CONCERNING THE VIRTUE OF PROPHET DAWOOD (PEACE BE UPON HIM)
Allah (SWT) says:
“And indeed We bestowed grace on Dawood (David) 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, and balance well the rings of chain armor, and work you (men) righteousness. Truly, I am All-Seer of what you do’.” (Soorah Saba’ 34:10-11)
While discussing his biography, we have mentioned how Prophet Dawood (Peace be upon him) was blessed with a good voice and that Allah subjected the birds to him that glorified Allah along with him. The mountains also hearkened to his call and celebrated the glory of Allah with him. Prophet Dawood was a fast reader. He would order his animals to be saddled and he would finish reading the Psalms before the saddling was finished. He only ate from what he earned by his hand.
Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) also had a beautiful voice when he read the Qur’an. Jubair Ibn Mut‘im narrated that he heard the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) read Soorah At-Teen in Maghreb prayers and that he had never heard any voice more beautiful that his.
The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) would recite the Qur’an with measured recitation as he has been commanded by Allah. As for the birds’ celebration of Allah’s glory along with Prophet Dawood that of the lifeless mountains is more wonderful.
Abu Nu‘aim argued that if birds were made subservient to Dawood, huge and ferocious animals were made obedient to the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him). Examples of this are a straying camel that prostrated in front of him and the wolf that spoke about his Prophethood and believed in his call and message.
As for Prophet Dawood’s eating from earnings of his own hands, the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) also ate from the earnings of his hands. He used to herd sheep for the people of Makkah. And he would say, “There was no Prophet who had not herded sheep.” He also traveled to Sham to conduct a partnership business for Khadeejah. It is in reference to this Allah says:
And they say: “Why does this Messenger (Muhammad) eat food, and walk about in the markets (as we)? Why is not an angel sent down to him to be a warner with him? Or (why) has not a treasure been granted to him, or why has he not a garden whereof he may eat?” And the Zalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers) say: “You follow none but a man bewitched.” See how they coin similitudes for you, so they have gone astray, and they cannot find a (Right) Path.” Till His statement: “And We never sent before you (O Muhammad) any of the Messengers but verily, they ate food and walked in the markets.” (Soorah AlFurqan 25:7-20)
After Allah(SWT) permitted him to do Jihad in Al-Madinah, he would eat from what Allah had made lawful for him of war booties that were not made lawful for the Prophets before him. He said, “I was sent with the sword on the threshold of the Hour that Allah alone should be worshipped without associating any partner with him. My provision is put under the shade of my spear. Ignominy and disgrace are made the lot of whoever opposes my command. And whoever copies a people has become one of them.”
As for softening iron for Dawood (Peace be upon him), it is indeed one of the greatest miracles. He could mold iron into anything he wanted without using fire as easily as he molded dough. With steel, he made armors and shields and Allah commanded him how to do that. He tells us that He commanded him: “And balance well the rings of chain armor.” (Soorah Saba’ 34:11)
It has been mentioned earlier while discussing the Battle of the Trench in the fourth or fifth year of Hijrah that that when Muslims were digging the trench, there was a rock they could not break so they told the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) about it. He went to the rock, after having tied a small rock on his belly out of excessive hunger. He struck the hard rock three times. The first strike generated a sparkling that revealed to him the palaces of Sham; the second strike generated a sparkling that revealed palaces of Persia and the third revealed palaces of San‘a’ (in Yemen). The rock then dissolved as it was a heap of dust. There is no doubt that dissolution of the rock that does not even dissolve when exposed to fire is greater in miracle than softening of steel that easily reacts when exposed to fire.
Abu Nu‘aim said: If it is said that Allah softened steel for Dawood (Peace be upon him) that he made from it perfect coats of mail, this can be countered by the fact that hard rocks were also softened for Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) that they turned into a cave in which he hid from the polytheists during the Battle of Uhud. On this occasion, Allah softened for him the mountain that he was able to insert his head therein. And this is more astounding.
As regards Allah’s statement: “And gave him Al-Hikmah (Prophethood) and sound judgment in speech and decision”, (Soorah Sad 38:20), the Hikmah that Allah gave Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) and the law he sent him with was more complete than the ones He gave to all the Prophets who came before him (peace be upon them all).
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “I have been given the keys of eloquent speech.”
There is no doubt that the Arabs are the most eloquent people and the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) was the most eloquent of all Arabs. He was endowed with combination of all excellent qualities.
By Ibn Katheer
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