After the Bani Isra’il were delivered on the outskirts of the Holy Land by Musa عليه السلام, they came under the sway of the Philistines. After a few hundred years of living under the Philistines, they united behind Ṭalūt (Saul) who marched them forward to confront the Philistines. The Bible talks of the giant Goliath of the Philistines who challenged the Banu Isra`il to combat. However, it was not Saul who came out to confront Goliath but a young and unarmed Dawud عليه السلام. The well-known story of how Dawud عليه السلام brought the mighty Goliath down to his knees with only a sling, need not be retold here in great detail.

“And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. And he had a helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. And he had greaves of brass upon his legs and a target of brass between his shoulders. And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam…” [1 Samuel XVII 4-7]

But Dawud عليه السلام was only armed with a sling and a few stones, “And Dāwūd put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it, which smote the Philistine in his forehead, and he fell upon his face to the earth”. [1 Samuel XVII 49]

Saul became the first King of the Israelites, but according to the Old Testament King Saul was jealous of Dawud عليه السلام and tried to get rid of him. Dawud عليه السلام retreated with his companions to the wilderness. They formed a coalition with their old enemies the Philistines and together attacked and killed Saul.

Dawud عليه السلام was crowned the Second King of the Israelites.

Dawud عليه السلام, the King and Prophet, united his men and moved towards Jerusalem, which had been a Jebusite city since the 1800s BC. Dawud عليه السلام defeated the Jebusites who were a tribe in Jerusalem, and Jerusalem became his capital. Dawud عليه السلام integrated with the local population and did not kill nor expel the Jebusites. The Bible itself says, “The Jebusites dwell with the children of Judea at Jerusalem unto this day”. [Joshua XV 63]

Dawud عليه السلام spent almost his entire life in and around Palestine and, in particular, in the vicinity of al-Quds (Jerusalem). He served al-Aqṣā Sanctuary and many events in his noble life are focused around the Masjid al-Aqṣā.

إِنَّا سَخَّرْنَا ٱلْجِبَالَ مَعَهُۥ يُسَبِّحْنَ بِٱلْعَشِىِّ وَٱلْإِشْرَاقِ

وَٱلطَّيْرَ مَحْشُورَةً ۖ كُلٌّ لَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٌ

وَشَدَدْنَا مُلْكَهُۥ وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ ٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَفَصْلَ ٱلْخِطَابِ

With him We had subjected the mountains that they join him in celebrating Allah’s glory, evening and morning, and the birds, too, in their flocks, and turn again and again to celebrating Allah’s glory. And We strengthened his kingdom and endowed him with wisdom and decisive judgement. [Sūrah Ṣād 38: 18-20]

وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا دَاوُۥدَ مِنَّا فَضْلًا ۖ يَـٰجِبَالُ أَوِّبِى مَعَهُۥ وَٱلطَّيْرَ ۖ وَأَلَنَّا لَهُ ٱلْحَدِيدَ

We bestowed Our favour upon Dawud. (We commanded): “O mountains, sing Allah’s praises with him”; (and so did We command) the birds. We softened the iron for him. [Sūrah Saba’ 34: 10]

Dawud عليه السلام was favoured with a melodious voice and the Qur’an informs us that the hills and birds praised in unison the Greatness of Allah. These hills are none other than the hills of the city of al-Quds (Jerusalem). The Holy Qur’ān also refers to Dawud عليه السلام as the vicegerent; the only other Prophet referred to as vicegerent is Adam عليه السلام. This could be because Dawud عليه السلام was not only a Prophet but also the king and ruler of Palestine.

يَـٰدَاوُۥدُ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَـٰكَ خَلِيفَةً فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱحْكُم بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ ٱلْهَوَىٰ فَيُضِلَّكَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَضِلُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌۢ بِمَا نَسُوا۟ يَوْمَ ٱلْحِسَابِ

(We said to him): “O David, We have appointed you vicegerent on earth. Therefore, rule among people and do not follow (your) desire lest it should lead you astray from Allah’s Path. Allah’s severe chastisement awaits those who stray away from Allah’s Path, for they had forgotten the Day of Reckoning”. [Sūrah Ṣād 38: 26]

Although for the Israelites the importance of al-Aqṣa Sanctuary (Mount Moriah) really begins with the era of Dawud عليه السلام, to Muslims Dawud عليه السلام forms a link in the chain that began with Adam عليه السلام.

Dawud عليه السلام managed with great difficulty to unite the different Jewish tribes and also subdue other citizens. However, his total reign only lasted for around 40 years, from 1018 BC to 978 BC.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in Ṣaḥiḥ al-Bukhari, is quoted as saying that Dawud عليه السلام was one of the noblest Prophets عليه السلام.