[34:10]
And assuredly We gave David grace from Us, (saying): O ye hills and birds, echo his psalms of praise! And We made the iron supple unto him,
Supple: Pliant; flexible
Article Explaining How Allah Made Iron Lenient for the Prophet David and How This Change Led to a Leap in Military Superiority and the Transition of the World from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age.
Historically, there is a significant correlation between the time period of Prophet David and the transition of civilizations to the Iron Age. The Quran stands out in this regard, as there is no similar text in the Old or New Testaments nor in history attributing this civilizational leap to a specific individual or civilization. In a few words, Allah documented the start of the Iron Age.
“We bestowed favor upon David from Us, [saying], ‘O mountains, repeat [Our] praises with him, and the birds [as well].’ And We made lenient [malleable] for him iron, (10) [Commanding him], ‘Make full coats of mail and calculate [precisely] the links, and work [all of you] righteousness. Indeed I, of what you do, am Seeing.’ (11)” – Surah Saba, 34:10
وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ مِنَّا فَضْلًا ۖ يَا جِبَالُ أَوِّبِي مَعَهُ وَالطَّيْرَ ۖ وَأَلَنَّا لَهُ الْحَدِيدَ (10) أَنِ اعْمَلْ سَابِغَاتٍ وَقَدِّرْ فِي السَّرْدِ ۖ وَاعْمَلُوا صَالِحًا ۖ إِنِّي بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ (11) – سبأ 10
Use of Iron
Humans discovered meteoric iron over 5500 years ago, but they couldn’t use it in their daily lives. Humans were able to extract iron ore from the earth and smelt it into ingots or plates during the Hittite Empire in Turkey around 1400 BCE. However, this iron was brittle and not suitable for bending or forging due to its high carbon content. Therefore, the use of iron as tools or in weapon-making did not provide any significant advantage compared to copper vessels and bronze weapons.
Willamette Meteorites composed of Nickel-Iron Alloys
Allah made iron lenient for Prophet David (peace be upon him) (i.e., made it malleable), “And We certainly gave David from Us bounty. [We said], ‘O mountains, repeat [Our] praises with him, and the birds [as well].’ And We made lenient for him iron.” This occurred approximately between 1040 – 970 BCE. Scientifically, this was done by adding limestone around the molten iron, which in turn reduced the carbon content in the iron to less than 0.08%. For the first time, this led to the production of steel or malleable iron.
Damascus Steel, used in swords in ancient times (1200 CE)
Allah also taught Prophet David the craft of making “Ringed Armour,” which is a type of armor made of iron rings. This was to protect him and his army from harm. In the books of Tafsir, the interpretations are very precise & clear: “It was plates before David’s time. He was the first to make and assemble these rings.” This interpretation confirms that the meaning of iron softening is that it became suitable for forging and shaping. thus, Ayat 11, “Fashion long coats of mail and measure [well] the links”, refers to what is seen in the image below.
Craft of Ringed Armor, forging iron rings and their use in war
Thus, Prophet David possessed a technological advantage over his enemies. He and his army fought with sharp swords made of forged iron and wore lightweight ringed-armor jackets, while his enemies used heavy bronze swords that shattered in their hands or heavy sheet armor, which limited their movement. This technological advancement likely diminished after the reign of his son, the Prophet Solomon, and the balance of power returned to its natural state after the spread of this industry.
What may seem coincidental is, in fact, a reality: the Iron Age historically coincided with the life of the Prophet David (1040 – 970 BCE), which is the period of the collapse of the Bronze Age. We have added this link to Wikipedia, and the image below, which contains approximate chronological periods for the entry of different civilizations into the Iron Age
The Mediterranean, Caucasus, and Anatolia regions were among the first to enter the Iron Age
This story is unique in the Quran; there is nothing similar in the Old Testament, New Testament nor in history. The Quran, in its nature, corrects events mentioned in the Old Testament, such as the sons of Noah, like Canaan, and the story of Lot and his daughters, and the stories of Moses. Here, in the story of Prophet David, the Quran adds another layer of depth.
Conclusion
These verses indicate a pivotal event, containing scientific, historical, military, and rhetorical documentation unmatched in the books of the ancients and others. In a few words, Allah documented the start of the Iron Age.
.By Husein Kattab
موقع فصّلت لـ الاعجاز العلمي في القرآن الكريم وبالحقائق العلمية 