Building A Constant Repentance & Return to Allah

Tafseer 2026

Surah Sad (Part Two)

إِنَّا سَخَّرْنَا ٱلْجِبَالَ مَعَهُۥ يُسَبِّحْنَ بِٱلْعَشِىِّ وَٱلْإِشْرَاقِ ١٨

“We truly subjected the mountains to hymn Our praises along with him in the evening and after sunrise.” (38:18)

When discussing Dhul Ayd, we realised we must become people of strength. 

Now, let us analyse the word “Sakkharna”; everything in the world is subservient to Almighty Allah. This is the most beautiful blessing of Allah, Who has made things available to us in every aspect of our lives.
There are times we do not realise what Allah does to nurture us and allow us to flourish. Allah adjusts the light for us during the course of the day. He makes the trees subservient to us so that they produce a certain amount of oxygen for us to benefit from.

When we live with our desires controlling us, we are unable to see the Hand of Allah and why He subjugates the things He does for our benefit. Our purpose is to become so beloved and close to Allah that He subjects and subjugates everything to us. Similarly, our destruction comes when Allah and our ‘Ibadah are not our sources of strength.

وَٱلطَّيْرَ مَحْشُورَةً ۖ كُلٌّ لَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٌ ١٩

“And We subjected the birds, flocking together. All turned to him echoing his hymns.” (38:19)

Not only were the mountains subjugated to Dawud (AS), but so were the birds. Flocks of them were subservient to him, turning to Dawud (AS) and echoing his Dhikr.
Because Dawud (AS) subjugated himself to Allah, Allah shows us the subjugation of everything else to him. When being consistent in ‘Ibadah, peace and blessings pervade one’s life.

وَشَدَدْنَا مُلْكَهُۥ وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ ٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَفَصْلَ ٱلْخِطَابِ ٢٠

“We strengthened his kingship, and gave him wisdom and sound judgement.” (38:20)

Another blessing of ‘Ibadah was Dawud (AS)’s kingship, wisdom, and sound judgement.

The Aakhirah is not the only place Allah will improve through one’s ‘Ibadah. Allah will improve circumstances and situations for the believer even in this world. To make ‘Ibadah, one does not have to renounce the world.

• Allah blessed Dawud (AS) with qualities that greatened and strengthened his kingship and rulership.
• Dawud (AS) took his strength from Allah, Who in turn gave him a worldly impact and benefit. Dawud (AS) was given these blessings because he was Dhul Ayd.
• Through ‘Ibadah, we can acquire the blessings of eloquence and wisdom in our words and actions, which are all the effects of Barakah. ‘Ibadah has a direct impact on our personal lives, families, work, businesses, and our skills.
• There are people who take courses for these skills, but Allah is the One Who puts impact in the believer and blesses them.
• Make sure to learn a portion of the Qur’an, which brings benefit into one’s life in a multitude of ways. This is a form of taking strength from one’s ‘Ibadah.

۞ وَهَلْ أَتَىٰكَ نَبَؤُا۟ ٱلْخَصْمِ إِذْ تَسَوَّرُوا۟ ٱلْمِحْرَابَ ٢١

“Has the story of the two plaintiffs, who scaled the wall of David’s sanctuary, reached you O Prophet?” (38:21)

إِذْ دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ دَاوُۥدَ فَفَزِعَ مِنْهُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ لَا تَخَفْ ۖ خَصْمَانِ بَغَىٰ بَعْضُنَا عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ فَٱحْكُم بَيْنَنَا بِٱلْحَقِّ وَلَا تُشْطِطْ وَٱهْدِنَآ إِلَىٰ سَوَآءِ ٱلصِّرَٰطِ ٢٢

“When they came into David’s presence, he was startled by them. They said, “Have no fear. We are merely two in a dispute: one of us has wronged the other. So judge between us with truth–do not go beyond it–and guide us to the right way.” (38:22)

إِنَّ هَـٰذَآ أَخِى لَهُۥ تِسْعٌ وَتِسْعُونَ نَعْجَةً وَلِىَ نَعْجَةٌ وَٰحِدَةٌ فَقَالَ أَكْفِلْنِيهَا وَعَزَّنِى فِى ٱلْخِطَابِ ٢٣

“This is my brother. He has ninety-nine sheep while I have only one. Still he asked me to give it up to him, overwhelming me with his argument.”” (38:23)

Now, is a return to ‘Ibadah; not for Muhammad (SAW) to respond to the people.

Dawud (AS) was Awwaab. When he made a mistake, Dawud (AS) who was Dhul Ayd; a man of strength; turned to Allah in repentance. 

• There are times when we will falter and make mistakes, small or big. But the response must always be that we turn to Allah in forgiveness.
• Allah did not tell us this story in detail, but the point is that when the test comes to us, we must immediately make Tawbah. This is what Allah is drawing our attention to.
• Shaytaan does not make us realise these slips are part of our human nature. But the most important response to our faults is to seek Tawbah, always.

Our ability to do anything is only from Allah, and so we must seek protection from having confidence and pride in our ‘Ibadah. Whilst Allah tells Muhammad (SAW) to be like Dhul Ayd like Dawud (AS), we must never reach a point where we are satisfied with our ‘Ibadah, for every possible Tawfeeq is from Allah.
We are only able because of Allah’s Will; never because of our own capabilities.

Irrespective of the slip and test that occurred, the relationship to ‘Ibadah must be that we can have the most perfect timetables, schedules, and plans, but still make mistakes. We can still be learned people, but slip up. We must build humility and the dependance on Allah to grant us our abilities to do every single thing in our lives.
Allah loves when we are unable; when we hold onto our ‘Ibadah when we are drowning in our busyness and are overwhelmed. The illusion of perfection is what destroys our relationship with Allah. A Mu’min does not wait for perfect schedules and opportunities, but constantly seeks to return to Allah.

Nabi Muhammad (SAW) said: 

“Regret is part of repentance, and one who truly repents is like one without sin.”

“All the sons of Adam are sinners, but the best of sinners are those who repent often.”