Prophet Dawud (David): King, Prophet, and Psalmist

Prophet Dawud (David, peace be upon him) holds a unique position among the prophets of Allah: he was simultaneously a prophet, a king, and a recipient of divine scripture. Allah says: "And We gave Dawud the Zabur (Psalms)" (Quran 4:163). He is praised in the Quran as a model of devotion and gratitude: "Work, O family of Dawud, in gratitude. And few of My servants are grateful" (Quran 34:13). His story illustrates how worldly authority and spiritual excellence can coexist when guided by divine revelation.

The Defeat of Jalut (Goliath)

Before becoming king, Dawud was a young soldier in the army of Talut (Saul), the king appointed by the prophet Samuel over the Israelites. When the armies of the Israelites faced the forces of Jalut (Goliath), a massive warrior, Dawud stepped forward and killed him: "So they defeated them by permission of Allah, and Dawud killed Jalut" (Quran 2:251). This victory established Dawud as a hero among his people. Allah then granted him kingship and prophethood: "And Allah gave him the kingship and wisdom and taught him of whatever He willed" (Quran 2:251).

The Zabur and His Worship

Allah revealed to Dawud the Zabur (Psalms), a scripture of praise, supplication, and wisdom. Dawud was given an extraordinarily beautiful voice; the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Dawud was given the most beautiful voice of all people" (Sahih al-Bukhari). When he recited the Zabur, the mountains and birds would join him in glorifying Allah: "Indeed, We subjected the mountains to glorify with him in the evening and after sunrise, and the birds assembled, all of them returning to him" (Quran 38:18-19). His worship was exemplary: the Prophet said, "The most beloved prayer to Allah is the prayer of Dawud, and the most beloved fasting to Allah is the fasting of Dawud. He used to sleep half the night, stand in prayer for a third, and sleep a sixth, and he used to fast every other day" (Sahih al-Bukhari).

Dawud's Kingdom and Craftsmanship

Allah granted Dawud extraordinary abilities. He taught him the craft of making armor: "And We taught him the fashioning of coats of armor to protect you from your battle. So will you be grateful?" (Quran 21:80). Dawud ruled with justice, and the Quran records an episode where two litigants came to him and he judged between them (Quran 38:21-26), after which he sought Allah's forgiveness for a perceived shortcoming in his judgment. His humility before Allah, despite his power and status, is a central lesson of his story. Dawud's son Sulayman inherited both his kingdom and his prophethood.