And when He informed - glorified and exalted is He - about the subjugation of the heaviest of things and the most firmly established to him; He followed it with the lighter and more mobile ones. He expressed this with the name indicating the gathering as a whole; and the stability; because it is more indicative of power. He said - expressing with the name of the plural; without the plural; indicating that they are in the intensity of gathering; as if they are one thing; he mentioned its state in a description suitable for the singular; and made it feminine; indicating what has preceded of the necessary softness for females; which requires the utmost obedience; and acceptance of the rulings -: "And the birds"; meaning: We have subjugated them to him while they are "gathered"; meaning: collected to him against their will; from every side; in one push - as indicated by the expression with the name without the action -; and this is more indicative of power; and they are more averse than your people; and more difficult to control; and this is as the pebbles used to glorify in the hand of the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him; and in the hand of some of his companions; and as the mountain moved and he struck it with his foot; and said: "Stay still, Uhud"; so it became still; and as the wasp was gathered on the head of Asim ibn Thabit ibn Abi al-Aflah - may Allah be pleased with him - preventing him from taking it to play with it; so when night came, Allah sent a flood and carried it to a place where no news of it was known; nor was there any trace of it found; "Each"; meaning: each one of the mountains; and the birds; "for him is one who turns back"; meaning: one who returns; for the sake of Dawud - peace be upon him - specifically from what he is accustomed to; not in another meaning from what he is accustomed to; so whenever he turned back from his ruling; and what he was engaged in with the creation; to the glorification of the Truth; the mountains and the birds returned with him in that; and the news was made singular; indicating the intensity of their singing with discipline; and its greatness; and the singular also indicates the ruling on each individual; and if he had gathered, it would have implied that the ruling on the group is by the condition of the plural; so it is as if Dawud - peace be upon him - understands the glorification of the mountains; and the birds; and each of them submits to him if he commands them to glorify; and everyone who realizes his state; everything assists him; as al-Qushayri said; so in this there is an indication to the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, that whenever We wish, We make your people with you in subjugation like this; so do not despair of them despite their intense aversion; and the strength of their repulsiveness and their deception; for We have made them thus for you to train your soul with them; and to increase in patience with them in majesty; and elevation; and greatness; and perfection; and other wisdoms that cannot be contained by minds; and do not despair of their softness towards you and their returning to you; for they do not exceed being like the mountains in strength and firmness; or the birds in aversion, recklessness, and lightness; so whenever We wish, We make them for you like We made the mountains and the birds with Dawud - peace be upon him -; rather, their matter is easier; and their affair is lighter.