Day 254 · Surah Shad Verses 1-26

Sad 1–26

After exposing the reasons disbelieving Quraysh reject the Qur'an, Prophet Muhammad is comforted with the story of obedient Dawud who judged justly and continuously sought forgiveness from Allah.

• This surah opens with a single isolated letter whose meaning was not explained by the Messenger or the Companions, therefore the majority of scholars do not dare interpret it.
• The rejection of disbelieving Quraysh is based on arrogance, rivalry, blind fanaticism for ancestral inheritance, and accusations that the Messenger is a sorcerer and liar.
• They are reminded that the keys to Allah's mercy are not theirs, and the people of Noah, Ad, Pharaoh, Thamud, Luth, and Aikah were destroyed for rejecting the messengers.
• Dawud was given strength, wisdom, and the ability to judge justly, so much so that mountains and birds join him in glorifying Allah morning and evening.
• When two people came to his chamber asking for judgment, Dawud judged justly then sought forgiveness while prostrating, and was commanded to judge mankind with truth without following desires.

Verse 1 of Surah Shad begins with one Arabic letter, shad. In the Qur'an there are 29 surahs that begin with combinations of such letters. No one knows their meaning except Allah alone. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) never explained their meaning. Likewise, the Companions of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) to whom the Qur'an was first revealed never explained what they meant. For this reason, the majority of scholars do not dare to interpret them. They only say: Allah alone knows their meaning.

Verse 1 explains that Allah swears by the name of the Qur'an which contains warnings to those who reject it and fail to make it their guide in life. Whereas Verses 2-16 explain:

1. The reasons disbelieving Quraysh reject the Qur'an such as arrogance, rivalry, accusing the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) of sorcery, of lying, inability to accept the concept of Tawhid, blind fanaticism for ancestral customs (the concept of polytheism), never having heard the concept of Tawhid in Christianity, accusing the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) of fabricating, why Muhammad who received revelation and not a chief of Mecca or Taif?
2. The disbelievers do not possess the keys to Allah's mercy, do not possess the heavens, the earth, and everything between them so they can understand Allah's secrets. They are truly waiting for destruction.
3. Previously, the people of Noah, Ad, Pharaoh, Thamud, the people of Luth, and Aikah (Midyan) Allah destroyed for rejecting the teachings of Allah's Messengers.

Verses 17-26 explain that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) must be patient in facing the behavior of the disbelievers. Allah comforts him with the story of Prophet Dawud who had strength and was very obedient to Allah. Mountains glorified Allah when they heard Dawud glorify in the evening and morning. Likewise birds gathered and glorified with him. Allah also strengthened his kingdom and gave him wisdom and the ability to judge justly.

Indeed, Prophet Dawud felt fear when two people came to his chamber asking to be judged between them with justice and fairness and to be shown the straight path. Prophet Dawud judged their case fairly and explained that most people who do business together wrong their partner, except those whose faith is strong and who do much righteous deeds. They are a minority.

Although as a just ruler, Prophet Dawud was very careful in judging so he sought forgiveness while prostrating to Allah. Allah loved the deeds of Dawud so much that in the Hereafter he is given a position very close to Him. In the world,

Allah made him a caliph and to judge among mankind with truth (justice that comes from Allah) and must not follow desires, for that would lead away from Allah's path. If one goes astray from Allah's path, then in the Hereafter will enter Hell.

Loading the full version…