أَنِ ٱعْمَلْ سَـٰبِغَـٰتٍ وَقَدِّرْ فِى ٱلسَّرْدِ ۖ وَٱعْمَلُوا۟ صَـٰلِحًا ۖ إِنِّى بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ 11
Translations
[Commanding him], "Make full coats of mail and calculate [precisely] the links, and work [all of you] righteousness. Indeed I, of what you do, am Seeing."
Transliteration
Ani'mal sabigatin wa qaddir fi as-sard wa'malu salihan inni bima ta'malun basir
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses Prophet Dawood (David) and the jinn under his command, instructing them to craft coats of mail (armor) with precise measurements and careful craftsmanship in the interlinking of the rings. The command emphasizes both skillful execution and righteous conduct, with Allah's assurance that He is fully aware of all their deeds. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note that this demonstrates how Allah granted Dawood divine knowledge of metallurgy and craftsmanship as a mercy, while simultaneously enjoining moral excellence alongside technical proficiency.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Dawood (David) in Surah Saba, which discusses the miracles and favors Allah bestowed upon him. The context describes the jinn working under his command at Allah's permission, tasked with creating armor and other works. This demonstrates Allah's subjugation of natural forces and the jinn to His prophets as a sign of divine favor.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, 'Verily, Allah loves that when one of you does a task, he does it with precision' (Narrated in various collections emphasizing excellence in work). Additionally, Surah An-Nahl 16:12 relates to divine knowledge of human actions, reinforcing the theme of Allah's all-seeing nature.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that excellence in one's craft or profession is a form of worship and obedience to Allah, provided it is accompanied by righteous intention and conduct. It reminds us that Allah observes both the quality of our work and the sincerity of our hearts, making integrity and skill inseparable aspects of a believer's responsibility.
Related Ayahs
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَن نُّؤْمِنَ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانِ وَلَا بِٱلَّذِى بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ ۗ وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ مَوْقُوفُونَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ يَرْجِعُ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ ٱلْقَوْلَ يَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتُضْعِفُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ لَوْلَآ أَنتُمْ لَكُنَّا مُؤْمِنِينَ
And those who disbelieve say, "We will never believe in this Qur’ān nor in that before it." But if you could see when the wrongdoers are made to stand before their Lord, refuting each others' words... Those who were oppressed will say to those who were arrogant, "If not for you, we would have been believers."
قُل لَّكُم مِّيعَادُ يَوْمٍ لَّا تَسْتَـْٔخِرُونَ عَنْهُ سَاعَةً وَلَا تَسْتَقْدِمُونَ
Say, "For you is the appointment of a Day [when] you will not remain thereafter an hour, nor will you precede [it]."
وَكَذَّبَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ وَمَا بَلَغُوا۟ مِعْشَارَ مَآ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُمْ فَكَذَّبُوا۟ رُسُلِى ۖ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ
And those before them denied, and they [i.e., the people of Makkah] have not attained a tenth of what We had given them. But they [i.e., the former peoples] denied My messengers, so how [terrible] was My reproach.
قُلْ مَا سَأَلْتُكُم مِّنْ أَجْرٍ فَهُوَ لَكُمْ ۖ إِنْ أَجْرِىَ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ شَهِيدٌ
Say, "Whatever payment I might have asked of you - it is yours. My payment is only from Allāh, and He is, over all things, Witness."