Prophet Dawud (A.S.)
Quran References:
Prophet Dawud (AS) is mentioned 16 times in the following verses of the Quran:
(Quran, 2:251, 4:163, 5:78, 6:84, 17:55, 21:78,79, 27:15, 34:10, 38:17, 38:20, 38:22, 38:24-25)
The Challenge of Jalut:
Jalut (Goliath) challenged a soldier from king Talut’s (Saul’s) army to a one-on-one duel.
No one had the courage to volunteer, and Talut offered the hand of his daughter in marriage for the man who would fight Jalut.
A young man stepped forward and everybody began to laugh. This man was Dawud (AS) from the city of Bethlehem.
His father had chosen three of his sons to join Talut’s army, but he instructed Dawud not to take part and help out in other ways.
Talut told Dawud: I admire your courage, but you are no match for the mighty warrior, let the strong men come forward.
Dawud (AS) informed Talut about an occasion where he killed a lion who was threatening his father’s sheep and how he had killed a bear. He informed the king to not make a judgement based on his appearance.
Talut replied: My brave soldier, if you are willing then may Allah guard you and grant you strength.
Talut tried to dress Dawud in battle armour, but he felt uncomfortable in it and removed it.
Prophet Dawud (AS) then collected a few pebbles and filled his leather pouch.
Dawud’s Courage and Reliance in Allah SWT:
The king, Talut asked Dawud (AS): how are you going to defend yourself against this giant?
Dawud (AS) replied: Allah, Who protected me from the claws of the bear and the fangs of the lion will certainly protect me from this brute.
Jalut (Goliath) then said: I will simply cut off your head with one swipe of my sword.
Prophet Dawud (AS) replied: you may have armour, shield and a sword but I face you in the name of Allah, the Lord of the Israelites. Today you will see that it is not the sword that kills you but the will and power of Allah.
Dawud (AS) took a sling and placed a pebble in it and aimed it at Jalut. The pebble shot like an arrow and hit Jalut’s head and from this, blood gushed out and he fell to the ground.
This is how Prophet Dawud (AS) defeated Jalut (Goliath).
The Israelis then followed and killed every soldier they could lay hands on and this is how the Israelis regained their glory and honour, through the heroics of Prophet Dawud (AS).
His Rise in Honour and Status:
Talut (Saul) married his daughter Michal to Dawud and made him a chief advisor.
After killing Jalut (Goliath), Prophet Dawud (AS) went to the desert to praise Allah SWT.
Prophet Dawud (AS) glorified Allah SWT while the mountains birds joined him in praising Allah SWT.
This was a miracle of Allah SWT that was mentioned in the Quran: ‘And we certainly gave Dawud favour from Us. (We said): ‘O mountains, echo with him (in praise), and the birds (as well). And we softened iron for him.’ (Quran, 34:10)
Allah SWT also gave him the ability to understand the language of birds and animals.
His Worship and Fasting:
Prophet Dawud (AS) would fast every other day.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: the most beloved fasting to Allah was the fasting of Dawud who would fast alternate days, and the most beloved prayer to Allah was the prayer of Dawud, who used to sleep for the first half of the night, pray one third of it and then sleep for a sixth of it. (Bukhari)
The Miracle of Iron:
Allah SWT also gave the ability for Iron to be flexible for Dawud. (mentioned in the Ayat above, Quran, 34:10)
Once, an issue occurred where iron armour was too heavy for people to move and fight in. Prophet Dawud (AS) was sitting contemplating this problem whilst playing with a piece of iron.
Suddenly, Allah SWT allowed the iron to become soft.
Dawud as a King:
As time passed, Talut was killed in a battle and Dawud (AS) succeeded him as the king.
Allah SWT strengthened his dominion and made him victorious.
The Birth of a Son:
Prophet Dawud (AS) then had a son named Sulayman.
Character of Dawud:
Dawud (AS) was a just and righteous ruler who brought peace and prosperity to his people. He delivered Allah’s message through the precious gift of his melodious voice.
Prophet Dawud (AS) did not live off the income of his kingdom and he made and sold weapons to earn a living.
His Test of Judgement:
The Quran tells a story in Surah Al-Anbiya’ (Quran: 21:78-79), about a legal case that came to Prophet Dawud (AS).
It is reported that it was between two men, a man who owned a field and another man who owned sheep.
One night, the sheep wandered into the man’s field and they ate/destroyed the crops.
Both men then went to Prophet Dawud (AS) for judgement, who ruled that the owner of the sheep should compensate the owner of the field by giving him the sheep.
This was deemed as a fair ruling because the damage to the field was great.
His Son, Sulayman’s Improved Judgement:
However, Prophet Sulayman (AS), who was very young at that time, suggested a better solution.
Sulayman (AS) said: The owner of the field will keep the sheep temporarily and benefit from their milk and wool while the shepherd repairs and regrows the field. Once the field returns to its original condition, the sheep will go back to their original owner.
The Quran on This Judgement:
Allah SWT praised both Dawud (AS) and his son, Sulayman (AS) but Allah gave Prophet Sulayman deeper insight into this specific ruling.
Allah says in the Quran: ‘We gave understanding of this case to Sulayman, and to both We gave judgement and knowledge.’ (Quran, 21:79)
The Quran on Dawud (AS):
Allah SWT gave Dawud (AS) kingship and prophethood. Allah says: ‘So Dawud killed Jalut, and Allah gave him the kingdom and wisdom.’ (Quran, 2:251)
Allah SWT also gave him the Scripture of the Zabur. Allah says: ‘And we gave Dawud the Zabur.’ (Quran, 17:55)
Allah SWT made him a just leader and judge. Allah says: ‘O Dawud, We have made you a successor (Khalifah) on earth, so judge between the people in truth…’ (Quran, 38:26)