Prophet Dawood (David) AS was a descendant of the Prophet Yaqub (Jacob). His lineage is traced back to Judah, son of Jacob. He was Dawood bin Yisha (Jesse). He was born in a time when the Children of Israel had strayed from the path of Allah and were under the tyranny of the Philistines, particularly their giant warrior, Jalut (Goliath). Dawood was the youngest of his brothers, small in stature but possessing a heart filled with immense faith and courage.
When the Prophet Samuel (Shammil) appointed Talut (Saul) as king, a small army was gathered to fight the Philistines. Dawood’s elderly father, Yisha, sent his three eldest sons to fight but instructed the youngest, Dawood, to stay back and tend to the sheep. However, Dawood was eventually sent to the front lines, not to fight, but to deliver food and news to his brothers. When he arrived, he found the army of Talut paralyzed by fear.
The giant Goliath (Jalut) stood before the armies, challenging any soldier from King Saul’s army to single combat. He roared with laughter, mocking their fear. The men were terrorized, and no one dared to volunteer. King Saul offered the hand of his daughter in marriage to the man who would defeat the giant, but silence reigned.
Then, to everyone’s surprise, the young Dawood stepped forward. He was not wearing armor, nor did he carry a sword. He told the King: "I have killed a lion and a bear that attacked my father's sheep. Allah, who saved me from them, will save me from this giant." Impressed by his unshakeable faith, King Saul dressed Dawood in his own heavy armor. But Dawood felt restricted; he removed the armor, preferring his simple shepherd's tunic, his staff, and his leather sling.
Dawood walked onto the battlefield. Goliath laughed upon seeing a boy with a stick and a sling. "Am I a dog that you come at me with sticks?" he roared. Dawood replied: "You come to me with a sword and a spear, but I come to you in the name of Allah, the Lord of the armies of Israel!"
Dawood placed a single pebble into his sling. He swung it and released it. Guided by the will of Allah, the stone flew with the speed and impact of a bullet, striking Goliath directly in the forehead. The giant fell dead instantly. The Philistine army, seeing their invincible champion fallen, fled in terror. The Israelites, emboldened, pursued them and achieved a great victory.
Almighty Allah declared:
Dawood (AS) holds a unique distinction in history; he was the first to whom Allah granted both **Kingship (Mulk)** and **Prophethood (Nubuwwah)**. Before him, the Israelites had a King for ruling and a Prophet for guidance. In Dawood, these two authorities were combined. He was a just ruler who governed by the commands of Allah.
Allah revealed to Dawood the Holy Book known as the Zabur (Psalms). Allah gifted him with a voice of unparalleled beauty. When he recited the Psalms, the birds would stop in mid-air to listen, and the mountains would join him in glorifying Allah.
Allah granted Dawood a unique miracle: iron would become soft in his hands like dough, without the need for fire or tools. He used this ability to craft coats of mail (chainmail armor), which were lighter and more flexible than the heavy plate armor used at the time. He sold these to support himself, refusing to take money from the kingdom's treasury for his personal needs.
Despite being a King with vast responsibilities, Dawood was the most devout worshipper of his time. He divided his night into parts for sleep and prayer.
Before Dawood became king, King Saul (Talut) grew jealous of Dawood’s popularity and the people's love for him. Saul plotted to kill him multiple times. Once, while Saul was pursuing him, Dawood found Saul sleeping in a cave. Dawood had the chance to kill him but instead cut a piece of his garment to prove he could have done so but chose mercy. When Saul awoke and saw this, he realized Dawood’s nobility and begged for forgiveness. Eventually, Saul died in battle, and the kingdom passed to Dawood.
Dawood had a son named Solomon (Sulaiman), who displayed immense wisdom from a young age. One day, two men came to Dawood for judgment. One man’s sheep had entered the other man’s field at night and destroyed his crops. Dawood ruled that the sheep should be given to the field owner as compensation. However, young Solomon suggested a better judgment: The field owner should keep the sheep and benefit from their milk and wool only until his field grew back (cultivated by the sheep owner). Once the field was restored, the sheep would be returned. Dawood realized his son’s judgment was superior and adopted it. Allah said: "And We made Solomon to understand (the case)."
One day, Dawood secluded himself for worship. Two angels in the form of men climbed over the wall of his prayer chamber, startling him. They asked him to judge between them: "This brother of mine has ninety-nine ewes (female sheep), and I have only one. He demanded it from me and overpowered me in speech."
Dawood immediately passed judgment without hearing the other side, saying the man with ninety-99 was wrong. He then realized this was a test from Allah regarding fairness and hasty judgment. He prostrated and sought forgiveness.
Dawood (AS) ruled for 40 years. When the angel of death came to him, he was climbing the stairs to his prayer room. He passed away in a state of submission to Allah. Thousands attended his funeral. It was a hot day, and his son Solomon commanded the birds to shade the people with their wings, the first sign of Solomon’s dominion over nature.