All Prophets
Prophet #17

داوود

Dawud (David)Prophet-King; the Zabur (Psalms) was revealed to him

Also known as: David, Khalifat Allah fil-Ard (Vicegerent of Allah on Earth)

Nation / People

The Children of Israel in the Levant (Palestine)

Period

Approximately 1,000 BCE; the era of the united Israelite Kingdom

Lifespan

100 years according to some narrations

Burial Place

Al-Quds (Jerusalem), in the City of David

Message

Justice in leadership, gratitude for divine gifts, humility before Allah, and the importance of seeking forgiveness quickly when one errs.

Lineage

  1. 1.
    Jesse (Isha)- Father
  2. 2.
    Obed- Grandfather
  3. 3.
    Yahudha (Judah)- Ancestor
  4. 4.
    Yaqub- Ancestor

Key Miracles

  • Iron softened like clay in his hands, allowing him to fashion armour without fire or hammer
  • The mountains and birds echoed his glorification of Allah (tasbih)
  • Killed Jalut (Goliath) with a stone slung from his sling as a young man
  • The Zabur (Psalms) was revealed to him
  • Given unusual wisdom in judging legal disputes

Key Stories

  • Killed the tyrant Jalut (Goliath) as a young soldier, contrary to all expectation
  • Became king over the Children of Israel
  • Tested with a complex case of two men and a flock of sheep; his initial hasty judgement was corrected
  • Repented with great remorse after his error of judgement
  • His son Sulayman was appointed his successor

Mentioned in the Quran

Surah al-Baqarah (2:251)Surah al-Anbiya (21:78-80)Surah Sad (38:17-26)Surah al-Naml (27:15)

Special Characteristics

One of the few Prophet-Kings in Islam. He was gifted with a remarkably beautiful voice and sang the praises of Allah, with the mountains and birds joining in glorification. He is noted for his extraordinary fasting: he fasted every alternate day, which the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ described as the best of fasting.