Dawud, Sulayman, and the Crop — Wisdom Is Not Inherited
tadabbur
Level: intermediate
stories
td-037
فَفَهَّمۡنَٰهَا سُلَيۡمَٰنَۚ وَكُلًّا ءَاتَيۡنَا حُكۡمٗا وَعِلۡمٗا
— الأنبياء 78
Verse: "And Dawud and Sulayman when they were judging concerning the harvest when the people's sheep wandered into it." (21:78)
The story: Sheep entered a farm at night and ate the crops. Dawud ruled to give the farmer the sheep. Sulayman ruled the farmer takes the sheep to benefit from until the shepherd restores the crop to its original state — Allah deemed Sulayman's judgment more precise.
"We made Sulayman understand it": Allah granted Sulayman special understanding in this case — Dawud was not lesser, but Allah gives each special knowledge that is not inherited.
Lesson: Wisdom is not inherited by lineage — even a prophet's son needs independent divine special knowledge.
Source: Ibn Kathir (5/361); Al-Sadi; Al-Qurtubi (11/303)
Question: What is the jurisprudential lesson in Solomon's judgment in the crop case?
Answer: The principle of restitution — one who damages something is obligated to restore it to its original state, not merely pay immediate compensation.