ص
The Letter "Saad"
Explanations are simplified from tafsirs by Ibn Kathir, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know.
wahal atāka naba-u l-khaṣmi idh tasawwarū l-miḥ'rāba
And has there come to you the news of the adversaries, when they climbed over the wall of [his] prayer chamber -
idh dakhalū ʿalā dāwūda fafaziʿa min'hum qālū lā takhaf khaṣmāni baghā baʿḍunā ʿalā baʿḍin fa-uḥ'kum baynanā bil-ḥaqi walā tush'ṭiṭ wa-ih'dinā ilā sawāi l-ṣirāṭi
When they entered upon David and he was alarmed by them? They said, "Fear not. [We are] two adversaries, one of whom has wronged the other, so judge between us with truth and do not exceed [it] and guide us to the sound path.
inna hādhā akhī lahu tis'ʿun watis'ʿūna naʿjatan waliya naʿjatun wāḥidatun faqāla akfil'nīhā waʿazzanī fī l-khiṭābi
Indeed this, my brother, has ninety-nine ewes, and I have one ewe; so he said, 'Entrust her to me,' and he overpowered me in speech."
qāla laqad ẓalamaka bisuāli naʿjatika ilā niʿājihi wa-inna kathīran mina l-khulaṭāi layabghī baʿḍuhum ʿalā baʿḍin illā alladhīna āmanū waʿamilū l-ṣāliḥāti waqalīlun mā hum waẓanna dāwūdu annamā fatannāhu fa-is'taghfara rabbahu wakharra rākiʿan wa-anāba
[David] said, "He has certainly wronged you in demanding your ewe [in addition] to his ewes. And indeed, many associates oppress one another, except for those who believe and do righteous deeds - and few are they." And David became certain that We had tried him, and he asked forgiveness of his Lord and fell down bowing [in prostration] and turned in repentance [to Allāh].
faghafarnā lahu dhālika wa-inna lahu ʿindanā lazul'fā waḥus'na maābin
So We forgave him that; and indeed, for him is nearness to Us and a good place of return.
yādāwūdu innā jaʿalnāka khalīfatan fī l-arḍi fa-uḥ'kum bayna l-nāsi bil-ḥaqi walā tattabiʿi l-hawā fayuḍillaka ʿan sabīli l-lahi inna alladhīna yaḍillūna ʿan sabīli l-lahi lahum ʿadhābun shadīdun bimā nasū yawma l-ḥisābi
[We said], "O David, indeed We have made you a successor upon the earth, so judge between the people in truth and do not follow [your own] desire, as it will lead you astray from the way of Allāh." Indeed, those who go astray from the way of Allāh will have a severe punishment for having forgotten the Day of Account.
wamā khalaqnā l-samāa wal-arḍa wamā baynahumā bāṭilan dhālika ẓannu alladhīna kafarū fawaylun lilladhīna kafarū mina l-nāri
And We did not create the heaven and the earth and that between them aimlessly. That is the assumption of those who disbelieve, so woe to those who disbelieve from the Fire.
am najʿalu alladhīna āmanū waʿamilū l-ṣāliḥāti kal-muf'sidīna fī l-arḍi am najʿalu l-mutaqīna kal-fujāri
Or should We treat those who believe and do righteous deeds like corrupters in the land? Or should We treat those who fear Allāh like the wicked?
kitābun anzalnāhu ilayka mubārakun liyaddabbarū āyātihi waliyatadhakkara ulū l-albābi
[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded.
wawahabnā lidāwūda sulaymāna niʿ'ma l-ʿabdu innahu awwābun
And to David We gave Solomon. An excellent servant, indeed he was one repeatedly turning back [to Allāh].
idh ʿuriḍa ʿalayhi bil-ʿashiyi l-ṣāfinātu l-jiyādu
[Mention] when there were exhibited before him in the afternoon the poised [standing] racehorses.
faqāla innī aḥbabtu ḥubba l-khayri ʿan dhik'ri rabbī ḥattā tawārat bil-ḥijābi
And he said, "Indeed, I gave preference to the love of good [things] over the remembrance of my Lord until it [i.e., the sun] disappeared into the curtain [of darkness]."
ruddūhā ʿalayya faṭafiqa masḥan bil-sūqi wal-aʿnāqi
[He said], "Return them to me," and set about striking [their] legs and necks.
walaqad fatannā sulaymāna wa-alqaynā ʿalā kur'siyyihi jasadan thumma anāba
And We certainly tried Solomon and placed on his throne a body; then he returned.
qāla rabbi igh'fir lī wahab lī mul'kan lā yanbaghī li-aḥadin min baʿdī innaka anta l-wahābu
He said, "My Lord, forgive me and grant me a kingdom such as will not belong to anyone after me. Indeed, You are the Bestower."
fasakharnā lahu l-rīḥa tajrī bi-amrihi rukhāan ḥaythu aṣāba
So We subjected to him the wind blowing by his command, gently, wherever he directed,
wal-shayāṭīna kulla bannāin waghawwāṣin
And [also] the devils [of jinn] - every builder and diver.
waākharīna muqarranīna fī l-aṣfādi
And others bound together in irons.
hādhā ʿaṭāunā fa-um'nun aw amsik bighayri ḥisābin
[We said], "This is Our gift, so grant or withhold without account."
wa-inna lahu ʿindanā lazul'fā waḥus'na maābin
And indeed, for him is nearness to Us and a good place of return.