وَلَقَدۡ ءَاتَيۡنَا دَاوُۥدَ وَسُلَيۡمَٰنَ عِلۡمًا ۖ وَقَالَا ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى فَضَّلَنَا عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍ مِّنۡ عِبَادِهِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ
And We had certainly given to David and Solomon knowledge, and they said, “Praise [is due] to Allah, who has favored us over many of His believing servants.”
In the Qur’an, we know very little about David (peace be upon him): brief mentions that he killed Goliath (Jalut) in Saul’s (Talut’s) army, a few references.
Here we learn that both father and son received knowledge, and their first response was ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ.
Notice in particular the words they used: “Praise [is due] to Allah, who has favored us over many of His believing servants.”
They realized that many believers were just as worthy of these gifts; they themselves had not earned them. No one earns Allah’s gifts.
Their being chosen became a matter of humility, not pride.
This is the attitude every servant of Allah should have while serving the religion.
When you volunteer, teach a class or help out at the masjid, do not think, “I am so much better than these people who do nothing.”
Think like David and Solomon (peace be upon them): “Alhamdulillah, Allah chose me and gave me the honor of serving Him, when there could have been many others who might have had this opportunity.”
The core lesson here speaks to both believers and non-believers.
Believers learn this: when you find the opportunity to serve Allah, become more humble.
Non-believers, for their part, are reminded: you are enjoying blessings; so should they not have made you more humble, rather than arrogant?