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Stories of the Prophets · 17 of 25
دَاوُود

Dawud (David)

Prophet and king, given the Zabur (Psalms)
Ancient Israel

Dawud (peace be upon him) was granted prophethood and kingship by Allah. He faced and killed the tyrant Jalut (Goliath), after which Allah gave him sovereignty and wisdom and taught him what He willed (2:251). Allah gave him the Zabur (Psalms) as a revealed Scripture (4:163, 17:55).

Allah bestowed great favour upon him: He made the mountains and the birds join Dawud in glorifying Allah, and He made iron pliable in his hands so that he could fashion coats of mail (34:10-11, 21:79-80). Dawud was granted a beautiful voice for praising Allah (Sahih al-Bukhari 5048 & Sahih Muslim 793), and Allah commanded him to be grateful (34:13).

Allah made him a khalifah on the earth and instructed him to judge between people with justice and truth, and not to follow desire, for that leads astray from the path of Allah (38:26). His devotion was such that the Qur'an calls him possessor of strength, ever turning back to Allah (awwab) (38:17).

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ praised Dawud's worship, saying the most beloved fasting to Allah is the fasting of Dawud, who fasted every other day, and the most beloved prayer to Allah is the prayer of Dawud, who slept half the night, prayed a third, and slept a sixth (agreed upon). Dawud stands as a model of a just ruler devoted to the worship and remembrance of Allah.

From the authentic Sunnah

The Sunnah holds up Dawud's worship and his livelihood as a model the Prophet ﷺ loved.

Hadith — the most beloved prayer and fasting to AllahSahih

The Prophet ﷺ said: "The most beloved prayer to Allah is the prayer of Dawud, and the most beloved fasting to Allah is the fasting of Dawud. He used to sleep half the night, pray a third of it, and sleep a sixth; and he used to fast one day and break his fast the next."

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr, Sahih al-Bukhari 1131 & Sahih Muslim 1159

Note: balanced, sustainable devotion — worship that lasts a lifetime.

Hadith — a prophet who ate from his own labourSahih

The Prophet ﷺ said: "No one has ever eaten better food than that which he eats from the work of his own hand. The Prophet of Allah, Dawud, used to eat only from the work of his own hand."

Narrated by al-Miqdam, Sahih al-Bukhari 2073

Note: a king, yet he earned his bread by making armour — the dignity of honest work.

Key lessons

Quran references
2:25121:78-8034:10-1338:17-26
Stories are drawn from the Quran and authentic hadith; unverified narrations (isra'iliyyat) and folk embellishments are avoided. For deeper study, consult the tafsir and a qualified scholar.

All prophets