Muhammad said: Ibn Qutaybah mentioned that the origin of the word is from 'ta'wib' (traveling throughout the day) in travel. He said: It is that one travels the entire day and rests at night, as if the meaning is: Repeat praises along with him throughout the entire day.
Al-Zajjaj mentioned that the origin of the word is from 'aba ya'ubu', meaning: to return, as if he intended: Glorify along with him and repeat the glorification; and God knows best what He intended.
"And the birds"—this is like His saying: "And We subjected the mountains to exalt [Us] with David, and the birds"—meaning: And We subjected the birds to him. "And We made iron pliable for him"—God made it pliable for him; so he would work it without fire and without a hammer, using his three fingers.
قَالَ محمدٌ: ذكر ابْن قُتَيْبَة أَن أصل الْكَلِمَة من التأويب فِي السَّفر. قَالَ: وَهُوَ أَن [يسير] النَّهَار كُله وَينزل لَيْلًا كَأَن الْمَعْنى: أَوِّبي النَّهَار كُله بالتسبيح.
وَذكر الزّجاج: أَن أصل الْكَلِمَة من آبَ يئوب؛ إِذا رَجَعَ، كَأَنَّهُ أَرَادَ: سبحي مَعَه ورَجِّعي التَّسْبِيح؛ فاللَّه أعلم مَا أَرَادَ.
﴿وَالطير﴾ هُوَ كَقَوْلِه: ﴿وَسَخَّرْنَا مَعَ دَاوُدَ الْجبَال يسبحْنَ وَالطير﴾ أَي: وسخرنا لَهُ الطير ﴿وَأَلَنَّا لَهُ الْحَدِيد﴾ ألانه اللَّه لَهُ؛ فَكَانَ يعمله بِلَا نارٍ وَلَا مطرقة بأصابعه الثَّلَاثَة
