Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Emendation of A Shi‘ite Creed The Metaphorical Interpretation of "The Hand (Al-Yad)" ========================================================= Abu Ja‘far, may Allah have mercy upon him, similarly explains "hand" in the sense of strength, and adduces, to support his view, the verse: And remember Our servant David, possessed of strength (ayd) [38:17]. And he says: dha'l-ayd, means possessed of strength (quwwah).
ash-Shaykh al-Mufid says: The word yad has another interpretation which denotes grace. The poet says: He has bestowed favours on me which I do not deny; For indeed denial of favours is but ingratitude. So, it is possible that the saying of Allah, the Exalted, Dawuda dha 'l-ayd, means Dawud (David), a bountiful man. Similar, also, is the saying of Allah: Nay, but both His hands are outspread [5:64]. Here, by "The two hands", are meant the two favours of this life and the life hereafter.