For sure, We granted knowledge to David and Solomon, and both of them said: “All praise is due to God who has favored us above many of His believing servants.”
Solomon inherited David. He said: “O people! We have been taught the speech of birds, and have been given of all good things. This is indeed a manifest favor (from God). (The Ants; Al-Naml: 27: 15-16)
Having made a brief reference to the Prophet David, the surah now begins a far more detailed account of some of the favors God granted to Solomon, particularly his knowledge of the speech of birds and other creatures. This is in addition to what is mentioned in other surahs, such as his ability to judge in intricate disputes, and the fact that the winds were made subject to his command, by the grace of God.
The story begins with the reference to knowledge: “For sure, We granted knowledge to David and Solomon.” (Verse 15) Before the verse concludes we are told of their thanksgiving to God for this favor. They stress its great value and benefit, and declare their praise of God for it. Thus, the value of knowledge is enhanced, and it becomes clear that people with knowledge are favored highly above many of other believers. We are not told here of the type or specialty of the knowledge given to these two prophets because the emphasis is on knowledge in its entirety. This gives us further connotations that all knowledge is a gift from God, and that it behooves every person of knowledge to know the source of such knowledge. This will make all those endowed with knowledge turn to God, praising Him, and will motivate them to use their knowledge in ways that please the Great Giver. Thus, knowledge, which is an aspect of God’s favors, will not turn people away from God. Any knowledge that does so is deviant, moving away from its source and missing its goal. It will not bring happiness either to the one who possesses it or to his community or humanity. It will only bring misery, fear, worry and destruction.
Today humanity has achieved a good standard in a particular branch of science, being able to induce nuclear fusion and use nuclear energy. But what has humanity benefited by such knowledge whose possessors neither remember, fear or praise God, nor use their knowledge in His service? What result has humanity reaped other than the horrific tragedy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the worry and fear of destruction that people in the West and the East have?
The story then progresses concentrating on Solomon only: “Solomon inherited David. He said: ‘O people! We have been taught the speech of birds, and have been given of all good things. This is indeed a manifest favor (from God).” (Verse 16) David was given kingship alongside prophethood and knowledge, but it is knowledge, rather than kingship, that is mentioned in this context because being a king is too trivial by comparison.
It is clear that the inheritance intended here is that of knowledge, because it is the main blessing that deserves to be mentioned. This is confirmed by Solomon’s declaration to his people: “O people! We have been taught the speech of birds, and have been given of all good things.” (Verse 16) He highlights the fact that he has been taught the language of birds, and mentions other favors in a general way, but he attributes both to the same source, which is not David, his father. Indeed, none of this did he inherit from his father.
“O people! We have been taught the speech of birds, and have been given of all good things.” (Verse 16) Thus Solomon announces to all people declaring that all are aspects of God’s favors granted to him. He seeks no special position as a result. Indeed, he describes such favors as they truly are: “This is indeed a manifest favor (from God).” (Verse 16) It is a favor that makes its source well known to all. No one can teach the language of birds to man other than God, and no one can give anyone a measure of all good things except God.
Birds, animals and insects have their own means of communication, which are in fact their languages. God, the Creator of all these says: “There is not an animal that walks on earth and no bird that flies on its wings but are communities like your own.” (6: 38) They cannot form communities unless they have ties and bonds which they maintain, and some means of communication with which to understand each other. This is clearly observed in many species of bird, animal and insect. Biologists who are interested in certain species try hard to understand a little of their languages, but they can only rely on guessing which does not approach any degree of certainty. What God granted to Solomon was something special, a miracle that goes beyond the laws of nature familiar to man. The knowledge he acquired was not through any attempt he had done to understand these species by means of intelligent guesswork.
It is important to emphasize this point so as to make it clearly understood. Certain contemporary commentators on the Qur’an are too impressed by modern scientific achievements. Hence they try to explain what the Qur’an says about Solomon as similar to the attempts of biologists to understand the methods of communication used by birds and animals.
Thus they force the miracle God granted to Solomon out of its nature. It only tells of a defeatist attitude giving scientific discoveries a degree of importance far more than what they deserve. It is perfectly easy for God to teach one of His servants the languages of birds, animals and insects, as a special favor, without any effort on the part of that person. This does not require more than the lifting of some barriers God has placed between different species when He created them all.