Surah al-Anbiya' (The Prophets ) 21 : 80

Overview (Verses 80 - 82)

A Special Gift to a Special Man
 
David was famous for his Psalms, which were hymns that he chanted in his melodious voice. They were echoed by his surroundings, including the mountains and birds. When a human being feels his bond with God alive in his heart, he feels that the entire universe responds to him. All impediments and barriers separating different kinds of creatures are thus removed, so that they join together in one great, universal entity. In such moments of clarity, man’s soul is united with all about it. It is no longer distinct from its surroundings. Indeed it is one with all that is around it.
 
As we read these verses we can imagine David chanting his Psalms, oblivious to his own separate entity, letting his soul move freely in the universe, looking at God’s animate and inanimate creation. He feels that they echo his chanting and in this way respond to him. The entire universe thus becomes an orchestra singing a marvellous tune of God’s praise and glorification. “The seven heavens extol His limitless glory, as does the earth, and all who dwell in them. Indeed every single thing extols His glory and praise, but you cannot understand their praises.” (17: 44) The one who understands such praises is a person who sheds all barriers and separations. He is one who turns to God.
 
“We caused the mountains to join David in extolling Our limitless glory, and likewise the birds. We are indeed able to do [all things].” (Verse 79) There is nothing difficult for God when He wills to have it done or put in place, regardless of whether it is familiar or not to mankind.
 
“And We taught him how to make garments for you, so that they may fortify you against all that which may cause you fear. Will you, then, give thanks?” (Verse 80) That was how God taught him to make shields using interconnected rings. Shields were previously made of long plates. Small, interconnected rings can make a shield that is easier to use and more flexible. It seems that it was David who invented this, as God instructed him to do. God reminds people of His favour in teaching David this art so as to protect them in wartime: “So that they may fortify you against all that which may cause you fear.” The verse ends with a question that encourages them to do the right thing: “Will you, then, give thanks?”
 
Human civilization has moved step by step in its discoveries, because he task that man was given to build life on earth allowed him to move one step at a time, to reorganize his life after each advance. Reorganizing life according to a new system is not easy for the human soul, because it shakes its foundations and alters its habits. A period of readjustment is thus needed until man settles into his new system. God in His wisdom has willed to allow a period of resettlement, long or short as it may be, after each leap forward.
 
In our own times, however, an important cause of anxiety that is characteristic is the rapidity of scientific and social changes which do not allow humanity a period of resettlement. Man is not given the chance to adapt to new conditions or recognize their merits.
 
The case of Solomon was even greater: “To Solomon We subjected the stormy wind, so that it sped at his behest towards the land which We had blessed. It is We who have knowledge of everything. And of the evil ones, [We assigned him] some that dived for him into the sea and performed other works besides; but it was We who kept a watch over them.” (Verses 81-82) Reports of all types are given about Solomon, most derived from Israelite sources and interwoven with unfounded myth. We will not go into this maze, but will rather confine our discussion to what is stated in the Qur’ān. Nothing else about Solomon is certain.
 
The Qur’ānic text here states that winds, in their stormy conditions, were made subservient to Solomon, moving at his bidding to the blessed land, which was most probably Palestine, given it was earlier described as such in Abraham’s story. The question asked here though is how all this was done.
 
There is the story of the magic carpet which is said to have carried Solomon and his courtiers to Palestine and back in a very short period, while camel caravans took a month to cover the same distance. This report relies on what is mentioned in another sūrah: “To Solomon [We made subservient] the wind: its morning course [covered the distance of] a month’s journey, and its evening course, a month’s journey.” (34: 12) The Qur’ān though does not mention anything about a magic carpet, nor do we find it in any authentic report. Thus we cannot say anything further about it.
 
It is safer to explain this statement about the wind by saying that it was directed, by God’s will, to the blessed land in a cycle lasting one month each way. How? As we have said, we cannot ask such a question about the operation of God’s will, which is free and unrestrained. It is God’s will that creates the laws of nature and sets them in operation. What we know of the laws operating in the universe is very little. There is nothing to preclude that other laws, about which we know nothing, are in operation, but their effects may surface only when God wills: “It is We who have knowledge of everything.” (Verse 81) Unlike human knowledge, God’s knowledge is complete and perfect.
 
The same applies to making the jinn subservient to Solomon such that they dive into the depths of the sea, or deep into the earth, to bring him some of its hidden riches or to perform other works. The word jinn includes in its meaning everything that is concealed, hidden or unknown. Qur’ānic texts mention a type of creature unknown to us, called the Jinn. It was from among these that God assigned some to Solomon to dive in the sea and do his bidding. Furthermore, God kept watch over them so that they did not escape or rebel. It is He who holds sway over all His creatures, putting them to whatever purpose He chooses in any way He likes.
 
God tested David and Solomon with what pleases people. David was tested in connection with the administration of justice, while Solomon’s test involved nobly bred, swift-footed steeds, as is detailed in Sūrah 38. So we will leave that for now. Both David and Solomon persevered, sought God’s forgiveness and passed their tests. They remained grateful to God for His favours.