18. THE STORY OF DAWOOD (DAVID) – PBUH
He was Dawood, son of ‘Eesha, son of Uwaid, son of Ba‘az, son of Salmoon, son of Nahshoon, son of ‘Uwainazab, son of ’Iram, son of Hisroon, son of Faras, son of Yahooza, son of Ya‘qoob, son of Ishaq, son of Ibraheem, Al-Khaleel (peace be upon them): Allah’s slave and His Prophet, and His Khaleefah in the land of Bait Al-Maqdis. Allah combined in him kingship and Prophethood, the best of this earthly life and the Afterlife. Kings belonged to one lineage and Prophets to another, but in the case of Dawood (Peace be upon him), both were combined in him. This is as Allah, Most High, says, …and Dawood killed Jaloot, and Allah gave him (Dawood) the kingdom (after the death of Taloot and Samuel) and Al-Hikmah (Prophethood), and taught him of that which He willed. And if Allah did not check one set of people by means of another, the Earth would indeed be full of mischief. But Allah is full of Bounty to Al-‘Alameen. (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:251) It means that if kings were not set up to rule over the people, the strong would devour the weak. And Allah says, And indeed We bestowed Grace on Dawood from Us (saying), “O, you mountains! Glorify (Allah) with him! And you birds (also)! And We made the iron soft for him.” Saying, “Make you perfect coats of mail, balancing well the rings of chain armor, and work you (men) righteousness. Truly, I see all that you do.” (Soorah Saba’ 34:10,11) And He, Most High, says, And We subjected the mountains and the birds to glorify Our Praises along with Dawood, And it was We Who was the doer (of all these things). And We taught him the making of metal coats of mail (for battles), to protect you in your fighting. Are you then grateful? (Soorah Al-Anbiya’ 21:79,80) Allah helped him in the making of iron coats of mail, to strengthen them against their enemies and He guided him as to how to make them. He says, “…balancing well the rings of chain armor.” (Soorah Saba’ 34:11) That is, do not make the rivets too loose that the rings (of chain mail) will shake, or make them too tight that they will not be able to move at all, but make it just right. This was said by Mujahid, Qatadah, Al-Hakam and ‘Ikrimah.
And it has been confirmed in an authentic Hadith: “The best thing that a man can eat is that which he has earned by working with his own hands. The Prophet of Allah, Dawood, used to eat from the earnings of his own hands.”
And He, Most High, says, and remember Our slave Dawood, Dhul-Aydi. Verily, he was ever oft-returning in all matters and in repentance (toward Allah). Verily, We made the mountains to glorify Our Praises with him (Dawood) in the ‘ashiyy (i.e. after midday till sunset) and ishraq (i.e. after sunrise till midday). And (so did) the birds assemble, all with him (Dawood) did turn (to Allah i.e. glorified His Praises). We made his kingdom strong and gave him Al-Hikmah and sound judgment in speech and decision. (Soorah Sad 38:17-20) ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) and Mujahid said that Dhul-Aydi (literally, the Owner of Hands) means possessor of strength in obedience (to Allah); i.e. strong in worship and the performance of righteous deeds. Qatadah said, “He was given strength in worship and understanding of Islam.” He added, “And it was reported to us that he used to stand at night (in prayer) and he would fast half of the time.” And it has been confirmed in the Saheehain that the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “The prayer most beloved by Allah is the prayer of Dawood (Peace be upon him) and the fast most beloved by Allah is the fast of Dawood (Peace be upon him): he used to sleep for half of the night, then he would stand (in prayer) for a third of it and then sleep for a sixth of it. And he would fast for a day and break his fast for a day and he would not flee if he encountered (an enemy).”
And He, Most High, says, Verily, We made the mountains to glorify Our Praises with him (Dawood) in the ‘ashiyy and ishraq. And (so did) the birds assemble: all with him (Dawood) did turn (to Allah i.e. glorified His Praises). (Soorah Sad 38:18,19) This is, like His Saying: “O, you mountains! Glorify with him! And you birds (also)!” (Soorah Saba’ 34:10) This was said by ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him), Mujahid and others in the explanation of this Verse. Verily, We made the mountains to glorify Our Praises with him (Dawood) in the ‘ashiyy and ishraq (Soorah Sad 38:18) means at the end of the forenoon and at the start of it. This was because Allah had bestowed on him a beautiful voice, the like of which He had not given to anyone before him, so that whenever he recited His Book (the Zaboor [Psalms]), the birds would stop in the air and sing with him and glorify (Allah) with him, and likewise, the mountains responded to him and glorified (Allah) with him, singing praises with him every morning and evening – may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him.
Imam Ahmad narrated on the authority of ‘A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that she said, “The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) heard the voice of Abu Moosa Al-Ash‘ari (May Allah be pleased with him) when he was reciting (the Qur’an) and he said, “Abu Moosa has been given one of the Psalms of the people of Dawood (Peace be upon him).” And this is in accordance with the conditions for acceptance stipulated by the two Shaikhs (Al-Bukhari and Muslim), though they did not narrate it via this route. In addition to his pleasant voice, he was swift in reciting the Psalms, according to the narration of Imam Ahmad on the authority of Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him), who said, The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Recitation was made easy for Dawood (Peace be upon him); he used to order that his riding beast be saddled and he would finish his recitation before it was saddled and he would not eat except from the fruits of his own labor.”
And He, Most High, says, We made his kingdom strong and gave him Al-Hikmah and sound judgment (Soorah Sad 38:20)means, We gave him a great kingdom and insightful judgment.
As to His Saying: …and gave him Al-Hikmah. (Soorah Sad 38:20) That is, Prophethood. …and sound judgment. Shuraih Al-Qadi, Ash-Sha‘bi and Qatadah said that and sound judgment is testimony and oaths. Qatadah said, “Two witnesses for the plaintiff or an oath on the part of the defendant is meaning of sound judgment.” This is the sound judgment which the Prophets and Messengers judged and the believers and righteous accepted. This is the basis of this Ummah’s judicial system until the Day of Resurrection. This was the view of Abu ‘Abdur-Rahman As-Sulami. Mujahid and As-Suddi said that it means passing the right judgment and understanding the case. Mujahid also said, “It is soundness in speech and in judgment, and this includes all of the above.” This is what is meant, and it is the view favored by Ibn Jareer At-Tabari.
And Allah, Most High, says, And has the news of the litigants reached you? When they climbed over the wall into (his) mihrab (a praying place or a private room). When they entered upon Dawood, he was terrified of them, they said, “Fear not! (We are) two litigants, one of whom has wronged the other, therefore judge between us with truth, and treat us not with injustice, and guide us to the Right Way. Verily, this my brother (in religion) has ninety-nine ewes, while I have (only) one ewe, and he says, “Hand it over to me, and he overpowered me in speech.” (Dawood) said (immediately without listening to the opponent), “He has wronged you in demanding your ewe in addition to his ewes. And, verily, many partners oppress one another, except those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and they are few.” And Dawood guessed that We had tried him and he sought Forgiveness of his Lord, and he fell down prostration and turned (to Allah) in repentance. So We forgave him that, and verily, for him is a near access to Us and a good place of (final) return (Paradise). (Soorah Sad 38:21-25)
Many of the scholars of tafseer from among the earlier and later scholars have related stories and reports in explanation of these Verses, but most of them are Isra’eeliyyat and they include fabricated stories which we have no alternative but to omit from our book. So it is better to speak briefly of this story and refer knowledge of it to Allah, may He be exalted. And Allah guides whom He wills to the Straight Path.
Allah, Most High, says, So We forgave him that, and verily, for him is a near access to Us and a good place of (final) return (Paradise). (Soorah Sad 38:25) That is, on the Day of Resurrection, he will be brought close to Allah by virtue of his good deeds, as confirmed in the Hadith: “Behold! The Dispensers of Justice will be seated on pulpits of light, on the right side of the Merciful, Exalted and Glorious. Either side of Him is the right side, both being equally meritorious. (The Dispensers of Justice are) those who do justice in their rules, in matters relating to their families and in all that they undertake to do.”
Scholars have differed regarding whether the prostration of Soorah Sad is obligatory or one of thanks. There are two opinions in this matter:
Al-Bukhari narrated on the authority of Al-‘Awwam that he said, “I asked Mujahid about the prostration of Soorah Sad and he said, “I asked Ibn ‘Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him), “Why do you prostrate?” He said, “Have you not read …and among his progeny Dawood, Sulaiman. (Soorah Al-An‘am 6:84) (and) They are those whom Allah had guided. So follow their guidance. (Soorah Al-An‘am 6:90) So Dawood (Peace be upon him) was one of those whom your Prophet was commanded to follow. Dawood (Peace be upon him) prostrated here so the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) also prostrated here.”
Imam Ahmad narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) that he said regarding the prostration in Soorah Sad, “It is not one of the obligatory prostrations, but I have seen the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) prostrating in it.”
Al-Bukhari, Abu Dawood, At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa’i narrated likewise on the authority of Ayyoob and At-Tirmidhi said that it is hasan-saheeh. An-Nasa’i said, “Ibraheem Ibn Al-Hasan Al-Maqsami told me: ‘Hajjaj Ibn Muhammad related to us on the authority of ‘Umar Ibn Dharr, who in turn reported on the authority of his father, who likewise reported on the authority of Sa‘eed Ibn Jubair, on the authority of ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) prostrated in Soorah Sad and he said, Dawood (Peace be upon him) performed this prostration out of repentance and we perform it out of thanks’.” Ahmad was alone in narrating this, but all of the men (in the chain of narrators) are trustworthy.
Ibn Abi Hatim said, “It was reported on the authority of Malik Ibn Deenar that he said regarding the Words of Allah: …and verily, for him is a near access to Us and a good place of (final) return (Paradise). (Soorah Sad 38:25) “Dawood will stand on the Day of Resurrection at the foot of the Throne and Allah will say, “O, Dawood! Glorify Me on this Day with that fine and pleasant voice with which you used to glorify Me in the life of the world.” Dawood (Peace be upon him) will say, “How, when You have taken it?” Then Allah will say, “Verily, I return it to you.” Then Dawood (Peace be upon him) will lift up his voice in a manner that will bring forth all of the felicities and delights of the Gardens (of Paradise).” O, Dawood! Verily! We have placed you as a successor on Earth, so judge you between men in truth (and justice) and follow not your desire for it will mislead you from the Path of Allah. Verily! Those who wander astray from the Path of Allah (shall) have a severe punishment, because they forgot the Day of Reckoning. (Soorah Sad 38:26) This was an address from Allah, Most High, to Dawood (Peace be upon him) and what is meant by this is the rulers and governors of the people; He commanded them to be just and to follow the truth sent down from Allah and no other opinions or fancies. And He warned those who follow something other than that and judge according to something other than that, of a severe punishment. And Dawood (Peace be upon him) was the model at that time of justice and frequent worship and all deeds through which one may draw near to Allah (taqarrubat), to such a degree that he would pass an hour of the day or night without the members of his household being engaged in acts of worship, as He, Most High, says, “Work you, O, family of Dawood, with thanks!” But few of My slaves are grateful. (Soorah Saba’ 34:13)
Al-Hafiz Ibn ‘Asakir reported many pleasant and agreeable things in The Biography of Dawood (Peace be upon him), such as his saying: “Be toward the orphan as a compassionate father.” And: “Know that as you sow, so shall you reap.” And he narrated with a chain of narrators that is ghareeb and marfoo‘ that Dawood (Peace be upon him) said, “O, you sower of evil deeds! You shall reap their thorns and their hasak.” And it was reported from Dawood (Peace be upon him) that he said, “The likeness of a foolish orator in the meeting place of the people is as the likeness of the one who sings at the head of a dead person.” He also said, “How ignominious is poverty after wealth, yet how much worse than that is error after guidance.” And he said, “Think of something that you would hate to be said of you in the meeting place of the people and do not do it when you are alone.” And he said, “Never promise your brother that which you do not fulfill for him, for that is enmity between you and him.”
And the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “The best fast is the fast of Dawood (Peace be upon him).” He used to recite the Zaboor in seventy different recitations… and he used to bow in prayer at night and weep in it and everything would weep along with him; and his voice would alleviate the troubled and the sick.
A DESCRIPTION OF DAWOOD’S DEATH
As for his death – may Allah’s Peace be upon him – Imam Ahmad narrated in his Musnad, on the authority of Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Dawood (Peace be upon him) was intensely protective and solicitous of his family and whenever he went out, he would lock the door and no one would visit his family until he returned. He went out one day and the house was locked. His wife happened to look out and saw a man standing in the middle of the courtyard. She said to those within in the house, “From where did this man enter when the house is locked? By Allah, we will bring disgrace on Dawood.” Then Dawood (Peace be upon him) arrived and found the man standing in the middle of the house and he said to him, “Who are you?” He said, “I am the one who fears not the kings and who may not be prevented by a barrier.” Dawood (Peace be upon him) said, “Then by Allah, you are the Angel of Death; I welcome Allah’s Commandment.” Then he remained until his soul had been taken. When he had been washed and shrouded and all matters pertaining to him had been completed, the sun rose upon him and Sulaiman (Peace be upon him) said to the birds, “Shade Dawood,” so they shaded him until the earth covered him. Then Sulaiman (Peace be upon him) said to the birds, “Grasp your wings.” Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said that at this point in the story, the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) grasped his hand to show them what the birds did. On that day, most of the shade was provided by falcons with large wingspans.
By Ibn Katheer
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John Doe
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John Doe
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