In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
A summary from the Tafsir of al-Tabari.
Abridged by Dr. Aqil ibn Salim al-Shammari.
Surah Saba'.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
“And assuredly We gave David grace from Us, (saying): O ye hills and birds, echo his psalms of praise! And We made the iron supple unto him,” (34:10)
"O mountains, repeat [Our] praises with him, and the birds [as well]."
And We made iron pliable for him.
We indeed gave Dawud (David) favor from Us.
We said to the mountains, "Exalt Allah with him whenever he exalts Him."
And We subjected the birds to him.
We made iron soft for him in his hands like wet clay.
He could shape it in his hands however he wished.
Without the need for fire or striking it with a hammer.
“Saying: Make thou long coats of mail and measure the links (thereof). And do ye right. Lo! I am Seer of what ye do.” (34:11)
“Saying: Make thou long coats of mail and measure the links (thereof). And do ye right. Lo! I am Seer of what ye do.” (34:11)
And We commanded him, "Construct coats of mail."
These are the complete, perfect links of armor.
And measure the rivets within the rings of the armor.
So that it is properly proportioned.
Do not make the rivet too thick and the ring too tight.
For the ring would then snap.
And do not make the ring too wide and the rivet too small.
For it would then slip through the ring.
And work, O family of Dawud, in obedience to Allah.
I am All-Seeing of what you and your followers do.
Nothing of it is hidden from Me.
And I will reward you and them for all of that.
“And unto Solomon (We gave) the wind, whereof the morning course was a month's journey and the evening course a month's journey, and We caused the fount of copper to gush forth for him, and (We gave him) certain of the jinn who worked before him by permission of his Lord. And such of them as deviated from Our command, them We caused to taste the punishment of flaming Fire.” (34:12)
And We made a spring of molten copper flow for him.
“And unto Solomon (We gave) the wind, whereof the morning course was a month's journey and the evening course a month's journey, and We caused the fount of copper to gush forth for him, and (We gave him) certain of the jinn who worked before him by permission of his Lord. And such of them as deviated from Our command, them We caused to taste the punishment of flaming Fire.” (34:12)
“And unto Solomon (We gave) the wind, whereof the morning course was a month's journey and the evening course a month's journey, and We caused the fount of copper to gush forth for him, and (We gave him) certain of the jinn who worked before him by permission of his Lord. And such of them as deviated from Our command, them We caused to taste the punishment of flaming Fire.” (34:12)
And We subjected the wind to Sulayman (Solomon).
Its morning journey was a month’s travel until midday.
And its evening journey was a month’s travel from midday until night.
And We melted the source of copper for him and made it flow.
Among the jinn were those who obeyed him, followed his commands, and refrained from what he forbade.
They would work before him as he commanded, in obedience to him by the command of Allah.
And whoever among the jinn deviates or turns away from Our command—which We ordered them to follow, namely obedience to Sulayman—
We will make him taste the punishment of the Blazing Fire in the Hereafter.
“They made for him what he willed: synagogues and statues, basins like wells and boilers built into the ground. Give thanks, O House of David! Few of My bondmen are thankful.” (34:13)
“They made for him what he willed: synagogues and statues, basins like wells and boilers built into the ground. Give thanks, O House of David! Few of My bondmen are thankful.” (34:13)
“They made for him what he willed: synagogues and statues, basins like wells and boilers built into the ground. Give thanks, O House of David! Few of My bondmen are thankful.” (34:13)
“They made for him what he willed: synagogues and statues, basins like wells and boilers built into the ground. Give thanks, O House of David! Few of My bondmen are thankful.” (34:13)
The jinn would build for Sulayman whatever he desired of fortresses.
These are the fronts of every mosque, house, and place of prayer.
They would make for him statues of copper and glass.
And they would carve for him whatever he wished of basins like reservoirs.
These are the troughs in which water is collected.
And cauldrons firmly fixed that could not be moved from their places.
Nor could they be shifted due to their immense size.
And We said to them,
"Work in obedience to Allah, O family of Dawud."
In gratitude to Him for the blessings He bestowed upon you.
Which He singled you out for, above the rest of His creation.
And few of My servants are truly grateful for My blessings upon them.
And grateful for My favor toward them.
“And when We decreed death for him, nothing showed his death to them save a creeping creature of the earth which gnawed away his staff. And when he fell the jinn saw clearly how, if they had known the Unseen, they would not have continued in despised toil.” (34:14)
“And when We decreed death for him, nothing showed his death to them save a creeping creature of the earth which gnawed away his staff. And when he fell the jinn saw clearly how, if they had known the Unseen, they would not have continued in despised toil.” (34:14)
“And when We decreed death for him, nothing showed his death to them save a creeping creature of the earth which gnawed away his staff. And when he fell the jinn saw clearly how, if they had known the Unseen, they would not have continued in despised toil.” (34:14)
Eating from his staff.
So when he fell, the jinn realized.
That if they had known the unseen.
“And when We decreed death for him, nothing showed his death to them save a creeping creature of the earth which gnawed away his staff. And when he fell the jinn saw clearly how, if they had known the Unseen, they would not have continued in despised toil.” (34:14)
So when We decreed death for Sulayman.
And he died.
The jinn were not alerted to the death of Sulayman.
Except by the creature of the earth.
Which gnawed at his staff upon which he was leaning.
And consumed it.
So when Sulayman fell down.
Due to the breaking of his staff.
The jinn realized that if they had known the unseen.
Which they claimed to know.
They would not have remained in the humiliating punishment.
For a full year after the death of Sulayman.
While they were thinking that Sulayman was still alive.
There was indeed a sign for Saba' in their dwelling place.
Two gardens, one on the right and one on the left.
“There was indeed a sign for Sheba in their dwelling-place: Two gardens on the right hand and the left (as who should say): Eat of the provision of your Lord and render thanks to Him. A fair land and an indulgent Lord!” (34:15)
“There was indeed a sign for Sheba in their dwelling-place: Two gardens on the right hand and the left (as who should say): Eat of the provision of your Lord and render thanks to Him. A fair land and an indulgent Lord!” (34:15)
There was indeed a clear sign for the people of Saba' in their dwelling place.
That there is no Lord for them except the One who bestowed upon them.
The blessings they were enjoying.
Two orchards that were between two mountains.
To the right and left of whoever came to them.
"Eat from the provision of your Lord, which He provides for you."
From these two gardens.
And be grateful to Him for what He has bestowed upon you.
This is a good land, not a saline wasteland.
And a Lord who is Forgiving of your sins.
If you obey Me.
“But they were froward, so We sent on them the flood of 'Iram, and in exchange for their two gardens gave them two gardens bearing bitter fruit, the tamarisk and here and there a lote-tree.” (34:16)
And We replaced their two gardens with two gardens.
And We replaced their two gardens with two gardens.
“But they were froward, so We sent on them the flood of 'Iram, and in exchange for their two gardens gave them two gardens bearing bitter fruit, the tamarisk and here and there a lote-tree.” (34:16)
“But they were froward, so We sent on them the flood of 'Iram, and in exchange for their two gardens gave them two gardens bearing bitter fruit, the tamarisk and here and there a lote-tree.” (34:16)
That is how We recompensed them because they were ungrateful.
“This We awarded them because of their ingratitude. Punish We ever any save the ingrates?” (34:17)
So Saba' turned away from the obedience of our Lord.
So We breached their dam upon them.
Which used to hold back the floods from them.
And We replaced their gardens for them.
With fruits and produce.
Gardens of bitter fruit and the Arak tree.
“But they were froward, so We sent on them the flood of 'Iram, and in exchange for their two gardens gave them two gardens bearing bitter fruit, the tamarisk and here and there a lote-tree.” (34:16)
This which We did to these people of Saba'.
Is a recompense from Us for their disbelief in Us.
And none is recompensed or punished for his deeds except the ungrateful.
“And We set, between them and the towns which We had blessed, towns easy to be seen, and We made the stage between them easy, (saying): Travel in them safely both by night and day.” (34:18)
“And We set, between them and the towns which We had blessed, towns easy to be seen, and We made the stage between them easy, (saying): Travel in them safely both by night and day.” (34:18)
“And We set, between them and the towns which We had blessed, towns easy to be seen, and We made the stage between them easy, (saying): Travel in them safely both by night and day.” (34:18)
“And We set, between them and the towns which We had blessed, towns easy to be seen, and We made the stage between them easy, (saying): Travel in them safely both by night and day.” (34:18)
And We placed between their land and the towns.
Which We had blessed, namely al-Sham (the Levant).
Connected towns.
Which were Arab towns.
And We placed between their towns and the towns.
Which We had blessed.
A measured journey from one home to another.
And from one village to another.
And We said to them,
"Travel through these towns by night and by day in safety."
You will not fear hunger or thirst.
Nor will you fear injustice from anyone.
“But they said: Our Lord! Make the stage between our journeys longer. And they wronged themselves, therefore We made them bywords (in the land) and scattered them abroad, a total scattering. Lo! herein verily are portents for each steadfast, grateful (heart).” (34:19)
But they wronged themselves.
“But they said: Our Lord! Make the stage between our journeys longer. And they wronged themselves, therefore We made them bywords (in the land) and scattered them abroad, a total scattering. Lo! herein verily are portents for each steadfast, grateful (heart).” (34:19)
Indeed, in that are signs for every patient, grateful person.
So they said, "Our Lord, lengthen the distance between our journeys."
So make between us and al-Sham deserts and wildernesses.
So that we may ride our mounts through them.
And carry our provisions with us.
This is an indication of the people's arrogance toward the blessing of Allah upon them.
And His kindness toward them.
And their ignorance of the value of well-being.
So they wronged themselves.
And We made them into tales for people, and they became a proverb for dispersion.
It is said,
"The people were scattered like the Saba'."
And We dispersed them throughout the land in every direction.
Indeed, in Our dispersing them in every way are signs.
Meaning, a lesson and an admonition for every patient, grateful person for His blessings.
“And Satan indeed found his calculation true concerning them, for they follow him, all save a group of true believers.” (34:20)
And Iblis (Satan) indeed thought about these people—whom We replaced their two gardens with two gardens—a thought that was not based on certainty.
He knew they would follow him and obey him in disobeying Allah.
So his assumption about them was confirmed by his leading them astray.
Until they obeyed him and disobeyed their Lord.
Except for a group of those who believed in Allah.
For they remained steadfast in the obedience of Allah and the disobedience of Iblis.
“And he had no warrant whatsoever against them, save that We would know him who believeth in the Hereafter from him who is in doubt thereof; and thy Lord (O Muhammad) taketh note of all things.” (34:21)
“And he had no warrant whatsoever against them, save that We would know him who believeth in the Hereafter from him who is in doubt thereof; and thy Lord (O Muhammad) taketh note of all things.” (34:21)
And your Lord is Guardian over all things.
And Iblis had no authority over these people whose state We have described, by which he could lead them astray.
Except that We gave him power over them.
So that We might know who among them believes in the Resurrection, the reward, and the punishment.
From those who are in doubt about it.
So they do not believe in the Hereafter, nor do they believe in reward or punishment.
And your Lord, O Muhammad, is a Guardian; nothing of knowledge escapes Him.
“Say (O Muhammad): Call upon those whom ye set up beside Allah! They possess not an atom's weight either in the heavens or in the earth, nor have they any share in either, nor hath He an auxiliary among them.” (34:22)
“Say (O Muhammad): Call upon those whom ye set up beside Allah! They possess not an atom's weight either in the heavens or in the earth, nor have they any share in either, nor hath He an auxiliary among them.” (34:22)
And they have no share of partnership in it.
“Say (O Muhammad): Call upon those whom ye set up beside Allah! They possess not an atom's weight either in the heavens or in the earth, nor have they any share in either, nor hath He an auxiliary among them.” (34:22)
So say, O Muhammad, to these polytheists who associate partners with their Lord:
"Call upon, O people, those whom you claim are partners to Allah."
Ask them to do for you some of what We did for those whose affair We described, regarding blessings or destruction.
They do not possess even an atom's weight in the heavens or on the earth of benefit or harm.
And since they do not possess an atom's weight in the heavens or the earth.
They are not partners in its ownership, nor do they possess it by way of partnership.
And there is no helper for Allah among the gods they call upon besides Him in creating anything of that.
“No intercession availeth with Him save for him whom He permitteth. Yet, when fear is banished from their hearts, they say: What was it that your Lord said? They say: The Truth. And He is the Sublime, the Great.” (34:23)
“No intercession availeth with Him save for him whom He permitteth. Yet, when fear is banished from their hearts, they say: What was it that your Lord said? They say: The Truth. And He is the Sublime, the Great.” (34:23)
“No intercession availeth with Him save for him whom He permitteth. Yet, when fear is banished from their hearts, they say: What was it that your Lord said? They say: The Truth. And He is the Sublime, the Great.” (34:23)
And intercession does not benefit anyone before Him, except for the one for whom He has granted permission to intercede.
Except for the one who intercedes for someone whom Allah has permitted to be interceded for.
And Allah does not permit any of His allies to intercede for any of those who disbelieve in Him.
Until, when fear is removed from their hearts, they will say, "What did your Lord say?"
And when the fear is removed from them, they will say, "The Truth."
The angels will say, "The Truth, and He is the Most High over all things, the Great, beside whom there is nothing."