Hadith #425

Arabic Text

English Translation

Qutaybah narrated to us: Ya'qub ibn 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Muhammad, meaning al-Qari, narrated to us, from 'Amr ibn Abi 'Amr, from al-Muttalib, from Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه), that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'the Prophet ﷺ Dawud (عليه السلام) was intensely jealous, and whenever he went out, the doors would be locked and no one would enter upon his family until he returned. One day he went out and the house was locked. His wife looked down into the courtyard and saw a man standing in the middle of it. She said to those in the house: Where did this man enter from while the house is locked? By Allah, you will be put to shame before Dawud! When Dawud came and saw the man standing in the middle of the courtyard, he said to him: Who are you? The man said: I am the one whom kings do not frighten, and nothing can prevent me. Dawud said: You are, by Allah, the Angel of Death. Welcome to the command of Allah! Dawud remained in his place where his soul was taken until the matter was completed and the sun began to beat down on him. Sulayman (عليه السلام) said to the birds: Shade Dawud! So the birds shaded him until the earth became dark over them both. Then Sulayman told them: Fold your wings, one by one.' Abu Hurayrah said: the Messenger of Allah ﷺ showed us how the birds did it, and he held out his hand on that occasion, and it was the palm-down gesture that prevailed.