Which Surah and Juz is Quran 38:24 from?

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

Are there hadiths related to Quran 38:24?

Yes — there are 5 hadiths related to this ayah from Sunan an-Nasa'i, Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim.

What tafsir is available for Quran 38:24?

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

What topics does Quran 38:24 relate to?

This ayah connects to these Quranic topics: Prophet Dawud, Justice, Repentance, Good Deeds, Ethical Conduct.

Ayah 23

إِنَّ هَٰذَآ أَخِى لَهُۥ تِسْعٌۭ وَتِسْعُونَ نَعْج...

38:24Saad

Q: What does Quran 38:24 mean?

Quran 38:24 (Surah Saad, Ayah 24) translates to: "[David] said, "He has certainly wronged you in demanding your ewe [in addition] to his ewes. And indeed, many associates oppress one another, except for those who believe and do righteous deeds - and few are they." And David became certain that We had tried him, and he asked forgiveness of his Lord and fell down bowing [in prostration] and turned in repentance [to Allah]."

Ayah 25

فَغَفَرْنَا لَهُۥ ذَٰلِكَ ۖ وَإِنَّ لَهُۥ عِندَنَا...

۩ Sajdah Ayah

قَالَ لَقَدْ ظَلَمَكَ بِسُؤَالِ نَعْجَتِكَ إِلَىٰ نِعَاجِهِۦ ۖ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًۭا مِّنَ ٱلْخُلَطَآءِ لَيَبْغِى بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ وَقَلِيلٌۭ مَّا هُمْ ۗ وَظَنَّ دَاوُۥدُ أَنَّمَا فَتَنَّٰهُ فَٱسْتَغْفَرَ رَبَّهُۥ وَخَرَّ رَاكِعًۭا وَأَنَابَ ۩

Qaala laqad zalamaka bisu 'aali na'jatika ilaa ni'aajihee wa inna kaseeram minal khulataaa'i la-yabghee ba'duhum 'alaa ba'din illal lazeena aamanoo wa 'amilus saalihaati wa qaleehum maa hum; wa zanna Daawoodu annamaa fatannaahu fastaghrara Rabbahoo wa kharra raaki'anw wa anaab

[David] said, "He has certainly wronged you in demanding your ewe [in addition] to his ewes. And indeed, many associates oppress one another, except for those who believe and do righteous deeds - and few are they." And David became certain that We had tried him, and he asked forgiveness of his Lord and fell down bowing [in prostration] and turned in repentance [to Allah].

Themes in this ayah

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Repentance99 Lessons from past peoples95 Justice & honesty91 Mercy & forgiveness83 Prayer74 Qualities of the believers73

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38:24Ayah 188

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

← Previous on Repentance38:17Be patient over what they say and remember Our servant, David, the possessor of strength; indeed, he was one who repeatedly turned back [to Allah].Next on Repentance →38:30And to David We gave Solomon. An excellent servant, indeed he was one repeatedly turning back [to Allah].

Tafsir

Scholars largely agree on this ayah

View Full Tafsir: Al-Jalalayn on 38:24→

He said ‘He has certainly wronged you by asking for your ewe that he may add it to his sheep. And indeed many associates infringe upon the rights of one another except such as believe and perform righteous deeds but few are they!’ mā emphasises the ‘fewness’. As the two angels were ascending to the heaven one said to the other ‘He has certainly passed judgement on himself!’ David was thus alerted to his deed. God exalted be He says And David thought in other words he became certain that We had indeed tried him that We had caused him to fall into a trial that is a test through his love for that woman. So he sought forgiveness of his Lord and fell down bowing in other words prostrate and repented.

The Prophet (ﷺ) prostrated in Sad and said: "Dawud did this prostration in repentance and we do it in thanksgiving."

Sahih al-Bukhari #4426Narrated Mujahid:Sahih

That he asked Ibn `Abbas, "Is there a prostration Surat-al-Sa`d?" (38.24) Ibn `Abbas said, "Yes," and then recited: "We gave...So follow their guidance." (6.85,90) Then he said, "He (David ) is one them (i.e. those prophets)." Mujahid narrated: I asked Ibn `Abbas (regarding the above Verse). He said, "Your Prophet (Muhammad) was one of those who were ordered to follow them."

Sunan an-Nasa'i #1348It was narrated from 'Ata bin Abi Marwan, from his father, that:Sahih

Ka'b swore to him: "By Allah (SWT) Who parted the sea for Musa, we find in the Tawrah that when Dawud, the Prophet of Allah, finished his prayer, he would say: 'Allahumma Aslih li dinya-lladhi ja'altahu li ismatan wa aslih li dunyaya-llati ja'alta fiha ma'ashi, Allahumma inni a-udhu biridaka min sakhatik wa a-udhu bi'afwika min naqmatika wa a-udhu bika mink, la mani' lima a'taita wa la mu'tia lima mana'ta wa la yanfa'u dhal-jaddi minka al-jadd (O Allah, set straight my religious commitment that You have made a protection for me, and set straight my worldly affairs which You have made a means of my livelihood. O Allah, I seek refuge in Your pleasure from Your wrath, and I seek refuge in Your forgiveness from Your punishment, and I seek refuge in You from You. None can withhold what you have given and none can give what you have withheld, and no wealth or fortune can avail the man of wealth and fortune before You.)'" He said: "And Ka'b told me that Suhaib told him that Muhammad (ﷺ) used to say (these words) when he had finished praying.'"

Sahih al-Bukhari #4601Narrated Al-Awwam:Sahih

I asked Mujahid regarding the prostration in Surat Sa`d. He said, "I asked Ibn `Abbas, 'What evidence makes you prostrate?' He said, "Don't you recite:--'And among his progeny, David and Solomon..(6.84). Those are they whom Allah had guided. So follow their guidance.' (6.90) So David was the one of those prophets whom Prophet (Muhammad) was ordered to follow. David prostrated, so Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (Muhammad) performed this prostration too.'

Sahih Muslim #7248It is reported on the authority of Amir b. Sa'd that Sa'd b. Abi Waqqas was in the fold of his camels that his son 'Umar came to him. When Sa'd saw him he said:Sahih

I seek refuge with Allah from the mischief of this rider. And as he got down he said to him: You are busy with your camels and your sheep and you have abandoned people who are contending with one another for kingdom. Sa'd struck his chest and said: Keep quite. I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Allah loves the servant who is God-conscious and is free from want and is hidden (from the view of people).