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Surah 34. Saba, Ayah 13

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يَعْمَلُونَ لَهُۥ مَا يَشَآءُ مِن مَّحَـٰرِيبَ وَتَمَـٰثِيلَ وَجِفَانٍ كَٱلْجَوَابِ وَقُدُورٍ رَّاسِيَـٰتٍ ۚ ٱعْمَلُوٓا۟ ءَالَ دَاوُۥدَ شُكْرًا ۚ وَقَلِيلٌ مِّنْ عِبَادِىَ ٱلشَّكُورُ
YaAAmaloona lahu m a yash a o min ma ha reeba watam a theela wajif a nin ka a ljaw a bi waqudoorin r a siy a tin iAAmaloo a la d a wooda shukran waqaleelun min AAib a diya a l shshakoor u
they made for him whatever he wished of sanctuaries, and statues, and basins as [large as] great watering-troughs, and cauldrons firmly anchored.17 [And We said:] "Labour, O David's people, in gratitude [towards Me]18 - and [remember that] few are the truly grateful [even] among My servants!"19
  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., because of their enormous size. Cf. II Chronicles iii, 10-13, where statues ("images") of cherubim are mentioned, as well as iv, 2-5, describing "a molten sea" (i.e., basin) of huge dimensions, resting upon twelve statues of oxen, and meant to contain water "for the priests to wash in" (ibid., iv, 6). The "sanctuaries" were apparently the various halls of the new temple.

These words, ostensibly addressed to "the people" or "the family" of David, are in reality an admonition to all believers, at all times, since all of them are, spiritually, "David's people".

I.e., even among those who consider themselves God's servants - for "truly grateful [to God] is only he who realizes his inability to render adequate thanks to Him" (Zamakhshari).

They worked for him as he desired: making arches, images, basins as large as reservoirs and built-in cooking cauldrons. We said: "O Family of Dawood! Work gratefully." Only a few of My devotees are truly grateful.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
They made for him whatever he desired of sanctuaries, statues,1 basins as large as reservoirs, and cooking pots fixed 'into the ground'. 'We ordered:' 'Work gratefully, O family of David!' 'Only' a few of My servants are 'truly' grateful.
  - Mustafa Khattab

 Which was permissible at the time of Solomon (ﷺ).

They made for him what he willed: synagogues and statues, basins like wells and boilers built into the ground. Give thanks, O House of David! Few of My bondmen are thankful.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
They worked for him as he desired (making) Arches Images Basins as large as Reservoirs and (cooking) Cauldrons fixed (in their places): "Work ye sons of David with thanks! But few of My servants are grateful!" 3806 3807
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Mihrab (Plural Maharib), translated "arch", may be applied to any fine, elevated, spacious architectural structure. As the reference here is to the Temple of Solomon, the word "arches" is I think most appropriate. "Arches" would be structural Ornaments in the Temple. Images would be like the images of oxen and Cherubim mentioned in II. Chronicles, iv. 3 and iii. 14; the Basons (11. Chronicles iv. 22) were perhaps huge dishes round which many men could sit together and eat, according to ancient Eastern custom, while the cooking Cauldrons or Pots (II. Chronicles, iv. 16), were fixed in one place, being so large in capacity that they could not be moved about. Indian readers will get some idea of them from the huge cooking Degs, which they use in the festivals.

The building of the Temple was a great event in Israelite history. They are asked to be thankful without which all that glory and power would be out of place, and it fell away in a few generations, with the decline of the moral spirit which was at its back.

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