The kite says: "Everything is perishing except God." The sandgrouse says: "Whoever remains silent is safe." The parrot says: "Woe to him whose concern is the world." The rooster says: "Remember God, O heedless ones." The eagle says: "O son of Adam, live as you wish, your end is death." The hawk says: "In distance from people is comfort." The frog says: "Glory be to my Lord, the Holy."

"Of all things" (min kulli shay’): By this, he meant the abundance of what he was given, just as you say, "Everyone visits so-and-so," or "He knows everything," meaning a multitude of visitors or a vastness and abundance of knowledge. Similar to this is the verse: "And she has been given of all things" (An-Naml: 23).

"Indeed, this is the clear grace." This statement is made by way of gratitude and praise, just as the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said: "I am the master of the children of Adam, and I do not boast." Meaning: I say this out of gratitude, not out of pride.

If you ask: How could he say "We were taught" and "We were given," when that is the speech of the arrogant? I say: There are two aspects:

1. He intended himself and his father.
2. This "we" (nūn) is what is called the "nūn of the obeyed sovereign." He was an obeyed king, so he spoke to his subjects regarding his status and condition. Arrogance is not a necessary consequence of this; rather, it may relate to the adornment of kingship, its grandeur, and the manifestation of its protocols and policies for the sake of public interest, making such conduct a duty. The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) used to do something similar when a delegation arrived or when he needed to appear formidable in the eyes of an enemy. Do you not see how he ordered al-‘Abbās (may God be pleased with him) to detain Abū Sufyān so that the battalions would pass before him?

"And gathered for Solomon were his soldiers of the jinn, mankind, and birds, and they were kept in check."