Surah An-Naml 27:15
سُورَةُ النَّمۡلِ · Meccan · Verse 15 of 93
وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا دَاوُۥدَ وَسُلَيْمَٰنَ عِلْمًۭا ۖ وَقَالَا ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى فَضَّلَنَا عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍۢ مِّنْ عِبَادِهِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
Translation
We gave knowledge to David and Solomon, and they both said, ‘Praise be to God, who has favoured us over many of His believing servants.’
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This verse opens with a profound statement from Allah about His favor upon two of His revered Prophets, Dawood and Sulayman, peace be upon them. Allah Himself is speaking here, addressing Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and through him, the disbelievers of Mecca. It serves as a lesson for them, confirming the truth of divine revelation and the high status of prophets. The verse begins by establishing a foundational truth before delving into the details.
An Emphatic Divine Gift
The opening words, `وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا` (And We certainly gave), immediately convey a powerful sense of affirmation. The Arabic particle `lam al-qasam` (the 'lam' of oath) and `qad` (a particle of emphasis) are used together to assure the listener of the absolute truth of the statement, as Ibn Ashur explains. This addresses any potential doubt in the hearts of those who denied the Prophet's message. The verb `آتَيْنَا` (We gave) indicates a direct, abundant bestowal from Allah, an outpouring of grace rather than merely 'teaching'.
Following this, the word `عِلْمًا` (knowledge) is used in an indefinite form. This "indefinite" nature (a grammatical feature known as *nakirah*) isn't to diminish the knowledge, but to magnify its quality and scope, suggesting it was immense, unique, or extraordinary, as scholars like Ibn Ashur, al-Zamakhshari, and al-Jadwal highlight. It encompasses not just general knowledge, but special wisdom, the ability to discern and judge, and even the understanding of animal speech, as hinted at later in the Surah.
A Posture of Profound Gratitude
Upon receiving such a magnificent gift, Dawood and Sulayman responded with `وَقَالَا الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ` (and they both said, 'All praise is due to Allah'). The Arabic conjunction `و` (and) rather than `فَ` (so/then) is insightful here. As Ibn Ashur and al-Zamakhshari point out, it implies that their verbal praise was not merely an immediate, reflexive reaction to receiving the knowledge. Instead, it was a broader expression of gratitude that followed their hearts being affected by this gift, their understanding of its value, and their righteous actions based on it. It signifies that they recognized the full weight of the blessing and its implications, then gave thanks with their tongues.
Humility in Acknowledging Favor
Their praise continued with `الَّذِي فَضَّلَنَا عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍۢ مِّنْ عِبَادِهِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ` (who favored us over many of His believing servants). The choice of the word `كَثِيرٍ` (many) instead of "all" is a beautiful display of their humility and keen awareness of Allah's vast creation. As Ibn Ashur and al-Razi explain, they did not claim superiority over every single believer. This could mean they acknowledged there were other prophets and righteous people who might be equal to or even excel them, or they were referring specifically to the people of their own time, or simply that they humbly didn't try to encompass all possibilities of Allah's favor. This teaches us that true gratitude comes with humility, recognizing Allah's endless bounty and not overstating one's own merit. Their gratitude was specifically for the knowledge, showing its high rank above even the vast kingdom they possessed, as al-Razi emphasizes.
Sources: Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Jalalayn
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah An-Naml 27:15 is discussed in 9 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
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