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Dawud (David), the prophet-king and the Psalms (Zabur)
The Prophet Dawud (David)
Origins and Historical Setting
- Born in Bethlehem in Palestine
- Of the Children of Israel
- Period: around 1000 BC
- A descendant of the Prophet Ibrahim
The Fight Against Goliath (Jalut)
The Miraculous Victory
- Serving in the army of King Talut
- Victory over Goliath with a simple sling
- A display of courage and faith
Exceptional Divine Gifts
Physical Strength
- The ability to bend iron
- Exceptional endurance
- Mastery of combat
The Gift of the Zabur
- The divine revelation of the Psalms
- A uniquely beautiful voice
- The mountains and the birds join in his praise
Wisdom in Judgement
- The gift of fair judgement
- Deep understanding
- The settling of complex disputes
Reign and Government
Major Achievements
- Establishing a fair system of justice
- An effective military organisation
- The development of Jerusalem
- The defence of the kingdom's borders
His Personal Practice
Devotion and Work
- Fasting every other day
- Regular night prayer
- Making armour with his own hands
- A modest way of life despite his kingship
Miracles and Special Gifts
In Communion with Nature
- The mountains echo his praise
- The birds gather to listen to him
- Perfect harmony with creation
His Legacy in Islam
A Lasting Influence
- The development of ironworking
- The setting of legal principles
- An influence on religious art
- A model of Islamic governance
Dawud, prophet and king: discover his remarkable story in Islam
The Prophet Dawud (David in English) holds a central place in the story of the prophets of Islam. Allah chose him to guide the people of Israel after the prophet Musa. His story begins when he was still a young shepherd, called by his Lord to face the giant Goliath who was terrorising his people.
Dawud had a beautiful voice that touched the heart. When he recited the psalms revealed by Allah, even the mountains and the birds joined him in his praise. Those psalms, called Zabur in the Quran, are one of the sacred books named by Allah. His voice had the power to calm troubled souls and bring believers closer to their Creator.
Allah also granted him exceptional skill in working iron. Dawud made armour and weapons of remarkable quality. The metal became soft in his hands like dough. That skill allowed him to provide for his family by his own work, setting an example for the believers.
As king and prophet, Dawud established justice among his people with wisdom and fairness. He judged disputes according to the guidance he received from Allah. His reign was a time of prosperity for the Children of Israel. The accounts of his life teach us the importance of patience, gratitude and submission to Allah.
To deepen your knowledge of the prophets, see our full section on the prophets of Islam. You can also enrich your spiritual life by discovering the duas and continue your learning with our reading guide available on reading the Quran.
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ReadYou may be wondering…
Who is the Prophet Dawud in Islam?
Dawud (David) is both a prophet and a king of the Children of Israel, a descendant of Ibrahim. Allah revealed the Zabur to him and granted him kingship, wisdom in judgement and a beautiful voice. He is the father of the prophet Sulayman (Solomon), who succeeded him on the throne.
What is the Zabur revealed to Dawud?
The Zabur is the book revealed by Allah to the prophet Dawud, generally identified with the Psalms. The Quran states: And We gave the Zabur to Dawud (Surah Al-Isra, verse 55). When Dawud recited it in his beautiful voice, the mountains and the birds joined in his praise (Surah Saba, verse 10).
How did Dawud defeat Goliath (Jalut)?
Still a young man, Dawud was in the army of King Talut facing Jalut (Goliath) and his troops. The Quran relates: And Dawud killed Jalut, and Allah gave him kingship and wisdom (Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 251). According to tradition, he struck him down with a simple sling. That victory shows that success depends on Allah's leave, not on numbers.
What is the fast of Dawud?
The fast of Dawud is to fast every other day. In a hadith reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet ﷺ describes it as the fasting most beloved to Allah, adding that the prayer most beloved to Allah is that of Dawud, who slept half the night, prayed a third of it and slept the remaining sixth.
What gifts did Allah grant Dawud?
Allah made iron soft for Dawud, who made coats of mail with his own hands (Surah Saba, verses 10-11) and lived from the work of his hands, as a hadith of Al-Bukhari relates. He also received the Zabur, wisdom, the gift of settling disputes with justice, and a firm rule over his people.