Tafsir of Sad 38:21

The people of David’s (peace be upon him) time had a custom where one would ask another to relinquish his wife so he could marry her if he admired her. We have narrated that the Ansar used to console the Muhajirun in similar ways. It happened that David’s eye fell upon the wife of a man named Uriah. He loved her and asked him to relinquish her. Uriah, feeling too shy to refuse, complied. David married her, and she became the mother of Solomon.

It was said to him: "Given your high status, elevated rank, great affairs, and many wives, it did not befit you to ask a man who has only one wife to relinquish her. Rather, it was your duty to struggle against your desire, conquer your soul, and be patient with what you were tested with." Others say Uriah had proposed to her, then David proposed, and her family preferred David. His sin was proposing over the proposal of his believing brother, despite his many wives.

As for the stories claiming David wished for the status of his forefathers—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and was told they were tested and remained patient, and that he then asked for a trial, leading to the incident of the golden dove, the woman, and the sending of Uriah to the front lines of battle until he was killed—this and similar tales are shameful to narrate about ordinary Muslims who claim righteousness, let alone the most prominent of Prophets.

Sa’id ibn al-Musayyib and al-Harith al-A’war narrated that Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Whoever narrates the story of David as the storytellers do, I will have him lashed 160 times, for this is the penalty for slandering the Prophets." It is narrated that Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz was told this story while a man of truth was present. The man denied it, saying: "If the story is as it is in the Book of Allah, one should not seek anything else. If it is as you say, and Allah has veiled it, it should not be revealed." Umar replied: "Hearing this speech is dearer to me than everything the sun rises upon."

The parable Allah struck for his story is nothing more than his request to the woman’s husband to relinquish her to him.

Why was it presented as a parable and allusion rather than a direct statement? Because it is more effective in rebuke. When a person reflects and realizes who is being alluded to, it is more impactful, deeply rooted in the heart, and greater in effect. It induces more shame and is more conducive to realizing one's error than a blunt confrontation, while maintaining good manners by avoiding public exposure. Wise men advise that when a child commits a shameful act, one should allude to it rather than state it clearly, telling a story that mirrors his state so he recognizes the ugliness of his own actions through the story.

Why was it presented as a trial (litigation)? So that David would judge it himself, saying: "He has certainly wronged you by asking for your ewe in addition to his ewes" (Sad: 24), thereby being defeated by his own judgment and confessing his own injustice.

"Has the story of the disputants reached you?" The interrogation here is to indicate that this is one of the wondrous stories that should be spread and not hidden, and to create anticipation. "Disputants" (khasm) is used for both singular and plural, like "guest" (dayf).

"When they climbed the sanctuary" They ascended its walls and descended into it. It is narrated that Allah sent two angels in human form. They found him on a day of worship, and when the guards blocked them, they climbed the sanctuary. He was startled because they descended from above on a day of seclusion.

"Do not be unjust" Meaning: Do not deviate from the truth. All variations of this word (tashtut, tashitt, tashattat) revolve around the meaning of shatat: exceeding the limit and overstepping the truth.

"The middle of the path" Meaning: The center and the clear, straight way; a metaphor for the essence of truth.