سُوْرَةُ النَّمْلِ
Surah An-Naml (27) — Ayah 15
وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا دَاوُۥدَ وَسُلَيْمَـٰنَ عِلْمًا ۖ وَقَالَا ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى فَضَّلَنَا عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍ مِّنْ عِبَادِهِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿15﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And indeed We gave knowledge to Dâwûd (David) and Sulaimân (Solomon), and they both said: "All the praises and thanks be to Allâh, Who has preferred us above many of His believing slaves!"
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَقَدْ
walaqad
And verily
ءَاتَيْنَا
ātaynā
We gave
دَاوُۥدَ
dāwūda
Dawood
وَسُلَيْمَـٰنَ
wasulaymāna
and Sulaiman
عِلْمًۭا ۖ
ʿil'man
knowledge
وَقَالَا
waqālā
and they said
ٱلْحَمْدُ
l-ḥamdu
Praise be
لِلَّهِ
lillahi
to Allah
ٱلَّذِى
alladhī
the One Who
فَضَّلَنَا
faḍḍalanā
has favored us
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
over
كَثِيرٍۢ
kathīrin
many
مِّنْ
min
of
عِبَادِهِ
ʿibādihi
His servants
ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
l-mu'minīna
the believers
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
15. And We gave knowledge [15] to Dawud and Sulaiman [14], and they both said, "All praise is due to Allah, Who has favored us above many of His believing servants."
[14]
How Did Sayyiduna Dawud (A.S.) Attain Kingship?
Hazrat Dawud (A.S.) had six brothers and he was the youngest among them. He used to tend the flock. He was of short stature and possessed a strong physique. He was highly skilled in archery and marksmanship, and this was a professional necessity for him. At the time of the battle with Jalut, he was merely a soldier in Talut’s army. Due to his expertise in marksmanship, he killed Jalut by striking him with a stone from a sling. Later, Talut married his daughter to him. In this way, after Talut, kingship was also transferred to him, and Allah Almighty also honored him with prophethood. This detail has already been mentioned under verse 251 of Surah Al-Baqarah. Then, his offspring were nineteen sons. Among them, Hazrat Sulaiman (A.S.) was the youngest. Allah Almighty chose him alone for prophethood and kingship.
[15] Knowledge here may refer to the knowledge of Shariah, or the knowledge of governance and leadership, or the knowledge of judging people’s cases, and also the knowledge of how to respond when Allah Almighty bestows further favors upon a person. Among the above meanings, the fourth meaning is most appropriate at this place.
[14]
How Did Sayyiduna Dawud (A.S.) Attain Kingship?
Hazrat Dawud (A.S.) had six brothers and he was the youngest among them. He used to tend the flock. He was of short stature and possessed a strong physique. He was highly skilled in archery and marksmanship, and this was a professional necessity for him. At the time of the battle with Jalut, he was merely a soldier in Talut’s army. Due to his expertise in marksmanship, he killed Jalut by striking him with a stone from a sling. Later, Talut married his daughter to him. In this way, after Talut, kingship was also transferred to him, and Allah Almighty also honored him with prophethood. This detail has already been mentioned under verse 251 of Surah Al-Baqarah. Then, his offspring were nineteen sons. Among them, Hazrat Sulaiman (A.S.) was the youngest. Allah Almighty chose him alone for prophethood and kingship.
[15] Knowledge here may refer to the knowledge of Shariah, or the knowledge of governance and leadership, or the knowledge of judging people’s cases, and also the knowledge of how to respond when Allah Almighty bestows further favors upon a person. Among the above meanings, the fourth meaning is most appropriate at this place.
