In the name of God, the Lord of Grace, the Ever Merciful
We graced David with Our favor. 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.” 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. We caused a fountain of molten brass to flow for him, and some of the jinn worked under his control by permission of his Lord. Whoever of them deviated from Our command We shall make him taste suffering through a blazing flame. (Sheba; Saba’: 34: 10-12)
These verses begin a new passage of the surah that contains contrasting images of gratitude and a lack of it, as well as making some powers and creatures subservient, by God’s will, to certain people even though they are not normally subordinate to any human being. God’s will and power are not limited to what is normal or familiar to humans. Through these images we learn certain things about the jinn whom some idolaters worshipped. Others tried to learn through them news from the world beyond perception, but they themselves know nothing about that realm. We also have additional information about how Satan can prevail over man, despite the fact that Satan has no power over man except in as much as man gives him this by his own choice. Other clear elements within the passage concern the means by which God reveals some secret human actions so that they appear before us in real terms. He will then give those responsible for them reward in the life to come. This passage concludes, like the first one, with a reference to the life to come.
“We graced David with Our favor. 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.’” David was the type of servant of God who turns to Him in repentance, as mentioned in the previous verse. The surah follows this reference by recounting some of his history, followed by details of the grace God bestowed on him: “You mountains, sing with him God’s praises! And likewise you birds!” 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 Hadith tells us that the Prophet overheard Abu Musa Al-Ashari reciting the Qur’an deep at night. He stopped to listen to him, and then commented: “This man has been given one of David’s Psalms.”
The Qur’anic 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.” 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 surah is not speaking here of heating iron until it becomes soft and molding 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.” Reports suggest that prior to David’s time, armor 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 armor from fine links which could be easily molded 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.” 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.
All this grace was given to David. Solomon was also given the ability to perform extraordinary feats, as manifestation of God’s grace: “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. We caused a fountain of molten brass to flow for him, and some of the jinn worked under his control by permission of his Lord.”
There are plenty of reports about the wind being subservient to Solomon, but many appear to have an Israelite origin even though the original Jewish texts do not mention anything about this. It is, therefore, much better to refrain from discussing these reports and to confine ourselves to the Qur’anic text, going no further than its surface meaning. Thus we can say that God placed the wind at Solomon’s command, making it travel forward to a specific place (which according to Surah 21, The Prophets, is the Holy Land) for a month, and then making its return journey over a period of a month. Certain objectives were achieved by these two journeys. These were known to Solomon and he accomplished them by God’s command. We prefer not to say any more on this point so as not to indulge in unsubstantiated legends.