Tazkirul Quran, Qur’an 38:30–33
Sad (Sad)
By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
English text; the translator is not named in the archive’s data.
Translation
(30) We gave David Solomon. He was an excellent servant who always turned to God. (31) When well-bred horses, which were fleet of foot were paraded before him near the close of day, (32) he said, ‘I have put the love of good things above the remembrance of my Lord’—until [the sun] disappeared behind its veil and the horses disappeared from sight— (33) ‘Bring them back to me!’—[he said] and began to stroke their legs and their necks.
Commentary
(a) Solomon, the son of David was the ruler of a great empire. Once the thoroughbred horses of his army were brought before him and a race was held. The galloping horses moved further and further away until they were out of sight.
This was a magnificent moment upon witnessing which, an ordinary man would have become full of pride and vanity. But Solomon started remembering God. He said that he had not chosen these horses to flaunt his grandeur, but only for the sake of God. In the shape of the horses, he could discern the great workmanship of God, and by way of appreciating the greatness of God, he started to stroke the necks and legs of the horses. A believer, therefore, has the ability to observe the glory of God in everything, while a non-believer remains entrapped in the false notions of self-glory.