فَقَالَ إِنِّىٓ أَحْبَبْتُ حُبَّ ٱلْخَيْرِ عَن ذِكْرِ رَبِّى حَتَّىٰ تَوَارَتْ بِٱلْحِجَابِ 32
Translations
And he said, "Indeed, I gave preference to the love of good [things] over the remembrance of my Lord until it [i.e., the sun] disappeared into the curtain [of darkness]."
Transliteration
Faqala inni ahbabtu hubba al-khayri an dhikri rabbi hatta tawaarat bil-hijab
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Prophet Dawood's (David's) statement regarding his distraction from remembering Allah due to his preoccupation with his horses during the afternoon. The phrase 'I have loved the love of good' refers to his attachment to worldly possessions (the horses), which caused him to forget the obligatory remembrance of his Lord until the sun had set and disappeared beyond the horizon. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize this as a test from Allah and a reminder that even the greatest of prophets must remain vigilant against worldly distractions that compromise their spiritual obligations.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Sad, which discusses various prophets and their trials. The incident refers to Prophet Dawood's experience when he became so absorbed in reviewing his cavalry that he neglected the afternoon prayer ('Asr), and the horses were brought back to him for inspection. This serves as a cautionary tale about the danger of wealth and possessions diverting one's attention from remembrance of Allah and fulfillment of religious duties.
Related Hadiths
This incident is referenced in Sahih Bukhari and other collections regarding Dawood's regret and repentance. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is reported to have mentioned this story as an example of how even prophets must be careful not to let worldly matters distract from dhikr (remembrance of Allah).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that wealth, possessions, and worldly pursuits can become spiritual obstacles if we allow them to distract us from our primary obligation of remembering Allah and fulfilling our religious duties. Even the greatest among us must vigilantly guard against such distractions and promptly return to Allah through sincere repentance when we recognize our negligence.