The Holy Quran 21:78 — Surah Al-Anbya

Arabic text

وَدَاوُۥدَ وَسُلَيْمَـٰنَ إِذْ يَحْكُمَانِ فِى ٱلْحَرْثِ إِذْ نَفَشَتْ فِيهِ غَنَمُ ٱلْقَوْمِ وَكُنَّا لِحُكْمِهِمْ شَـٰهِدِينَ

Translation

(Remember) Dawood عليه الصلاة والسلام and Sulaymaan عليه الصلاة والسلام when they arbitrated about a crop that was trampled by the goats of some people. We were Witnesses to their decision. (A farmer brought a person to the court of Dawood, claiming that the person's goats had escaped from their enclosure at night and ravaged his [the farmer's] crops. Dawood عليه الصلاة والسلام ruled that all the goats should be given to the farmer as compensation. When the two left Dawood عليه الصلاة والسلام's court, they met Sulaymaan. When he asked them what the judgement was passed, they informed him about it. Sulaymaan عليه الصلاة والسلام told them, "If I had passed judgement, it would have been beneficial to both parties." He then went to his father and repeated the same statement. Dawood asked him what he had in mind. Sulaymaan said that the goats should be put in the custody of the farmer so that he may use the milk and wool. In the meantime, the other person should be given the farm and work the land until the crops grow to the condition that they were when the goats destroyed them. Thereafter, the goats were to be returned to the original owner. Dawood عليه الصلاة والسلام was pleased with this decision and called the two back, instructing them likewise.)

Tafsir (excerpt) — التفسير الميسر

واذكر - أيها الرسول - نبي الله داود وابنه سليمان، إذ يحكمان في قضية عرَضَها خصمان، عَدَت غنم أحدهما على زرع الآخر، وانتشرت فيه ليلا فأتلفت الزرع، فحكم داود بأن تكون الغنم لصاحب الزرع ملْكًا بما أتلفته، فقيمتهما سواء، وكنَّا لحكمهم شاهدين لم يَغِبْ عنا.

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