Work, O family of David, in gratitude. And few of My servants are grateful.
“Work, O family of David, in gratitude. And few of My servants are grateful.”
These Jinn constructed for him whatever he wanted from places of worship, palaces, lofty structures. And I said to them: O the family of David! Be grateful for the blessings I have bestowed upon you, because very few of My servants are grateful to Me for the blessings I grant them.
The plain meaning, from Al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir
يَعْمَلُونَ لَهُۥ مَا يَشَآءُ مِن مَّحَٰرِيبَ وَتَمَٰثِيلَ وَجِفَانٍ كَٱلْجَوَابِ وَقُدُورٍ رَّاسِيَٰتٍ ۚ ٱعْمَلُوٓا۟ ءَالَ دَاوُۥدَ شُكْرًا ۚ وَقَلِيلٌ مِّنْ عِبَادِىَ ٱلشَّكُورُ
They made for him what he willed of elevated chambers, statues, bowls like reservoirs, and stationary kettles. We said, "Work, O family of David, in gratitude." And few of My servants are grateful.
What does Quran 34:13 mean?
The address is to the household of Dawud, at the height of what was given to them — wind subjected to Sulayman, molten copper made to flow, jinn building whatever he asked for. And what is asked in return is work: not gratitude felt but gratitude done. The line that follows is the sober one — few of My servants are grateful — and it is said here, at the top of the blessing rather than the bottom.
Written from Al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir