Tafseer of The letter Saad · Saad · 38:19
And the birds were assembled, all with him repeating [praises].
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
His statement وَالطَّيْرَ مَحْشُورَةً ("and the birds, gathered together") — the Exalted, whose mention is exalted, says: and We made the birds subservient, while they glorified along with him (David), being gathered together, in the sense of: brought together for him. It is mentioned that he — may Allah bless him and grant him peace — when he glorified, the mountains would answer him and the birds would gather around him and glorify along with him; and their gathering around him was their being assembled together (ḥashr). We have already previously mentioned the statements of the exegetes concerning the meaning of al-ḥashr, and for that reason we found it disagreeable to repeat them.
Qatāda said concerning that, in this place, what Bishr related to us, he said: Yazīd related to us, he said: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda وَالطَّيْرَ مَحْشُورَةً : made subservient.
His statement كُلٌّ لَهُ أَوَّابٌ ("all obedient to him, ever returning") means: that all of that is obedient to him, ever returning to obedience to him and his command. And by "al-kull" He means: all the birds.
And in agreement with what we have said concerning this, the exegetes have spoken.
* Mention of who said that:
Bishr related to us, he said: Yazīd related to us, he said: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda كُلٌّ لَهُ أَوَّابٌ : that is to say, obedient.
Yūnus related to me, he said: Ibn Wahb informed us, he said: Ibn Zayd said concerning His statement وَالطَّيْرَ مَحْشُورَةً كُلٌّ لَهُ أَوَّابٌ , he said: everything obedient to him.
And others said: the meaning of that is: that everything glorifies Allah.
* Mention of who said that:
Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥusayn related to me, he said: Aḥmad ibn al-Mufaḍḍal related to us, he said: Asbāṭ related to us, on the authority of al-Suddī, concerning His statement وَالطَّيْرَ مَحْشُورَةً كُلٌّ لَهُ أَوَّابٌ , he says: glorifying Allah.
