سُوْرَةُ النَّمْلِ
Surah An-Naml (27) — Ayah 16
وَوَرِثَ سُلَيْمَـٰنُ دَاوُۥدَ ۖ وَقَالَ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ عُلِّمْنَا مَنطِقَ ٱلطَّيْرِ وَأُوتِينَا مِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍ ۖ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَهُوَ ٱلْفَضْلُ ٱلْمُبِينُ ﴿16﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And Sulaimân (Solomon) inherited (the knowledge of) Dâwûd (David). He said: "O mankind! We have been taught the language of birds, and on us have been bestowed all things. This, verily, is an evident grace (from Allâh)."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَوَرِثَ
wawaritha
And inherited
سُلَيْمَـٰنُ
sulaymānu
Sulaiman
دَاوُۥدَ ۖ
dāwūda
Dawood
وَقَالَ
waqāla
And he said
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا
yāayyuhā
O
ٱلنَّاسُ
l-nāsu
people
عُلِّمْنَا
ʿullim'nā
We have been taught
مَنطِقَ
manṭiqa
(the) language
ٱلطَّيْرِ
l-ṭayri
(of) the birds
وَأُوتِينَا
waūtīnā
and we have been given
مِن
min
from
كُلِّ
kulli
every
شَىْءٍ ۖ
shayin
thing
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
هَـٰذَا
hādhā
this
لَهُوَ
lahuwa
surely, it
ٱلْفَضْلُ
l-faḍlu
(is) the favor
ٱلْمُبِينُ
l-mubīnu
evident
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 16) ➊ { وَ وَرِثَ سُلَيْمٰنُ دَاوٗدَ …:} By this is meant the inheritance of prophethood, kingship, and knowledge and deeds, not the inheritance of wealth and property. If it were the inheritance of wealth and property, then not only Solomon (peace be upon him) would be mentioned as the heir, but other sons of David (peace be upon him) would also be included. Furthermore, if the inheritance of their personal wealth were meant, then Solomon (peace be upon him) saying {’’يٰۤاَيُّهَا النَّاسُ ‘‘} and informing everyone would be meaningless. The wealth and property of the noble Prophets have no heirs; the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ لَا نُوْرَثُ مَا تَرَكْنَا صَدَقَةٌ ] [ بخاري، الفرائض، باب قول النبي صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم لا نورث… : ۶۷۲۷، عن عائشۃ رضی اللہ عنھا ] "We have no heirs; whatever we leave behind is charity." And it is narrated from Abu Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [إِنَّ الْعُلَمَاءَ وَرَثَةُ الْأَنْبِيَاءَ وَ إِنَّ الْأَنْبِيَاءَ لَمْ يُوَرِّثُوْا دِيْنَارًا وَلَا دِرْهَمًا، وَرَّثُوا الْعِلْمَ فَمَنْ أَخَذَهُ أَخَذَ بِحَظٍّ وَافِرٍ ] [أبوداوٗد، العلم، باب في فضل العلم : ۳۶۴۱، قال الألباني صحیح ] "Indeed, the scholars are the heirs of the Prophets, and the Prophets did not leave behind dinars or dirhams as inheritance; they only left knowledge as inheritance, so whoever acquires it has acquired a great share." See also Surah Maryam (5, 6).
➋ { وَ قَالَ يٰۤاَيُّهَا النَّاسُ عُلِّمْنَا مَنْطِقَ الطَّيْرِ:} That is, we have been taught the language of birds, and even to speak it, as the conversation of Solomon (peace be upon him) with the hoopoe will be mentioned ahead. Moreover, they were not only taught the language of birds but also of all animals, as the mention of hearing the ant's speech will come ahead. The mention of birds is for brevity, because birds are more distant and wary of humans than all other creatures. When David and Solomon (peace be upon them) knew their language, then knowing the language of other animals, who are closer to humans, was even more likely for them. Among all animals, birds are especially mentioned because they were a regular part of their army. The knowledge of the language of birds does not mean knowledge based on conjecture, which zoologists are trying to invent, but rather clearly understanding their speech, which was a special miracle granted to them by Allah Almighty.
➌ { وَ اُوْتِيْنَا مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ:’’ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ ‘‘} refers to everything that may be needed. This includes knowledge and prophethood, wealth and wisdom, even the subjugation of jinn, humans, birds, animals, wind, etc. (Shawkani) Here, the word {’’ كُلِّ ‘‘} is in the meaning of abundance, as the hoopoe said about the Queen of Sheba: «{ وَ اُوْتِيَتْ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ }» [النمل : ۲۳ ] "And she has been given a share of everything." Although it is clear that she was not given a share of everything, and as it is said about the wind sent upon the people of 'Ad: «{ تُدَمِّرُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍۭ بِاَمْرِ رَبِّهَا }» [الأحقاف : ۲۵ ] "It will destroy everything by the command of its Lord."
➍ { اِنَّ هٰذَا لَهُوَ الْفَضْلُ الْمُبِيْنُ:} The meaning of "fadl" is superiority, that is, Allah Almighty chose us from among countless people to grant these blessings; indeed, this is a clear superiority that Allah Almighty has granted us. By mentioning this, Solomon's (peace be upon him) purpose was not pride but gratitude. Besides, informing people of this was his responsibility, so that people would recognize their value and obey them, as the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ أَنَا سَيِّدُ وَلَدِ آدَمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلَا فَخْرَ ] [ ترمذي، تفسیر القرآن، باب ومن سورۃ بني إسرائیل : ۳۱۴۸، قال الألباني صحیح ] "I am the leader of the children of Adam on the Day of Resurrection, and there is no pride."
➋ { وَ قَالَ يٰۤاَيُّهَا النَّاسُ عُلِّمْنَا مَنْطِقَ الطَّيْرِ:} That is, we have been taught the language of birds, and even to speak it, as the conversation of Solomon (peace be upon him) with the hoopoe will be mentioned ahead. Moreover, they were not only taught the language of birds but also of all animals, as the mention of hearing the ant's speech will come ahead. The mention of birds is for brevity, because birds are more distant and wary of humans than all other creatures. When David and Solomon (peace be upon them) knew their language, then knowing the language of other animals, who are closer to humans, was even more likely for them. Among all animals, birds are especially mentioned because they were a regular part of their army. The knowledge of the language of birds does not mean knowledge based on conjecture, which zoologists are trying to invent, but rather clearly understanding their speech, which was a special miracle granted to them by Allah Almighty.
➌ { وَ اُوْتِيْنَا مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ:’’ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ ‘‘} refers to everything that may be needed. This includes knowledge and prophethood, wealth and wisdom, even the subjugation of jinn, humans, birds, animals, wind, etc. (Shawkani) Here, the word {’’ كُلِّ ‘‘} is in the meaning of abundance, as the hoopoe said about the Queen of Sheba: «{ وَ اُوْتِيَتْ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ }» [النمل : ۲۳ ] "And she has been given a share of everything." Although it is clear that she was not given a share of everything, and as it is said about the wind sent upon the people of 'Ad: «{ تُدَمِّرُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍۭ بِاَمْرِ رَبِّهَا }» [الأحقاف : ۲۵ ] "It will destroy everything by the command of its Lord."
➍ { اِنَّ هٰذَا لَهُوَ الْفَضْلُ الْمُبِيْنُ:} The meaning of "fadl" is superiority, that is, Allah Almighty chose us from among countless people to grant these blessings; indeed, this is a clear superiority that Allah Almighty has granted us. By mentioning this, Solomon's (peace be upon him) purpose was not pride but gratitude. Besides, informing people of this was his responsibility, so that people would recognize their value and obey them, as the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ أَنَا سَيِّدُ وَلَدِ آدَمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلَا فَخْرَ ] [ ترمذي، تفسیر القرآن، باب ومن سورۃ بني إسرائیل : ۳۱۴۸، قال الألباني صحیح ] "I am the leader of the children of Adam on the Day of Resurrection, and there is no pride."
