David the Wise Judge (Q 38:17–26) and the Divorce Laws (Q 2:228–231)

Abstract Chapter 4 takes up the use of ḥikmah in Sūrat Ṣād (Q 38:17–26, in relation to David) and in the later Medinan Q 2:231 (Sūrat al Baqarah, concerning divorce laws). In both passages, the term refers to the use of one’s moral sense to correctly apply legal judgement. In Q 38, David is confronted with a case of two brothers. His wisdom not only enables him to judge between the brothers on the basis of his experience (rather than on the basis of revelation), but is also sufficient to show him his own moral shortcomings. In Q 2, believers are warned not to apply divorce laws legislated in the sūrah in a way that is injurious and unfair to women, but to use wisdom in determining their correct application.