80 Preface وَعَلَّمناهُ صَنعَةَ لَبوسٍ لَكُم لِتُحصِنَكُم مِن بَأسِكُم ۖ فَهَل أَنتُم شاكِرونَYusuf AliIt was We Who taught1 him the making of coats of mail for your benefit, to guard you from each other?s violence: will ye then be grateful?2The making of coats of mails is attributed to David. It is defensive armour, and therefore its discovery and supply is associated with deeds of righteousness in 34:10-11, in contrast with the deadly weapons which man invents for offensive purposes. Indeed, all fighting, unless in defence of righteousness is mere “violence.”David’s good work then was: (1) he was open to learn wisdom wherever it came from; (2) he sang the praises of God, in unison with all nature; (3) he made defensive armour. But all these things he did, because of the faculties which God had given him, and we must be grateful for this and for all things to God.