Ali Quli Qarai, The Qur’ān with a Phrase-by-Phrase English Translation (2005)
30 And to David We gave Solomon
— what an excellent servant!
Indeed he was a penitent [soul].
31 When one evening there were displayed before him
prancing steeds,
32 he said,
‘Indeed I have preferred the love of [worldly] niceties
to the remembrance of my Lord
until [the sun] disappeared behind the [night’s] veil.’
33 ‘Bring it 1 back for me!’
Then he [and others] began to wipe [their] legs
and necks.
34 Certainly We tried Solomon,
and cast a [lifeless] body on his throne.
Thereupon he was penitent.
35 He said, ‘My Lord! Forgive me,
and grant me a kingdom
that does not befit anyone except me.2
Indeed You are the All-munificent.’
36 So We disposed the wind for him,
blowing softly by his command
wherever he intended,
1 Or ‘them.’ The pronoun may be taken as referring to the sun or to the horses. However, most exegetes have taken it as referring to the sun and its setting. While Solomon was engaged in viewing the horses, the sun set, and the time of the afternoon prayer (supererogatory or obligatory) elapsed. According to a tradition narrated from al-Imām al-Ṣādiq (‘a), when Solomon noticed that the sun had set, he called out to the angels to bring it back so that he could offer the afternoon prayer. Also, according to this tradition, the wiping of legs and necks mentioned in the verse refers to the performance of ablution (wuḍū’) before the prayer by Solomon and his men as prescribed in their Law. (Biḥār, vol. 14, p. 101; vol. 82, p. 341)
2 Cf. 35:41. Or ‘a kingdom that will not befit anyone after me.’
