At the beginning of Surah Sad are some impactful key concepts.
When Allah revealed this Surah, there is a beautiful loop that connects the beginning to the end of it, building something important in our lives. These are:
Allah takes an oath on the Qur’an, which has a nature to remind. The reminder is for Nabi Muhammad (SAW); it is to remind him of what happened in the past as a comfort as well as a challenge. The central theme of this Surah is Muhammad (SAW) being reminded of something, as we are being reminded as well.
These words tell us that the Kuffaar always wanted power and authority. When the warning and Qur’an came to them; filled with good; they were unable to take it because they did not want to give up this power and authority they had. Because of these two things, the reminder; the Dhikr; did not impact them.
The Kuffaar refused this reminder. We, however, view the Qur’an as a reminder for the believers.
Allah reminds Muhammad (SAW) that the path he walks is one other Prophets (AS) had before, and tells him to look into the past. Dawud (AS), Sulayman (AS), and Ayub (AS) are the reminders that Allah gives him.
This is an indication for us to look at the people of the Quraish and how they refused to accept the reminder. But powerful people such as Dawud (AS) and Sulayman (AS) did accept it, and were given many incredible things subjugated to them. They benefited greatly from their ‘Ibadah.
قَالَ لَقَدْ ظَلَمَكَ بِسُؤَالِ نَعْجَتِكَ إِلَىٰ نِعَاجِهِۦ ۖ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلْخُلَطَآءِ لَيَبْغِى بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَقَلِيلٌ مَّا هُمْ ۗ وَظَنَّ دَاوُۥدُ أَنَّمَا فَتَنَّـٰهُ فَٱسْتَغْفَرَ رَبَّهُۥ وَخَرَّرَاكِعًا وَأَنَابَ ۩ ٢٤
“David eventually ruled, “He has definitely wronged you in demanding to add your sheep to his. And certainly many partners wrong each other, except those who believe and do good–but how few are they!” Then David realised that We had tested him so he asked for his Lord’s forgiveness, fell down in prostration, and turned to Him in repentance.” (38:24)
The purpose of this story is Dhikr. The message here is that when the mistake was made, irrespective of his position of power, Dawud (AS) turned to Allah in repentance.
فَغَفَرْنَا لَهُۥ ذَٰلِكَ ۖ وَإِنَّ لَهُۥ عِندَنَا لَزُلْفَىٰ وَحُسْنَ مَـَٔابٍ ٢٥
“So We forgave that for him. And he will indeed have a status of closeness to Us and an honourable destination!” (38:25)
By understanding the purpose of the story, Dawud (AS) was able to take hold of the Dhikr.
Consider the following reflection: irrespective of where I am, am I able to see and grasp the reminders of Allah? To make Tawbah? How do I respond to my Qur’an? How do I respond to my Dhikr? The reminders in my Qur’an?
يَـٰدَاوُۥدُ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَـٰكَ خَلِيفَةً فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱحْكُم بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ ٱلْهَوَىٰ فَيُضِلَّكَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَضِلُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌۢ بِمَا نَسُوا۟ يَوْمَ ٱلْحِسَابِ ٢٦
“We instructed him: “O David! We have surely made you an authority in the land, so judge between people with truth. And do not follow your desires or they will lead you astray from Allah’s Way. Surely those who go astray from Allah’s Way will suffer a severe punishment for neglecting the Day of Reckoning.”” (38:26)
Now Allah gives Dawud (AS) advice.
Not only did Allah make him a Prophet (AS), but also made him a king of the land. He had great responsibility, and with it, Allah gave this advice: that he had to look at people with a removal of his own subjective feelings, and only deal with them with the Book of Allah; to deal with Haqq (‘truth’).
It does not matter how much we have, or what position in life we are, but every one of us possesses personal feelings that influences the way we think and speak. It is not possible for us to say we do not lean towards favouritism, for the possibility of falling prey to our feelings is ever present.
Yet the Qur’an must determine our judgement; not our feelings and desires.
Even if we have the greatest ‘Ibadah, we may not always be a person who is acting on Haqq. This Islamic ethos is something we must bring into our lives and our families.
وَمَا خَلَقْنَا ٱلسَّمَآءَ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا بَـٰطِلًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ظَنُّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ ٢٧
“We have not created the heavens and earth and everything in between without purpose–as the believers think. So woe to the disbelievers of the Fire!” (38:27)
We can get away with mistakes in this world, but on the Day of Qiyamah, there is no escape from our injustices against others. As much as we strengthen our ‘Ibadah, our treatment of others must always remain on Haqq.
أَمْ نَجْعَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ كَٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ أَمْ نَجْعَلُ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ كَٱلْفُجَّارِ ٢٨
“Or should We treat those who believe and do good like those who make mischief throughout the land? Or should We treat the righteous like the wicked?” (38:28)
كِتَـٰبٌ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَـٰرَكٌ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوٓا۟ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ٢٩
“This is a blessed Book which We have revealed to you O Prophet so that they may contemplate its verses, and people of reason may be mindful.” (38:29)
Here, we are shown a demarcating factor: the people who are creating corruption on earth and those who are engaging in and doing good deeds.
This Ayah; 29; is tied to Ayah 1. Allah revealed the Qur’an to us; not only Muhammad (SAW). So do we ponder over the Qur’an’s words? Are we of the people who are changed by the Qur’an? The central question remains: are we going to accept this Dhikr?
Consider the following affirmations:
Throughout the Surah thus far, Allah keeps bringing us back to the themes of Dhikr.
وَوَهَبْنَا لِدَاوُۥدَ سُلَيْمَـٰنَ ۚ نِعْمَ ٱلْعَبْدُ ۖ إِنَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٌ ٣٠
“And We blessed David with Solomon–what an excellent servant he was! Indeed, he constantly turned to Allah.” (38:30)
إِذْ عُرِضَ عَلَيْهِ بِٱلْعَشِىِّ ٱلصَّـٰفِنَـٰتُ ٱلْجِيَادُ ٣١
“Remember when the well-trained, swift horses were paraded before him in the evening.” (38:31)
فَقَالَ إِنِّىٓ أَحْبَبْتُ حُبَّ ٱلْخَيْرِ عَن ذِكْرِ رَبِّى حَتَّىٰ تَوَارَتْ بِٱلْحِجَابِ ٣٢
“He then proclaimed, “I am truly in love with these fine things out of remembrance for my Lord,” until they went out of sight.” (38:32)
رُدُّوهَا عَلَىَّ ۖ فَطَفِقَ مَسْحًۢا بِٱلسُّوقِ وَٱلْأَعْنَاقِ ٣٣
“He ordered, “Bring them back to me!” Then he began to rub down their legs and necks.” (38:33)
We all falter. We all have weaknesses. And yet we are always turning to Allah.
There are things that can delay us and take us away from Salaah. But what we must ensure is that our Tawbah is tremendous.
Sulayman (AS) was so busy with these horses in a way that is similar to how caught up we can become with something in our own lives. These Prophets (AS), who were so great, were still able to humble themselves to the reminders of Allah. They realised their errors and constantly returned to Allah without justifying their mistakes, but immediately seeking forgiveness from Him.
The story in Surah Sad is how power and authority reacts to the Qur’an being a reminder. As believers, we must take the reminders to change ourselves and the aspects in our lives where we are lacking.
