Sad 38:26
The Letter "Saad" · Meccan · Juz 23 · Page 454
A Vicegerent on Earth
يَٰدَاوُۥدُ إِنَّا جَعَلۡنَٰكَ خَلِيفَةࣰ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَٱحۡكُم بَيۡنَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰ فَيُضِلَّكَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَضِلُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ لَهُمۡ عَذَابࣱ شَدِيدُۢ بِمَا نَسُواْ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡحِسَابِ ٢٦
(And it was said unto him): O David! Lo! We have set thee as a viceroy in the earth; therefor judge aright between mankind, and follow not desire that it beguile thee from the way of Allah. Lo! those who wander from the way of Allah have an awful doom, forasmuch as they forgot the Day of Reckoning.
Translation: Marmaduke Pickthall
Meaning
O David, We have made you a vicegerent on earth, so judge between people in truth and do not follow desire.
Insight
According to Elmalılı, this is ruling not by one’s own whim but in Allah’s name, to carry out His rulings.
Reflect
Use any authority you have for truth, not for your whims.
This short note is based on Elmalılı Hamdi Yazır’s Turkish commentary and has not yet been reviewed by a scholar.
Elmalılı’s commentary
An English translation of Elmalılı’s full commentary is coming soon. Read the original Turkish ›