DAUD (AS) (DAVID)
Yuushaa (Joshua) bin Nuun (AS), the companion of Musa (AS), took
over after Musa’s death. He was one of the descendants of Yusuf (AS). During
the forty years of roaming in the desert he led the Bani Israiyl and eventually
became their Prophet. At the end of the forty years he took the Bani Israiyl
towards Baitil Maqdis. As we have seen in the previous chapter, the Bani Israiyl
were to enter the Promised Land during Musa’s time but refused to fight and go
in. This time with Yuushaa (AS) there was a new generation as those who were
there with Musa (AS) before had all died.
Yushaa with his people therefore surrounded the City of Al- Quds for six months slowly fighting those who were in it until they
managed to conquer them and entered the City. After this victory, Yuushaa (AS)
became King and Prophet and ruled for twenty-five years. Yuushaa (AS) lived for
twenty-seven years after Musa’s death and lived to an age of one hundred and twenty
seven.
God said to these people: “Enter this town, and eat of the
plenty therein as you wish; but enter the gate with humility, in posture and in
words, and We shall forgive you your faults and increase (the portion of) those
who do good.”
But the transgressors changed the words from that which had been
given to them. The word that the transgressors changed may have been a
password. In the Arabic it is Hittatun which implies humility and prayer
of forgiveness. As they infringed God’s command repeatedly a terrible
punishment ensued them, including the plague, of which 24,000 died.
Thus the Bani Israiyl lived in Palestine after this. And after the
death of Yuushaa (AS), Kings ruled them dealing with political matters and
Prophets ran the religious affairs. Kings were normally from the descendants of
Yahudha bin Yaakub and the Prophets came from the descendants of Laawy bin Yaakub.
Years passed and people lived like this, but slowly they started
going astray again. The worship of idols came back again in area of Shaam and
in particular in Lebanon. And in the town of Baalbak (in Lebanon) there were
people who worshiped an idol by the name of Baal (god of the sun) and from this
was derived the name of Baalbak. God then sent them a Prophet whose name was
Ilyaas (Elijah) bin Yaasin bin Al-Azaar bin L-Uizaar bin Hamn (AS). He is
mentioned in the Quraan by the name of Ilyaas and in some verses as llyaasin.
The following verses (123-132) of Sura As-Saffat (xxxvii) explain this.
So also was Ilyaas among those sent (by Us). * Behold, he said
to his people, ‘Will you not fear (God)? * Will you call upon Baal and forsake
the Best of Creators, -- * God, your Lord and Cherisher of your fathers of
old?” * But they rejected him, and they will certainly be called up (for punishment),
-- * Except the sincere and devoted servants of God (among them). * And We left
(this blessing) for him among generations (to come) in later times. * Peace and
salutation to such as Ilyaas! * Thus indeed do We reward those who do right. * For
he was one of Our believing Servants. *
After Ilyaas (AS) there was a Prophet by the name of Alyasaa (AS)
who is mentioned in the Quraan only by name.
Taaluut (Saul)
After the rule of Yuushaa (AS) there was a period of 320 years when
the Israelites had a checkered history. They were not united among themselves,
and suffered many reverses at the hands of the Midianites, Amelikites and other
tribes of Palestine. They frequently lapsed into idolatry and deserted the worship of
the true God. From time to time a leader appeared among them who assumed
dictatorial powers. Acting under a sort of theocratic commission from God, he
pointed out their backsliding, re-united them under His banner, and restored,
from time to time and place to place, the power of Israel.
There were always wars between the Israelites and these tribes (the
Palestinians) and sometimes they won, and other times they lost. At one time
the Palestinians won the war, and took from the Israelis the Ark of Covenant
(the Taabut), a chest of acacia wood covered and lined with pure gold,
about 5fl.x 3fi.x 3ft. It was to contain the “testimony of God” or the Ten Commandments
engraved on stone, with relics of Musa and Haruun (AS). Its Gold lid was to be
the “Mercy Seat” with two cherubim of beaten gold, with wings outstretched. This
was a sacred possession to Israel.
When the Israelites were defeated there was no one to guide them
and so confusion arose among them until a Prophet by the name of Shamwayl
(Samuel) was sent to them. Shamwayl, also known as Shamoun, or in Arabic as Ismail,
started to lead them through the right way of God. They obeyed and followed his
preaching. After the loss of their Taabut the Bani Israiyl went to their
Prophet, Ismail, and said to him: “Appoint for us a King that we may fight in
the cause of God.”
He said to them: “It is not possible, if you were commanded to fight,
that you will not fight?”
They said: “How could we refuse to fight in the case of God, seeing
that we were turned out of our homes and our families.” But when they were
commanded to fight, they turned back, except a small band among them. But God
has full knowledge of those who do wrong.
Shamwayl (AS) said to them: “God has appointed Taaluut as king
over you.”
Taaluut was tall and handsome, but belonged to the tribe of Binyamin
bin Yaakub, the smallest tribe in Israel. He was poor but was well learned.
They said: “How can he exercise authority over us when we are better
fitted than he to exercise authority, and he is not even gifted, with wealth in
abundance?”
They had expected that one of the descendants of Yahudha bin Yaakub
would be the king, because the kings who came before were from this family.
He said: “God has chosen him above you, and has gifted him abundantly
with knowledge and bodily prowess. God grants His authority to whom He pleases.
God cares for all, and He knows all things. A sign of his authority is that
there shall come to you the Ark of Covenant (the Taabut).”
Shamwayl (AS) was given an inspiration from God to instruct Taaluut
to take his army and go out and fight Jaaluut (Goliath), who was very strong and
was feared by everyone. A large army was thus assembled, commanded by king
Taaluut and headed out towards the desert. The sun was very hot and the army asked
their commander to pray for them for water to drink. Taaluut said to his armies: “God
will test you at the stream, if any of you drinks of its water, he does not go
with my army. Only those who do not taste of it go with me, a mere sip out of the
hand is, however, excused.”
Taaluut had to test his force so as to get rid of the doubtful
ones. Therefore he gave an order of not drinking the water when crossing
the stream and the majority disobeyed and were sent back. He remained with a
few only.
When they had crossed the stream, he and the faithful ones with him
said: “This day we can not cope with Jaaluut and his forces.”
They were appalled by the number of the enemy when they met face
to face, and saw the size and strength of the enemy Commander, the giant
Jaaluut.
However, those who had complete faith in God, said: “How often,
by God’s will, has a small force conquered a big one? God is with those who
constantly persevere.”
When they advanced to meet Jaaluut and his forces, they prayed: “Our Lord! Pour out
constancy on us and make our steps firm, help us against those that reject faith.”
Jaaluut kept his force ready and then sent someone to Taaluut to
tell him to bring out anyone of his strong men to fight him. If this man came
out victorious then the sovereignty would be theirs (the Israelites), but if he
(Jaaluut) killed this man then the sovereignty would remain his. Taaluut asked
his people if there was anyone prepared to go and fight Jaaluut; no one was
ready to die. He then said: “Any one of you who would be ready to go and fight
and came out victorious, I will let him marry my daughter and will make him
commander of my army.”
Here came out among his people a young man, where name was Daud.
He was lean and short and did not seem to have any experience in fighting; he
was just a poor shepherd. He was a very pious young man and had faith in God;
his motto was that “Believing in God makes a man brave and strong.” He thus
said to his commander: “Let me go and face Jaaluut.”
Taaluut looked at him and said: “But you are small and weak and
you do not seem to have any experience in fighting, this man will cut you into
pieces.”
Actually the only weapon Daud (AS) had was a sling; a kind of a
catapult that he used when he was tending flocks. Daud (AS) pleaded to his
commander to let him go. Here Taaluut said to him: “I command you to go and if
you come out victorious, I will make you commander of my army and let you marry
my daughter. Go, may God be with you.”
Taaluut
offered Daud (AS) his arms and armor but he declined them. He therefore went
out without arms or armor but only carrying with him a sack of stones and his
sling, and he approached Jaaluut who was in full armor of steel. Jaaluut, however,
felt in himself a bit of fear when he saw Daud (AS). He said to him: “Are you
the one sent to fight me?”
Daud (AS)
said: “Yes! And I shall kill you by the will of God.”
He said: “Before you realize it, I shall cut you into pieces and
feed you to the wolves.”
Here Daud (AS) took from his bag three stones, put them in his sling
and said: “By the name of God, the Lord of Ibrahim, of
Ishaaq and of Musa.” He took aim and threw them towards Jaaluut.
By the miracle of God the three stones became as one with an equivalent force;
flew directly onto Jaaluut’s forehead and knocked him down. He then took
Jaaluut’s own sword and killed him.
By God’s will they routed them; and David slew Goliath; ... (Al-Baqara
(ii) 251)
There came confusion in Jaaluut’s army, they broke ranks and fled
but were pursued by Taaluut and his army and cut to pieces and thus Taaluut won
the war.
Daud (AS) after this became very famous, and King Jaaluut made
him commander of his army and married his daughter as promised. The worldly
affairs did not bother Daud (AS) because his time was mostly spent worshiping.
Becoming a commander of the King’s army did not make him a snob.
Daud (AS) was gifted with a beautiful voice. It is said that his
voice could be compared to the sound of seventy bugles. He liked birds and animals,
and could understand their languages; and used to feed and nurse them. These
birds and animals knew him and would come from afar to follow him. When he
passed next to the mountains, and while he recited verses of sacred poems, even
the birds and the mountains would sing back with him. He was also gifted in the
use of iron to make armor. He used the iron without using fire to soften it and
would make rings of chain, armor and arms.
Between Taaluut and Daud (AS)
Daud (AS) always won in wars because he went into war putting his
entire faith to his Lord. He knew that winning or losing depended upon the will
of God. He therefore became very brave and even Taaluut became worried about
his own authority over him and was worried of his own sovereignty. When Daud 3(AS)
felt this he used to say: “I am nothing but an ordinary soldier in the King’s
army fighting, with faith in God, for the country. What has got into King
Taaluut’s mind is none but obsession from Satan.”
One day Daud (AS) was called by the King and was commanded to
get his army, and fight the Kanaan people who had returned and were threatening
the kingdom. Daud (AS) felt that it was a trick from the King to send him to
war so as to get rid of him. Nevertheless he obeyed the orders; went to war and
came out victorious. When Taaluut came to know this he became even more jealous
of him. When Daud’s wife came to know that her father wanted to get rid of her
husband, she advised him to get out and run. He therefore left by night on his camel
and went away, knowing that only God would save him from this.
Daud (AS) managed to get a lot of followers while he was in Taaluut’s
army. Therefore most of these deserted and followed Daud (AS) to his hiding place
and joined him. Taaluut then started to torture those who remained behind,
whether or not they were involved in the desertion. He then decided to fight Daud
(AS). However, Daud (AS) did not want to fight him, and one night he tiptoed
into Taaluut’s palace and found him asleep, he took his sword and out off a piece
of his shirt. When Taaluut woke up and found his sword missing, he was worried.
Daud (AS) said to him: “I could have killed you if I wanted but
I am afraid of God and do not wish to harm you.”
Despite all this Taaluut wanted to kill him. Thus Daud (AS) had no
choice; but to prepare for the war against him. The two went into war and Daud
(AS) killed Taaluut.
After the death of king Taaluut, the people chose Daud (AS) to be
their king and therefore he became King and a Prophet. Here again the King and
Prophet was one man. That was after a lapse of four hundred and sixty years
from the death of Yuushaa (AS). He is Daud bin Ayshaa’ (AS) from the descendant
of Yahudha bin Yaakub, thus the Kingship came back to the descendants of Yahudha.
God gave him strength and became very popular among his people.
Daud (AS)
was given the Zabuur or the Book of Psalm of David, in Hebrew language.
… And to David We gave the Psalms. * (An-Nisaa (iv) 163)
In it there are one hundred chapters and was divided into three sections,
with the teachings for the people to follow. In the last section there was
guidance to the people to worship the one God. Daud (AS) built the temple of
worship, which is now known as Baitil-Maqdis. He had a son by the name of
Sulaiman.
Daud (AS) is Put To Test
Daud (AS) divided his daily life into four parts, one for
himself, one for worshipping, one for spending time with his people and listening
to their problems and the fourth one for guiding his people in matters of
religion. Since he was a king, he kept sentries to guard him and to keep people
away when he was in his meditations, as he usually did not want any
disturbance. His people knew the system and followed it strictly.
One day two men came into town. They were not from the Bani
lsraiyl and seemed to be strangers. They, however, had all the qualities
of being gentlemen and seemed to be the type of being pious people. They were
actually Angels who had been sent to Daud (AS) to give him a test and see how
he judged his people in their problems.
Acting as ordinary people, they went to the sentry and asked him
to allow them to go in and meet the king. The sentry told them that the king
was not to be disturbed at that time as he was in his prayers and meditation. There
was no way for the sentry to know that these were not humans but Angels, so he
sent them away. Without being seen they jumped the wall and entered the palace,
went straight to Daud’s prayer room. They found him deep in his meditation, but
when he saw them sitting next to him he got terrified of them and wondered who
these people were who had invaded his privacy.
The two said: “Do not fear, we are two who are in dispute, one of
whom has wronged the other; decide between us with truth and do not treat us
with injustice but guide us to the even path. This man is my brother. He has
ninety-nine ewes, and I have one, yet he says: ‘Commit her to my care,’ and, is
moreover harsh to me in speech.”
Daud (AS) said: “He has undoubtedly wronged you in demanding
your one ewe to be added to his flock of ewes. Truly there are many partners in
business who wrong each other, except a few of those who believe in God and do
deeds of righteousness.”
Here Daud (AS) immediately realized that he had jumped into conclusion
without thinking or listening to the other side of the story; and knew immediately
that the two were Angels who were sent to put him to test. He therefore asked
for forgiveness of his Lord, fell down, bowing (in prostration) and turned (to God
in repentance); he was therefore forgiven. From this test we can see that God
will never leave any problem unturned, be it small or big.
Daud (AS) lived to the age of one hundred years, and was king for
forty years. He was buried in Baitil Maqdis.
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