The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 4) — Page 483
PT. 19 us. This indeed manifest grace. '2823A AN-NAML is God's made in the verses that immediately follow, and also in 21:81-83; 34:11- 14; 38:19-21. 2823A. Important Words: (language) is derived from which means, he spoke with sound and letters which made clear his meaning. means, the book explained and made clear. Thus (nutq) applies to both articulate and inarticulate speech and to the condition of a thing which is as significant as articulate speech. It is of two kinds: external, viz. spoken words; internal, viz. understanding. The word is also used with regard to animals and birds when the use is metaphorical (Aqrab & Mufradāt). For (birds) see next verse. Commentary: Solomon was heir to both the temporal power and prophetic office and spiritual knowledge of his father, David. The word (was heir) here has special reference to the spiritual heritage of David because whereas kingship and temporal power and property descend from father to son, prophethood does not. Birds and insects have their own means of communication. Migratory birds fly from one region to another with the change in weather. They fly in flocks and their flight is orderly. Similarly, ants live in communities and the bees have a well-regulated system of government. This could not be CH. 27 possible without there being some means of communication between them. This means of communication may be called their language. Prophets David and Solomon are stated here to have been taught the language of birds which may be taken as signifying that they had learnt how to make use of birds. The art of using birds for carrying messages from one place to another had been very much developed by Solomon and frequent use of it made in the management of the far-flung empire 2397 over which he ruled. If the word be taken to signify righteous men (3:50) who soar high into the spiritual firmament and attain nearness to God, the words "we have been taught the language of birds" would mean that David and Solomon knew the language in which God's Elect speak i. e. they possessed the wisdom and knowledge that is given to highly spiritual men. The expression "and we have had everything bestowed upon us," means that all things that were necessary to make the Israelites a strong and prosperous people were bestowed upon them in the reigns of David and Solomon. It clearly does not mean that every existing thing was given to them. The words point to no exclusive prerogative of these two Prophets. Identical words have been used with regard to the Queen of Saba' (27:24).