Overview (Verses 10 - 11)

Special Favours for David

“We graced David with Our favour. We said: ‘You mountains, sing with him God’s praises! And likewise you birds!’ We caused iron to become soft for him, saying: Make coats of mail and measure their links with care. Do good, all of you. I certainly see all that you do.” (Verses 10-11) David was the type of servant described at the end of the first part of the sūrah: ” In all this, there is a sign for every servant of God turning to Him in repentance.” (Verse 9) The sūrah follows this reference by recounting some of his history, preambled by details of the grace God bestowed on him: “You mountains, sing with him God’s praises! And likewise you birds!” (Verse 10) Reports suggest that David had an unusually beautiful voice, and he used to sing his Psalms, which are praises of God mentioned in the Old Testament, but God knows which of them were truly David’s. An authentic ĥadīth tells us that the Prophet overheard Abū Mūsā al-Ash`arī reciting the Qur’ān deep at night. He stopped to listen to him, and then commented: ‘This man has been given one of David’s Psalms.’

The Qur’ānic description shows that David (peace be upon him) attained such a sublime standard of devotion and transparency in his praises that barriers between him and other creatures disappeared. Thus the truth between them became interrelated as they all praise God. Hence the mountains and the birds echoed his praises of God. When all of them had direct links with God, whatever separates species and creatures was removed. They felt that their bond with God overcame all barriers between them. Hence, they echoed one another in praising God, attaining an extraordinary level of transparency which can only be attained through God’s grace.

When David raised his voice singing God’s praises and glorifying Him, the mountains and the birds echoed him. The universe returned their songs as these were presented to God, the One. This is a remarkably splendid point in time which cannot be appreciated except by one who so experiences it, and even then only momentarily.

“We caused iron to become soft for him.” (Verse 10) This is another aspect of the grace God bestowed on David. Within the context wherein it occurs, this seems to be a miracle going beyond what is familiar to us. The sūrah is not speaking here of heating iron until it becomes soft and moulding it into the required shape. Rather, it appears that the iron was softened in a different way from what normally occurs, yet God knows best. Although guiding man to the softening of iron by heating is in itself an aspect of God’s grace, our assumption here rests on the fact that the overall atmosphere is one of miracles and unfamiliar phenomena.

“Make coats of mail and measure their links with care.” (Verse 11) Reports suggest that prior to David’s time, armour was plated, each coat being made up of one plate or sheet, which was very heavy for soldiers making them stiff and rigid. God instructed David in how to make armour from fine links which could be easily moulded so as to move in accordance with the body. David was also ordered to make these links narrow so that they could give complete protection against spears, preventing them from penetrating through. This is the reference in the verse to measuring the links with care. All this was taught to David through divine inspiration.

David and his household were told: “Do good, all of you. I certainly see all that you do.” (Verse 11) This does not apply to their making coats of mail. Instead it is clear that they must be on their guard in all that they do because God sees all and rewards everyone in accordance with what they deserve. Nothing escapes Him.