Which Surah and Juz is Quran 38:17 from?

This ayah is from Surah Saad (The letter Saad), the 38th surah of the Quran. It appears in Juz 23.

Are there hadiths related to Quran 38:17?

Yes — there are 5 hadiths related to this ayah from Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abu Dawud.

What tafsir is available for Quran 38:17?

Commentary on this ayah is available from Ibn Kathir, Ibn Kathir, Ibn Abbas, Al-Jalalayn — classical scholars of Quranic exegesis.

What topics does Quran 38:17 relate to?

This ayah connects to these Quranic topics: Prophet Dawud, Patience, Prophets, Repentance, Obedience to Allah.

Ayah 16

وَقَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَا عَجِّل لَّنَا قِطَّنَا قَبْلَ ...

38:17Saad

Q: What does Quran 38:17 mean?

Quran 38:17 (Surah Saad, Ayah 17) translates to: "Be patient over what they say and remember Our servant, David, the possessor of strength; indeed, he was one who repeatedly turned back [to Allah]."

Ayah 18

إِنَّا سَخَّرْنَا ٱلْجِبَالَ مَعَهُۥ يُسَبِّحْنَ ب...

ٱصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَٱذْكُرْ عَبْدَنَا دَاوُۥدَ ذَا ٱلْأَيْدِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٌ

Isbir 'alaa maa yaqooloona wazkur 'abdanaa Daawooda zal aidi aidi innahooo awwaab

Be patient over what they say and remember Our servant, David, the possessor of strength; indeed, he was one who repeatedly turned back [to Allah].

Themes in this ayah

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Repentance98 Patience98 The Prophet ﷺ58 Lessons from past peoples57

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38:17Ayah 188

5 ayahs in Saad are strongly about repentance. This is one of them.

Next on Repentance →38:24[David] said, "He has certainly wronged you in demanding your ewe [in addition] to his ewes. And indeed, many associates oppress one another,

Tafsir

Scholars offer complementary perspectives

View Full Tafsir: Al-Jalalayn on 38:17→

God exalted be He says Bear patiently what they say and remember Our servant David the one of fortitude that is to say the one of fortitude in worship he used to fast every other day and keep vigil for half the night sleep for a third and then keep vigil for the last sixth. Indeed he was a penitent soul always returning to what pleases God.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The recitation of Psalms (David's Qur'an) was made light and easy for David that he used to have his ridding animal be saddled while he would finish the recitation before the servant had saddled it."

Sahih Muslim #2623'Abdullah b. 'Amr (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:Sahih

With Allah the best fasting is that of David and the best prayer is that of David (peace be upon him) for he slept half of the night and stood for prayer for the third of it and (then) slept the sixth part of it and he observed fast one day and broke on the other.

Sunan Abu Dawud #2449'Abd Allah b. 'And (b. al-'As) said:Sahih

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to me: The fast most liked by Allah is the one observed by Dawud (David), and the prayer dearer to Allah is the one offered by Dawud (David): he would sleep half the night, and stand (in prayer) one-third of it, and sleep one-sixth of it. He would go without fasting one day, and fast the other day.

Sahih al-Bukhari #5882Narrated Abu Huraira:Sahih

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "The strong is not the one who overcomes the people by his strength, but the strong is the one who controls himself while in anger."

Sahih Muslim #2624'Abdullah b. 'Amr b. al-'As reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:Sahih

The best fasting in the eye of Allah is that of David, for he fasted for half of the age (he fasted on alternate days), and the best prayer in the eye of Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, is that of David (peace be upon him), for he slept for half of the night and then stood for prayer and then again slept. He prayed for one-third of the night after midnight. He (the narrator) said: I asked 'Amr b. Dinar whether 'Amr b. Aus said that he stood for prayer one-third of the night after midnight. He said: Yes.