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about the universal truths of which every true story is a parable. The Qur-an assumes the story, but tells the parable.
(2.251)
287 David was not only a shepherd, a warrior, a king, a wise man, and a prophet, but was also endowed with the gifts of
poetry and music. His Psalms (sabur) are still extant. (2.251)
283 Carried by angels: these words refer to the Tabut or Ark, the cherubims with outstretched wings on the lid may well
be supposed to carry the security or peace which the Ark symbolised. (2.251)
6:84 - We gave him Isaac and Jacob: all (three) We guided: and before him We guided Noah and
before him We guided Noah and among his progeny David Solomon Job Joseph Moses and
Aaron: thus do We reward those who do good: 903904
903 We have now a list of eighteen Apostles in four groups, covering the great Teachers accepted among the three great
religions based on Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad. The first group to be mentioned is that of Abraham, his son Issac,
and Isaac's son Jacob. Abraham was the first to have a Book. His Book is mentioned in Q. lxxxvii. 19, though it is now
lost. They were therefore the first to receive Guidance in the sense of a Book. (6.84)
904 In the second group, we have the great founders of families, apart from Abraham, viz., Noah of the time of the Flood;
David and Solomon, the real establishers of the Jewish monarchy; Job, who lived 140 years, saw four generations of
descendants, and was blessed at the end of his life with large pastoral wealth (Job xlii. 16,12); Joseph, who as
Minister of State did great things in Egypt and ws the progenitor of two Tribes; and Moses and Aaron, the leaders of
the Exodus from Egypt. They led active lives and called "doers of good." (6.84)
21:78 - And remember David and Solomon when they gave judgment in the matter of the field into
which the sheep of certain people had strayed by night: We did witness their judgment.
34:10 - We bestowed Grace aforetime on David from Ourselves: "O ye Mountains! sing ye back the
Praises of Allah with him! and ye birds (also)! and We made the iron soft for Him 37993800
3799 Cf. xxi. 79-80, and notes 2733-34. David had the gift of song and sacred music, and this is shown in his Psalms. All
nature-hills and birds-sing and echo back the Praises of Allah. (34.10)
3800 Iron or steel is hard stuff: but in the hands of a craftsman it becomes soft and pliable, and with it can be made
instruments for the defence of righteousness. These, in the literal sense, are coats of mail, and defensive armour, and
the manufacture of them is traditionally attributed to David. (34.10)
38:17 - Have patience at what they say and remember Our Servant David the man of strength: for
he ever turned (to Allah). 4167
4167 David was a man of exceptional strength, for even as a raw youth, he slew the Philistine giant Goliath. See ii. 249-
252, and notes 286-87. Before that fight, he was mocked by his enemies and chidden even by his own elder brother.
But he relied upon Allah, and won through, and afterwards became king. (38.17)
38:18 - It was We that made the hills declare in unison with him Our Praises at eventide and at
break of day. 4168
4168 See n. 2733 to xxi. 79. All nature sings in unison and celebrates the praises of Allah. David was given the gift of music
and psalmody, and therefore the hills and birds are expressed as singing Allah's praises in unison with him. The
special hours when the hills and groves echo the songs of birds are in the evening and at dawn, when also the birds
gather together, for those are respectively their roosting hours and the hours of their concerted flight for the day.
(38.18)
38:19 - And the birds gathered (in assemblies): all with him did turn (to Allah). 4169
4169 Note the mutual echo between this verse and verse 17 above. The Arabic awwab is common to both, and it furnishes
the rhyme or rhythm of the greater part of the Sura, thus echoing the main theme: 'Turn to Allah in Prayer and Praise,
for that is more than any worldly power or wisdom.' (38.19)
38:20 - We strengthened his kingdom and gave him wisdom and sound judgment in speech and
decision. 4170
4170 Cf. n. 2732 to xxi. 79 for David's sound judgment in decisions; he could also express himself aptly. (38.20)
38:21 - Has the Story of the Disputants reached thee? Behold they climbed over the wall of the
private chamber; 4171
4171 This story or Parable is not found in the Bible, unless the vision here described be considered as equivalent to
Nathan's parable in 11 Samuel, xi, and xii. Baidhawi would seem to favour that view, but other Commentators reject it.
David was a pious man, and he had a well-guarded private chamber (mihrab) for Prayer and Praise. (38.21)
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