Surah Sad 38:24

The Story of the Two Litigants

In discussing this passage, the scholars of Tafsir mention a story which is mostly based upon Isra'iliyat narrations. Nothing has been reported about this from the Infallible Prophet that we could accept as true. But Ibn Abi Hatim narrated a Hadith whose chain of narration cannot be regarded as Sahih because it is reported by Yazid Ar-Raqashi from Anas, may Allah be pleased with him. Although Yazid was one of the righteous, his Hadiths are regarded as weak by the Imams. So, it is better to speak briefly of this story and refer knowledge of it to Allah, may He be exalted. For the Qur'an is true and what it contains is also true.

فَفَزِعَ مِنْهُمْ

(he was terrified of them.) This was because he was in his Mihrab (private chamber). That was the noblest part of his house, where he commanded that no one should enter upon him that day. So, he did not realize that these two people had climbed the fence surrounding his Mihrab (private chamber) to ask him about their case.

وَعَزَّنِى فِى الْخِطَابِ

(and he overpowered me in speech.) means, `he defeated me.'

وَظَنَّ دَاوُودُ أَنَّمَا فَتَنَّـهُ

(And Dawud guessed that We have tried him) `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said that this means, "We tested him."

وَخَرَّ رَاكِعاً وَأَنَابَ

(and he fell down prostrate and turned (to Allah) in repentance.)

فَغَفَرْنَا لَهُ ذَلِكَ

(So, We forgave him that,)

The Sajdah in Surah Sad

The performance of Sajdah in Surah Sad is not one of the obligatory locations; it is a prostration of thanks (Sajdat Shukr). The evidence for it is the report recorded by Imam Ahmad from Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, who said; "The prostration in Surah Sad is not one of the obligatory prostrations; I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prostrating in this Surah." This was also recorded by Al-Bukhari, Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi, and An-Nasa'i in his Tafsir. At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih." In his Tafsir of this Ayah, An-Nasa'i also recorded that Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "The Prophet prostrated in Sad, and he said:

«سَجَدَهَا دَاوُدُ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ تَوْبَةً، وَنَسْجُدُهَا شُكْرًا»

(Dawud prostrated as an act of repentance and we prostrate as an act of thanks.)" This was recorded only by An-Nasa'i. The men of its chain of narration are all reliable. In his Tafsir of this Ayah, Al-Bukhari recorded that Al-`Awwam said that he asked Mujahid about the prostration in Surah Sad. He said, `I asked Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, `Why do you prostrate' He said, `Have you not read:

وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِهِ دَاوُودَ وَسُلَيْمَـنَ

(and among his Nuh's progeny Dawud, Sulayman) (6:84)

أُوْلَـئِكَ الَّذِينَ هَدَى اللَّهُ فَبِهُدَاهُمُ اقْتَدِهْ

(They are those whom Allah had guided. So follow their guidance) (6:90). Dawud, peace be upon him, was one of those whom your Prophet was commanded to follow. Dawud prostrated here so the Messenger of Allah ﷺ also prostrated here."' Abu Dawud recorded that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited Sad while he was on the Minbar. When he reached the prostration, he came down from the Minbar and prostrated, and the people prostrated with him. On another occasion when he recited it, he reached the prostration and the people prepared to prostrate. He said:

«إِنَّمَا هِيَ تَوْبَةُ نَبِيَ، وَلَكِنِّي رَأَيْتُكُمْ تَشَزَّنْتُم»

(This is repentance for a Prophet, but I see that you are preparing to prostrate.) Then he came down (from the Minbar) and prostrated." This was recorded only by Abu Dawud and its chain of narration meets the conditions of the Two Sahihs.

وَإِنَّ لَهُ عِندَنَا لَزُلْفَى وَحُسْنَ مَـَابٍ

(and verily, for him is a near access to Us, and a good place of (final) return.) means, on the Day of Resurrection, he will have good deeds by virtue of which he will be brought close to Allah, and he will have a good place of (final) return, which means the lofty levels of Paradise, because of his repentance and his perfect justice in his kingdom. As it says in the Sahih:

«الْمُقْسِطُونَ عَلَى مَنَابِرَ مِنْ نُورٍ عَنْ يَمِينِ الرَّحْمنِ، وَكِلْتَا يَدَيْهِ يَمِينٌ، الَّذِينَ يُقْسِطُونَ فِي أَهْلِيهِمْ وَمَا وَلُوا»

(Those who are fair and just with their families and those who are under their authority will be on Minbars of light on the right hand of Ar-Rahman, and both His Hands are right Hands.)"

Pada ayat ini dijelaskan bahwa Nabi Daud memutuskan perkara tersebut dengan mengatakan bahwa tergugat telah berbuat aniaya kepada penggugat, karena yang digugat itu telah mengambil kambing penggugat untuk dimiliki, sehingga kambingnya menjadi bertambah banyak.

Pada ayat ini tidak dijelaskan lebih lanjut apakah Nabi Daud sesudah mendapat keterangan dari penggugat, meminta keterangan juga kepada tergugat. Juga tidak diterangkan apakah jawaban Nabi Daud itu didasarkan atas bukti-bukti yang memberi keyakinan. Menurut pengertian yang tampak dalam ayat, Nabi Daud hanyalah memberi jawaban sesudah mendapat keterangan dari pihak penggugat saja. Padahal mungkin saja pihak penggugat mengemukakan keterangan yang berlawanan dengan kenyataan, atau karena cara mengemukakan kata diatur demikian rupa, hingga timbullah kesan seolah-olah si penggugat itu orang jujur. Seharusnya Nabi Daud tidak memberi jawaban secara tergesa-gesa, atau ditunda saja jawabannya hingga mendapat keyakinan yang sebenar-benarnya.

Ditinjau dari cara mereka masuk menemui Daud dengan memanjat pagar, dan waktunya yang tidak tepat, dan persoalan yang diajukan, sebenarnya mereka tidak bermaksud untuk meminta keputusan kepada Daud, tetapi mereka mempunyai maksud yang lain. Hanya karena kewaspadaan Nabi Daud, maka rencana mereka itu tidak dapat mereka laksanakan. Di dalam sejarah dapat diketahui bahwa orang-orang Bani Israil sering kali berusaha untuk membunuh nabinya, misalnya mereka telah membunuh Ilyasa' dan Zakaria. Patut diduga kedua orang itu (penggugat dan tergugat) sebenarnya ingin menganiaya Nabi Daud, hanya saja mereka tidak sampai melaksanakan niat jahatnya karena niat mereka diketahui terlebih dahulu.

Kemudian Allah menjelaskan jawaban Daud lebih terperinci. Daud mengatakan kepada orang yang berperkara itu bahwa sebagian besar orang yang mengadakan perserikatan, menganiaya anggotanya yang lain hal ini terjadi karena sifat hasad, dengki, dan memperturutkan hawa nafsu sehingga hak anggota yang satu terambil oleh anggota yang lain. Terkecuali orang-orang yang dalam hatinya penuh dengan iman dan mencintai amal saleh yang terhindar dari perbuatan yang jahat itu.

Di akhir ayat, Allah menjelaskan bahwa Nabi Daud sadar bahwa ia sedang mendapat cobaan dari Allah. Lalu ia meminta ampun kepada Allah atas kesalahan, seraya sujud bertobat kepada-Nya karena merasakan kekurangan dan kesalahan yang ada pada dirinya.

Kesalahan dan kekurangan yang menimpa dirinya ialah ketergesa-gesaannya memberikan jawaban kepada orang yang berperkara, padahal ia belum memperoleh keyakinan dan bukti-bukti yang seharusnya ia peroleh. Ia memutuskan hanya berdasar prasangkanya bahwa kedatangan orang yang ingin memperdayainya itu adalah cobaan dari Allah, padahal apa yang ia duga tidak terjadi.