Transliteration:( Fafahhamnaahaa sulaimaan; wa kullan aatainaa hukmanw wa'ilmanw wa sakh kharnaa ma'a Daawoodal jibaala yusabbihna wattayr; wa kunnaa faa'ileen )
115. This case was decided by Hazrat Dawood (On whom be peace) by saying that the goats must be given to the owner of the land because the value of these goats was equal to the crop devoured by them. When the Plaintiff and the defendant left there, Hazrat Sulaiman (On whom be peace) said that there could be a simpler solution to this. Hazrat Dawood (On whom be peace) told him "Please do tell me about it" To this, Hazrat Sulaiman (On whom be peace) replied that the owner of the field should be given the goats conditionally, and the owner of the goats should cultivate his land. When the crop reaches that stage when it had been devoured, the owner of the field should return the goats to the owner and take possession of the land. During this period, the owner of the field can make use of the milk, etc. of these goats. Hazrat Dawood (On whom be peace) gave the order according to it.Â
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116. From this emerge a few issues:
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1. Authoritative interpretation of Islamic Law is fully justifiable and those who have the capacity for it should do so.Â
2. Prophets, too. are authoritative interpretators because the order of both these Prophets was based on authoritative interpr-
etation and not through revelation.
3. Even if there is an error in the interpretation of a prophet, the possibility of such errors is far greater in the non-prophets;
4. A mujtahid will not be regarded as sinful due to an error in interpretation. Observe, Hazrat Dawood (On whom be peace) had erred in the interpretation but he was not censured for it:
5. One interpretation can cancel another interpretation but the categorical order cannot be cut off from the interpretation;Â
6. Prophets do not stick to faulty interpretation Allah Almighty corrects this error.
7. In the Law of Hazrat Dawood (On whom be peace) this was the judgement of loss of crop, but in our Law of Shariah, if the shepherd is not with the flock, the owner of the goats will not be implicated or liable for payment of the damage
117. In that the mountains and the birds would recite the glorification of Allah Almighty with him in such a manner that those who could hear would hear their recitation. Otherwise, trees and stones are continuously engaged in glorifying Allah Almighty.
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The tafsir of Surah Anbiya verse 79 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Anbiya ayat 78 which provides the complete commentary from verse 78 through 82.
(21:79) We guided Solomon to the right verdict, and We had granted each of them[70] judgement and knowledge. We made the mountains and the birds celebrate the praise of Allah[71] with David. It was We Who did all this.
70. There is no mention of this event in the Bible, nor in the Jewish literature. According to the Muslim commentators, it happened like this: The goats of one person entered into the field of another person at night. The latter brought his complaint to Prophet David who decided that the strayed goats should be given to the owner of the field. Prophet Solomon, however, differed with this and opined that the goats should remain with the owner of the field up to the time that the former tilled and prepared the field as before. In regard to this Allah says: We led Solomon to the right decision. As regards the legal aspect of the matter, we cannot say with certainty what is the Islamic law in such a case nor is there any tradition of the Prophet (peace be upon him) to explain or support it. That is why the jurists have differed about it.
It should, however, be noted that in this context, the incident has been cited to show that the Prophets were after all human beings in spite of their God given powers and abilities. In this case, Prophet David committed an error of judgment because he was not guided by Allah as was Prophet Solomon, though both of them were Prophets. In the succeeding passage the wonderful powers of both have been mentioned to show that they were God given and did not make anyone a god.
Incidentally, we learn from this verse that if two judges give different decisions about one and the same case, both of them will be regarded as righteous, though the decision of only one of them will be correct, provided that both are duly qualified for sitting in judgment on the case. The Prophet (peace be upon him) has stated the same principle more elaborately. In a tradition of Bukhari, he is reported by Amar bin Aas to have said: If a judge does his very best to arrive at the right decision, he will get a double reward in case of a right judgment and a single reward if his judgment is wrong. According to another tradition, cited by Abu Daud and Ibn Majah, on the authority of Buraidah, he is reported to have said: Judges are of three kinds and only one of them will go to Paradise: the one who recognizes the truth and decides according to it. On the other hand, the one who recognizes the truth but gives his decision against it, will go to Hell, and he too, who sits in judgment on a case without the necessary knowledge (and competence).
71. From the wording of the text, it is clear that the mountains and the birds were subjected to join Prophet David (peace be upon him) with him in glorifying Allah. This is also supported by Surah Suad, Ayat 19: We had subdued the mountains by Our command so that they praised Us with him (David) in the morning and evening, and the birds too, which gathered together and repeated Our praise with him. And, according to Surah Saba, Ayat 10: We commanded the mountains to repeat Our praise with him and also the birds to do the same. We are of the opinion that it means this: When Prophet David (peace be upon him) sang hymns of Allah’s praise and glory, in his rich and sweet voice, the mountains echoed back his melodies and the birds gathered round him and the whole scene became charming. Our interpretation is supported by this tradition.
Once when Abu Musa Ashari, who had an extremely sweet voice, was reciting the Quran, the Prophet (peace be upon him) who was passing by, stood and listened to him for a long time. When he finished the recital, the Prophet (peace be upon him) remarked: This man has been granted a portion of the melody of David.
[897]- Meaning that Allāh has always been capable of accomplishing whatever He wills.
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