Stories of the Prophets | Episode (28) | The story of David, peace be upon him

0:00 Stories of the Prophets.

0:02 Stories of the Prophets,

0:05 peace be upon them.

0:07 The blessings of Allah,

0:09 followed

0:11 by peace,

0:13 be upon the best of all

0:15 creation,

0:17 the resolute Messengers

0:20 whose station

0:22 is exalted.

0:24 The story of David (Dawud),

0:26 peace be upon him.

0:28 In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

0:32 All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds,

0:34 and may peace and blessings

0:36 be upon our Prophet Muhammad,

0:38 and upon his family and Companions,

0:40 all together.

0:42 To proceed:

0:44 The Children of Israel remained

0:46 on the path of uprightness

0:48 for a period of time.

0:50 Then, they innovated

0:52 corrupt practices after that,

0:54 committed abominations,

0:56 and some of them worshipped idols.

0:58 Yet there never ceased to be among

1:00 them prophets

1:02 who enjoined good upon them,

1:04 forbade them from evil,

1:06 and kept them steadfast upon the Torah,

1:08 until they committed what they committed

1:10 of destructive sins.

1:12 So Allah gave power over them

1:14 to their enemies, who inflicted upon them

1:16 a great slaughter,

1:18 took many captives,

1:20 seized from them many

1:22 lands,

1:24 and even stripped them of the Ark (Tabut),

1:26 which was an inheritance

1:28 of the servants of Allah, peace be upon him,

1:30 and took the Torah from their hands,

1:32 so that none remained who memorized it

1:34 among them except very few.

1:36 After a long time,

1:40 faith was rekindled

1:42 among them anew,

1:44 and they asked a prophet of theirs,

1:46 named Samuel (Shamwil),

1:48 to appoint for them a king

1:50 to lead them in a battle of dignity

1:52 against the enemies

1:54 who had stripped them of their sovereignty,

1:56 their wealth, and their homes.

1:58 When their prophet wished

2:00 to verify the sincerity of their resolve

2:02 to fight,

2:04 he said to them:

2:06 "I fear that if fighting is ordained for you,

2:08 you will not fight,

2:10 and you will go back on your word."

2:12 They denounced this statement of his,

2:14 and their enthusiasm rose

2:16 to its peak, saying:

2:18 “Bethink thee of the leaders of the Children of Israel after Moses, how they said unto a prophet whom they had: Set up for us a king and we will fight in Allah's way. He said: Would ye then refrain from fighting if fighting were prescribed for you? They said: Why should we not fight in Allah's way when we have been driven from our dwellings with our children? Yet, when fighting was prescribed for them, they turned away, all save a few of them. Allah is aware of evil-doers.” (2:246)

2:20 "in the cause of Allah,

2:22 “Bethink thee of the leaders of the Children of Israel after Moses, how they said unto a prophet whom they had: Set up for us a king and we will fight in Allah's way. He said: Would ye then refrain from fighting if fighting were prescribed for you? They said: Why should we not fight in Allah's way when we have been driven from our dwellings with our children? Yet, when fighting was prescribed for them, they turned away, all save a few of them. Allah is aware of evil-doers.” (2:246)

2:24 and our children?"

2:26 When their prophet saw that resolve in them,

2:28 he supplicated Allah Almighty

2:30 for them.

2:32 But when Allah prescribed

2:34 fighting upon them, they turned away,

2:36 except for a few of them,

2:38 as was the habit

2:40 of the Children of Israel in breaking covenants,

2:42 reneging on promises,

2:44 and scattering

2:46 halfway through the path.

2:50 Allah chose for the Children of Israel

2:52 a king called Saul (Talut).

2:54 He was a water-carrier,

2:56 and it was also said

2:58 he was a tanner.

3:00 It was customary among them

3:02 that prophethood belonged to

3:04 the tribe of Levi,

3:06 and kingship belonged to the tribe of Judah.

3:08 So when Allah chose

3:10 Talut as king over them,

3:12 and he was from the tribe of Benjamin,

3:14 they felt aversion toward him

3:16 and challenged his leadership,

3:18 saying: "We are more worthy

3:20 of kingship than he."

3:22 They also cited that he was poor

3:24 with little wealth.

3:26 Their prophet said to them:

3:28 “Their Prophet said unto them: Lo! Allah hath raised up Saul to be a king for you. They said: How can he have kingdom over us when we are more deserving of the kingdom than he is, since he hath not been given wealth enough? He said: Lo! Allah hath chosen him above you, and hath increased him abundantly in wisdom and stature. Allah bestoweth His Sovereignty on whom He will. Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing.” (2:247)

3:30 "and has increased him abundantly

3:32 in knowledge,"

3:34 so that he might master through it

3:36 matters of politics, military strategy,

3:38 and the management of battles,

3:40 "and stature,"

3:42 so that his presence and impact would be formidable

3:44 in hearts and on the battlefield.

3:46 They said to their prophet:

3:48 "If you are truthful,

3:50 bring us a sign

3:52 proving that he is the king."

3:54 So their prophet gave them the choice

3:56 of whatever sign they desired,

3:58 and they said:

4:00 "That the Ark be returned to us."

4:02 It was a chest overlaid

4:04 with plates of gold,

4:06 containing tranquility and dignity,

4:08 as well as remnants

4:10 of the relics of Moses and Aaron,

4:12 peace be upon them,

4:14 which were Moses' staff, his garments,

4:16 and some of the Tablets in which

4:18 the Torah was written.

4:20 Thereupon, the angels came carrying

4:22 the Ark between heaven and earth,

4:24 until they placed it

4:26 right before Talut,

4:28 while the people looked on.

4:30 So they believed in the prophethood of Samuel

4:32 and obeyed Talut.

4:38 Talut set out with an army numbering

4:40 eighty thousand,

4:42 but he knew

4:44 that he would face a massive army

4:46 that surpassed them in equipment

4:48 and outnumbered them,

4:50 containing fierce and mighty warriors.

4:54 Talut also knew

4:56 that his army came from a defeated

4:58 nation that had known

5:00 defeat and humiliation for a long

5:02 history.

5:04 So he wanted to test them before reaching

5:06 the battlefield,

5:08 and said to them:

5:10 "Allah will test you

5:12 with a river; whoever drinks

5:14 from it is not of me,"

5:16 meaning: he shall not accompany me,

5:18 “And when Saul set out with the army, he said: Lo! Allah will try you by (the ordeal of) a river. Whosoever therefore drinketh thereof he is not of me, and whosoever tasteth it not he is of me, save him who taketh (thereof) in the hollow of his hand. But they drank thereof, all save a few of them. And after he had crossed (the river), he and those who believed with him, they said: We have no power this day against Goliath and his hosts. But those who knew that they would meet Allah exclaimed: How many a little company hath overcome a mighty host by Allah's leave! Allah is with the steadfast.” (2:249)

5:20 "except whoever scoops

5:22 a single scoop with his hand,"

5:24 meaning: there is no harm upon him.

5:26 Yet they drank from it, except

5:28 for a few of them.

5:30 Here the ranks were purged

5:32 anew,

5:34 and thousands upon thousands departed from it,

5:36 turning back on their heels.

5:38 Ibn Abbas,

5:40 may Allah be pleased with him and his father, said:

5:42 "Whoever scooped from it with his hand

5:44 had his thirst quenched, but whoever drank

5:46 deeply from it was not quenched."

5:48 So seventy-six thousand drank,

5:50 and there remained

5:52 with him only four thousand.

5:54 When they went out

5:57 onto the battlefield

5:59 and faced the combat,

6:01 they caught sight of fierce warriors

6:03 among their enemies,

6:05 superior to them in readiness

6:07 and surpassing them in equipment,

6:09 with Goliath (Jalut), their valiant champion,

6:11 leader, and chief of

6:13 their battalion, charging

6:15 and roaming about.

6:17 Thus, Talut's companions split into two groups:

6:19 one group whose

6:21 resolve faltered,

6:23 whose hearts were struck with terror,

6:25 and whose strength gave out,

6:27 saying: "We have no

6:29 power today against Jalut and his soldiers."

6:31 So these men fell away

6:33 from the believing army.

6:35 But another group among them

6:37 had their morale

6:39 remain patient and steadfast;

6:41 they were the ones whose hearts were filled with faith,

6:43 imbued with the love of Allah Almighty,

6:45 and prepared

6:47 for death.

6:49 The great number of their enemies did not trouble them,

6:51 nor were they deterred

6:53 by their own small numbers.

6:55 Thus, they were reduced to three hundred

6:57 and some-odd men.

6:59 They said,

7:01 “And when Saul set out with the army, he said: Lo! Allah will try you by (the ordeal of) a river. Whosoever therefore drinketh thereof he is not of me, and whosoever tasteth it not he is of me, save him who taketh (thereof) in the hollow of his hand. But they drank thereof, all save a few of them. And after he had crossed (the river), he and those who believed with him, they said: We have no power this day against Goliath and his hosts. But those who knew that they would meet Allah exclaimed: How many a little company hath overcome a mighty host by Allah's leave! Allah is with the steadfast.” (2:249)

7:03 "has overcome a large company

7:05 by Allah's permission,

7:07 and Allah is with the patient."

7:09 And when they went forth

7:12 against Goliath and his soldiers,

7:14 they prayed: "Our Lord, pour down

7:16 upon us patience,

7:18 plant our feet firmly,

7:20 and grant us victory over the disbelieving people."

7:22 This group,

7:24 deeply connected to Allah,

7:26 is the one that determines the outcome

7:28 of the battle, once

7:30 it renews its covenant with Allah,

7:32 turns its heart

7:34 entirely toward Him, seeking victory

7:36 from Him alone,

7:38 as it stands alone facing that

7:40 terrifying situation.

7:43 Among the followers of Saul was

7:45 a young youth,

7:47 seventeen years of age,

7:49 named David.

7:51 He used to tend his family's sheep.

7:53 He went out along with

7:55 his elder brothers

7:57 to confront Goliath's army.

7:59 When the two opposing ranks drew up,

8:01 Goliath stepped forward,

8:03 strutting between the two battle lines.

8:05 He was one of the mighty

8:07 giants,

8:09 a formidable, valiant warrior

8:11 whom none could withstand.

8:13 He called out for single combat,

8:15 striking dread into the hearts of the people,

8:17 who shrank back from dueling him.

8:19 Saul then announced:

8:21 "Whoever goes out to face him

8:23 and slays him, I will give him

8:25 my daughter in marriage, and he shall have

8:27 kingship after me."

8:29 David came forward

8:31 and said, "I will go out

8:33 against him." But Saul looked down upon him

8:35 when he saw him, owing to his tender

8:37 age and slight stature.

8:39 Saul called out

8:41 a second and a third time,

8:43 yet no one stepped forward.

8:45 David approached him again and said,

8:47 "I will go out against him

8:49 and slay him, if Allah wills."

8:51 Saul then granted him permission.

8:53 So David stepped down, took up

8:55 his weapon and his sling,

8:57 and marched out toward Goliath.

8:59 When Goliath saw him,

9:01 he belittled him and said,

9:03 "Are you, a mere lad, coming out

9:05 against me?"

9:07 David replied, "Yes,

9:09 and I am the one who will kill you."

9:11 Goliath was enraged

9:13 and moved to strike David with his sword.

9:15 David dodged

9:17 his blow,

9:19 then loaded his sling,

9:21 pronounced the Name of Allah,

9:23 and struck Goliath right in the head,

9:25 felling him to the ground.

9:27 He then severed his head and cast it

9:30 before his army.

9:32 Chaos erupted among the enemy ranks,

9:34 and they suffered an utter defeat.

9:36 Allah,

9:38 the Blessed and Exalted, bestowed upon His servant

9:40 David the kingship over the Children

9:42 of Israel after Saul,

9:44 and granted him prophethood,

9:46 which is even more noble than kingship,

9:48 succeeding Samuel,

9:50 peace be upon him,

9:52 further elevating him

9:54 in ranks of honor and perfection.

9:56 Never before had

9:58 kingship and prophethood been united in a single person

10:00 among the Children of Israel prior to him.

10:02 From this moment,

10:04 the star of the Prophet of Allah,

10:06 David, peace be upon him, began to shine.

10:08 Allah favored

10:11 David, peace be upon him,

10:13 with immense blessings, teaching him

10:15 unique matters with which He distinguished him above all others,

10:17 and praised him

10:19 for qualities that set him apart

10:21 from the rest of mankind.

10:23 Among these favors

10:25 was that Allah, Glorified and Exalted,

10:27 firmly established his reign

10:29 by inspiring awe for him

10:31 in the hearts of the people,

10:33 making him the mightiest of earthly kings

10:35 in authority.

10:37 Every night, his prayer chamber was guarded

10:39 by thirty-six

10:41 thousand men,

10:43 whose turn to guard would not recur

10:45 until the following year.

10:47 David, peace be upon

10:49 him, ruled for forty years,

10:51 and throughout his reign, there was never

10:53 any attempt to challenge

10:55 or oppose him.

10:59 Allah also granted him wisdom—

11:01 which is prophethood—

11:03 and sound judgment in speech,

11:05 namely, a profound,

11:07 piercing understanding of legal disputes,

11:09 along with sound,

11:11 decisive verdicts in all conflicts.

11:13 It also encompasses eloquence of address

11:15 and mastery of speech;

11:17 indeed, he was the first to use the phrase

11:19 "amma ba'd" (to proceed),

11:21 whenever he intended to transition to a new subject.

11:23 Furthermore, Allah granted

11:26 David, peace be upon him, the Psalms (Zabur),

11:28 which was a scripture

11:30 revealed from Allah

11:32 comprising one hundred and fifty chapters,

11:34 all consisting of supplications,

11:36 glorification, and praise

11:38 of Allah, Mighty and Majestic.

11:40 It contained no rulings of the permissible and impermissible,

11:42 nor prescribed obligations,

11:44 nor legal penalties.

11:46 Its recitation was made exceptionally effortless for him;

11:48 he would order his mount

11:50 to be saddled,

11:52 and he would finish reciting the entire Zabur

11:54 before the saddling of his mount was completed.

11:56 Among that which was inscribed in it:

11:58 “And verily we have written in the Scripture, after the Reminder: My righteous slaves will inherit the earth:” (21:105)

12:00 "the righteous servants of Allah,"

12:02 referring to Muhammad,

12:04 peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and his Ummah.

12:06 Allah also blessed him

12:09 with a melodious, remarkably sweet voice;

12:11 whenever

12:13 he chanted praises to Allah with it,

12:15 the firm, towering,

12:17 solid mountains would echo praises alongside him,

12:19 and the birds would halt in midair

12:21 as they flew out at dawn

12:23 and returned at dusk,

12:25 responding to his chanting in all their various tongues.

12:27 Everyone who heard him was enchanted by it,

12:29 from among humans, jinn,

12:31 birds, and mountains,

12:33 so they all glorified Allah along with him,

12:35 and he would earn the reward

12:37 for their glorification

12:39 since he was the cause of it.

12:41 In the Sahih, it is related

12:43 that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,

12:45 once heard the voice of Abu Musa

12:47 al-Ash'ari, may Allah be pleased with him,

12:49 reciting during the night;

12:51 he paused to listen

12:53 to his recitation,

12:55 and then said:

12:57 "This man has indeed been granted one of the flutes

12:59 from the musical instruments of the family of David."

13:01 Allah, Exalted is He,

13:04 also described David, peace be upon him,

13:06 as being "awwab,"

13:08 meaning one who constantly turns

13:10 to Allah in repentance and devotion,

13:12 and as "dhal-ayd" (possessor of strength),

13:14 meaning that he possessed

13:16 great strength and endurance in acts of obedience

13:18 and worship.

13:20 It is recorded in the Sahihayn that the Messenger of Allah,

13:22 peace be upon him,

13:24 said:

13:26 "The most beloved prayer to Allah

13:28 is the prayer of David,

13:30 and the most beloved fast to Allah

13:32 is the fasting of David.

13:34 He used to sleep half of the night,

13:36 pray for a third of it,

13:38 and sleep for its sixth.

13:40 He would also fast on alternate days,

13:42 fasting one day and not fasting the next,

13:44 and he never fled when facing the enemy."

13:47 Allah also praised David,

13:49 peace be upon him, with patience,

13:51 and He commanded our Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,

13:53 to be patient with the harm of Quraysh,

13:55 reminding him

13:57 of the patience of Dawud (David), peace be upon him,

13:59 so that he might follow his example.

14:01 Allah Almighty said:

14:03 "Be patient over what they say

14:06 and remember

14:08 Our servant, Dawud,

14:10 the possessor of strength; indeed, he was

14:12 repeatedly turning back to Allah.

14:14 Indeed, We

14:16 subjected the mountains with him,

14:18 exalting Allah in the evening

14:20 and at sunrise,

14:22 and the birds gathered,

14:24 each to Him

14:26 turning back.

14:28 And We strengthened his kingdom

14:30 and gave him wisdom

14:32 and sound judgment."

14:34 And Allah,

14:38 Glorified and Exalted be He,

14:40 favored Dawud, peace be upon him, with something

14:42 that was given to no one before him

14:44 nor after him:

14:46 He softened iron for him.

14:48 Iron in his hands was

14:50 like wax and dough;

14:52 he could fashion whatever he willed from it

14:54 without fire or striking

14:56 with a hammer.

14:58 It is narrated that Dawud, peace be upon him,

15:00 used to go out in disguise

15:02 and ask the people about their king,

15:04 Dawud, and about his conduct.

15:06 He would not ask anyone

15:08 without them praising him with good.

15:10 Then Allah sent

15:12 an angel in the form of a man.

15:14 Dawud met him

15:16 and asked him just as he was accustomed to

15:18 ask others.

15:20 He said, "He is the best of people

15:22 for himself and for his nation,

15:24 except that he has one trait:

15:26 if it were not for it,

15:28 he would be complete."

15:30 Dawud asked, "And what is it?"

15:32 He replied, "He eats

15:34 and feeds his family

15:36 from the public treasury of the Muslims."

15:38 At that moment,

15:40 Dawud, peace be upon him, turned

15:42 toward his Lord in supplication,

15:44 asking Him to teach him a craft

15:46 by which he could be self-sufficient and sustain himself,

15:48 and feed his family.

15:51 So Allah softened iron for him

15:53 and taught him the craft of making coats of chainmail;

15:55 he was the first to make them.

15:57 Allah instructed him

15:59 to make them full-length coats of mail

16:01 that cover the entire body,

16:03 and to measure

16:05 the links precisely:

16:07 neither too small

16:09 so as to weigh down the warrior,

16:11 nor too loose

16:13 such that spears could penetrate them

16:15 and swords could cut through them,

16:17 but rather balanced between that.

16:19 Allah Almighty said:

16:21 "And We certainly gave

16:23 Dawud from Us

16:25 bounty:

16:27 'O mountains, repeat Our praises

16:29 with him, and the birds as well.'

16:31 And We softened

16:33 for him iron:

16:37 'Make full coats of mail

16:39 and calculate precisely the links,

16:41 and work righteousness.

16:43 Indeed I, of whatever

16:45 you do, am All-Seeing.'"

16:50 Thus, Dawud, peace be upon him,

16:52 used to make coats of mail with his own hands

16:54 and sell them;

16:56 he would eat from their price

16:58 and give in charity.

17:00 For despite being a king

17:02 whom Allah had established firmly in the earth,

17:04 nevertheless he would not

17:06 eat except from the work of his own hands.

17:08 One day,

17:11 while Dawud, peace be upon him,

17:13 was alone by himself,

17:15 worshiping in his sanctuary,

17:17 having closed his door,

17:19 he was startled by a group

17:21 scaling the walls of the sanctuary upon him.

17:23 He was terrified of them

17:25 because they had entered upon him

17:27 at an unusual time

17:29 and without seeking permission,

17:31 and because of how they managed

17:33 to bypass all the guards

17:35 and reach him.

17:37 In reality,

17:39 they were none other than

17:41 angels.

17:43 They said to him,

17:45 "Do not fear.

17:48 We are two disputants who have differed

17:50 between ourselves,

17:52 and we have come to you so that you may judge

17:54 between us with truth.

17:56 Do not exceed the bounds by inclining

17:58 toward either party."

18:00 One of the disputants said,

18:02 "Indeed, this is my brother;

18:04 “Lo! this my brother hath ninety and nine ewes while I had one ewe; and he said: Entrust it to me, and he conquered me in speech.” (38:23)

18:06 and I have only one,

18:08 yet he demanded it from me

18:10 to add it to his ewes,

18:12 and he pressured me

18:14 and overpowered me in speech

18:16 because he is stronger

18:18 and more articulate than I am."

18:20 Faced with this matter

18:22 which seemed so clear,

18:24 and with his brother raising no objection

18:26 to what he said,

18:28 Dawud did not hesitate to say

18:30 in his judgment:

18:32 “(David) said: He hath wronged thee in demanding thine ewe in addition to his ewes, and lo! many partners oppress one another, save such as believe and do good works, and they are few. And David guessed that We had tried him, and he sought forgiveness of his Lord, and he bowed himself and fell down prostrate and repented.” (38:24)

18:34 "to his ewes."

18:36 That was before he had heard

18:38 from the other party.

18:40 Thereupon, the two disputants vanished,

18:42 and Dawud,

18:44 peace be upon him, realized his mistake.

18:46 He knew that this

18:48 was a test for him from Allah;

18:50 he ought to

18:52 have heard from both parties

18:54 before issuing a ruling.

18:56 Therefore, he fell down

18:58 prostrating to Allah Almighty

19:00 and repented.

19:03 Allah Almighty said:

19:05 "And has there come to you

19:07 the news of the disputants, when they climbed over the wall of

19:09 the sanctuary?

19:11 “How they burst in upon David, and he was afraid of them. They said: Be not afraid! (We are) two litigants, one of whom hath wronged the other, therefor judge aright between us; be not unjust; and show us the fair way.” (38:22)

19:13 When they entered upon Dawud and he was frightened of them,

19:15 they said, 'Fear not.

19:17 We are two disputants, one of whom has wronged

19:19 the other,

19:21 so judge between us

19:23 with truth,

19:25 so judge between us with truth

19:27 and do not exceed the bounds,

19:29 and guide us to the even

19:31 path.

19:33 Indeed, this

19:35 is my brother; he has ninety-nine

19:37 ewes,

19:39 while I have one ewe,

19:41 while I have one ewe,

19:43 so he said,

19:45 "Entrust it to me,"

19:47 and he overpowered me in speech.'

19:49 Dawud said, 'He has certainly

19:51 wronged you in demanding

19:53 your ewe in addition to his ewes.

19:55 And indeed, many

19:57 partners

19:59 oppress

20:01 one another,

20:03 oppress one another,

20:05 except those who believe

20:07 and do righteous deeds—

20:09 and few are they.'

20:11 And Dawud became certain

20:13 that We had only tested him,

20:15 so he asked forgiveness of

20:17 his Lord

20:19 and fell down bowing

20:21 and repented.

20:23 So We forgave him that;

20:25 and indeed, for him

20:27 with Us

20:29 is a near access

20:31 and a good place of return.

20:33 'O Dawud,

20:35 indeed We have made you

20:37 a successor upon the earth,

20:39 so judge between the people

20:41 in truth,

20:43 "So judge between the people

20:45 in truth,

20:47 so judge between the people

20:49 in truth,

20:51 and do not follow desire,

20:53 lest it mislead you from the path

20:55 of Allah."

20:57 "Indeed, those who go astray

20:59 from the path of Allah

21:01 will have a punishment

21:03 severe,

21:05 will have a punishment

21:07 severe,

21:09 because they forgot the Day

21:13 of Reckoning."

21:15 Dear honorable brothers,

21:17 the Prophet of Allah

21:19 Dawud, peace be upon him,

21:21 has been mentioned in the Qur'an sixteen times.

21:23 And from his story,

21:25 we derive many lessons

21:27 and morals.

21:29 Among them is that Allah's Sunnah

21:31 is executed among His creation,

21:33 just as He destroyed the leader of the Amalekites, Goliath (Jalut),

21:35 by the slingshot of Dawud,

21:37 peace be upon him,

21:39 and destroyed his people, who possessed superior numbers

21:41 and equipment,

21:43 through merely three hundred and a dozen or so

21:45 men who believed in Allah.

21:48 High positions do not alter

21:50 a person's true character.

21:52 For Dawud, peace be upon him,

21:54 despite the kingdom and immense wealth he possessed,

21:56 was nonetheless a blacksmith

21:58 who ate from the labor of his own hands,

22:00 and he was constant in fasting and standing in night prayer,

22:02 abundant in the remembrance and glorification

22:04 of Allah Almighty.

22:06 The grace of Allah Almighty

22:09 upon Dawud, peace be upon him:

22:11 Adam, peace be upon him, saw him

22:13 in the primordial realm ('Alam al-Dharr)

22:15 among his descendants,

22:17 and between his eyes

22:19 was a shining glimmer of light.

22:21 So he asked about him,

22:23 and Allah said:

22:25 "This is a righteous servant

22:27 from among the latter generations of your offspring."

22:29 Allah Almighty

22:32 praises and loves

22:34 strength in His obedience—

22:36 strength of both heart and body.

22:38 For indeed, there results from it

22:40 effects of obedience, its excellence,

22:42 and its abundance

22:44 such as cannot be attained with feebleness

22:46 and lack of strength.

22:48 And a servant ought to adopt

22:50 the means to attain it,

22:52 and not succumb to laziness and idleness,

22:54 which compromise strength

22:56 and weaken the soul.

22:59 Allah Almighty's care

23:01 for His prophets and chosen ones

23:03 whenever any lapse occurs on their part,

23:05 by trying

23:07 and testing them

23:09 with that which removes the shortcoming from them,

23:11 so that they return

23:13 to a state even more perfect than their initial one.

23:15 The utter forbearance

23:18 of Dawud, peace be upon him:

23:20 for he did not become angry with the two litigants

23:22 when they entered upon him without permission—

23:24 even though he was the king—

23:26 nor did he rebuke them

23:28 or scold them.

23:31 A servant ought to accept

23:33 admonition and sincere counsel,

23:35 even if he is of great status

23:37 and profound knowledge.

23:39 Thus, if anyone admonishes or advises him,

23:41 he should not grow angry or feel resentful,

23:43 but rather hasten to accept it

23:45 and show gratitude.

23:47 For the two disputants admonished Dawud,

23:49 peace be upon him,

23:51 yet he was neither resentful nor angered.

23:54 Mingling among

23:56 relatives and associates,

23:58 and worldly and financial dealings

24:00 between them,

24:02 tend to incite enmity among them

24:04 and cause some of them to wrong

24:06 one another;

24:08 and nothing restrains from that

24:10 except practicing the consciousness of Allah,

24:12 exercising patience in all matters

24:14 through faith and righteous deeds.

24:16 And indeed, this is among the rarest

24:18 of traits among people.

24:23 To be continued,

24:25 if Allah wills.

24:27 And Allah knows best.

24:29 And may the peace and blessings of Allah be

24:31 upon our Prophet Muhammad,

24:33 and upon his family

24:35 and all his Companions.

24:37 You were listening to Stories

24:40 of the Prophets.

Stories of the Prophets | Episode (28) | The story of David, peace be upon him

Transcript